Finest cellphone for seniors

Everybody wants a cellphone, however not everybody has the identical cellphone wants. Many seniors, specifically, desire a lifeline to family members and emergency providers, to say nothing of apps for well being and security, social media and extra. Such a telephone also needs to be extremely straightforward to make use of, with a big, brilliant display screen, a simple consumer expertise (which means a easy interface) and ideally some accessibility options for customers with bodily challenges (comparable to eyesight or motor-skill impairments). With these specs in thoughts, I’ve recognized 5 fashions that I take into account the perfect telephones for seniors in 2024. (And for those who’re not in search of a senior-specific answer, here is our roundup of the best cellphones, interval.)

Finest cellphone for seniors total

LIVELY

Android telephones and iPhones could be made senior-friendly, however the Smart3 arrives that manner: It is a telephone made particularly with seniors in thoughts. Instead of a sea of cryptic icons, it affords a handful of core options (e.g., telephone, textual content messages and e-mail) represented by giant, clearly labeled giant buttons on a easy menu accessed by means of a touchscreen. And on the very high: an Pressing Response button for fast entry to reside human caregivers who can help with every little thing from rides to minor well being points to actual emergencies. (It can be set to inform family and friends if that emergency button will get tapped.) The senior cellular phone itself is kind of inexpensive, and repair plans begin at simply $20 per thirty days. Whereas that is removed from essentially the most succesful smartphone on the market, it’s with out query the perfect telephone for seniors and the neatest alternative.

$50 at Amazon

Different high cellphones for seniors we suggest in 2024

Samsung

It could be Samsung’s entry-level Galaxy telephone, however the A23 5G affords loads of energy, together with the aforementioned Straightforward Mode, which helps simplify an interface some would possibly discover intimidating. Stocked with 4 digital camera lenses, the A23 can also be nice for images. In truth, for those who suppose you will be taking pictures a lot of pictures and movies, you will respect the expandable storage (as much as 1 TB through microSD playing cards), a function not discovered on any iPhone. The 6.6-inch giant display screen can also be downright big, nice for seniors who’ve imaginative and prescient points. And since this telephone is unlocked to be used with all telephone carriers, it is easy to take it someplace providing dirt-cheap month-to-month service.

$184 at Amazon

Apple

An inexpensive iPhone? Sounds unlikely, however you may pay simply $12 per thirty days (for 36 months at 0% curiosity) to get Apple’s baseline mannequin, which packs loads of energy, a brilliant show and has glorious cameras. It additionally has a bodily Residence button, one thing tech-challenged seniors would possibly respect. Take observe, nevertheless, that the display screen dimension is on the smaller facet, at 4.7 inches. Some really choose that as a result of the telephone matches extra simply in a pocket, however it may be tougher on the eyes. In any case, you will want a Verizon community service plan as effectively (beginning at $30/month), although Walmart additionally affords the iPhone SE through another provider: AT&T.

$449 at Walmart

Apple

That is Apple’s flagship iPhone, and it is right here for one primary purpose: the super-spacious 6.7-inch display screen. That is a full 2 inches bigger than the iPhone SE’s display screen, and belief me once I say larger is best. Icons are simpler to determine, textual content is less complicated to learn and YouTube movies are simply, effectively, larger. The 14 Professional Max is a high-end telephone that takes dazzling telephoto and close-up pictures as effectively, nice for birders and grandchildren-watchers. You may finance this telephone for round $29 per thirty days (for 36 months) with no curiosity, although do not forget that you will want a service plan as effectively. (This hyperlink will lead you to Verizon, however Walmart affords the identical mannequin, with the identical pricing, on AT&T.)

$28 at Walmart

GrandPad

It could appear odd to incorporate a pill on this roundup, however the GrandPad is an element telephone: It contains 4G LTE service with its month-to-month subscription plan ($59). Meaning it may be used for e-mail, telephone calls and Zoom video calls. It additionally means it is not restricted to residence use; it really works out and about as effectively, similar to a telephone (although not one you’d wish to maintain as much as your head). As well as, there’s baked-in reside buyer assist that is out there 24/7, which helps justify the considerably expensive service plan. Learn my full GrandPad review right here, and here is our listing of the best tablets.

