Everyone needs to be connected. Seniors, who might be isolated from their families or have specific health needs, shouldn’t be left out. The smartphone industry, by and large, isn’t thinking about the particular needs of the senior market, but if you pay attention, you can find carriers and phones that offer a streamlined and accommodating phone experience.
Being in what phone manufacturers think of as the “senior market” isn’t about chronological age so much as it is about faculties, preferences, and lifestyle. Many of these phones accommodate reduced eyesight and hearing, plus are affordable. Others have high-end features that streamline aspects of your life.
Our list includes both voice phones and general-purpose smartphones. Most of the phones on this list are available unlocked, which means you can pair them with any compatible carrier; the others are typically available only in carrier-specific versions.
The Best Phone Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Best Big-Screen, Big-Battery iPhone
Why We Picked It
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is among the best phones on the market and its massive, high-resolution screen is very easy to see and use. Extensive battery life means you won’t have to hunt down a charger often, while excellent cameras mean you can take lots of quality family photos. Apple’s mobile OS is also intuitive to pick up regardless of your tech skills.
Who It’s For
If you have money to spare, the iPhone 14 Pro Max keeps you current with the absolute latest tech trends. The combination of a large screen and Apple’s many accessibility features make it simple to embrace for everything from making video calls to streaming classical music.
PROS
- High-quality hardware
- Always-on display includes widgets
- Top-notch cameras
- Stellar wireless performance
CONS
- Pricey
- Dated design and Lightning connector
Learn More
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Best for Artists and Notetakers
Why We Picked It
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is arguably the best Android handset for seniors. It has a huge screen, terrific cameras, and top-notch build quality. And, if you like to jot down notes by hand, the bundled S Pen stylus slots right into the phone. Samsung’s Easy Mode also helps less tech-savvy people use the phone to its fullest.
Who It’s For
Like the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the S23 Ultra is for people with deep pockets and a desire to use the latest mobile tech. The S Pen works better than any other stylus we’ve tested, so this phone should also appeal especially to artists and notetakers.
PROS
- Large, bright display
- Speedy performance
- Excellent cameras
- S Pen integration
- Solid battery life
- Durable hardware
- Strong software update commitment
CONS
- Expensive
- Big, heavy build
Learn More
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
Best Affordable Samsung Phone
Why We Picked It
The Galaxy A14 5G is a capable midrange phone that packs the best of Samsung in an affordable piece of hardware. It has a large, sharp display with a speedy 90Hz refresh rate, delivers good performance for the price, and comes with an excellent software update policy.
Who It’s For
Those who want a phone with a big screen and snappy speeds on a budget will appreciate the Samsung Galaxy A14, which is often available for under its $199 list price.
PROS
- Large, sharp display with 90Hz refresh rate
- Good performance for the price
- Excellent software update policy
CONS
- Not protected against dust or water
- Screen is hard to see in sunlight
Learn More
Motorola Moto G Power 5G (2023)
Best Battery Life
Why We Picked It
The Motorola Moto G Power 5G doesn’t redefine the mobile category, but it still offers good performance for a reasonable price. Its 13-plus-hour battery life and 6.5-inch 1080p 120Hz screen are the main highlights. The cameras aren’t outstanding, but they work well enough for casual snapshots.
Who It’s For
If you want a high-end Android phone that costs well under $1,000, this Motorola handset is worth considering. It consistently surprised us in both our benchmark and battery rundown tests, which means it won’t make you feel behind the times.
PROS
- Good battery life
- Solid performance
- Affordable
- Adequate main camera
CONS
- Weak secondary cameras
- No NFC
- Lacks IP rating
Learn More
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Most Affordable iPhone
Why We Picked It
The iPhone SE offers all the key benefits of an Apple smartphone (including access to the App Store) in a smaller, more affordable package. It doesn’t have the latest and greatest hardware, but it’s reliable, takes good photos, and runs reasonably fast.
Who It’s For
For budget shoppers who still want an Apple handset, the iPhone SE is the best choice. Chances are that at least someone you know also uses an iPhone, so getting help with anything shouldn’t be an issue.
PROS
- Most affordable new iPhone
- Speedy performance
- Supports T-Mobile and Verizon mid-band 5G
- Longer battery life than the previous model
CONS
- Outdated body design
- No Night mode in camera
- Lacks support for AT&T’s 3.45GHz mid-band 5G
- Shortest battery life of any current iPhone model
Learn More
Nokia 2780 Flip
Best Affordable Voice Phone
Why We Picked It
Some seniors don’t need or want a smartphone. Many are simply looking for a phone that can make calls and send the occasional text message. The Nokia 2780 Flip does just that; it’s a no-frills flip phone that handles calls and not much else.
