Like everyone else, seniors need a phone to stay connected with family and friends, as that provides a social connection, improves their well-being, and enables them to get timely medical help during an emergency.
Despite advancements in telephony, several seniors above 67 do not own a smartphone as they are unfamiliar with technology, get overwhelmed by the apps, and need help getting used to the button and screen size.
Community Phone spent around 16 hours and tested 15 phones to list the top 5 best and easy cell phones for seniors. Read on to learn more!
5 Best Phones for Seniors
The right cell phone for seniors varies depending on their thinking ability, hearing, and eyesight strength, mobility, medical condition, level of acquaintance with technology, etc. You want to ensure that any phone you choose for your senior is easy to use and capable of meeting their needs.
Based on these factors, we have selected the 5 best and easy to use cell phones with designs and features that make life easy for oldsters.
1. Jitterbug Flip2 - Easiest Phone for Seniors
Jitterbug Flip2 sits on top of the list of easy cell phones for seniors because of its richness in features that enable effortless usage for various categories of seniors.
Senior citizens with hearing or sight complications, reduced muscle function in their hands, thinking issues, or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can easily use this device to keep in touch with loved ones.
Jitterbug Flip2 is Alexa Compatible empowering seniors to write texts, make calls, play music, set reminders, and check the weather using voice control. The cell phone also has an 8 MB Camera, a magnifier to zoom in on objects or texts near them, a flashlight to see in the dark, and optional medical alert features.
Reasons to Buy
1. Loudspeaker with clear sound quality
2. Hearing Aid Compatibility
3. Speed Dialing
4. Large Buttons and Screens
Reasons to Avoid
Low-quality Camera
Extra charges - features like urgent response and medication reminders will cost an additional monthly fee.
2. Sonim XP3 plus - Easiest Flip Phone
The second on our list is Sonim XP3 plus, a flip phone with features like the Android 11 Operating System, Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 CPU, 2.8 inches screen size, and 8MP camera resolution.
The large screen allows seniors to read texts easily and operate the device without stress. The Sonim XP3 plus is a flip phone with a 1.3-inch monochrome IPS LCD through which seniors can check missed calls and pause music without opening the phone.
Reasons to Buy
1. Very Durable - seniors need rugged phones that can withstand falls, drops, spills, and other harsh use.
2. Excellent Voice Quality
Reasons to Avoid
The camera is not that good, so the image lacks quality
Poor contact syncing
3. Jitterbug Smart3
Next up is Jitterbug Smart3, a smartphone with features like easy menu navigation, large and bright 6.2-inch screen, voice typing and video chat, and medical alert features.
Its video call feature allows seniors to take their connection experience with family and friends to the next level. The large bright screen makes it easy to read on the device, while voice typing helps when manual typing seems daunting.
Reason to Buy
1. Hearing Aid Compatible
2. 13 MP Impressive Camera - better image quality and video recorder.
3. Affordable
Reasons to Avoid
Less durable and rugged than the earlier-mentioned cell phones.
4. TracFone - Nokia 2760 Flip 4GB Prepaid
The penultimate cell phone on our list is the TracFone - Nokia 2760 Flip 4GB with features like KaiOS Operating System, easy usage, and an internet connection. Seniors can enjoy internet surfing and easy operation since its buttons are prominent.
Reason to Buy
1. Easy to Use
2. Affordable Pricing
Reason to Avoid
Old Fashion Design
5. TracFone - Samsung Galaxy A03s 32GB Prepaid
The Samsung Galaxy A03s 32GB smartphone has features like the Android 11 Operating System, a large screen, quality sound, and easy navigation. The phone isn't water resistant, so it can easily get damaged with harsh use.
Reason to Buy
1. Affordable Price
2. Excellent Screen Display Quality
3. Good Battery Life
Reason to Avoid
Slow UI
How to Choose the Best Phone for Seniors
When choosing the best cell phone for seniors, there are certain features to look out for before purchasing.
