Best Smartphone For Seniors
When you think of gifting an older adult who fancies innovative technology, a smartphone should come to mind. Yes, this gives them access to more features they might need for browsing, connecting with social media friends, taking quality photos, and doing lots more.
How to Choose
Here are things you must consider to choose a perfect smartphone for seniors
Simplicity: Seniors who love to embrace innovative technology will never reject a cell phone with simplicity in its functionality.
Large Screen: You surely wouldn’t want an oldie to stress trying to read text or view photos.
Good Battery Life: Seniors can’t always remember to charge their phones daily, so the smartphone you intend to acquire can last for as long as possible.
Loud Speakers: The speakers of a cell phone should allow an older adult to stream music and engage in video calls without having a problem hearing loudly and clearly.
Keeping all that’s said above in mind. We believe the following are the best smartphones for seniors that are worth buying in 2023
What Are The Best Cell Phones For Seniors In Canada
There are tons of great phones for seniors on the market today. Previously, options like flip phones were your only choice. Flip phones are still viable options, but they might be too basic, depending on what you need out of a phone.
When deciding what will be the best cell phone for you or a loved one, first consider what the phone will be primarily used for. Do you love taking and sharing photos to connect with family and friends? If so, you might be more interested in a phone with a nicer lens and more storage space. Do you want to a phone that can easily connect to social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram? If so, look for a phone that feels comfortable to hold and type with so you can easily communicate with family. The best way for seniors to learn is to get a phone, experiment, and have fun.
| Phone |
- 16 MP and 12 MP rear cameras
- 10 MP front-facing camera
How To Pick The Right Phone For A Senior
If you plan to pick up a new phone for yourself or a family member, you have a few considerations to make. First, do they want or need a smartphone? While some seniors love being connected to their friends, family, and information at all times, others want a simple calling and texting device.
Senior citizens also commonly want a larger screen that can display magnified content. This is especially the case for users with limited vision. Likewise, it might be important to get a device that can get significantly loud, if they have any hearing problems.
Some devices even offer specialized features like emergency shortcuts, simplified user interfaces, etc. You might want to look at some of these options and see if they might benefit you.
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Why its good for seniors: In addition to the standard 5Star emergency network offered through the Lively Flip, the Smart3 offers visual features like Lively Link, which allows caregivers to stay informed about the health and location of their loved ones. The large touchscreen also supports Brain Games a daily selection of memory-enhancing puzzles and challenges. Just like the Jitterbug Flip2, this phone also offers Lively Rides.
Cost: At approximately $149.99, this choice is inexpensive for a smartphone. The unlimited calls, data, and texting plan is $49.99 a month with add-on potential.
Should You Consider A Basic Phone Or A Smartphone
Depending on needs and mobility, a persons preference may lean toward a basic phone instead of a smartphone. Where basic phones offer the most simple features, including calling and texting, smartphones also connect to the internet and use data to download and access a variety of applications, or apps, from social media to online banking. Smartphones also often feature emergency signaling capabilities, thanks to their inclusion of GPS technology.
Nonetheless, a basic phone may feel like a more natural fit for you. Our suggestion? Try both styles in an electronics store near you to determine whether one feels easier to use than the other.
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How To Choose The Best Simple Mobile Phone For Older People
Why should I buy a simple mobile phone?
The older generation may not have grown up with some of the tech we enjoy today, but that doesnt mean it cant be used. While learning new tech at a mature age might put you at a disadvantage, there are still plenty of things you can do to make the transition as easy as possible.
Simple mobile phones are a great way to get to grips with new tech without being bombarded with potentially unnecessary features and functions. They can also alleviate some of the issues that may come with using a mobile device in old age, such as poor vision and arthritis.
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What features should I look for in a simple mobile phone?
Simple mobile phones aren’t often feature-rich, but still allow you to do everything you need such as make phone calls and send text messages. Its not all old, brick-sized phones, either some of the latest smartphones cater to the difficulties some older people might face.
When choosing a simple mobile phone for an older person, there are a few features you may want to look out for to help make the phone more accessible.
Bigger screen
If sight issues are a worry, a larger screen may help to alleviate any concerns. With screens getting bigger and bigger every year, its now easier than ever to find a mobile phone with a generous-sized screen.
Bigger buttons
Simple interface and operating system
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Our Top Picks: Cell Phones For Seniors Reviews
According to a recent study, only 42% of consumers in the U.S. over 65 years of age own a smartphone. This number drops to 17% when only those over 80 years of age are considered. These numbers raise an interesting question: why are older consumers so reluctant to buy smartphones?
