Staying in touch has never been easier. With the advent of cell phones and then smartphones, it’s become simpler to call up old friends and chat with loved ones. Cell phones also help us stay connected to a wider network with things like social media, email, and virtual group chats.
It’s no surprise, then, that cell phones are particularly useful for people entering their golden years. If you’re looking for cell phones for seniors, you’ve come to the right place. Here, you’ll learn more about what to consider when buying a cell phone and discover the 9 best options when it comes to cell phones for seniors.
Things To Consider When Choosing a Phone
Like many purchases, choosing a cell phone requires balancing budget and functionality. In cell phones for seniors, there are some features to keep in mind when making a decision. Here are some things to consider when buying a cell phone.
Keep Visibility and Hearing in Mind
One of the biggest complaints about cell phones is that the button and screen sizes are too small. Fortunately, the cell phone industry has left the tiny fad phones behind and the advent of smartphones has increasingly led to larger screen sizes. Many seniors have difficulty reading small text. Look for phones with larger screens and the ability to adjust the text size.
Prioritize phones that have sound adjustability with loud speakers that can make it easier to hear. Bright screens can also help improve visibility, and it’s important to make sure the phone is easy and comfortable to grip.
Try Some Out
Visit different carriers in your area to see if they offer a trial period where you or your parents can try out the phone for a limited amount of time. If the phone is a big hit, you can make the final purchase. If not, see if the company has other trial phones. You can try until you find the best one.
Many cellular stores also have models on display in the store. This is helpful if you want to check out different features and usability before making a decision.
Look for Special Features
Many smartphones have special features that make them ideal for seniors. Things like touch assist and voice-to-text are helpful for seniors with vision problems or those who have a hard time with small buttons. Some phones also have voice and sound controls that make it easier for seniors with hearing aids to hear properly.
Focus on Safety Options
Today, cell phones are so much more than devices used to call up old friends. Many smartphones have added safety features that are helpful for seniors. Look for phones that have tracking capabilities or emergency alert features. Tracking functions can help loved ones keep an eye on seniors with dementia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s while emergency alerts are ideal if a senior needs to reach out after a fall.
Consider Contracts
You can choose between pay-as-you-go phones that don’t lock you into a contract or select a contract option that offers benefits for being a regular customer. In general, month-to-month options or pay-as-you-go phones are popular with seniors because cell phone contracts typically lock you in for two years, meaning you’re stuck if you don’t like the carrier or the phone. The cell phone options on this list can be purchased with or without a contract, depending on your preferences.
Data, text, and calling pricing also varies among different carriers. Great Call and Consumer Cellular offer affordable plans for seniors and are among the most popular. Sprint offers one of the best unlimited plans — the Unlimited 55+ plan — and is a good choice for seniors who plan to use a lot of data. AT&T and Verizon have the most extensive cell coverage and offer discount plans for seniors. T-Mobile is a great choice for travelers since you can use your phone and data like normal in dozens of countries abroad.
Weigh Price and Quality
Every senior has a different budget. If you’re tech-savvy and love the latest technology, you may want to spend more for a smartphone with all the features. If you prefer to use the cell phone to call old friends and stay in touch with family, you may want to get a simple flip phone without all the bells and whistles. Consider how you’ll use the phone and then decide if fancy features are worth the extra price tag or if you prefer to keep things simple with an affordable budget.
The 9 Best Cell Phones for Seniors
Cell phones offer a variety of benefits to seniors as they transition into their golden years. They make it easy for you to stay connected with loved ones, get assistance and access to emergency services if something goes wrong, and capture photos, videos, and life’s memories in one simple device.
We made this list of the best cell phones for seniors so you can choose the one that best fits your needs. We’ve included a range of smartphones and simple flip phones for all budgets.
1. GreatCall Jitterbug Flip
GreatCall is a cell phone company known for its safety and health features. These phones are a huge hit among seniors, largely because the company is easy to work with and offers safety and functionality without a huge price tag.
The Jitterbug Flip is a flip phone that features big buttons, a simple menu design, large text, and loud speakers. It doesn’t have video capabilities or internet access so it’s a better choice for people who simply want to be able to call and text. It does have a two megapixel camera so you can snap memories. The phone has a magnifier and flashlight to make it easier to see your environment.
This phone comes with an emergency alert button called the 5Star Urgent Response. You can push the button at any time to get assistance with everything from locking your keys in your car to needing help with a health emergency. The Jitterbug Flip also offers optional safety packages that include medical alert features. And, you’ll get access to games to keep your mind active and apps that help you stay connected with doctors, caregivers, and family members.
