Sage Mobile, a new tech brand redefining the modern smartphone experience, is officially launching in the UK with the debut of the world’s only healthy iPhone for kids and teens.
Built on a foundation of digital wellbeing and simplicity, Sage Mobile offers a sleek, secure alternative to traditional smartphones, free from social media, internet browsers, and algorithm-driven apps.
The UK launch marks the international expansion of Techless, Inc., the US-based company behind the cult-favourite Wisephone. With Sage, the brand is bringing its mission to protect focus, foster intentional connection, and reduce online risk to UK families for the first time.
Sage Mobile will debut with two iPhone models – the iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 Pro – each preloaded with Sage software, which removes the most common digital distractions and risks. Designed for children taking their first step into digital life, as well as adults seeking a healthier relationship with tech, Sage challenges the norms of always-on culture.
“We didn’t want to build a ‘parental control’ phone,” said Chris Kaspar, CEO and Founder of Techless. “We wanted to build a device that’s safe by design, not safe by surveillance. With Sage, we’ve created a smartphone that helps people reconnect with real life, not just reduce screen time.”
Key Features of Sage Mobile
• Default system has no social media, internet browser, or app store access
• Preloaded with essential tools only (messages, music, camera, calendar, maps)
• Explicit image detection and factory reset prevention
• Simple, unified setup with no loopholes for workarounds
•iPhone hardware plus Sage software, bundled as a monthly subscription
• AppleCare included on the 16e, AppleCare+ included at no additional charge on the 16 Pro (both managed directly by Apple)
The brand’s UK launch is rooted in growing concerns around online safety, youth mental health, and tech overload. A recent NSPCC report revealed over 7,000 online grooming crimes were recorded in the UK in a single year, with most victims aged 12 to 15. Sage removes the risk at its root by eliminating the platforms predators use.
With increasing numbers of young adults deleting social media and seeking distraction-free devices, Sage is also positioned as a rebellion against digital noise – ideal for creatives, minimalists, and anyone who wants to live more and scroll less.
A price too high?
While the product does offer what many parents will see as a solution to concerns over online safety and screen addiction, its price tag per month does raise issues about its affordability for the vast majority of UK families.
At £99 per month, it is significantly more expensive than standard iPhone contracts, which can be found for as little as £20 per month for newer models. Techless has justified the cost by stating that the device lacks the data tracking and app download revenue streams that subsidise typical phone contracts. The monthly fee also covers the flexible contract and the maintenance of the restricted platform.
Industry analysts are sceptical about widespread adoption due to the price. Thomas Husson, principal analyst at Forrester, believes demand will remain niche, stating that “parents are not ready to pay a significant premium for a dumb phone.”
Daisy Greenwell, co-founder of the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign, while acknowledging the product’s appeal, has also questioned its accessibility, commenting: “The price will be prohibitive for most people. It’s children from low-income families who are most at risk from harm online and £99 a month is out of their range.”
The challenge for makers of “dumb” smartphones now lies not only in protecting children, but also in ensuring that digital safety measures are available to all, regardless of income.
