Best 5G Phones for Seniors, Tested and Reviewed by Tech Experts

Testing out the Samsung Galaxy s24+

Sometimes you want a high-quality smartphone that does it all. Enter the Samsung Galaxy S25+. High-end smartphones like the S25+ don't come cheap. You can get great payment plans and deals through AT&T, but the S25+ is the second most expensive 5G phone on our list at $999.99. If you get your Galaxy S25+ phone from AT&T, you can pay as little as $27.78 per month with zero-interest financing. That doesn't include discounts you can get for trading in an eligible phone.

The Galaxy S25+ features a solid battery and a strong, durable Gorilla Glass Victus 2 screen that's less prone to breaks or scratches when dropped. The S25+ includes all the bells and whistles for tech-savvy seniors — such as a built-in voice assistant and lookout camera identification to identify objects — but it also has a simple user interface that's easy to learn in just a few minutes. Plus, the Galaxy S25+ has a large, 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that's great for older adults with vision loss. That said, we think the Google Pixel 10 is a superior phone for people with vision loss (more on that later).

If you want a 5G smartphone that can do it all without being confusing, the Samsung Galaxy S25+ is a great option. Some seniors may find the phone's size a drawback, though. At 6.7 ounces, it's much heavier than the iPhone 16e, which weighs 5.9 ounces. That extra weight means a bigger screen, more processing power, and a better camera.

» Helpful Guide: The Best Cell Phones for Seniors With Vision Loss

Battery Life

We tested the Samsung Galaxy S25+ to see how long its battery could last under different levels of usage. With minimal use and short calls, the battery lasted more than two days on a single charge! A big bonus is the quick-charging battery. We went from 0 to 100 percent in just over an hour! When we used it frequently to browse the internet, check messages, download apps, and stream content, the battery life was closer to 44 hours.

That's impressive, and we think most seniors will be happy with the ability to use their S25+ without constantly plugging it in. If you want a 5G smartphone that's $750 cheaper and still has a stellar battery, consider the Motorola EDGE 2024 from Consumer Cellular.

» Related Reading: Best Cell Phones for Seniors

Camera Quality

Like many seniors, our tech team loves to take photos and videos. The Samsung Galaxy S25+ boasts an excellent camera for both selfies and regular photos.

It has a 12MP front (selfie) camera and a triple 50MP/10MP/12MP rear camera. We could take clear photos and videos in just about any lighting environment. Once again, if you want a great camera for a fraction of the price, the Motorola EDGE 2024 has a camera that's just as good as the Samsung Galaxy S25+.

A photo taken on the Galaxy S25+

Pricing

The Samsung Galaxy S25+ retails for $999.99, which is $400 more than the starting price of the Apple iPhone 16e. The Galaxy S25+ has twice the storage and a similar camera, so it offers solid value.

AT&T also makes it easy to finance the Samsung Galaxy S25+ for as little as $27.78 per month over 36 months. You can also reduce the price by trading in an eligible phone.

Taking advantage of trade-in deals is a great way to save on a new phone. We found that AT&T makes it easy to estimate your savings before checkout. All we had to do was plug in our current device information to get an estimate.

» For Couples: Best Two-Line Cell Phone Plans for Seniors

For example, we estimated how much we could get by trading in a 3rd-Generation Apple iPhone SE (64GB). It gave us a rough estimate of $95. That's far less than the resale value of a pre-owned iPhone, but it's still an easy way to knock almost 10 percent off the purchase price of the Samsung Galaxy S25+.

Purchasing a phone through AT&T generally locks you into a longer contract with the carrier, especially if you finance your device. Fortunately, AT&T offers an excellent Unlimited 55+ plan for seniors nationwide starting at $40 per month.

» Learn More: AT&T Cell Phone Plans \for Seniors 2025

Motorola EDGE 2024

If charging your phone every few hours feels like a nuisance, the Motorola EDGE 2024 could be the answer. It's a fast, modern phone that offers everything seniors might need, from hearing-aid compatibility to a user-friendly operating system. You'll pay just $249 for it through Consumer Cellular, and despite the low price, the Motorola EDGE can handle many tasks at once.

The Motorola EDGE 2024 is 5G compatible, and it's a great option for seniors who want a large, bright screen (6.6 inches) and a battery that can last as long as 48 hours. The Motorola EDGE also performs well for a midrange phone. It has 8GB of RAM, which means its processing power can compete with some phones that cost more than three-times as much (like the Samsung Galaxy S25+). This smartphone also features an easy-to-learn, intuitive user interface.

» You Might Like: Best Android-Compatible Hearing Aids

Battery Life

While testing the Motorola EDGE 2024, we were most impressed with the powerful battery. Even with heavy usage, the Motorola EDGE lasted for nearly two days on a single charge. That was comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S25+, which costs considerably more.

Another thing we loved about the EDGE 2024 was how quickly it could go from 0 to 100 percent battery. It took only about an hour to fully charge. If you don’t have that much time, the phone can fast charge up to 50 percent in just 15 minutes!

