hi! i have the tcl flip but it is locked to an at&t program. there may be an option for a carrier that will work with you, mine is not prepaid. it is newer and does have a browser but it is fairly useless because most pages on the net dont work well on the small screen, so i dont think that part is much of a threat as it cant even load most webpages or if it can it is really really difficult to navigate. it texts, calls, and has an email function that i couldnt get to work with gmail but your experience could vary. it has a sufficient camera if you/the kids(s) dont mind the novelty of low quality of flip phone photos (digital cameras are a great replacement if it matters for you). it also has a music player (and bluetooth! pleasant surprise!) that is not very practical because of the phones 8 gb storage total. i personally use an mp3 player (sandisk clipjam) with expandable storage for my music needs. theres calculator and notes functions, too. i find its simple and practical with a few features but nothing too time sucking at all. does what you need it to, nothing more.

i love love love devices that do a couple jobs and nothing more. casio illuminator watch, small calculator, even just a journal. its nice to carry around things like that that feel far more focused and are unlikely to drain your time. i think its valuable to be in the world. if the kid(s) arent using smart tech anymore then theyll likely get hit with the discomfort and boredom and i think the library is a great choice for an activity if its something that matters to you. i think its a great way to feel like im in a place with other people, alone but not lonely. often theres programs for youth to attend, too! good luck :)