The best cell phones for seniors and the elderly in 2024

Nowadays, smartphones may be more capable than ever, but there are people who either don't care about them or can't be bothered to learn how to operate one. Instead, they prefer a more simple phone, which they use mainly for calls and texts.

We're talking about seniors. While some kids can use a phone or a tablet even before they learn to speak, many of our elders don't see the appeal of smartphones and would rather have a device that simply lets them call their loved ones with the push of a button.

Luckily, basic phones are still around. Even better, within that group, there are phones made specifically for the elderly, boasting large buttons, strong volume, and even SOS buttons for emergencies, in some cases.

However, it's always important to consider carrier compatibility when choosing a phone for your elderly relative. Since these phones are usually quite cheap, they're often only compatible with one or two of the major carriers. Retailers' listings usually include that information, but with some models being years old, you can't be sure if something hasn't changed. A good idea is to check with your preferred carrier before purchasing, or get a phone directly from them so you're sure it will work.

Kazuna eTalk

The Kazuna eTalk is a classic flip phone. It’s not the simplest handset to use, but it’s pretty much as simple as you can get from Verizon. It has the easily recognizable green and red buttons to answer and end calls, and you can save contacts for speed dials straight from the key pad. The battery will last for days. When closed, it should be able to survive plenty of drops. The eTalk supports voice over LTE, which is what guarantees you it will keep working even after older networks are phased out.

Alcatel Go Flip 4

The Alcatel Go Flip 4 has the large buttons, making navigating through the menus more convenient. In addition, it has 4G, meaning your elderly relative will even be able to browse the web through their phone. This fella also supports Google Assistant, which can be particularly useful, as interacting with a voice assistant generally doesn't require any technical skills and can be immensely helpful in your elderly relative's daily life.

LIVELY Jitterbug Smart4

If your elderly relative wants something more modern but without all the complications, which we call features, the LIVELY Jitterbug Smart4 definitely deserves to be on your shortlist.

This is a smartphone made specifically for seniors. It has a 6.75-inch touchscreen display and a list-based menu that is easy to use. The phone also supports video chat and voice typing. In addition to that, it comes with Lively's Urgent Response feature, which lets the phone's user directly call for help in emergency situations. However, the phone is only compatible with Lively Phone Service, so it can't be used with other carries.

LIVELY Jitterbug Smart4

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The iPhone SE— especially the 3rd gen — is probably the best phone for seniors wanting to be more modern. The phone offers good performance, takes beautiful photos, and comes with a budget-friendly price tag. Additionally, it's easier to use than an Android phone since it runs on iOS. So, your elderly friend will have the best of both worlds, an easy-to-use phone and a handset with a lot of features and pretty awesome performance.

If you didn't really like any of those cell phone choices specifically made for the elderly, you may also want to check out our lists featuring smartphones instead.

Our best budget 5G phones list has some great options, that albeit more complex than a cell phone, can be customized and simplified, plus - are simply more capable than a basic cell phone.

Our best phones for kids list has smaller smartphones in particular, and is worth taking a look at also.