Camera Quality

Like the Samsung Galaxy S25+, the Motorola EDGE 2024 boasts two powerful camera systems: a 12MP front camera and a 50MP rear camera. Indoors or outdoors, day or night, we took amazing photos.

We loved that we didn't have to switch between different lens settings or adjust for different lighting environments to get great shots — all we had to do was point the camera in the right direction and snap the photo!

Pricing

The $249 price is pretty affordable for a mid-tier smartphone, plus you can finance it with Consumer Cellular starting at $9 per month and $33 down. This requires you to stick with Consumer Cellular for two years while you make the monthly payments.

That may not be the best option if you want the freedom to switch between carriers, but Consumer Cellular has simple, affordable, senior-friendly plans (including prepaid plans), so we think the commitment is worth considering.

Consumer Cellular plans start at $20 per month, which is more affordable than AT&T's 55+ plan. If you want unlimited data, the price jumps to $50 per month.

Consumer Cellular offers solid trade-in deals. If you have a high-end phone that doesn't suit your needs, you could get a trade-in value of up to $700. That means you can pay nothing for a brand-new phone!

» Further Reading: Consumer Cellular Review

Apple iPhone 16e

Apple is known for creating user-friendly products. Even if you’ve never used an Apple device before, you can probably pick up an iPhone and figure out how to do the basics in a few minutes. This is a plus for older adults who may not feel confident with new technology. You can choose from many iPhone models with a Mint Mobile plan, but the iPhone 16e is the most affordable 5G iPhone — and the best fit for seniors who want an advanced cell phone that’s easy to use.

The iPhone 16e offers everything you could ask for in a smartphone, including Face ID, accessibility features for those with vision or hearing loss, and regular software updates for enhanced security and performance. Plus, the iPhone 16e is the most affordable smartphone from Apple's latest lineup, starting at $599.

If you like using Apple products or you want a smartphone that's easy to pick up and use right out of the box, the iPhone 16e could be a great fit. It has many of the high-tech features that come with more expensive iPhones, but without as many color options or advanced photography features. Plus, if you go for the most affordable option (128GB of storage), you'll still have enough room for photos and videos in the cloud while keeping your phone running smoothly.

» For Hearing Assistance: Best Made-for-iPhone Hearing Aids

Battery Life

In our experience, the iPhone 16e battery life showed major differences in energy consumption based on what we were doing. When we just used the phone for calling, texting, and light web browsing, the battery lasted over 26 hours on one charge. If we spent time watching YouTube videos, scrolling through social media apps, or playing games, the battery would drain from 100 percent to about 10 percent in less than 12 hours.

» Shop For iPhones: Best iPhones for Seniors

The iPhone 16e's system is fairly energy efficient. If you only plan to use your phone for the basics like talking and texting, the battery life should be more than sufficient.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

One of my favorite things about iPhones for seniors is that they’re a very popular phone. Chances are, you already know someone in your family or friend group who has one. That can make the learning curve much easier, as you’ll likely have loved ones who can help you learn the ropes.

Camera Quality

The 48MP rear camera on the iPhone 16e compares similarly to other phones on this list, like the powerful Samsung Galaxy S25+ or the Google Pixel 10. The 12MP front camera is decent, so you can take adequate selfies.

That said, we couldn't help but notice that some images were grainy and not always in focus, especially in low-light environments. If you don't care about having the highest-quality camera and just want to take photos for the memories, it works great!

Pricing

iPhones can be pricey. The iPhone 16e retails for $599, which is still $200 less than the Google Pixel 10 from Visible. If you buy your iPhone 16e from Mint Mobile (online or at an Apple Store), you can get zero-interest financing for as little as $25 per month with Affirm.

Even if you don't purchase your iPhone 16e through Mint Mobile, we still think the carrier is a great choice for seniors, thanks to its affordable and simple plans. Mint 55+ is Mint Mobile's senior plan, which costs $15 per month ($5 cheaper than Consumer Cellular's base plan).

» Our Comparison: Consumer Cellular vs. Mint Mobile

The caveat is that you have to pay for three months in advance ($45 up front), and the prices could potentially increase after the first three months. After the first three months, you’ll have to pay for 12 months in advance to keep the same monthly rate.

The plan comes with unlimited talk and text, 5G speeds, and 5GB of data per month. It also offers free support from MinTech advisers who can help with any questions you have about your service. Mint Mobile will even get on a call with you and your current carrier to help you cancel service. They make switching as easy as possible!

» Dive Deeper: Mint Mobile Senior Phone Plan Review

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7

Flip phones were popular about 20 years ago, but they've since fallen out of style. Many people still want the flip-phone design without using an outdated device. Fortunately, Samsung has combined the best of both worlds with the Galaxy Z Flip7, an improvement on its predecessor (the Z Flip6). This 5G smartphone has the standard touchscreen associated with most modern cell phones, but it also allows you to flip your phone open and closed with ease.

