Gabb Phone 4 Pro

A flexible, feature-rich kids’ phone with strong parental controls—but not without its trade-offs.

Quick Summary

The Gabb Phone 4 Pro is a smartphone alternative designed specifically for kids and teens. It balances modern tech features with strong parental oversight, offering a flexible system of plans and curated apps—without access to social media or web browsing.

It’s ideal for parents seeking a middle ground between basic phones and fully unlocked smartphones. However, feedback is mixed—some praise its quality and features, while others report limitations and usability frustrations.

Compatibility with Australia and New Zealand carriers

Note that Gabb phones are not currently available in either Australia or New Zealand. If you like what you see about Gabb phones you can request coverage on the Gabb website here.

The more requests for coverage received, the sooner they may be available in our region.

Key Features at a Glance

- Three Tiered Plans: Starter, Standard, and Advanced—gradually increasing access to texting features, music, and parent-enabled apps.
- No Social Media or Browsers: Keeps distractions and risks at bay.
- Parent-Enabled App Store: Over 500 curated third-party apps, including Duolingo, Audible, and Headspace.
- Strong Camera Setup: 50 MP main + 13 MP selfie camera.
- Gabb Music+: Clean, ad-free music streaming from real artists—without explicit lyrics.
- Spam & Content Filters: Gabb Guard™ and Messenger® use smart filters to block spam and inappropriate content.
- Navigation & Safety Tools: Gabb Maps (with no adult content or web links), GPS tracking, Gabb Cloud for backups.

Who It’s For

- Parents looking for a step-up from a flip phone but still want strong control.
- Tweens and teens ready for limited autonomy without open internet access.
- Families wanting a safe way to introduce tech—with options to scale up or down as needed.

Plan Options: Tailored for Different Ages

Starter (Younger kids, first-time users):

Unlimited talk/text, essential apps

Standard (Pre-teens):

Adds group texting, image sharing, and Gabb Music

Advanced (Teens):

Includes Gabb Music+, mobile data, and access to parent-enabled app store


What Real Users Are Saying

Positive Highlights:

“It reminded me of the early Androids—enough functionality to text, listen to music, and use real apps, but without the distractions of full internet access.”
– Independent reviewer

“The app store surprised me—my kid could use Duolingo, Audible, even banking and food delivery apps I could enable.”
– Parent review

“Great music library, decent camera, and familiar interface for kids used to smartphones.”
– Tech blogger

“I love that my daughter can video call with friends safely. The nudity filter on video calls is actually reassuring.”
– Verified Gabb user


Criticisms & Cautions:

“The parental monitoring felt too invasive for my middle schooler—any flagged text sends an alert to parents, even if it’s slang or mild emojis.”
– Parent review

“There were serious frustrations with message filtering and app limitations. It crashed when trying to send videos.”
– Teen user

“Only two phone case options and locked into Gabb’s network. It’s not very customizable.”
– Customer feedback

“Can’t bring your own number unless ported correctly. You’re locked into a contract and can’t just use your own SIM.”
– Buyer warning


What Makes The Gabb 4 Pro Stand Out?

GabbOS: A proprietary system that blocks unapproved apps, browsers, and loopholes.

Samsung Hardware: Built on the Samsung Galaxy A15—offering solid performance at a budget price.

Parent Portal: Manage apps, screen time, contacts, alarms, and device settings remotely.


Price & Availability

Retail Price: ~$200 USD

Ongoing Cost: Monthly plan required; includes both wireless service and software access.

Where to Buy: Direct from Gabb, Amazon, and select retail stores.


Our Take

The Gabb Phone 4 Pro is one of the most adaptable and full-featured dumbphones for kids. It gives teens more independence while keeping social media and the open internet out of reach.

However, for families who want less parental control or a more flexible device ecosystem, the Gabb’s closed system and rigid filters may feel overly restrictive. Parents should also be aware of contract limitations and potential frustrations with porting numbers or media sharing.

A reminder to request coverage for Gabb phones here if you like what you see and want a Gabb option in AU/NZ.

Bottom Line

A great option for families seeking a smartphone-like experience with guardrails.
Not ideal for teens who need more freedom or already feel self-conscious about phone limitations.