Greatest telephones for seniors 2022: together with smartphones and options
It is onerous to know what one of the best telephone for a senior is, as a result of individuals who did not develop up with easy accessibility to know-how can have very completely different ranges of tech competence – however this information offers you some pointers.
Everybody wants a cell although, whether or not that is a characteristic, flip- or good telephone. With the ability to talk simply retains individuals in contact with their household and mates, and the next gadget scan just do that.
Telephones for seniors have to be easy-to-use, with software program that is not too sophisticated and a design that ensures anybody can use it the telephone with ease. Some telephones for seniors have helpful further options like a one-touch SOS button to contact emergency providers. Plus, like all telephones, it helps if they’ve large batteries, sturdy designs and massive, responsive screens.
There’s additionally the choice aspect – like with our total checklist of one of the best smartphones, everybody has completely different tastes, and you do not wish to purchase somebody a telephone that they do not like.
Age does not preclude you from tech anymore, which is why telephones designed particularly for seniors might be actually nice – we have additionally added a couple of ‘mainstream’ handsets that may very well be tempting options too. We have additionally bought guides on one of the best tablets for seniors and greatest cellular phone plans for seniors which ought to spherical out their tech roster.
So learn on for our decide of one of the best telephones for seniors, with 5 mobiles which might be designed particularly for older customers, 5 which might be normal gadgets that additionally can be helpful. We have additionally bought a information after that on what makes a smartphone nice for a senior.
Senior-focused telephones:
The Jitterbug Smart3 is one of the best telephone designed for seniors that we have seen thus far – in reality, after we noticed its specs checklist and value, we needed to double-check that this wasn’t only a competitively-priced ‘normal’ smartphone.
It is a large telephone with a headphone jack, large battery, a number of fashionable options and in addition an emergency communications button on the again. The software program is specifically designed to be easy-to-use for seniors too, which is one other level in its favor.
Some may discover the cell too large, and that is completely honest, because it’s one of many largest on this checklist – whereas that makes the display straightforward to see, it may very well be much less snug to carry or put in a pocket consequently.
See the Jitterbug Smart3 right here (opens in new tab)
Generally, a senior might be simply fantastic for a senior, and the Doro 7030 is a superb instance. Not solely does it use the traditional type issue, nevertheless it has a couple of fashionable enhancements like 4G connectivity and WhatsApp and Fb pre-loaded.
There’s an emergency button that is straightforward to press, a long-lasting battery life, good large buttons, and a number of cameras – this must be nice for seniors, particularly ones who could already be aware of the ‘clamshell’ (or flip telephone) form.
Positive, it is just a little pricier than your normal flip telephone – that is what these further options will price you – nevertheless it’ll be extra helpful due to its further instruments. It is solely accessible within the UK – for those who reside within the US, the Doro 7050 could be very comparable, nevertheless it’s fairly onerous to search out on sale.
See the Doro 7030 right here (opens in new tab)
Simply as its identify implies, the GrandPad is a smartphone/pill that provides straightforward methods for seniors to remain linked. It doesn’t require practically as familiarity with pill and smartphone performance as typical Android and iOS gadgets require. It rocks an 8-inch, Full HD show with giant, easy-to-read menu buttons for easy navigation, and it connects by way of 4G LTE on shopper Mobile or over Wi-Fi. It could additionally cost wirelessly on its dock, so that you received’t want to fret about holding observe with finicky wires and energy plugs.
Kinfolk can arrange and handle the GrandPad for his or her love ones, populating the contact checklist with electronic mail tackle and telephone numbers. One main consideration right here is that this may help display potential phishing assaults or spam callers, since they shouldn’t be capable of attain the GrandPad.
The GrandPad will let seniors keep in contact via electronic mail in addition to voice and video calls. It additionally helps a stream of social media, so seniors can see what their members of the family are sharing while not having to have their very own accounts.
See the GrandPad right here (opens in new tab)
Should you’re within the UK, presumably one of the best smartphone designed for seniors is the Doro 8050, which features a bodily residence button, a rear emergency button, software program that is primarily based on Android however with a couple of further quality-of-life upgrades, and extra.
This feels much more like a ‘normal’ smartphone than some others on the checklist, so it will not really feel too simplistic to seniors who know a bit about tech, particularly with its software program that is primarily based on inventory Android.
The catch? There’s not a lot cupboard space, not in comparison with regular smartphones and even others on this checklist, however a micro SD card might be purchased for further which provides you extra space.
See the Doro 8050 right here (opens in new tab)
The Jitterbug Flip2 is maybe one of many easier cell phones on this checklist, and it is designed for seniors who do not want flashy options like WhatsApp or the web.
The flip telephone has software program that is straightforward to make use of and navigate with, and actually large buttons too, so it will be actually useful for sure customers, nevertheless it additionally has Amazon Alexa so you should use your voice for a great deal of capabilities.
