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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.
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Best Big-Screen iPhone
Why We Picked ItThe iPhone 15 Pro Max is among the best phones on the market and its massive, high-resolution screen is easy to see and use. Extensive battery life means you won’t have to hunt down a charger often, while excellent cameras (including a 5x optical telephoto lens) mean you can take lots of good family photos. Apple’s mobile OS is also intuitive to pick up regardless of your tech skills.Who It’s ForIf you have money to spare, the iPhone 15 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
Fast, smooth performance
Excellent cameras
Long battery life
Useful Action button
USB-C connectivity opens up new features
Lighter than previous Pro Max
SPECS
Name
Value
Operating System
iOS 17
CPU
Apple A17 Pro
Dimensions
6.29 by 3.02 by 0.32 inches
Screen Size
6.7 inches
Screen Resolution
2,796 by 1,290 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
48MP, 12MP, 12MP; 12MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
20 hours, 15 minutes
Learn More
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Review
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Best Big-Screen Android Phone
Why We Picked ItThe Samsung Galaxy S24 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 included 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 ForLike the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the S24 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 especially appeal to artists and notetakers.
PROS
Speedy performance
Beautiful screen
Terrific cameras
Useful AI features
Comes with S Pen stylus
Long support commitment
SPECS
Name
Value
Operating System
Android 14
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
Dimensions
6.40 by 3.11 by 0.34 Inches
Screen Size
6.8 inches
Screen Resolution
3,120 by 1,440 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
200MP, 12MP, 10MP, 50MP; 12MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
14 hours, 10 minutes
Learn More
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review
Google Pixel 8
Best Midrange Android Phone
Why We Picked ItThe Google Pixel 8 harnesses the power of AI to let you edit your photos and videos to your liking with little effort. It can also helpfully screen unknown callers, wait on hold, and confirm doctor’s appointments for you. Additionally, the device is easy to hold and see thanks to its bright, moderately large 6.2-inch OLED screen.Who It’s ForIf you want some truly convenient features and long-term software support, the Google Pixel 8 is an excellent choice. It costs less than other flagships, too.
PROS
Competitively priced
Advanced AI features
Terrific cameras
Compact
Excellent build quality
CONS
Unimpressive battery life
No telephoto camera
Storage capped at 256GB
SPECS
Name
Value
Operating System
Android 14
CPU
Google Tensor G3
Dimensions
5.93 by 2.79 by 0.35 inches
Screen Size
6.2 inches
Screen Resolution
2,400 by 1,080 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
50MP, 12MP; 10.5MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
10 hours, 20 minutes
Learn More
Google Pixel 8 Review
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
Best Affordable Android Phone
Why We Picked ItThe capable Galaxy A15 5G packs the best of Samsung into an affordable package. 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. We also like that it has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot for expandable storage.Who It’s ForIf you want a budget-friendly phone with a big screen and snappy speed, the Samsung Galaxy A15 is a steal.
PROS
Affordable
Long battery life
Competent cameras
Excellent software upgrade policy
CONS
No IP rating
Plastic build
SPECS
Name
Value
Operating System
Android 14
CPU
Mediatek 6835
Dimensions
6.30 by 3.02 by 0.33 inches
Screen Size
6.5 inches
Screen Resolution
2,340 by 1,080 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
50MP, 5MP, 2MP; 13MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
14 hours, 3 minutes
Learn More
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G Review
Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
Best Battery Life
Why We Picked ItThe Samsung Galaxy A25 5G can power through most tasks you throw at it and has enough battery life to last you a full day on a single charge. Moreover, Samsung’s promise of four years of OS upgrades and five years of security updates means you can keep the phone for several years without worry. The 6.5-inch AMOLED display also gets quite bright for enhanced visibility.Who It’s ForIf you want an affordable smartphone that can handle more than the basics, the Galaxy A25 is the phone to get. Its cameras produce better images than the majority of phones at this price, with crisp detail and good color.
PROS
Affordable
Vibrant OLED display
Good performance
Quality cameras
Long battery life
CONS
No mmWave 5G
No wireless charging
SPECS
Name
Value
Operating System
Android 14
CPU
Samsung Exynos 1280
Dimensions
6.34 by 3.01 by 0.33 inches
Screen Size
6.5 inches
Screen Resolution
2,340 by 1,080 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
50MP, 8MP, 2MP; 13MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
13 hours, 10 minutes
Learn More
Samsung Galaxy A25 5G Review
TCL Flip 2
Best Voice Phone
Why We Picked ItThe TCL Flip 2 is our favorite, low-cost flip phone. It offers up to 14 hours of talk time per charge and even has a user-replaceable battery. Wi-Fi support means you can check email and browse the web. And most importantly, both the earpiece and speakerphone sound loud and clear.Who It’s ForIf you just want a phone to make and receive calls, the TCL Flip 2 handles those tasks with aplomb. It’s quite affordable and easy to carry around.
PROS
Affordable
Long battery life
Clear earpiece and speakerphone
Wi-Fi connectivity
Email access
CONS
Can’t download additional apps
Poor cameras
SPECS
Name
Value
Operating System
AOSP
CPU
MediaTek 6739-CH
Dimensions
4.22 by 2.19 by 0.78 inches
Screen Size
2.8 inches
Screen Resolution
320 by 240 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
2MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
Approximately 14 hours of talk time
Learn More
TCL Flip 2 Review
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Best Affordable iPhone
Why We Picked ItThe 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 ForFor 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
SPECS
Name
Value
Operating System
iOS 15
CPU
Apple A15
Dimensions
5.45 by 2.65 by 0.29 inches
Screen Size
4.7 inches
Screen Resolution
1,334 by 750 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
12MP; 7MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
7 hours, 20 minutes
Learn More
Apple iPhone SE (2022) Review
Buying Guide: The Best Phones for Seniors in 2024
The Best Voice PhonesWe 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 TCL Flip 2. 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, so you should consider buying an older, less-advanced phone if one suits your needs. (That said, a flagship phone is a good choice if you want to look at photos and videos at full quality.)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 Galaxy A15 5G to the high-end Galaxy S24 series. Fans of pen and paper might enjoy using Samsung’s S Pen stylus on the S24 Ultra or the stylus on Motorola’s Moto G Stylus 5G. You can also use a third-party passive stylus with many iPhones.It’s worth looking for a phone with an IP rating and strengthened glass covers. With those features, you can worry less about dust or water ingress as well as damage from drops. Just note that most affordable models lack an IP rating.
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 and the best cheap phones overall.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 runs on AT&T. 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 who has an HD Voice-capable mobile phone. Those higher-quality calls can be easier on aged ears. As for 5G, many of the phones on our list already support it.The major carriers offer senior discount plans for smartphone users. T-Mobile has special plans for people over 55. AT&T and Verizon have much more limited offers that are available only to people who live in Florida. The Best Prepaid Carriers for Senior PhonesSeniors 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.Dave LeClair and Sascha Segan contributed to this article.
