Best Cell Phones for Seniors in 2023

Why We Love It

Consumer Cellular’s Verve Snap has a simple design and budget-friendly price tag, which is why it made our list. This phone provides all of the most important basic cell phone features, like texts, calls, large keys, and a built-in camera. With an upfront cost of just $69, Consumer Cellular’s Verve Snap flip phone is the cheapest senior-friendly phone on our list. Plus, Consumer Cellular’s plans start at just $20 per month, which is very affordable for the industry. If you’re just looking to make calls and send texts to your friends and family, the Verve Snap is a solid option that won’t break the bank. You can even set up a monthly payment plan for as little as $2 per month! Visit our Consumer Cellular review to find out how to build the best phone plan and avoid hidden fees.

Why We Love It

Priced at $149.99, the Jitterbug Smart4 from Lively offers the right balance between the latest smartphone features and ease of use, which is why it’s our top smartphone pick for seniors. While some smartphones overcomplicate things for older adults, making it feel like solving a puzzle to find what you need, the Jitterbug Smart4 keeps it simple. With a basic list-style menu, a large touch screen, and long battery life, you’ll be able to find what you need with just a few taps. Plus, the Jitterbug Smart4 still offers all of the features you look for in a smartphone, like GPS navigation, video chatting, a built-in camera, and mobile apps. In our Lively phone review, we tested the ease of phone set up, use, and call performance. The results of our testing were impressive, and the Jitterbug Smart4 even made it on our list of the best cell phones for hearing-impaired seniors.

This Lively phone is also hearing aid-compatible. It comes with built-in medical alert capabilities for those who want the extra layer of protection that comes with a medical alert device. These features can be added on for a monthly fee if desired, and they range from 24/7 monitoring to urgent care consultations and health updates for caregivers and family members.

Why We Love It

The Kyocera DuraXE Epic is advertised as “all-terrain tough,” making it a great choice for older adults with unsteady hands or health conditions that make them more prone to falls and accidents. It offers industry-leading durability, so you won’t have to worry about it breaking due to a drop on the ground or in water. This flip phone is MIL-STD-810H and IP68-certified; all those letters and numbers just mean that this military-tested phone won’t be damaged by dust, extreme temperatures or weather, being dropped (within reason), or being submerged in water for a short time. If you struggle with grip or find yourself dropping or damaging your phone often for whatever reason, the Kyocera DuraXE Epic is a great solution.

Why We Love It

Consumer Cellular's GrandPad is a senior-friendly tablet with all the right features to keep older adults connected and entertained. While it’s not a traditional cell phone, the GrandPad can be used to make calls, send texts, video chat, take pictures, play games, and access mobile apps. It’s a great option for seniors who spend a lot of time at home, want a very large screen, or are technology-averse. The tablet runs on Consumer Cellular’s 4G LTE connection, so you won’t have to worry about connecting to Wi-Fi. The GrandPad costs $299 with financing options starting at $12 a month. AARP members receive a discounted monthly subscription to Consumer Cellular's GrandPad. Check out our AARP membership guide for more information.

In our list of the easiest cell phones for seniors to use, the GrandPad ranked in the top five. The GrandPad’s large screen is easy to grip, and the buttons are large and easy to see. It also has a companion mobile app that allows family members to add, personalize, or restrict features and contacts to keep their loved ones safe and make the user experience as simple as possible. Family members can also upload photos to the GrandPad, send messages, and video chat through the mobile app. Overall, the GrandPad provides a unique way to stay connected for those who don’t want a traditional cell phone.

Why We Love It

The Galaxy A14 5G from T-Mobile has an ultra-long-lasting battery life with fast charging capabilities. Seniors already have enough on their plate to remember, whether it’s taking medications every day, doctor’s appointments, book club meetings, or planning visits with the family. The last thing you need to add to that list is remembering to charge your phone constantly. With the Galaxy A14, you’ll have a full 41 hours of talk time, or 16 days of standby time, when you’re not actively using your phone. Depending on how much you use your phone and the types of activities you use it for, your battery will last at least a full day if not more. You won’t have to worry about a dead battery while you’re out and about and you need to make an important call. It also has fast charging capabilities, so you won’t have to sit around waiting for hours for the device to fully charge.

Aside from the battery life, there are several other things to love about this cell phone for seniors. The Galaxy A14 has a 50MP multi-lense back camera, so all of those vacation and family photos will come out crystal clear. It comes with a fingerprint sensor, so you can unlock your phone using your unique fingerprint. You'll never have to worry about trying to remember your password, and this feature also increases the security of your phone so that no one else can access it.

T-Mobile's prices make it easy to shop for a senior-friendly phone at a budget-friendly price point. At $228 or $9.50 per month for 24 months, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is one of the more affordable high-tech smartphones on the market.

