Older people like the same phones that younger people do and have used them for a decade. If you are a relative of a Baby Boomer or Silent Generation person who needs help picking something accessible, we are here to help. Some of you may have impairments or disabilities that make a standard phone difficult to use, while others may be on a limited retirement budget and not have the money for a fancy phone. Here are the best phones for seniors.
Seniors could easily pick any of the best phones and be happy. Bright screens, big batteries, and fast performance are perks that anyone will appreciate. The most expensive phone perks, like pro-quality cameras and fast displays for mobile gaming, are unnecessary for a lot of seniors. A mid-range phone like the Google Pixel 5a will suffice in most cases.
The display is large enough to give the visually impaired a better experience, but not so large that it is hard for arthritic hands to hold. It has a good performance for a cheaper phone, so you shouldn't have to wait long for an app to open. Even if you use it for 8 hours non-stop, it will still last for 6 hours. The cameras on the Pixel phones are of the highest quality, and the artificial intelligence on the phones improves your photos.
The stock software of the Pixel 5a is easy to use and works well for seniors. It is pre-downloaded with easy to use apps. It's a cost-effective purchase if you get three years of software and security support.
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It's a great way to call a family or ask a question with the built-in Google Assistant. They have built-in tools that will help prevent telemarketers from getting through.
The Action Blocks app is perfect for people with vision or memory problems. Friends or family members can set up quick, one-tap actions from their home screen, which can be sized for large touch targets. For about half the price of the most popular phones, you will get all these perks.
The standard-bearer for senior phones has always been the Jitterbug brand, even though many phones have dedicated easy mode or other shortcut to make navigation easier. Jitterbug phones are tailored to seniors that feel intimidated by new phone features or don't have the dexterity to use them easily.
The Jitterbug Smart3 has a larger screen than a flip-phone, which makes it easier to read. The Smart3 has a simplified list view of the most important apps that a senior might need. This includes the phone, text messages, camera, internet, email, maps, and support. The limited selection of games and apps keeps the phone from feeling bloated or overwhelming.
The phone supports voice typing, so people with dexterity issues don't have to worry about small keyboard touch targets. You can use the front-facing video camera to chat with family and friends. An urgent response button is located on the home screen and can be used to connect senior citizens with emergency services.
The Lively Link app allows family and friends to receive notifications if the Smart3 user calls for help, along with any other health info or your location. The Lively Smart3 safety features will give you peace of mind that someone is looking out for you in an emergency.
You have to be prepared to pay a high monthly fee for features such as talk, text, data, urgent care response, and other. Lively doesn't clarify the one-time mandatory activation fee for the phone on its site. The coverage is pretty reliable because the phones run on the same networks as the Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet Hughesnet
We know this is a site for the mobile operating system, but we want you to hear us out. Apple has long been at the forefront of the accessibility discussion, with tons of features for all kinds of differently-abled people. People with hearing or visual impairments can get help with their phones.
Live Listen uses a phone mic to amplify people's words. Sound Recognition will not show you on-screen if the phone picks up an alarm sound. There are smart hearing aids that work with iPhones. A how-to guide has been written by our colleagues at i More.
The returns for older users are diminishing, as we have mentioned. The affordable iPhone SE is a good choice for seniors. For about a third of the price of an Apple phone, you can get all the perks of an Apple phone, such as better longevity, a colorful and accessible app interface, and more.
If you get lost in an app, you can use the dedicated Home button on the compact iPhone SE. It is easier to hold a phone in less stable hands than a small screen. You have to decide if visual comfort is more important. A smaller phone means a smaller battery, so it may not last a full day out without a refill.
The Easy Mode feature is unique to all of thesamsung phones. Bigger on-screen items, a longer touch-and- hold delay to prevent accidental actions, and a high contrast keyboard are what you get with it active.
Hearing aid or mono audio (one ear) support, a screen reader that describes what's onscreen, and plenty of other useful tools are all available on the phones.
The best reasonably-priced phone of the year is the SAMSUNG GALAXY S22 Most seniors will be happy with a mid-range phone. We found the performance of the A53 to be adequate for day-to-day activities outside of gaming.
For the price, you get a large screen that's large enough to fit a lot of text and stretched apps. Even with heavy usage, the 5,000mAh battery will make it to the end of the day. Even with solid support for 5G, the chip under the hood sips energy.
Most people think of flip phones when they think of the best phones for seniors. There is a good reason for that assumption. The buttons on the flip phones make it easier to navigate simple menus and stick to a few core apps. Most of the best flip phones will give you a cheap way to call family, but for one that is purpose-made for seniors, we return once again to the Lively Jitterbug brand.
This isn't your father's flip phone, it's your grandfather's! The Lively Flip2 is better suited to seniors thanks to some useful design choices. There are large buttons on the inside of the phone for dialing, navigating the screen, and an emergency key at the bottom. There are dedicated buttons for On/Off and Speaker, so you don't need to look for them.
Even though it is not a phone, the Lively Flip2 comes with built-in Amazon Alexa support so you can use your voice to make calls, send texts, and even control smart home devices. There is an 8MP camera, a flashlight, and a magnifying glass for zooming in on small text. If you want to see your friends and family when you call, you will need a phone and a computer.
The front of the Moto G Stylus (2021) has a large 6.8-inch screen. The included stylus is compatible with the 2400x1080 resolution of the panel. The S Pen included with the S22 Ultra isn't as advanced as the stylus tech, but you still get precise inputs for writing or navigating. The phone is powered by a modest Snapdragon 678 with 4GB of RAM so don't expect flagship-tier performance but you should be able to use most apps without much slowdown.
There are some accessibility settings for Motorola. You can use Talkback to have the phone read anything you tap on the screen. By default, you can turn on large text or high-contrast text. Voice-to-text is one of the standard accessibility tools that can be found in the Android operating system. It isn't as robust as other OSs for accessibility, but it is respectable for a budget phone.
Moto Actions, or gesture controls, are unique to Motorola. You can karate chop your phone to turn on the flashlight or twist it to turn on the camera. Some seniors find it hard to pull off these, while others like the option to pull up features without an icon.
There is never a better time to buy a phone for seniors or people with vision or hearing impairments. It's easier to navigate Apple's operating systems with disabilities or limited technical know-how thanks to the accessibility games they've stepped up in the last few years. If you want our top recommendation, go with the Google Pixel 5a. The unlocked phone works on any of the best cell phone plans for seniors.
In terms of accessibility, you get its Talk Back screen reader to hear what's on-screen, text magnification, sound amplification through wired orBluetooth headphones, live transcription of whatever's said around you, and Lookout. ThePixel 5a is one of the best cheap phones available today, with a great display, battery, performance, and cameras for the price.