Today’s seniors are more comfortable with technology than past generations, so it’s not uncommon to find older adults happily chatting with their friends or grandchildren while they stroll the grounds at a retirement community. Cell phones are lifelines for some seniors, connecting them not only to the friends and loved ones they don’t get to see in person that often but also to vital emergency services when the need arises. And because socializing with friends and loved ones is one of the best ways to keep your brain healthy, a cell phone for seniors also contributes to cognitive health and social wellness.
There are a variety of cell phones suitable for today’s seniors. The best cell phone for you depends on your needs and how you want to use it. For instance, if you’re not tech-savvy and just want a cell phone with basic calling and texting functionality, there are cell phones for seniors that stick to the essentials. If you’ve been using technology for years and want the best of the best, the newest models offer benefits like advanced camera features to take lifelike photos of your grandchildren, large screen sizes, and more.
If you want an even larger display, a tablet that also functions as a cell phone is a good choice. Finally, there are some cell phones specifically designed for seniors. These devices offer features such as large buttons and fonts, simplified menus, fall detection, SOS buttons, and displays that put less strain on your eyes or are easier to read in the sunlight.
To help you find the best cell phone for your needs, we rounded up the 50 best cell phones for seniors below. Whether you’re thinking it might be time to consider senior living and you want a way to stay in touch with those you love, you want a cell phone for safety, or you simply want a way to connect with friends and family, you’ll find a cell phone that meets your needs on this list. Note that the cell phones for seniors listed below are listed in alphabetical order but otherwise aren’t ranked or rated in any way.
The Alcatel GO FLIP 4 is an intuitive, user-friendly cell phone with a familiar flip design and dual color displays so you can easily see who’s calling without opening the phone. It has large buttons and dedicated shortcut keys so you can enable one-click calling for their closest friends and loved ones. The Alcatel GO FLIP 4 is hearing aid-compatible and also boasts clear, amplified sound from the loudspeaker.
Another cell phone from Alcatel that’s intuitive for seniors to use is the GO FLIP V. It has a 2.8-inch internal display for reading messages and emails and a 1.44-inch external display so you can see who’s calling quickly without having to open the phone. It has large tactile keys, Real-Time-Text (RTT), and Text-Telephone (TTY) capabilities. Like the GO FLIP 4, the GO FLIP V is hearing aid compatible.
The Alcatel MYFLIP provides all the essentials you need without all the added fluff you don’t. The keypad is designed for quick dialing and navigation, and the Quad-core processor enables you to seamlessly transition between applications. The Alcatel MYFLIP has a 2.9-inch display and a preview display so you can see calls and other notifications as they come in.
The Apple iPad Mini is a tablet, rather than a smartphone, but it’s one of the most functional and compact tablets you’ll find. With an edge-to-edge screen, it boasts an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display for excellent graphics quality, and it even supports the Apple Pencil for seniors who like to take hand-written notes. Voice and video calling, the ability to stream to compatible hearing aids, and Touch ID for fast and easy authentication, the Apple iPad Mini is a great option if you prefer a larger display and don’t mind a device that’s a bit larger than a cell phone.
The latest offering from Apple, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the top-of-the-line model from the iPhone 13 series. That means it’s pricey. That said, if a large display is what you’re looking for, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch display compared to the iPhone 13 Pro’s 6.1-inch display, so there’s quite a difference in viewing area. And if you tend to take lots of photos of your adventures and the grandkids, the camera features offered by the iPhone 13 Pro Max are hard to beat.
The Apple iPhone SE (2020) offers 13 hours of usage from a full battery. It offers HD Voice for clear audio with a Retina HD display and a 4.7-inch screen size. It’s affordable compared to the iPhone 13 lineup, so it’s a great choice for seniors who want to reap the benefits of the iOS platform on a budget. And with an IP67 water resistance rating, it won’t fail even if it gets wet from spills or drops.
The AT&T Cingular Flip IV is a great choice for seniors who want easy navigation. With a quick glance at the 1.17-inch exterior display, you can see who’s calling or what time it is. Flip it open to view the main 2.8-inch display and use the phone’s features, such as the large and easy to read buttons for navigating the menu and quick dialing. With a long-lasting battery, HD Voice, and high-resolution video playback of 1080p, it has all the basics covered for those who want a simple, yet functional cell phone.
The AT&T Z222 GoPhone offers the ideal balance of features and design for seniors. With a compact size, it’s easy to carry in your pocket. It also offers Messaging and Mobile Email capabilities, as well as a VGA Camera and Bluetooth compatibility.
If you’re always dropping your phone, you want a rugged cell phone that’s durable enough to withstand repeated drops. It boasts an IP68 water-resistance rating, meaning it’s waterproof up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes, as well as numerous other durability and military ratings for its drop-proof design, ability to withstand close range and high-pressure water spray. Plus, the basic functions of this device will still operate in temperatures as low as -30° C, making it perfect for seniors who are year-round outdoor adventurers.
