Overview

• Sage Mobile, offered in iPhone 16e and 16 Pro models, is now available for UK pre-order at £99.95 a month plus a one-off setup fee of over £100, with deliveries starting late August.
• Custom software removes web browsers, games and social media apps in favor of a curated essential-apps store and unbypassable system-level controls granted by Apple.
• The launch coincides with enforcement of stringent UK age-verification laws for online pornography, reflecting a legislative push to bolster child-protection online.
• Market analysts predict uptake will remain niche among affluent families, raising concerns that high subscription costs could deepen digital safety inequities.
• Research links excessive screen time among children to higher risks of anxiety and depression, fueling parental interest in safety-by-design devices despite calls for broader policy measures.