The Best Basic Cell Phones of 2024

Our picks are simple to use with large displays

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If the main goal is to be able to make phone calls, you can make life easier by going with a more basic phone instead of a pricey smartphone.

These are our favorites.

Best for Verizon

Kyocera DuraXV Extreme

Kyocera DuraXV Extreme E4810

Amazon

Pros
  • Sturdy, lasting flip design

  • Certified for hazardous conditions

  • Exceptionally loud dual speaker system

Cons
  • Limited advanced features

We must give the Kyocera DuraXV Extreme E4810 credit; they aren't kidding about the extreme part. You can drop this 5 feet onto solid concrete or let it sit in 6,5 feet of water for 30 minutes. The phone is also certified to be in Class 1, Division 2 hazardous locations. We're not even sure if we're capable of being there.

Extremeness aside, this is a good, basic phone with a camera and video capabilities, really loud front-facing speakers (when at full volume), and it can act as an LTE mobile hotspot for ten devices. It's a simple cell phone that can be put through more-than-basic conditions.

Screen Size: N/A | Resolution: N/A | Processor: 1.2GHz | Camera: 5MP | Battery Life: 9.5 hours

Best for Seniors

Lively Jitterbug Flip2

Lively Jitterbug Flip2 Cell Phone

Amazon

Pros
  • Simple navigation

  • Large buttons

  • Loud speaker

Cons
  • Not compatible major networks

  • Mediocre camera

Jitterbug and its carrier, Lively, build their phones specifically for seniors. The Jitterbug Flip 2 is a flip phone with a small outer screen that displays incoming calls and notifications. The inner screen has a simple interface with a simple yes/no navigation. The large buttons, bright screens, and powerful speaker are perfect for anyone who needs an uncomplicated phone.

The phone's camera isn't the best, though. The Jitterbug Flip 2 is exclusive to Lively, so if you're a customer on another carrier, you'll need to switch to Lively to use this phone. However, the carrier has no long-term contracts and piggybacks on Verizon's extensive nationwide network.

Screen Size: 1.44 and 3.2 inches | Resolution: N/A | Processor: 1.1 GHz | Camera: 8MP (5MP front-facing) | Battery Life: Around one day

Pros
  • Simple to use

  • Can browse internet and download apps

Cons
  • Subpar camera

  • So-so battery life

The Nokia 2780 Flip is a phone first, with a few extras. It has 4G and a 5MP camera, comes in blue and red, and is very affordable.

You can use it to make calls, text, play music, and take photos. It also has a web browser and an app store. The 2780 Flip has a simple interface, though it's less responsive than a smartphone.

While its battery life isn't impressive (about 7 hours of talk time), the phone comes with an array of accessibility features, including larger font sizes, louder volume, a quick dial button, captions, text-to-speech, and it's compatible with hearing aids.

Screen Size: 2.7 inches | Resolution: 320 x 240 | Processor: N/A | Camera: 5MP | Battery Life: 7 hours

Best for T-Mobile

TCL Flip Go

TCL Flip Go cellphone.

TCL

Pros
  • Can use as a mobile hotspot

  • Good battery life

Cons
  • Not a great camera phone

The TCL Flip 4 has 4G, a 2-megapixel camera, a headphone jack, and mobile hotspot capability. The phone's battery life is good (about 14 hours of talk time), it's hearing aid compatible, and you can adjust the text size.

It's straightforward to use and inexpensive, so it's an excellent choice if you need only the basics. Its camera isn't great, though it's rare to find a basic cell phone with a good one.

Screen Size: 2.8 inches | Resolution: 320 x 240 | Processor: N/A | Camera: 2MP | Battery Life: 14 hours

What to Look For in a Basic Cell Phone

Battery Life

In basic cell phones, battery life is often measured in days or weeks. Unlike smartphones, basic cell phones don’t have to process many complex actions. Review the phone’s specs to identify the one offering maximum talk and standby time. To eliminate how often you need to charge your phone, consider how many advanced features there are, as they may reduce your battery life.

Ease of Use

If you're buying a basic cell phone, it's at least partly because you want to avoid dealing with the complexities of a modern smartphone. While most basic cell phones are inherently simple, some are surprisingly complicated. Today’s basic phones can include features such as texting, taking photos, or listening to music. Aside from premium features, some fully loaded basic phones have complex interfaces. While looking for a basic phone, ensure it has an interface that makes it reasonably easy to place and answer calls.

Expandable Storage

Basic phone users and smartphone users alike can benefit from extra storage. Today, most basic cell phones include a camera. If you plan on taking photos or videos, you'll want to ensure the phone has enough storage. Getting a phone with expandable storage can help if you cannot transfer your memories from the phone to a computer. With expandable storage, not only are you able to add more capacity, but you’re able to swap memory cards when the current card gets full.

FAQ
  • What is a basic cell phone?

    As smartphones have become more complex, the basic cellphone is here for people who want a more straightforward experience. It's usually a small phone without a large screen and often a flip phone. It's got large keys and a large, easy-to-read screen and interface. They usually can't run apps, but they are the perfect way to keep in touch for those who struggle with a more modern smartphone.

  • How much does a basic cell phone plan cost?

    The price of a basic cell phone plan can vary, but there are a variety of cheap cell phone plans if you want to avoid paying the cost of a major carrier such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Smaller carriers and MVNOs, including Cricket Wireless, MetroPCS, Visible, Republic Wireless, and others, offer plans to save considerable amounts for people. Instead of signing up for a complete prepaid plan, you can get a plan that allows you to pay just for the number of voice minutes, texts, and data you need and can use. Some of these plans cost as little as $15 to $20, making them much cheaper than mainline options.

  • Can basic cell phones be hacked?

    A basic cell phone can offer advantages if your main concern is privacy and security because not all have full Wi-Fi connectivity, GPS, apps, and sophisticated operating systems. But like any cellular device, they can track you and your whereabouts, and that's true even of a basic cell phone. That said if your cell phone has no apps to speak of and you don't use it for web browsing, that'll limit your exposure.

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