You have to be mindful of the following features if you are buying phones for seniors:
1. Easy to Use
From a large display screen to simple menu navigation, the ideal phone for seniors should be easy to use, especially since most of them can't manage high-tech devices. The device should also have large buttons for easy operation, whether a smartphone or a primary cell phone.
2. SOS Buttons, GPS, and Emergency Features
The ideal phone for seniors should have one-click SOS buttons and GPS, which allow them to quickly reach local emergency numbers when in need, such as an ambulance, the fire department, or the police.
3.Battery and Charging
Seniors sometimes forget to charge their phones, and without a long battery life, the phones will be mostly off, which can be a big worry for family and friends. Your phone should have a long battery life to stay on continuously.
4. Durability
Cell phones with seniors are more prone to drops, spills, and other accidents. Choosing a durable phone that can withstand harsh use can ensure less damage due to accidents. Prioritize waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof phones, as they are more durable than others.
5. Voice Commands and AI Assistant
Seniors will find voice commands, and AI Assistant features handy in helping them ease the operation of their devices. They can do a wide range of things with voice commands, such as write texts, make calls, etc.
Get the Best Cell Plan for Seniors
Community Phone offers the best and cheapest cell phone plans for seniors with tons of unique features that enhance communication with family and friends. Some of them are:
Unlimited nationwide calling: Bond with your loved ones nationwide without fearing massive phone bills.
Unlimited texts: Bond with your tech-savvy grandchildren or children with personalized text messages from your landline number
5G or 4G LTE Network Speed: You can get 5G speeds on a 5G compatible phone, else you will have access to 4G LTE.
Try Community Phone - The Best Cell Phone Alternative for Seniors
Cell phones may be great for seniors to stay connected with loved ones, but it's better to give them something they have been familiar with, and is muscle memory - a landline service.
Community Phone is a wireless landline service that operates without an internet connection or copper wires. The wireless landline base from the company uses cell towers to give you a dial tone.
The quick 30-second DIY setup of the landline base ensures you don't need technicians to set up your phone. You can set up your phone with the following steps:
1. Plug the landline base into the power outlet
2. Hook the phone to the jack that says Phone 1/Phone 2
3. Toggle the ON/OFF switch to the ON position
4. Power on the landline base. Once all the lights turn green, you are all set!
Community Phone's customer support has the perfect personnel for seniors, maintaining attentiveness and utmost care in attending to all their questions and concerns.
With Community Phone, there's no downtime even during power outages since the 12-hour backup battery keeps your phones working. Its affordable plans make this the best landline service for seniors in the US.
FAQs
Should a senior person have a cell phone?
Yes. Cell phones help seniors quickly contact their loved ones whenever they feel lonely. They also benefit from the GPS tracking feature, which helps them get timely help during an emergency. Family and Friends will also feel at ease knowing they're always aware of their seniors' location.
Can Seniors Get a Free Government Phone?
Yes, seniors can get a free government phone, depending on their state. The simplest way to qualify is by participating in government assistance programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, or food camps. Also, individuals with household incomes below 135% of the federal poverty guideline are automatically covered.
What are the benefits of landline service for Seniors?
Community Phone's landline service is the best way to let seniors communicate with their loved ones. The service comes packed with many benefits, including:
1. Unlimited Minutes
2. Provision Security in Emergency Situation
3. Uninterrupted functionality, even during power outages
4. Cannot be hacked or breached
5. Excellent Sound Quality
6. Easy setup
Where can you get cheap landline phone service for seniors?
Community Phone offers the best affordable landline phone service for seniors, with outstanding features. Seniors also get a caring support team ready to answer their questions or concerns. Call Community Phone's landline specialists at (866)-593-5333 to learn more.
Conclusion
This guide listed the top 5 best and easy-to-use phones for seniors. You can choose your preferred cell phone, keeping in mind the needs of your elderly parents, grandparents, or relative.
Community Phone offers the cheapest landline and cell plans for senior citizens. Plus, you get a 14-day trial period to test the service and decide whether it's right for you.