The Jitterbug Flip uses Verizon’s cellular network, which offers the most coverage across America. There are no long-term contracts and no cancellation fees. Call and text plans range from $3 to $39.99 per month. The optional safety packages run $19.99 to $34.99 per month. The Jitterbug Flip phone costs $99 and the company offers a 30-day guarantee so you can try out the phone and return it for $10 if it’s not a good fit for you.
2. Consumer Cellular GrandPad
This device is not technically a cell phone. It’s a tablet, but it made our list because it’s easy to use and offers exceptional functionality for seniors. This device is best suited for seniors who stay at home most of the day and don’t mind a larger device. The GrandPad features an 8-inch touchscreen, and it sits in a wireless charging station that acts as a stand. It runs on the T-Mobile LTE network and can be used as a mini photo display, tablet, and phone.
The interface is designed for ease of use, making it a good choice for seniors who want to use technology, without the hassle. The menu features large, intuitive icons for everything from calls, texts, and emails to photos, weather, and games. The front-facing speakers work like a speakerphone so it’s easy to hear. You can only receive calls from people in the contact book. That means scammers won’t be able to get through.
The GrandPad has two five megapixel cameras, one on the front and one on the back. This enables you to take good quality photos of friends and family as well as selfies to share with loved ones.
The GrandPad costs $250 and talk, text, and data plans run anywhere from $15 to $37.50 per month. There are no contracts and like GreatCall, you can try the phone for 30 days and return it if it doesn’t work for you.
3. GreatCall Jitterbug Smart2
Jitterbug Smart2 is an affordable smartphone that offers exceptional functionality for seniors. The phone features a simple menu in a list format, making it easy to scroll up and down to what you’re looking for. This smartphone also has a large 5.5-inch touchscreen and a long battery life – five hours of 4g LTE video streaming, 12 hours of talk time, and 17 days of charge if left on standby.
The Jitterbug Smart2 has a high quality built-in camera with 13 megapixels. It features auto-focus, helping to steady the frame and making blurry photos a thing of the past. It also has a second front-facing camera with five megapixels.
The Jitterbug Smart2 phone has all the capabilities of a regular smartphone. You can use it to make video calls, download apps, and use GPS to get around. The phone has settings that make it easy to use with a hearing aid, and there are monthly add-on options if you want other safety features. These add-ons include medical alert, 24/7 monitoring, and health updates for seniors.
The phone itself costs $149.99 and prices for talk, text, and data plans range from $2.50 to $59.99 per month with no contracts. If you choose the Jitterbug Smart2, you’ll need to pay an initial activation and product fee. There are discounts available, including when you purchase a health and safety package, which run between $19.99 and $34.99 per month. Best of all, this phone has a 30-day guarantee so you can try it out for 30 days and return it for a small $10 restocking fee if you don’t like it.
4. Consumer Cellular Doro 7050
Like GreatCall, Consumer Cellular is one of the leading companies when it comes to cell phones for seniors. The company offers a wide range of devices from high-tech ones like the GrandPad above to simple devices like the Doro 7050.
The Doro 7050 is a basic flip phone with large buttons that makes dialing phone numbers and sending text messages easier than ever. The simple design means less tech-savvy seniors won’t get confused, and the displays feature high-contrast lighting to make it easier to read, even if there is a glare. It has a three megapixel camera with built-in flash, offering basic functionality for taking photos.
This flip phone features hearing aid compatibility and an emergency button if you need to reach out for help. The company also hosts instructional videos on its website so you can learn how to use the phone in just a few minutes.
The Doro 7050 is incredibly affordable. It costs $50, and the company offers a variety of calling and texting plans to suit different budgets.
5. Apple iPhone SE
For seniors that are tech-savvy and want a top-of-the-line device, the Apple iPhone is a good choice. The Apple iPhone SE lands at the affordable end of Apple’s range of products and still offers incredible functionality at a lower price point. This iPhone features a 4.7-inch screen, a front-facing 7-megapixel camera, and a rear-facing 12-megapixel camera. It’s one of the best options if you’re looking for a phone that can take high-quality pictures. The phone offers up to 256GB of data storage, and you can use it to stream videos, make video calls, download apps, update social media, and surf the internet.
The iPhone also offers hearing aid compatibility, and the screen brightness can be adjusted to improve visibility. The phone also enables you to easily contact emergency services, and you can set up speed dial to reach your most frequently called numbers with the push of a button. These phones are also durable and resistant to water and dust.
One key feature on the iPhone SE is Touch ID, a fingerprint sensor that adds security. With this feature, you unlock or open the phone by using your fingerprint. This adds an extra layer of security and if you find it hard to use, you can switch to a four-digit code instead without sacrificing safety.
