I didn't get one until I was 17. That was almost 4 years ago, and cellphones weren't a necessary item. In fact, a lot of people didn't have them at all. I didn't even care to have one, but because I started driving myself to places then, I needed to get one for safety.
My phone now is just a flip phone LG, but I think it's cute. I don't care to have the latest phone...they all essentially serve the same purpose.