Who It’s For
Seniors reluctant to cross over to smartphones should enjoy the familiar feel of the Nokia 2780 Flip. It’s very affordable, too.
PROS
- Good call quality
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- FM radio
- Affordable
CONS
- Operating system is a bit clunky
- Group texting could be better
- Several key apps are missing
- Middling battery life
Learn More
Buying Guide: The Best Phones for Seniors in 2023
The Best Voice Phones
We regularly get emails from readers who are frustrated because they don’t feel like there are enough simple, high-quality voice phones. They look at the current lineup of voice phones and see them as a step back, not a step up.
They’re right. The hardware demands of 4G LTE voice calling mean inexpensive voice phones are slower and less reliable than in the past. We tested several, and the one we most recommend is the Nokia 2780 Flip. It’s cheap and it works well.
There are a bunch of flip phones kicking around the cell phone aisle at Walgreens and Walmart from carrier brands like Tracfone and Net10. We don’t review them, but some appear to be older, decent-quality models. If your budget is tight, try one of those. Avoid phones where the carrier appears to be the phone maker; those are typically rebranded phones from low-rent manufacturers.
What Phone Features Are Most Important for Seniors?
Icons and touch targets on large, affordable devices with lower-resolution screens are easier to hit. On that front, we like the Moto G Power 5G, which is available in various forms on all the major carriers. It has a big screen, a good price, and solid battery life. A flagship phone can also be a good choice for a big screen, especially if you want to use it to look at photos and videos.
If a smartphone’s default abundance of options feels too cluttered or confusing, try Samsung’s Easy mode. It’s available on handsets from the low-cost A14 5G to the high-end Galaxy S23 series.
Fans of pen and paper should enjoy using Samsung’s S Pen stylus on the S23 Ultra or the stylus on Motorola’s Moto G Stylus. You can also use a third-party passive stylus with many iPhones.
The iPhone SE is a small, affordable iPhone that still has a fingerprint sensor (Credit: Molly Flores)
Finally, if you depend on a tech-savvy person for smartphone tech support, you might want to get the same type of phone they have (either one that runs Android or iOS). The two main phone operating systems are very different, and someone familiar with one might not be able to answer questions about the other. There are a lot of iPhones out there; here’s how to choose the best iPhone. We also have a roundup of the top Android phones.
What Are the Best Senior-Specific Phone Carriers?
Two wireless carriers specialize in the senior market: Lively and Consumer Cellular. Lively, formerly known as GreatCall, uses the Verizon network, while Consumer Cellular uses the AT&T and T-Mobile networks. Of the two, Lively has more specialized features for those who need health monitoring: an urgent response button, 24/7 access to nurses, and connected medical alert devices.
Now a subsidiary of Best Buy, Lively sells first-party hardware. Its flip phone, the Jitterbug Flip2, is the company’s easiest phone to use. We haven’t reviewed it and therefore don’t have any opinions to share about it, but it sells for around $100.
On the other hand, we recommend Consumer Cellular highly. Consumer Cellular has a marketing arrangement with AARP and doesn’t offer specialized services, but it received high marks from our readers in the past for customer service. It sells several phones from our list.
Recommended by Our Editors
Do Senior Phones Work on Standard Carriers?
Many seniors are more comfortable with older phones, but some might no longer work. You must ensure your phone supports 4G LTE networks, which will remain active until at least 2030. All three major carriers have turned off their 3G already. That means you need to go with a voice phone that supports voice over 4G LTE, also known as VoLTE.
There are other benefits to 4G as well. 4G LTE basic phones support HD Voice; that means you can conduct high-quality voice calls with anyone else that has an HD Voice-capable mobile phone. Those higher-quality calls can be easier on aged ears. As for 5G, you won’t need to worry about it for years.
The major carriers offer senior discount plans for smartphone users. T-Mobile has special plans(Opens in a new window) for people over 55. AT&T(Opens in a new window) and Verizon(Opens in a new window) have much more limited offers that are available only to people who live in Florida.
The Best Prepaid Carriers for Senior Phones
Seniors on fixed incomes might want to check out our story on the best cheap phone plans, which has a lot of low-cost virtual carriers—prepaid carriers that use the major carriers’ networks but tend to charge a lot less per month for basic service. If you’re looking for limited, voice-only plans, you can get them on a range of carrier networks for around $10 per month. Those plans usually require that you bring over an unlocked, compatible phone. The Nokia 2780 Flip (on the list above) is our top choice for simple unlocked phones.
Visits: 0
