The Best Cell Phones for Seniors of 2024

Make sure your loved ones are always in touch

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The best phones for seniors consider all the accessibility needs of those who have reached their golden years. Most modern smartphones have "easy modes" or accessibility features that can be turned on. Generally, the best phones for seniors will have large buttons, a large bright display for easy viewing, wireless charging—meaning no fumbling with cables—and long battery life.

The Jitterbug Flip2 is our go-to pick. The large buttons, robust speakers, and easy interface make using the phone simple.

Best Overall

Lively Jitterbug Flip2

Lively Jitterbug Flip2 Cell Phone

Amazon

What We Like
  • Alexa built in for voice commands

  • Large buttons

  • Loud speaker

What We Don't Like
  • Low resolution camera

  • Locked to Lively carrier

Jitterbug and its carrier, Lively, build their phones specifically for seniors. The Jitterbug Flip2 is a flip phone with a small outside screen for incoming calls and notifications and a large inside screen with a custom operating system designed with simple navigation. The large buttons and bright screens are perfect for seniors because they're so easy to use. The loudspeaker makes phone calls a snap, even for those whose hearing could be better.

This phone also has Amazon's Alexa voice assistant and responds to voice commands for making calls and sending text messages.

The camera on the phone isn't the best, which is unsurprising considering the flip-phone form factor. The Jitterbug Flip is also exclusive to Lively, so if you're a customer on another carrier, this phone won't work. But the carrier has no long-term contracts and uses Verizon's nationwide network, which is very extensive.

Lively offers an array of medical alert features for an extra $20 monthly. These health and safety features include an urgent response button for immediate help, on-call nurses, personal operators, and easy-to-book Lyft rides.

Screen Size: 1.44 and 3.2 inches | Resolution: 480x320 | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 | Camera: 8MP rear and 5MP front | Battery: 1780 mAh

Best Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G

SAMSUNG Galaxy A32 5G.

Amazon

What We Like
  • Good cameras

  • Helpful Easy mode

What We Don't Like
  • Low resolution screen

Samsung's Galaxy A32 5G is a great mid-range smartphone and a cheaper alternative to the company's S series of flagship phones.

It's expensive for a fixed budget, but there's no reason seniors should be relegated to flip phones and low-end smartphones. This phone is powerful and has a lower price tag that punches way above its class.

All Samsung Galaxy phones come with an Easy Mode that turns the phone's interface into large, easy-to-use, and easy-to-read buttons. This phone has a great camera setup, perfect for shooting photos of friends and family.

Screen Size: 6.5 inches | Resolution: 1600x720 | Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 720 5G | Camera: 48MP/8MP/5MP/2MP rear and 13MP front | Battery: 5000 mAh

Best iPhone

Apple iPhone SE (3rd Generation)

Apple iPhone SE

Amazon

What We Like
  • Good camera

  • Great price

What We Don't Like
  • Weak battery

Apple 3rd generation iPhone SE is a smaller, more affordable version of the iPhone. It shares many features with the iPhone 13 but in a smaller package with a TouchID fingerprint sensor rather than Apple's more popular FaceID. You get the same A15 bionic chip with its excellent performance, 12MP camera sensor, and wireless charging.

Since the phone is smaller, it has a smaller battery. The phone screen is also relatively small compared with pricier models. But if you're looking for a lot of power and performance with an easy-to-use operating system on a budget, this is one of the best deals in town.

Screen Size: 4.7 inches | Resolution: 1334x750 | Processor: Apple A15 Bionic | Camera: 12MP rear and 7MP front | Battery: 2018 mAh

Apple iPhone SE 3rd Generation

Apple

What to Look For in a Cell Phone For Seniors

Price

Living on a fixed income can mean smartphones are out of reach. A lower price often doesn't necessarily mean a bad experience. It's crucial to find the right balance of features and price when shopping.

Screen Size

Screen size is critical when it comes to phones for seniors. If eyesight has started to go, or if glasses are required, larger screens can accommodate larger icons and text, making the phone easier to use.

Cameras

A smartphone is a multi-use tool, and most seniors love capturing photos. A smartphone with a good camera can capture many great memories, and having as good a camera as your budget allows. Higher megapixel counts are generally better, but software processing also has much to say about it. Check reviews of phones and look for photo samples.

FAQ
  • What is Greatcall?

    Greatcall has been renamed Lively. It's a mobile network virtual operator (MVNO) that uses Verizon's network to deliver its mobile service. Beyond that, Lively adds great services for seniors, including doctors, nurses, and associates who assist seniors whenever needed.

  • How do you activate Samsung's Easy Mode?

    Go to Settings, and search for "Easy Mode." It's typically located under the display settings. Easy Mode organizes your apps into three columns of buttons that are large and easy to see.

  • Can you still get a phone on a contract?

    That depends on the carrier. Most phone carriers no longer have contracts but will offer multi-year payment plans. Check with your provider or buy an unlocked phone that can work with any carrier.

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