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While a 5G phone isn’t completely necessary for everyone, 5G service can make life easier for many older adults. 5G is the fifth generation of cellular service and the successor to 4G.1 It allows you to use the internet on your mobile device (as long as you have a 5G plan) with much faster speeds and greater reliability. But not every phone is 5G-compatible — or a good fit for the unique needs of seniors. In this guide, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the best 5G phones for seniors so that you can find the phone that’s right for you!
The Best 5G Phones for Seniors in 2023
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
Flip phones were incredibly popular about 20 years ago, but they’ve since fallen out of style. That said, many people still want to enjoy the flip-phone design without having to use an outdated device. Fortunately, Samsung has combined the best of both worlds with the Galaxy Z Flip4. This 5G smartphone not only has the standard touch screen that’s associated with most modern cellphones, but it also allows you to flip your phone open and closed with ease.
Pro Tip: Need help finding the right phone for you? Be sure to check out SeniorLiving.org’s cellphone buyer’s guide for seniors!
The unique design that combines old with new isn’t the only great thing about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4. It also features lightning-fast processing speeds which means that, when combined with a 5G network, you can enjoy all of your favorite virtual activities faster than ever before. The Galaxy Z Flip4 also features a great camera that can produce crystal-clear photos and stunning videos with ease. And when you get your phone with a quality T-Mobile cellular plan, you can finance your device and even get trade-in credits to reduce the upfront cost.
While the high price of $999 may be outside many budgets, the phone’s sleek design and processing power can justify its cost. Plus, if you get it through T-Mobile, you can finance your 5G phone for as little as $33.33 per month, and get even more savings by trading in your old phone at the time of purchase. You’ll also get extra savings and perks with one of the carrier’s 55+ unlimited plans. Check out our T-Mobile review to learn more. In short, the Galaxy Z Flip4 may be a bit pricey, but if you want to enjoy a flip phone with all the bells and whistles of a modern smartphone, the Samsung Z Flip4 is a great choice.
Samsung Galaxy A54
Sometimes, you just want a good smartphone that won’t cost you a fortune. Enter the Samsung Galaxy A54. If you get your Galaxy A54 5G phone directly from Samsung, you can pay as little as $269.99 when you match your purchase with a mobile plan from AT&T. If you don’t want to shell out a few hundred dollars upfront, you can also finance your purchase through AT&T for as little as $5 per month.
Pro Tip: Unsure which mobile carrier to choose? Check out our guide to the best phone plans for seniors!
While the Galaxy A54 is considered a “budget” 5G smartphone, it can still handle 99 percent of what most seniors will need to do with a phone. You can easily use the internet, take photos, make calls, send and receive texts, and download apps from the Google Play Store. Plus, the Galaxy A54 boasts a large, 6.4” display that’s a great fit for older adults with vision loss.
If you want a 5G smartphone that can do all the basics (and then some) without spending a fortune, the Samsung Galaxy A54 is a great option. You may run into occasional performance issues, but if you mostly use your phone for talking, texting, and taking photos, it’s a great deal. Plus, it has a larger display with a much better refresh rate than many phones at the same price point, which makes the Galaxy A54 even easier on the eyes.
Motorola EDGE+
The Motorola EDGE+ is the only version of the Motorola EDGE product line that’s 5G compatible. It also happens to be a great option for seniors who want a large, bright screen and a battery that can last as long as 48 hours. The Motorola EDGE+ also performs well for a midrange phone, with processing power that can compete with some phones that cost $200 to $300 more. If you don’t care that much about battery life, the Motorola EDGE+ also features fast processing speeds and an easy-to-learn, intuitive user interface.
FYI: The Motorola EDGE+ comes with 256 GB or 512 GB of storage space, but as of this writing, Consumer Cellular only offers the latter option.
While the retail price may be a little high for seniors at $799, you can finance your purchase for as little as $32 per month with an eligible Consumer Cellular plan. Read our Consumer Cellular review to learn about our firsthand experience with this senior-friendly carrier.
If charging your phone every few hours feels like a nuisance, the Motorola EDGE+ could be the answer to your problems. It’s a fast, modern phone that offers everything seniors might need, from hearing aid compatibility to a user-friendly operating system. You’ll have to pay a bit more for it ($799 to be exact), and the camera may leave a bit to be desired, but the Motorola EDGE+ is still a great phone that can handle a lot of different tasks at once. If you don’t mind spending an extra $79.99, you can even get a Motorola Smart Stylus that can charge wirelessly with the bundled folio phone case.2
Apple iPhone SE
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 huge plus for older adults who may not feel confident with new technology. While you can choose from many different iPhones with a Mint Mobile plan, the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Generation) is the most affordable 5G iPhone — and the best fit for seniors who want a smartphone that’s easy to use.