$370 at Amazon

Elements to think about when selecting a telephones for seniors

Worth: As with every primary telephone you purchase, there’s the price of the telephone itself and the price of service. Fortunately, whereas the {hardware} can vary from a number of hundred {dollars} to just about $1,000 (or extra!), you may typically make the most of zero-interest financing to make them extra inexpensive. The iPhone SE, for instance, could be paid off over three years for simply $5 per thirty days. The Samsung A23 runs about $8.33 per thirty days when financed by means of Samsung.

Cellphone plan: As for service, take into account whether or not you really want a limiteless information plan. Should you spend a lot of your time at residence, related to Wi-Fi, then you definitely most likely do not. By selecting an unlocked telephone, you will get service from whichever provider affords the perfect plan to fulfill your connectivity wants and funds. Shopper Mobile, for instance, is extensively considered the “senior-friendly” provider, with glorious customer support and plans beginning at $20 per thirty days. Mint Cell is one other in style possibility, with plans as little as $15 (amortized) with a pay as you go possibility for a yr at a time. For extra data, you should definitely take a look at our deep dive into the best cellphone plans for seniors.

Telephone instances: No matter telephone and provider you find yourself with, I strongly suggest shopping for a high-quality case as effectively. Though daily telephone sturdiness has improved through the years, with screens that promise to face up to minor bumps and scratches, gravity isn’t your good friend — and a cracked display screen is not any enjoyable.

Telephone equipment: Talking of equipment, take into account conserving a cell charger shut at hand. Relying on how you utilize it, your telephone’s lengthy battery life would possibly final a few days on a cost or it would expire by dinnertime. Should you’re close to an outlet you may all the time plug it in, however a power bank like this one from Anker might help whenever you’re out and about.

FAQs

Is iPhone or Android higher for seniors?

In our listing above, you will discover two iPhones, two specialised telephones, one Android telephone and one pill. Though the Android-versus-iPhone debate has been raging for years, the reality is that neither working system is very senior-friendly. One exception: Samsung’s Galaxy A23 affords one thing referred to as Straightforward Mode. When activated, the performance makes the consumer interface (textual content, icons, onscreen keyboard, and so on.) bigger and simplifies the house display screen. While you swipe to the left-most display screen, for instance, you will see it is now populated with one-tap icons to name “favorited” contacts.

That is an excellent possibility, one which’s out there on all Samsung Galaxy telephones (not simply the A23). Nevertheless, the Android working system on the entire — navigation, settings, and so on. — is usually a little difficult. General, I discover iPhones a bit simpler to be taught and use, and so they provide an unmatched number of accessibility options and assistive know-how. For instance, customers that suffer from low imaginative and prescient can allow “Converse Display screen,” which verbalizes the contents of no matter’s at present exhibiting. These with listening to impairments can toggle the rear LED (usually utilized by the digital camera) to flash repeatedly when a name, textual content or different alert is available in. A triple-click of the facet button can activate a camera-powered magnifier, and so forth.

Newer iPhones additionally provide medical-alert-style security options like crash detection and, when paired with a more moderen Apple Watch, fall detection. Within the unlucky occasion of a driving incident or a tumble, these helpers can notify members of the family and even contact on-call emergency providers like different medical alert units. (Value noting: Google Pixel telephones provide crash detection as effectively, and fall detection is coming to Google’s Pixel Watch.)

How typically must you change your telephone?

There’s no precise science to this one, however over time you’ll discover that efficiency might degrade and the battery gained’t fairly maintain a cost so long as it used to. In response to the FTC, most people keep their phone for two to three years, but it surely’s undoubtedly doable that telephones can last more than this based mostly in your private utilization habits.

For many individuals, their cellular phone is the primary manner they communicate with pals, household, and in case of an emergency it’s how they’ll get assist. It’s price keeping track of the way it performs over time and whenever you begin to see indicators of it not working the identical you get a alternative.

Does Medicare pay for cell telephones?

Medicare does pay for cell telephones, however not for everybody. To qualify for a free telephone, you need to even be enrolled in a certified authorities help program or be below the earnings limits. These circumstances do differ, so it’s beneficial to contact Medicare to debate your precise scenario and see for those who qualify for the free telephone from Medicaid.