If the smaller screen size of a flip-style cell phone doesn’t work for you, the BLU Advance 4.0M is an excellent option to consider. It’s still compact enough to carry it in your pocket but offers a 4-inch, 480×800 WGA Display. With a leather pattern on the back of the device, it’s both stylish and sophisticated, and its 1.2 GHz Quad Core Processor ensures excellent performance for using apps, watching videos, and more. The best part is a Doze feature that automatically puts it in a sleep state to conserve battery – so if you forget to charge it, your alarm will still work in the morning.
The BLU G91 Pro offers an ergonomic, yet stunning design so you’re not sacrificing comfort for style. It has a large, 6.7-inch display with 1080×4000 resolution for seniors who want a large screen. For those who enjoy photography or just capturing memories, there’s a Quad rear camera combination that rivals the latest iPhone. At the same time, you can feel secure with Face ID and security fingerprint options to unlock your phone. The battery lasts up to three days, and when you need to charge it fast, use the 30W Ultra Quick Charge for more than 50% battery in just 20 minutes.
If you’re impressed with what BLU has to offer but want something a bit simpler and more compact, the BLU Zoey Flex is also a great cell phone for seniors. It fits in your pocket or the palm of your hand with ease and offers a crisp, clear 1.8-inch display. A built-in FM radio and a rear VGM camera allow you to listen to the radio on your daily jog and snap photos or videos of the beautiful scenery.
The CC ConnectPad is one of a few cell phones for seniors that functions both as a cell phone and a tablet, giving you the best of both worlds. Designed especially for seniors, the CC ConnectPad boasts a simple user interface with large tiles and buttons, an 8-inch high-definition screen, and both cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity.
If the CC ConnectPad is too large for your taste, the Consumer Cellular Link II is another great cell phone for seniors from the same company. With bright, 2.8-inch and 1.7-inch displays, dual microphone noise suppression to add clarity to your conversations, and a large, easy to use keypad, it covers all the basics. Plus, it weighs just 4.5 ounces, so it won’t weigh you down while you’re out on the town.
The Google Pixel 5a has a few standout features that make it one of the best cell phones for seniors. Most importantly, it offers a Personal Safety app, which provides a discreet way to share your location and information with emergency contacts if you’re in situations or surroundings that feel unsafe. With Duo screen sharing and Family mode, you can get quality face-to-face time with your friends and loved ones around the world. It also offers Google Assistant, which uses Call Screen to filter out unknown and spam calls before they interrupt your day.
Another excellent cell phone for seniors from Google’s lineup is the Google Pixel 6. It features Google’s new custom-built chip, Google Tensor, that ensures fast performance and keeps your personal information safe. The Adaptive Battery prioritizes power for your favorite apps for all-day power without charging hassles, and with the Extreme Battery Saver, it can last up to 48 hours. It learns what you need over time and displays the info and apps you look for most for easy access on its 6.4-inch screen, and it can automatically call for help, share information, or record a video in an emergency. It can even detect if you’ve been in a car accident and call for help if you’re not able to respond.
If you love all that the Google Pixel 6 has to offer but wish it had a larger screen, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is for you. With a 6.7-inch display, it offers robust security to keep your personal information secure with automatic emergency calling and an intuitive interface that learns what you use most. You also get a triple rear camera system instead of the dual rear camera system offered by the Pixel 6, as well as more internal storage and other upgrades.
The GrandPad is a tablet that also functions as a smartphone, and it’s designed to meet the needs of seniors. Easy navigation, colorful buttons, and large font sizes make it easy to use, and it’s packed with other useful features like Zoom multi-party video calling, email and voice messaging, weather forecasts, a camera, stimulating games for when you need to pass the time, spam blocking, and more. With a month-to-month membership plan, it’s not just a device but a service offering 24/7 live support. And, because it has built-in wireless connectivity, you’ll have high-speed internet access everywhere.
The Jethro SC490 is a 4G bar phone that offers a simplified menu for seniors who like to stick to the basics. A large, high-contrast screen and large buttons and fonts make it easy to navigate, and it offers both a loudspeaker and M4/T4 hearing aid compatibility for clear audio.
Seniors who are always exploring the great outdoors need a cell phone that can keep up with their lifestyle. The Kyocera DuraXV Extreme can withstand drops, shock, vibration, dust, and water immersion. An intuitive interface, a large, tactile keypad and programmable Alert and Push to Talk buttons make navigation simple. Dual front speakers and dual mic noise cancellation allows you to have crisp, clear conversations with your friends and loved ones.