Did You Know? Apple created the iPhone SE as a more affordable option that still includes most of the iPhone features that consumers have come to know and love.3
It’s important to note that previous iterations of the iPhone SE aren’t 5G compatible, so you’ll need to get the 3rd Generation (2022 or later) model to enjoy 5G service with Mint Mobile or any other provider. The iPhone SE offers pretty much everything you could ask for in a smartphone, including fingerprint Touch ID, accessibility features for the vision impaired or hard of hearing, and regular software updates for enhanced security and performance. As an added bonus, the iPhone SE is Apple’s most affordable smartphone, with models starting at just $429.
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 3rd generation iPhone SE could be a great fit for you. It may not have all the high-tech features that come with more expensive versions of the iPhone, but it’s still a lot of phone packed into a relatively small package. That said, you’ll have to sacrifice having a larger display, and if you go for the most affordable option (64 GB of storage), you may need to store a lot of your photos and videos in the Cloud to keep your phone running smoothly.
Google Pixel 7
The Google Pixel 7 is a solid 5G smartphone that’s pretty easy to use and doesn’t sacrifice more advanced features like amazing picture and video quality. When you first turn on your Google Pixel 7, you’ll already know how to do the basics. There are just four icons: one for talk, one for text, one for the web browser, and one for the camera. Plus, there’s a search bar at the bottom that gives you easy access to Google’s search engine. You can get all that the Google Pixel 7 has to offer for $599 with a plan from Visible Mobile, or you can finance your phone for as little as $24.96 per month.
Even if the simple design isn’t that impressive to you, the Google Pixel 7 is among the best smartphones on the market for vision-impaired seniors. The built-in feedback system allows you to give voice commands for things like Google searches or other simple tasks. When you’re taking a picture or recording a video, the Google Pixel 7 allows blind or vision-impaired users to say things like “move phone down” or “move phone up” to adjust the frame. The phone even uses face-recognition technology to make sure that you (or your loved ones) are always in the shot.
Google is a relative newcomer to the world of smartphone brands, but the Google Pixel product line has fared well against many of its competitors. This is largely because these phones focus on making everything as user-friendly as possible — and the Google Pixel 7 is no exception. Not only does it offer all the perks you would expect from a 5G smartphone, but it also has a lot of extra features for seniors who may struggle with vision-related tasks. And at $599, the Google Pixel 7 is a high-tier phone at a midrange price.
Choosing the best 5G phones for seniors takes a lot of research, as we want to make sure we’re helping you find the absolute best phone to fit your needs. After looking at the most popular and best-reviewed 5G phones on the market, we narrowed down our choices to only those phones that offer benefits that appeal to older adults, like bright displays for better reading and easy-to-use interfaces. All of the phones on this list are at least M3/T3 hearing aid compatible, include basic or advanced accessibility features, and are either affordably priced or have financing options available through a wireless carrier.
With so many great options out there, it’s not always easy to pick the right 5G phone for you. If you’re shopping for your very first 5G phone or you simply don’t have a lot of experience shopping for smartphones, you may feel a bit lost. Fortunately, there are a few strategies you can use to make the entire process easier:
It can be easy to get drawn in by the latest tech, but you’re probably asking yourself: Do I really need 5G? The fact is that most people don’t really “need” 5G service, but it’s a major improvement over 4G and previous mobile service iterations. 5G is faster, more reliable, and is often available in more remote areas. If you travel a lot or simply like the idea of having better service in the event of an emergency, a 5G compatible phone (and a 5G phone plan) could be a great fit for you. Alternatively, if you don’t venture away from home much and you already get fast 4G service in your area, 5G might be unnecessary.
It also depends on how you use your device. Seniors who just want a simple phone for talk, text, and photos may not need to pay more just to get 5G service. But if you like to stream videos or do other data-heavy activities on your device, 5G could make it a lot easier to get the most out of your phone. And remember, even if you don’t think 5G is the right choice for you, there are still plenty of great phones out there. Be sure to check out our guide on the best phones for seniors to learn more!
For over five years, Taylor has been writing, editing, and researching products and services covering topics such as senior care and technology, internet and the digital divide, TV and entertainment, and education. Her work has been cited by publications such as Forbes,… Learn More About Taylor Shuman
Federal Trade Commission. (2021, May 4). 5G FAQs.
Motorola. (2023). STYLUS + FOLIO BUNDLE.
Apple. (2022, Mar 8). Apple announces the new iPhone SE: a powerful smartphone in an iconic design.