To answer this question, we reached out to dozens of anonymous consumers, being either a senior citizen or someone who purchased a cell phone for an elderly relative, for their experience and input. When asked what their major concerns were when using a cell phone, 76% of our respondents stated: not understanding how to use it.
Cell phones for seniors are available in different styles: flip phones, smartphones, bar phones, and tablet-phones. The selection for cell phones for seniors is just as varied as regular phones when it comes to features and styles and we looked at all of them for you to determine which are the best in the industry.
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Why Cell Phones Specialized For People With Dementia Are Important
Cell phones specialized for people with dementia are important because they help to keep the person with dementia connected to family and friends. They also allow the person with dementia to communicate their needs and thoughts. These phones can help to reduce anxiety and provide a sense of security.
Keep In Touch With Your Loved Ones With Our List Of The Best Simple Mobile Phones For Older People
Mobile phones are an essential part of day-to-day living for most people, but the idea of navigating and using one can be daunting if you arent entirely familiar with the latest technology. If you or someone you know struggles with conventional devices, it doesnt mean you have to miss out on everything that a mobile phone has to offer.
Thankfully, despite the overwhelming number on the market, there are actually quite a few mobile phones that have been designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind. Our roundup of the best simple mobile phones for older people is designed to help you make an informed decision based on your own specific requirements or the needs of someone you know.
Whether your concerns are ease of use, vision, mobility impairment or generally just a bit of technophobia, our comprehensive list of the best simple mobile phones includes something for everyone. There’s also a very handy buying guide at the bottom of this list, to help make your buying decision even easier.
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Iphone Se 202: Most Affordable And Best Iphone For Seniors
We all know Apple iPhones are currently the top-rated smartphones in the market. But when you think of one that will be ideal for seniors, the iPhone SE 2022 is a great choice.
The iPhone SE 2022 is packed with many outstanding features any older adult can ask for in any smartphone. From facetime to excellent camera, water-resistant, large storage space, and lots more.
Besides, its reliable security system gives users data 100% protection and supports hearing aid, which is essential for seniors’ smartphones. Our only main concern is that some seniors might need time to understand how to navigate their way around the device.
Price:
- It supports a Retina HD display, which is good for older adults’ eyes.
- The screen could be better.
- Seniors who are new to the iOS system might require a learning curve.
Cell Phone Plans For Seniors: How Old Do You Have To Be
Getting older can have its perkslike saving money on your cell phone plan. Recently, many of the larger service providers released plans specifically designed for seniors, aiming to keep things simple and affordable with discounts.
Sprint and T-Mobile offer discounts to anyone at least 55 years old. Both provide two phone lines with unlimited talk, text and data for around $80 a monthan average savings of $40 a month. Verizon also has a 55+ plan limited to seniors living in Florida, and AT& T has the Senior Nation Plan available for anyone over the age of 65.
If you expand your search beyond the big-name wireless carriers, you find additional providers and plans that are great choices for seniors.
Lively, for example, doesnt have a specific age requirement, but offers a number of services and features seniors may find helpful, such as access to virtual urgent care, fall detection technologies and operators who can help call ride services, make phone calls or look up phone numbers.
Meanwhile, AARPs membership benefits include discounts on cellular services. Anyone over age 50 can join AARP.
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Easiest Cell Phones For Seniors To Use In 2022
Cell phones have come a long way in recent years. They are no longer just for making calls they can be used for a variety of purposes, including finding health services, playing games, and staying connected with friends and family.
If youre a senior whos been thinking about getting a cell phone, or if youre looking for the perfect gift for a senior loved one, read on to learn more about the different types of cell phones available specifically for seniors. Youll be surprised at how much these phones have to offer!
Customizable Settings For Seniors
If you prefer not to buy a senior-specific phone, but opt for a general model instead, there are still many settings you can customize to meet your needs. This is a great option if you inherited a cell phone from someone else, for example, or just want more flexibility than the senior phones provide. Here are a few settings you can adjust to make the phone easier to use for older adults.
All apps that support this feature will then show closed captioning at the bottom.
Closed Captioning
Most phones include an option to turn on closed captioning for videos, whether youre streaming a show or watching a YouTube video. All apps that support this feature will then show closed captioning at the bottom. Seniors who are hard of hearing may find this trick especially helpful. You can find the closed captioning video feature by going in your phones settings app.
Icon Size
Most phone manufacturers space out icons to make the home screen appear more clean and organized, but this can be tough for older adults with vision issues. If youd like to switch to a zoom view, you can also do this in your settings app.
Voiceover
This feature allows your phone to read aloud text on the screen. If you receive a text, for example, youll hear the message rather than having to read it. This can also be a great help to seniors who are vision impaired.