For seniors interested in prepaid wireless for total budget control, the LG Classic Flip works with no-contract plans (talk, text, and data) from Total Wireless. With up to six hours of talk time and a 2MP fixed focus camera, it’s a bare bones cell phone for seniors who just want the most basic functionality at an affordable cost.
The LG Exalt VN220 offers a 3-inch display with clear graphics, VoLTE Capability for HD Voice and enhanced communications over the cellular network, group calling, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatibility. You can program the 4-way directional keys for quick access to your favorite features and add unlimited people or groups to your favorites so you can keep in touch with everyone you love.
The LG G8 ThinQ is another great choice among cell phones for seniors. It offers a generous 6.1-inch screen size and impressive 12MP camera resolution (16MP Super Wide Angle) for seniors who are always snapping photos of memorable moments. You can unlock it with a fingerprint or face scan, so you don’t need to remember your PIN, and its customizable, so you can make it as complex or simple as you prefer. The gesture-driven interface recognizes hand motions, a great feature for seniors who lack dexterity due to arthritis or other conditions. However, reviews suggest that this feature doesn’t work reliably, so that’s something to keep in mind.
The LG Premier Pro Plus is an affordable smartphone compatible with StraightTalk prepaid wireless. With a battery life of up to 17.5 hours and standby time of up to 18.2 days, this is a good choice for seniors who don’t use their cell phone that often but enjoy the large screen size (6.1-inch HD display) and other smartphone features when they do.
Another cell phone designed with seniors in mind, the Lively Jitterbug Flip2 offers several helpful features that make it ideal for older adults, such as a large screen, big buttons, and a powerful speaker to ensure you can see and hear clearly. Plus, there’s an Urgent Response button that connects you with the Lively Response Team so you can easily get the help you need in an emergency.
Another great cell phone for seniors from Lively, the Jitterbug Smart3 offers simple navigation, voice typing, and video chat for ease of use. It has the same Urgent Response button as the Flip2 so you can get connected with emergency services and loved ones quickly when the need arises. With a smartphone look and feel combined with a simple, list-based menu, it perfectly balances smart and simple.
Designed for older adults who want to take advantage of technology but without all the complications, the Logic SR3 offers a large keyboard, memory buttons for quick dialing your favorite contacts, and an emergency call button to ensure you can get help when you need it. It also comes with a charging base so you don’t have to fiddle with tiny charging ports.
Most seniors will recognize the Motorola brand, which offers several cell phones that meet the needs of older adults. The edge+, as its name suggests, has a unique display screen that bends around the sides of the device and stretches to 6.7 inches. Plus, it boasts loud audio, a bold display, and a battery that can last up to two days on a single charge.
If you’re always running on the bare minimum battery charge, the Motorola Moto G Power is an excellent cell phone for seniors with a battery that can last up to three full days. It’s water repellent, offers Dolby® tuned stereo speakers, and has a customizable Moto Display and Moto Actions for the ultimate personalized, intuitive operation.
The Motorola Moto G Stylus offers a built-in stylus for more precise control, easy access to your favorite apps, and best-in-class cameras with an impressive 48MP sensor and laser autofocus. Dolby® tuned speakers and a 6.4-inch Max Vision Full HD+ display add to the ease of use for seniors.
The Motorola Moto G7 Play can be unlocked with a face scan or fingerprint – no frustrating PIN entry to access your device. With a 5.7-inch display, it’s a bit smaller than the Moto G Stylus for seniors who want a more compact cell phone, but it offers the same Max Vision Full HD+ display for crisp, clear graphics.
The Motorola Razr is compact enough to carry in your pocket but packed with features. It looks like a flip phone, but it’s actually a 6.2-inch OLED display with a zero-gap hinge that allows it to fold in half without impacting the image quality. The battery lasts up to a full day, and it also has a Turbopower feature when you need battery power fast.
The Nokia 225 4G offers simplicity with the extras you want most, such as clear call quality and social media. It has a premium performance keymat as well as dedicated function keys to provide quick access to the features you need.
The Nokia 3310 is a reimagined version of an old classic, which may appeal to seniors who long for the cell phones of the 90s. With battery standby for up to a month, this is a great choice if you always forget to charge your phone and don’t use it that often. Plus, its 2.4-inch polarized curved screen offers better readability in the sun for ease of use while you’re out and about.
The OnePlus Nord N200 5G has a generous 6.49-inch display that’s designed for vision comfort and has a Reading Mode to avoid eye strain. You can unlock the device with a face scan or fingerprint, and it boasts Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS capability. It also supports noise cancellation.
The Oukitel C12 offers a 6.18-inch display with face scanning and fingerprinting options to unlock the device instead of typing in a PIN. It also supports hand gestures for ease of use, plus expandable memory up to 64 GB if you need to store a lot of photos or videos.
