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The demand for phones has grown remarkably huge in the last few decades, but the number of phones designed for the elderly hasn’t. However, for those looking for a phone for senior citizens, there are not a lot of user-friendly options on the market. If you are searching for a phone for the elderly, here are some of the best phones that bring something unique and have an easy learning curve.
Senior World’s Easyfone Elite is designed for the elderly and comes with a large backlit T9 keypad. The phone also offers a photo speed dial feature that eliminates the need to remember shortcuts and comes with an option to boost sound in case the person operating the phone has trouble hearing others.
In case of an emergency, the phone features a dedicated SOS button along with some advanced SOS features that makes it easy for the elderly to call for help. The device is preloaded with the ‘CareTouch’ app that lets you easily control the phone from anywhere in the world. Moreover, you can also set medicine reminders, charge the phone wirelessly and restrict unwanted callers.
Easyfone Elite costs Rs 3,899 and is an easy recommendation for those looking for a phone that is easy to use and doesn’t cost a fortune.
Using the Nokia 2660 Flip (review) is like taking a trip down memory lane. Anyone from the early 2000s can easily remember how easy to use and cool flip phones were. Even though this may not be a smartphone in the truest sense, it does offer 4G connectivity and comes with a built-in internet browser.
The front of the phone packs a 1.7-inch display that shows the time, alerts and notifications. On flipping the device, you get a 2.8-inch screen that is big enough to read texts, make calls and play games like Tetris and Snake.
While there are not a lot of accessibility features, the phone has no to little learning curve and elders will easily get accustomed to the good old Symbian operating system. If you are in the market looking for a phone that will easily last a few years, has an easy-to-use interface and can last for days on a single charge, the Nokia 2660 Flip is a great buy. It can be purchased for Rs 4,699.
The recently launched Redmi 12 5G (review) is a fairly good budget Android phone for seniors. It has a large 6,79-inch 90Hz LCD screen that makes text easy to read and is bright enough for indoor.
Powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, the device runs on a stripped-down version of MIUI, which is more than enough for someone who wants to use the phone for basic tasks and a bit of browsing.
While the rear 50MP camera may not be the best in the price segment, the all-day battery makes up for it. If you are tight on budget and are looking for a 5G-enabled device that offers a lag-free experience, the Redmi 12 5G is an easy recommendation for Rs 11,999.
Developed by Raz Mobility, Smartvision 3 is designed especially for the visually impaired or those with low vision. While it may look like a feature phone, the device actually runs on Android and comes with a dedicated button to trigger Google Assistant.
Apart from the large T9 keypad, the phone also features physical keys that help you navigate the user interface by touching the device. Alternatively, the touchscreen-enabled device can also be explored using Google’s ‘TalkBack’ feature. Some unique features include a banknote recogniser, colour detector, book reader, light detector, and magnifier.
Similar to Senior World Easyfone Elite, it also offers wireless charging. On the back, you get a 16MP shooter whereas the front of the phone packs a 5MP camera that is good enough to take selfies or video calls.
While this may sound like the perfect smartphone for the elderly, the cost and availability might deter you. It is not available in India and starts from $539 in the US, which roughly translates to Rs 44,500.
For those who want a powerful and easy-to-use smartphone for the elderly, the iPhone 14 Plus (review) is a solid buy. The device features the A15 Bionic chipset and runs on the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system – iOS 16.
Combine this with IP68 protection, a large 6.7-inch OLED screen and Apple’s accessibility suite and you have a phone that can easily last a few years. Face ID works flawlessly and can really come in handy for seniors who don’t want to use password or fingerprint-based authentication.
Compared to other phones on the list, the iPhone 14 Plus might seem overkill for users who need a phone for basic needs, but if price is not a concern, then this might be the best device for the elderly. It starts from Rs 89,900.