Why We Love It

If you’re having a hard time choosing between a smartphone and a flip phone, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 offers the best of both worlds! At first glance, it just looks like a smartphone, but it actually folds shut like a traditional flip phone. We love this feature because you can easily throw it in a pocket or purse without damaging the touch screen, and it makes it easier to grip. Although it’s priced on the higher end at $809.99, this advanced phone is still a great option for seniors who are looking for a foldable smartphone with a vivid screen and water-resistant functions.

You can take hands-free pictures with the grandkids or make video calls with ease. The phone has a powerful 12 MP rear camera and 12 MP and 10 MP front cameras. Furthermore, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 operates on 5G, allowing you to stream videos, open multiple window tabs, and enjoy faster speeds.

All in all, this phone really packs a punch. If you purchase the phone through Mint Mobile, you can pair it with an affordable prepaid phone plan. Mint Mobile often runs seasonal promotions and discounts on this phone, so be on the lookout!

Why We Love It

For seniors who want a smartphone with all the latest and greatest features, the iPhone SE from T-Mobile offers that extra “oomph.” The iPhone SE has all the advanced features you're looking for, including a large retina HD touchscreen and high-quality 12 MP and 7 MP cameras. You can watch videos in 4K quality, FaceTime with friends and family, and store up to 256 GB of data, photos, and more. If you’re worried about security, all of the iPhone’s data is encrypted, and the home screen features Touch ID, which uses your unique fingerprint to unlock the phone. The iPhone SE is also hearing aid-compatible, features a bright screen, and is wide and easy to grip, all of which are great features for older eyes, ears, and hands.

While the iPhone SE is available from several cell phone carriers, we’d recommend going with T-Mobile. They’re always offering discounts and extra perks for new customers who purchase an iPhone, so you can get the best deal possible. Plus, T-Mobile offers three different senior plans that provide steep discounts on talk, text, and data. These plans are available for anyone aged 55 years or older, while many senior plans from other providers are only available to those 65 and up.

If you want an iPhone but T-Mobile doesn't have good service in your area, don't worry. iPhones can be purchased from Apple as unlocked phones, so you can use them with a different cellular provider that offers strong coverage in your area.

Why We Love It

Verizon's Kyocera DuraXV Extreme is priced at $240 and features M4/T4 hearing aid compatibility, the highest rating a phone can receive, which makes it our top pick for older adults with hearing loss. One in three seniors over the age of 65 have hearing, and those numbers continue to increase with age. If you have hearing loss, it’s important to find a cell phone compatible with hearing aids that offer loud, high-quality sound. The Kyocera is even suitable for those with severe hearing loss, thanks to the T4 telecoil rating. The phone also features Bluetooth technology for those with Bluetooth hearing aids or Bluetooth medical alert devices. If you have minimal hearing loss and don’t yet need hearing aids, the phone’s 100dB+ dual speakers with noise cancellation will provide loud and clear sound.

In addition to its top-of-the-line features for those with hearing loss, Verizon’s Kyocera DuraXV Extreme offers all the essential flip phone features like texting, calls, internet access, and a 5MP camera. It’s highly durable and resistant to water, dust, extreme temperatures, and drops, so it’s also great for those who struggle with grip or are hard on their devices. Connecting your new phone to Verizon's network is simple. Our researchers found that Verizon offers reliable network coverage at a competitive price. Head to our Verizon senior plan review for an in-depth look at their 55+ cell phone plans.

Why We Love It

The Jitterbug Flip2 is built with all of Lively’s top-of-the-line health and safety features so that you can turn your phone into a medical alert device. There are three packages to choose from at different price points, so you won’t overpay for things you don’t need. Around 80 percent of American seniors have at least one chronic health disorder, so these medical alert features offer peace of mind for those who are more at risk of a health emergency. These features range from an Urgent Response button to on-call nurses and caregiver monitoring.

Along with these medical alert capabilities, the Jitterbug Flip2 also comes with easy-to-use flip phone features like large buttons for texting and making calls, a powerful speaker, and a simplified menu and navigation. For older adults who struggle with small screens or typing with phone buttons, the Jitterbug Flip2 offers voice-activated assistance from Amazon Alexa. You can navigate your phone, draft text messages, make calls, and set timers with just the sound of your voice. If you’re looking for a simple phone without too many bells and whistles, the Jitterbug Flip2 is for you. Because the health and safety features are optional, you can use your Flip2 as a normal cell phone if that better suits your needs. Visit our hands-on Jitterbug Flip2 review to learn more.

Why We Love It

The Snapfon ez4G is built for ultimate simplicity and usability, making it one of the best cell phones for seniors. It’s also affordable, priced at just $99.95. With large keys for sending texts and making calls, simplified menus, and no extra buttons or unnecessary frills, this phone is about as straightforward as it gets. The Snapfon ez4G also features an emergency button with 24/7 monitoring that can be added to any plan for an extra monthly fee. During an emergency, simply press the button to be connected to a live operator who will get you the help you need. This is a great feature if you’re looking for a cell phone with basic medical alert capabilities. At just $99.95 for the device and monthly plans with data starting at $20, the ez4G is an affordable cell phone for seniors who want an easy-to-use cell phone to stay connected.