Android Central 2021: Best Cell Phone for Seniors
Senior citizens use smartphones more than younger generations for over ten years. We can help you if you are new to smartphones, or a relative of a Baby Boomer/Silent Generation person and need help choosing an accessible phone. Some people may also have disabilities or impairments that make it difficult to use a standard phone. Others may be limited on retirement funds and not have the means to buy expensive phones. No matter your situation, these are the top phones for seniors.
Source: Ara Wagoner / Android Central
Senior citizens could choose from the top Android phones and a premium iPhone, and they would be content. Many phones have features that everyone will love, such as bright screens and big batteries. However, many seniors don't need the best phone perks such as high-quality cameras or fast displays for mobile games. A mid-range phone, such as the Google Pixel 5a, will suffice in most cases. The 6.34-inch screen is perfect for visually impaired users. However, it's not too large to be difficult to use by arthritic hands. The phone is surprisingly fast for a budget phone. You won't have to wait for any app to open. Even if you use the phone for 68 hours continuously, its battery will not run out so you won't have to worry about it dying in an emergency. Pixel phones are known for their excellent cameras and Google AI, which automatically enhances your photos of grandchildren or nature. The Pixel 5a is great for seniors, despite its hardware shortcomings. Its stock Android software is simple and straightforward. The pre-downloaded Google apps are included. It comes with three years of security and software support from Google. This makes it an affordable purchase. Google Assistant, which is built-in, allows you to make calls and ask questions with your hands. Pixels also have call screening and spam blocking tools to stop scammers and telemarketers getting through. The Google Action Blocks app is ideal for people with memory or vision impairments. Family members and friends can quickly set up one-click actions right from their home screens. These can be scaled to large touch targets. These perks, and many more, are available for half the price of most smartphones. The pros: A good price for a regular smartphone
Amazing camera and photo-sharing capabilities
Regular software and security update
Google Assistant and call screening built-in
Bright screen makes it easy to see outdoors.
For seniors who are not familiar with smartphones, it can be difficult to use.
For people with mobility or arthritis, the fingerprint sensor may be a problem.
Google Pixel 5a Affordable Quality A simple interface The Google Pixel 5a offers a fast processor and amazing battery life. It also has solid cameras at a fair price. Google Store: $449
The best value smartphone for seniors: Lively Jitterbug's Smart2 Smartphone for Seniors
Source: Lively
Many Android phones offer an "easy mode", or shortcuts or widgets that make navigation more simple, but the Jitterbug brand has been the benchmark for senior phones. Jitterbug phones, which are made by Lively (formerly GreatCall), are designed for seniors who feel intimidated or lack the ability to use new features on their phones. The Jitterbug Smart2 features a large touchscreen of 6.2 inches, which is much more easily read than a flip-phone screen. The Smart2 is not an app-based system. Instead, it displays a simplified list of all the important apps that a senior may need. The phone/dialer, text messaging, camera, internet and email are all included. Support is also available. The phone isn't equipped with the most popular apps or games, but it does have a limited number of options that keep it from becoming overwhelming or heavy. Voice typing is supported by the phone, so people with dexterity problems don't need to worry about touch targets on the keyboard. You can video chat with your family and friends through the front-facing camera. The best part is that the home screen has an emergency response button. This allows seniors to connect with trained agents who can help them get connected with emergency services. There's also the Lively Link app that allows family and friends to receive alerts when a Smart2 user calls for assistance. This includes any additional health information or your current location, if you wish to share it. The Lively Smart2 safety features, which are similar to Amazon's Alexa Care Hub will give you the peace of mind knowing that someone is looking out for your needs in an emergency. Monthly fees will be charged for text, voice, data, emergency care response and other features. This can add up to quite a large monthly cost. Lively does not clarify the activation fee for the phone. The phones are compatible with Verizon networks so coverage is fairly reliable. The user interface is simple and intuitive.
Very affordable
Loud speakers and voice typing
Support and emergency access via the home screen
No real app support
Water resistance and wireless charging are not available
Services fees can be quite high.
Jitterbug Smart2 Smart senior smartphone is the best value. The Jitterbug Smart2 offers a senior-centric experience with no unnecessary apps, menus or settings. Amazon: $99
Lively: $113
iPhone SE is the best phone for seniors with hearing impairments
Source: Apoorva Bhardwaj/ Android Central
Although we know that this site is Android-friendly, please bear with us (no pun intended). Apple's iPhones, iPads and iPods have been at the forefront in accessibility discussions for years. They offer tons of features that can be used by people with different abilities. iPhones are designed to accommodate people with hearing and visual impairments. Live Listen, for example, uses the microphone to amplify people's voices into the headphones. Sound Recognition alerts you via screen if your phone hears an alarm sound. Some smart hearing aids can be used with iPhones. Our colleagues at iMore created a simple guide that will help you get started with iOS accessibility tools. As we mentioned, iPhones can be expensive and have diminishing returns for older users. The affordable iPhone SE is an excellent choice for seniors. All the benefits of an Apple phone, including better durability than Android phones, stronger security, a colorful interface and FaceTime to video and text your family, for a third of the cost of an iPhone 12. The iPhone SE is a compact 4.7-inch phone with large bezels at the top and bottom. There's also a dedicated Home button for when you get lost in an application. Although the screen is smaller than a 6-inch iPhone, it's easier to hold. It's up to you to decide if tactile or visual comfort is more important. Keep in mind that a smaller smartphone means a smaller battery. It will work well for short trips, but it may not last all day without charging. There are tons of accessibility features.