The Apple iPhone SE costs $399.99 to $549.99, depending on the amount of storage you want. Phone plan pricing varies dramatically between service providers, but T-Mobile usually offers lower prices and discounts for seniors. You can also get discounts if you have multiple lines. iPhones can be purchased with or without contracts. The most expensive service plans are unlimited talk and data plans, but you can save money by choosing a smaller data plan and using the phone mainly when you’re connected to WiFi.
6. Samsung Galaxy
Like the Apple iPhone, the Samsung Galaxy is a pricier smartphone that offers incredible functionality. It uses the Android operating system and offers a large screen and exceptional video and picture quality. Like the iPhone, these smartphones feature high megapixel cameras, video stabilization, and different modes to take pictures in varied lighting. The phone offers a 5.8-inch screen, video stabilization, and voice control.
What sets the Galaxy apart from the iPhone is that it can also be operated with a stylus. That makes it a great choice for seniors who like to navigate touchscreens with a traditional feel that’s more like writing with a pencil. The Samsung Galaxy also features an Easy Mode for kids and seniors that minimizes the number of icons on the screen and increases the size of the text.
There are a variety of Samsung Galaxy phones, ranging in price from the affordable Galaxy A series, which costs $99 to other options that are more than one thousand dollars. The pricier phones have more features and capabilities so you’ll need to look at a few and decide how much you’re willing to pay and whether you need the extra features or not.
7. Alcatel Go-Flip 3
The Alcatel Go-Flip 3 is a flip phone with the basic functions of a smartphone. It has a basic, two-megapixel main camera for photo-taking. It offers two small displays, a 2.8-inch display on the inside and a 1.44-inch display on the outside that allows you to see who’s calling. The Go-Flip 3 has Google Assistant, a handy tool that makes it easy to book doctor’s appointments and make phone calls by using voice instructions.
This phone is particularly useful for seniors thanks to its hearing aid compatibility and large tactile keypad. It features crystal-clear call quality and offers great battery life — 7.9 hours of talk time at 4G speeds. The phone features a dual microphone with noise cancellation, and it has Bluetooth and micro-USB capabilities.
This mobile phone offers ease of use at an affordable price. The Alcatel Go-Flip 3 costs $99 and can be used with a variety of carriers including T-Mobile, Metro, and Sprint. Plans vary depending on data amounts, and you can purchase accessories, such as headphones and a holster, to increase functionality.
8. Motorola Moto G7
This smartphone features a 5.7-inch touchscreen and the speaker can reach 88 decibels, making it a great choice for people with vision and hearing problems. The Motorola Moto G7 also offers safety features, including facial recognition and fingerprint reading to unlock the phone. It has a 13-megapixel camera that is perfect for snapping photos of your beloved pet or your family and friends.
This device, like many smartphones, is also a great way for seniors to stay entertained. You can download games like chess and brain teasers to keep your mind occupied. In addition, you can find apps for weather, navigation, and transportation to help you stay safe on the move.
The Motorola Moto G7 costs $199, and you can choose between a contract plan at a carrier or pay-as-you-go options. This mobile phone is more expensive than low cost basic flip phones, but it’s also affordable if you want the functionality of a smartphone without the high cost of fancier options.
9. Nokia 3310
The Nokia 3310 is a simple phone that features a small 2.4-inch screen for reading text messages and seeing who’s calling. The interface features simple icons that make it easy to navigate between making a call or playing a game. It comes in four colors and offers battery standby that lasts up to one month.
This phone isn’t designed for seniors, so it doesn’t offer a ton of extra features. However, it’s still a good option for those who want a straight-forward cell phone without the bells and whistles. The curved design is easy to hold, and it has a headphone jack to allow you to listen to music or audio, plus a simple 2-megapixel camera for snapping photos. The Nokia 3310 costs $50 and plans vary depending on your carrier and location.
Other Ways To Stay in Touch
Having a cell phone is one of the best ways to stay in touch with friends and family. Being able to call friends and family or do video chats from thousands of miles away can help you enjoy your golden years to the fullest. Whether you want a fancy smartphone with all the bells and whistles or something simple, you’ll find something that works for you on this list of the best cell phones for seniors.
Looking for other ways you can stay connected? Snug can help. Check out our senior living guides for ways to stay involved with your community. You’ll find everything from tips for taking yoga or using Facetime to chat with friends to advice on how to develop a support system and maintain your independence. Snug can also help you stay safe and healthy with a daily check-in service that connects you with emergency contacts if something is wrong.