Magnifying Camera
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How We Chose The Best Cell Phones For Seniors
Each phone on our list was ranked using over 30 metrics, including price, senior-friendly features, battery life, durability, sound quality, appearance, ease of use, and provider perks. The three most influential metrics in our evaluation were:
- Senior-friendly features: All phones that made the cut have features that meet seniors specific needs and lifestyles. While these features vary by phone, they include things like big buttons or icons, bright screens, loud and adjustable speakers, hearing aid compatibility, and an easy-to-grip design
- No long-term contracts: Cell phone plans that lock you in for years are a thing of the past. All of the cell phone models and carriers on our list offer month-to-month options, so you can cancel your service at any time without hassle.
- Price vs. quality: We know that every budget is different. While some of the cell phones on our list are more expensive than others, weve only included phones where we believe the quality matches or exceeds the price. Weve made sure to include budget-friendly cell phones on our list, along with somewhat pricier high-tech devices, so you can find the phone thats right for both your wallet and your needs
Using the above criteria, along with our research, testing, and rankings, we created this years best cell phone list to help you choose the best senior-friendly cell phone.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5g: Best Cell Phone For Seniors Who Love Video Calls
The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is a perfect choice if you’re looking for a budget-friendly Samsung 5G smartphone for seniors. The phone boasts several impressive features, including a fast processor, an efficient gorilla glass display, and lots more.
Also, considering seniors can’t always remember to charge their phones, the Samsung A32 5G has a durable battery that lasts very long. And in terms of its camera, seniors can surely rely on its 48MP primary camera to take bright and clear photos. Overall, this phone has many qualities that make it worth buying for seniors.
Price:
- It gets hot under pressure.
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Compatibility With Chosen Service Provider
Not all flip phones are compatible with every service providerin fact, some are only compatible with one. So when purchasing a flip phone, check that its compatible with your particular carrier. You can also ask specific carriers about the packages they offer. Some companies offer discounts on plans if other members of your household use the same service.
Consumer Cellular Link Ii A Flip Phone That Tries To Please Everyone
As the name suggests, the Consumer Cellular Link II is sold by Consumer Cellular, a wireless provider that focuses on the senior segment. It is intended to be a simple flip phone for seniors. However, unlike the other devices in this article, it is not a senior phone in the sense that it is not designed with seniors in mind. For example, unlike the Jitterbug Flip2, it does not label buttons to enhance ease of use. Rather, it is a basic flip phone manufactured by ZTE, a Chinese manufacturer, and designed for the general public.
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Basic Cell Phones For Seniors
Flip phones are perfect no-fuss options for anyone looking for simple calling functionality. This one, in particular, has a large display on the front, allowing you to see the time without opening the phone. It doubles as an MP3 player and is Bluetooth capable. Whats best is that the battery lasts up to 11 days.
Key Features:
- Standby battery life up to 11 days
- Doubles as an MP3 player
Price: $18.89
The BLU JOY is an unlocked dual SIM senior phone. You can use it with any carrier that accepts 2G sim cards. The phone itself has a built-in SOS button thats fully programmable you can set it up to contact the police, ambulance, or just a family member with one button. The display is 2.4 and the keypad has large buttons that are easy to read.
Key Features:
Check To See Whether You Qualify For Lifeline
The Lifeline program provides discounts and no-cost cell phone services to eligible low-income consumers and their households. If an individuals income is below the federal poverty guideline or they use federal assistance programs, they may qualify for Lifeline. The application process is straightforward and can be completed online or through the mail, but it does require formal documents like proof of income in order to confirm eligibility.
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How Do I Switch Cell Phone Providers
The ease of switching providers will depend on your current provider, your current plans details and whether your contract includes early termination fees.
Some decisions need to be worked out with your current provider and new carriermainly whether to keep your existing phone and phone number. Its also important to find out if youre locked into a plan.
Regardless, here are a few key steps to preparing to make the switch:
Do your research. Know which plan youd like to switch to and contact your current provider to get the details of your current contract, particularly if youre locked in.
If you do have a contract, check with your current provider to find out if there are early termination fees. If youd like to keep your current phone, make sure your phone isnt lockedwhich means you can only use the phone with your existing providers phone plans. Finally, ask your new provider whether you can use your existing phone.
Prepare your details for your new provider. Be ready to provide the following to your new wireless carrier:
- Your name and address
- Your phones ESN/IMEI number if youre keeping the phone
- Your phone number
To make the switch, contact your new cell phone carrier online, by phone or in person at a store. Theyll take your information and switch your service to your selected plan. Once you activate your new plan with your new carrier, your old service should automatically terminate. If you experience any issues, contact your old carrier.