It is easy to connect most hearing aids
Wireless charging and water resistance
For years to come, security and OS updates
Edge-to-edge screen not available
Screens for small screens
Batteries will require frequent charging
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is the easiest Android phone for seniors.
Source: Ara Wagoner / Android Central
Samsung phones all have an exclusive Easy Mode feature that Android phones don't have. It activates "bigger items on the screen, a longer touch and hold delay to prevent accidental actions and a high contrast keyboard that improves readability." You can add important contacts to your home screen and have the most important apps prioritized and magnified on the home screen. Similar to iPhones and Android phones, Samsung phones offer robust accessibility settings. These include hearing aid (or mono audio (one-ear) support), a screen reader that displays what's on the screen, font size/color adjustments, as well as a screen reader which describes what's there. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Android phone is affordable and the best value for money. However, seniors will still be happy with a mid-range smartphone like the iPhone SE or Pixel 5a. Consider the Galaxy A52 5G. It will cost you less but provide great quality. You get a 6.5-inch 1080p AMOLED screen for $500. This screen is large enough to allow you to zoom in text and stretch apps. The 4,500mAh battery can last for up to 24 hours, even when playing movies and games. It also has a Snapdragon chipset that is fast for a mid-range smartphone, allowing it to handle most apps quickly. You also get sub-6 5G support to improve call quality. The downsides are that the screen isn't bright enough in sunlight, which makes it difficult to read. This phone is better suited for seniors who spend more time indoors and are sedentary. Even though the phone is eligible for three years of software support it will take longer to receive updates than an iPhone or Pixel. The pros: Samsung's Easy Mode works well for large touch targets
Beautiful large display
Long-lasting battery
Accessible entry point to the Galaxy lineup
Display isn't bright enough to receive direct sunlight.
No wireless charging
Some people may have issues with the in-display fingerprint sensor
Samsung Galaxy A525G is the easiest Android phone for seniors. Amazon: $500
Best Buy: $500
$500 at Samsung
The best basic flip phone for seniors
Source: Lively
Let's face it, most seniors think of flip phones when they think about the best smartphones for them. There's good reason for this assumption. Flip phones allow you to use tactile buttons on your phone to navigate basic menus. They also keep the core apps simple and easy to find. The majority of top-of-the-line flip phones can be used to make cheap calls to family members. We recommend the Lively Jitterbug brand for a senior-friendly option. This is not your father's flipphone; it's your grandfathers. The Lively Flip is more suitable for seniors because of some clever design choices. The phone's interior features large, clicky buttons that can be used to dial, an arrow pad to navigate the screen and an emergency button at the bottom to call for help. You don't have to look far for the On/Off or Speaker buttons. Although it is not a smartphone, Lively Flip has built-in Amazon Alexa support. You can use your voice to send text messages, make calls, set reminders and timers, and control smart home devices. A flashlight and an 8MP camera are also included. You can zoom in on small text with the magnifying glass. The fees are the same as the Lively Smart2 and you still get emergency services and health monitoring. The Smart2 doesn't have Alexa, so voice-to-text and video calling are not available. It shouldn't surprise that texting and adding contacts to a flip-phone is slower than on a smartphone touchscreen. The pros: Simple and familiar design
Access to emergency assistance quickly by pressing a button
Amazon Alexa built-in
Cons of long-lasting batteries: No touchscreen
No voice-to-talk
There are no video calls
The Jitterbug Flip is the best basic flip phone for seniors. It's simple to use thanks to its large buttons and familiar design. Amazon: $60
$60 on Best Buy
Lively: $45
Best smartphone deal for seniors (2020 Moto G Power)
Source: Joe Maring/Android Central
Flip phones can be purchased for as low as $20. It may not be easy to justify spending large sums on a phone. The Moto G Power is one of the most affordable Android phones. The 2020 Moto G Power is the best option, as the 2021 Moto G Power doesn't offer nearly the same quality. You get a good smartphone for just a few hundred: a 6.4 inch FHD display with excellent color fidelity, a huge 5,000mAh battery that will last you two to three days in case it gets disconnected, a decent Snapdragon 665 CPU, a 16MP main camera and water resistance. Android 11 will also be included in the box. While it isn't as "stock" Android as a Pixel's, the software is simple and straightforward to use. Motorola has solid accessibility settings. TalkBack allows you to tap any item on the screen to have it read aloud. You can also set large text and high-contrast settings by default. There are also standard Android accessibility tools such as voice-to-text and Google Assistant. Although it isn't as robust as other OSs in accessibility, it's still quite respectable for a phone under $100. Motorola's Moto Actions are a unique feature that allows you to control your phone with gestures. You can, for example, karate-chop the phone to activate the flashlight and twist the camera to turn it on. These are not easy for seniors, but others will appreciate the ability to quickly access features without having to tap an icon. The Moto G Power 2020 has one problem. It only received a software update, which was 11. This will not be extended. Although it will receive security updates via the Google Play Store and may slow down more than other options, this is not a major problem. It's still a good short-term choice. The Motorola Edge is a more powerful and durable option from the same manufacturer. The pros: Reliable performance at a very affordable price
Software with unique gesture controls and easy-to-use interface
Accessibility is excellent
Cons: Neverending battery life
Slow charging speeds
Only 4GB RAM
Moto G Power is the best smartphone for seniors. It's affordable and will last a lifetime. Amazon: $220
Motorola - $220