The RAZ Memory Cell Phone is another model designed with seniors in mind, specifically, seniors with memory impairment. With one-touch picture-based dialing for up to 24 contacts (6 on the home screen), it couldn’t be easier to use, and a 9-1-1 call button offers peace of mind in case of emergency.
Samsung is Apple’s primary rival in the smartphone market today, and the company offers a number of devices that meet seniors’ needs. The Samsung Galaxy A12 has a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery and Fast Charging functionality that can power up your device in minutes when you need battery power fast. Plus, the edge-to-edge Infinity V HD+ display offers incredible clarity and definition.
Like the Samsung Galaxy A12, the Samsung Galaxy J2 offers a long-lasting battery, but with an added perk: it’s replaceable. That means you won’t need to invest in another phone just because your battery is worn out, which is often the case with modern smartphones with non-replaceable batteries. It has a 5-inch screen, striking a balance between ample display size and portability. The best feature is its Easy Mode, which shows you precisely what you want on a simplified interface with larger fonts and fewer icons on each page.
Designed for people who want it all, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is one of the more recent offerings from Samsung. It has a triple lens camera system for seniors who always want to capture memories, plus a 30x Space Zoom feature when you want to get up close to objects that are far away. Barely noticeable, super-thin bezels surround the 6.5-inch FHD Infinity-O Display for bold, clear graphics.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is ideal for seniors who know and love technology and want all the best that smartphones have to offer. With the highest resolution photos and videos, the fastest Galaxy processor available, and a battery that last all day and beyond, and S Pen compatibility, it’s designed for the best experience across the board. And, if you thought the Galaxy S20’s 30x Space Zoom was impressive, you’ll be amazed by the Galaxy S21’s 100x Space Zoom.
Seniors who are always exploring the great outdoors will appreciate the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active, which is dustproof and water-resistant with a rugged design that’s engineered for outdoor activities. The 5.1-inch Full HD Super AMOLED® display offers graphic clarity, and it’s adaptable, automatically adjusting the brightness and contrast for maximum readability. As if that wasn’t enough, it also has a built-in heart rate monitor and S Health™ app to track your steps, calories burned, and more.
The S Pen compatible Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is a foldable smartphone with an impressive 7.6-inch Infinity Flex Display. A minimized bezel, no notch, and an under-display camera, it offers a completely uninterrupted view. This smartphone is an excellent choice for seniors who want the maximum functionality and a generous display size in a compact package that fits in your pocket.
The Snapfon ez4G is easy to use, easy to hear, and easy to see with a big-button keypad that also functions as a speaking keypad in English or Spanish, a bright, high-contrast display, and simplified menus. Enhanced volume with side controls allows you to adjust the volume as needed. It also offers fall detection and an SOS button that alerts 5 preselected contacts with the press of a button.
With noise cancellation and rugged durability that can withstand harsh outdoor conditions, the Sonim XP3 is ideal for the senior who leads an active lifestyle. A 100 dB+ speaker provides clear, loud audio, and the large, tactile, and glove-friendly buttons make it easy to use.
For the top-of-the-line features with the same rugged durability as the Sonim XP3, the XP3plus takes it a step further with a screen and keys that are larger, more dynamic, and programmable. It’s glove-friendly and has Push-to-Talk functionality to ensure you can get in touch with your loved ones when you need them.
The Sunbeam F1 is ideal for seniors who want all the tools they need but without the distractions and dangers that come with full-featured smartphones. It’s a durable, flip-style phone that’s compact enough to carry in your pocket. It comes in three different models (Dandelion, Daisy, and Orchid) with varying features, so you can choose the features you need for the functionality you want.
Waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof, and equipped with a Corning® Gorilla® Glass screen that can withstand drops without cracking, the Ulefone Power Armor 14 is built to last. With a 10000mAh battery, it offers a long battery life for seniors who often forget to charge their cell phone and eliminates the constant anxiety about whether your battery will last until you reach your destination.
The Ushining Senior Flip Phone is a basic feature phone with large buttons and an SOS button to automatically call up to five preselected contacts in case of emergency. With a charging dock, you don’t need to fiddle with a tiny charging port and a cord to charge your phone.
If you’re looking for an affordable cell phone for seniors that functions like a smartphone, the ZTE Blade Spark Z971 is one to consider. The battery lasts for about 17.4 hours of use or 240 hours of standby, and it also boasts a 5.5-inch full HD display and Dolby enhanced audio.
Seniors who lead an active lifestyle should carry a cell phone for safety and peace of mind. These 50 cell phones for seniors offer a variety of features and functionality, so whether you prefer a simple cell phone with the basic essentials or all the bells and whistles, you’ll find a cell phone that meets your needs on this list.
Interested in exploring all that life has to offer in your golden years? Arbors of Hop Brook offers many on-site services and amenities, providing all the comforts of home and more. Take a virtual tour or schedule a visit to experience all that Arbors of Hop Brook has to offer.