Which phone should you choose for an older person?
The best phone for an older person is not the newest or the most expensive: it is the one they will use without apprehension. Before looking at models, look at their needs.
The questions to ask first
- What do they want to do with it? Only make and receive calls, or also see the grandchildren’s photos and make video calls?
- How well do they see, and how well do they hear? Screen size and sound power matter more than anything else.
- Are they comfortable with a touchscreen? Some people prefer real buttons, others get used to a screen very well, as long as it is simple.
- Who will help them? A relative who can set up the phone and answer questions is a real plus.
Big-button phone or smartphone?
The big-button phone is simple and sturdy, with a battery that lasts several days. But it allows neither video calls nor family photos received by messaging, and it leaves a person a little more cut off from family exchanges.
The smartphone opens all of that up, but its home screen full of icons, its notifications and its settings bewilder many seniors. The most flexible solution is often an ordinary smartphone, made simple by an app that replaces the home screen with a few big cards.
The criteria that really matter
- A large screen, bright, to read without glasses or almost.
- Powerful sound, and compatibility with hearing aids if they wear any.
- Good battery life: a phone you forget to charge is a phone that does not answer.
- An easy grip: neither too heavy nor too slippery. A non-slip case helps a lot.
- A recent version of Android, to receive security updates.
No need to buy a new phone
An Android smartphone a few years old, the one you are replacing for example, is perfectly fine if it has a large screen and a battery in good condition. Reset, cleared of unnecessary apps and made simple, it will make an excellent first smartphone for a parent.
FA6LIT turns an Android phone into a simple phone: big, clear cards, voice control, and messages shown in large print and read aloud. Discover FA6LIT