I bought my 15 year old son his first phone. It's a light phone, and while I know he wants a regular smart phone, I think this is a better route for him.
I connected the phone to his account and added all the extra apps and it was painless.
At 299, it's really over the top expensive (I bet he loses it or breaks it quickly, but we shall see), but it's a very functional tool without all the porn in the universe on it.