There’s an emergency button proper on the entrance of the display, and the telephone has a roughly five-day battery life, so it is an ideal device in a pinch too.
See the Jitterbug Flip2 right here (opens in new tab)
Telephones for tech-savvy seniors:
Some seniors may not need all the flowery tech of a smartphone, and senior-branded telephones just like the JitterBug could go too far towards being straightforward to make use of. Enter the brand new Nokia 3310. It’s a easy, straightforward to make use of characteristic telephone with all of the fundamentals have to maintain involved with household and mates, and a long-lasting battery to maintain the connection going.
The Nokia 3310 helps calling, texting, and even a little bit of social media. A fundamental digicam may help seniors share with their household and mates as properly. Plus, it’s a sturdy little telephone, so the occasional drop shouldn’t be a lot of a fear. On prime of all that, it’s reasonably priced.
See the Nokia 3310 3G right here (opens in new tab)
See the Nokia 3310 right here (opens in new tab)
A tech-savvy senior may discover the iPhone SE (2020) an ideal alternative – certain, there is a 2022, however that has 5G, a great deal of processing energy and a better value, and a senior wants none of that.
The second-generation iPhone SE has comparable specs to the iPhone 8 in fairly a couple of areas, however with a couple of tweaks to bringing it up-to-date with tendencies in 2020. Its display high quality, digicam and design would appear outdated now, however until the senior you are shopping for a telephone for retains updated with the newest tech, they will not thoughts.
Seniors with an iPhone also can profit from the practically seamless transition between an iPhone and iPad at any time when they could need a fair bigger display. For the seniors shopping for this smartphone, an iPhone SE 2020 case is advisable, to deliver further safety to the telephone and supply some helpful advantages like someplace to retailer playing cards.
See the iPhone SE 2020 right here
We’re truly itemizing two telephones right here – that is as a result of HMD World, which makes Nokia telephones, truly sells completely different gadgets in numerous international locations. Nonetheless the Nokia G10 (within the US) and G11 (within the UK) are extremely comparable – and each is likely to be nice for seniors.
These are giant telephones, with 6.5-inch screens, however the batteries are equally big at 5,050mAh. That measurement is likely to be an issue for some, because the side-mounted fingerprint scanners may very well be out of attain, nevertheless it makes the shows simpler to see too.
As with all Nokia telephones, these are pretty reasonably priced, which is one other level of their favor.
See the Nokia G10 right here (opens in new tab)
See the Nokia G11 right here (opens in new tab)
We typically would not suggest 5G for seniors – it prices extra, ends in battery drain, and does not actually deliver many options that an older consumer would wish… besides one. It could make video calls a lot simpler, particularly for chats with a great deal of individuals.
So for those who suppose you want 5G, the Galaxy A32 may very well be a sensible choice – it has a giant display, a number of cameras and a gorgeous design too. Positive, it is just a little pricier than some others on this checklist, and for most individuals the opposite choices are positively higher.
However for video calling, this may very well be an ideal cell. Simply examine that the consumer lives in an space with good 5G connectivity, in any other case the additional options will not be very helpful.
See the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G right here
How do I determine which telephone to purchase?
Your questions, answered.
What’s the best telephone for a senior to make use of?
The telephones we have listed right here truly are available just a little little bit of a hierarchy.
The simplest telephone for a senior to make use of can be a ‘characteristic telephone’ (ie a brick telephone) as they’ve easy software program, a long-lasting battery life and restricted options.
Flip telephones are the following step up, as they run very equally, however there are additionally a couple of fashionable ones with 4G and varied apps like WhatsApp and Fb. Additionally they is likely to be a bit fiddly for sure customers to unflip.
The toughest mobiles to make use of can be smartphones, as they will generally be sophisticated for technophobes to get their head arounds. Solely decide certainly one of these for those who suppose the consumer can handle it – or has a younger child readily available to set it up for them!
What makes a telephone nice for seniors?
Plenty of telephones designed particularly for seniors have a couple of options in widespread.
Firstly, they often have an emergency button, which somebody can simply press after they’re in any sort of damaging scenario. This may be programmed to name emergency providers, or a particular contact, or each, and it might feasibly save a life.
Secondly, the software program is often designed to be easier-to-use than normal working methods, which implies seniors can simply get to the capabilities they want with out having to wrestle with app drawers, obtain shops, lengthy menus and extra.
Ought to I purchase a typical or particular telephone?
Should you’ve bought this far down onto the checklist, you is likely to be not sure as as to if you must get a telephone designed specifically for seniors, or a typical shopper gadget above.
Your alternative ought to rely upon how tech-competent the consumer is. The senior-designed telephones are nice for technophobes, as they make accessing normal instruments – like calls, texts and the like – very easy.
Nonetheless if the consumer might handle extra sophisticated settings, and may wish to obtain further apps, take nice footage and stream video, then perhaps a typical gadget is best for them.