The unique design isn't the only great thing about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7. Although the Motorola EDGE runs well with 8GB of RAM, this phone runs even better with 12GB of RAM and lightning-fast processing speeds. When combined with a 5G network, you can use data on multiple apps without much lag.

» Learn About: T-Mobile Unlimited 55+ Senior Plans

Battery Life

Considering how much processing power the Flip7 has, it's no surprise that the battery life is just OK. When we tested it with low to moderate usage, we could get almost 24 hours on one charge.

As soon as we started streaming content on the phone or doing anything that required more power, the battery life dropped to less than 12 hours. It still outlasted the iPhone 16e by about two hours, but the mediocre battery life was disappointing — especially for such a pricey phone.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

In my experience, a smartphone’s battery life starts to decrease over time with normal wear and tear. That’s something to be aware of if you use your phone a lot, and you may want to choose a phone with a longer battery life.

Camera Quality

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 has a robust rear camera system, with a 50MP main lens and 12MP ultrawide lens. It can take some time to learn all the best ways to get the perfect shot, but the image quality was incredible.

The selfie camera is less impressive with a 10MP lens (that's slightly inferior to the selfie cameras on the Motorola EDGE 2024). However, the selfie image quality was still good. If you want the best photo and video experience at a slightly lower price, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy S25+.

Pricing

The high price of $1,099.99 may be outside many budgets, but the phone's sleek design and processing power can justify the cost. Plus, you can finance your 5G phone from T-Mobile starting at $45.84 per month, and get more savings by trading in your old phone at the time of purchase or cashing in on seasonal discounts. You'll also get extra savings and perks with one of the carrier's 55-plus unlimited plans.

Still, spending more than $1,000 on a phone is no small decision, even if you spread the payments out over time. We recommend the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 only to seniors who have room in their budgets for a top-tier phone and actually want (or need) all the bells and whistles.

Plus, it's important to consider that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 is one of the only phones that allows you to enjoy the design of a flip phone and all the perks of a smartphone at the same time.

» Even More Info: T-Mobile 55+ Cell Phone Plans Review

Google Pixel 10 from Visible

The Google Pixel 10 is a solid 5G smartphone that's easy to use and doesn't sacrifice advanced features. When we first turned on the Google Pixel 10, we already knew how to do the basics. There are just four icons: talk, text, the web browser, and the camera. Plus, there's a search bar at the bottom that gives you easy access to Google's search engine. And if you want access to all of Google's useful features, such as Google Calendar, you can download them via the Google Play Store.

The Google Pixel 10 is among the best smartphones on the market for seniors with vision loss. The built-in feedback system allows you to give voice commands for things like Google searches or other simple tasks. When taking a picture or recording a video, we could say things like “move phone down” or “move phone up” to adjust the frame. The phone even uses facial-recognition technology to make sure you (or your loved ones) are always in the shot.

» Helpful Resource: How to Use Google Calendar on Your Phone

Battery Life

The Google Pixel 10’s battery can go from 0 to 100 percent charged in about an hour and a half, which is fast for a high-powered smartphone. While testing the phone, we could get a full 24 hours out of the Google Pixel 10 before needing to plug it in.

The phone also comes with an adaptive battery feature that learns how you use your phone and helps optimize energy usage over time. For example, if there's an app running in the background that you rarely use, your phone will deprioritize this app to get more time out of each charge!

This is a great feature for seniors who want to stick with the same phone for a while, as phone batteries tend to degrade over time. The adaptive battery feature can help offset reduced battery life.

Camera Quality

Similar to the Samsung Galaxy Flip7, the Google Pixel 10 has a decent 10MP front camera and a more robust 48MP/10MP/13MP rear camera. Our photos turned out great, but we noticed a difference between Samsung and Google when it came to image quality.

The Google Pixel 10 has a 48MP rear camera, but the final photos are scaled to just 16MP. That meant that if we zoomed in on virtually identical photos from the Samsung Galaxy S25+ and the Google Pixel 10, the image from the Samsung phone would look crisper and more detailed.

Pricing

The Google Pixel 10 costs $799 with a plan from Visible, or you can finance your phone for as little as $22.19 per month. Like Mint Mobile, Visible offers zero-interest financing at checkout via Affirm.

The price point of the Google Pixel 10 puts it between the iPhone 16e and the Samsung Galaxy 25+. Fortunately, it has 12GB of RAM, which means you can get fast speeds while browsing, streaming, or making video calls.

To keep things simple, Visible offers three 5G plans: Visible ($25 per month), Visible+ ($35 per month), and Visible+ Pro ($45 per month).

The basic plan should cover most of your needs. It offers unlimited talk, text, data, and hotspot use. If you want to keep in touch with loved ones living abroad, Visible+ or Visible+ Pro might be worth the upgrade. The latter plan offers unlimited talk, text, and roaming data in Mexico and Canada, along with calling to over 85+ countries and unlimited texting to over 200 countries.