These are the best phones for seniors in 2024
The smartphones you buy for your elderly family members may not be the most powerful, but the priority should be to make sure they are responsive, up-to-date with many of the latest features, and affordable to buy and repair. . In 2024, these are your best options.
1 Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
This list wouldn’t be complete if Samsung’s A-series smartphones showed up. In the US, these devices have offered some of the best hardware for the money in recent years, and the Galaxy A25 5G follows a similar trend.
It comes with a 6.5-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Outdoor visibility shouldn’t be a problem thanks to a rated maximum brightness of 1,000 nits. It contains an Exynos 1280 chip with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory – expandable using microSD cards (up to 1 TB). There is also a 5,000mAh battery with support for 25W charging.
In addition, it has a respectable rear camera with a 50MP main shooter, an 8MP ultra-wide and a 2MP macro camera. It has a 13MP front camera for selfies.
The Galaxy A25 5G also stands out as one of the few budget phones with long-term software support, promising four OS upgrades and five years of security patches. The Galaxy A25 launched for $300, but you can find it on Amazon for less.
2 OnePlus Nord N30 5G
OnePlus has built its brand on smartphones that offer excellent value for money, so when we thought about choosing a phone that would run smoothly and handle most tasks, the OnePlus Nord N30 5G came to mind.
The OnePlus Nord N30 5G packs a massive 6.7-inch FHD+ LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, so reading on it should be a breeze. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695, which has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage that can be expanded via microSD (up to 1TB). So whether you’re jumping from one app to another or need a device that can handle simple word games, this phone has you covered.
The Nord N30 5G packs a 5,000mAh battery that should give you all-day battery life – with support for 50W fast charging if you’re ever in a pinch. The primary camera is a 108MP shooter that should be able to capture great details in photos. Plus, there’s a 16MP front-facing camera for taking high-resolution selfies.
While the phone is a great package, the OnePlus Nord N30 will only receive security updates until 2025. The OnePlus Nord N30 5G retails for $300 and is available unlocked on Amazon. So if this is your preferred option, keep an eye on the deals.
3 Moto G Power 5G
Like the OnePlus Nord N30 5G, the Motorola G Power 5G is another well-balanced device. There are quite a few similarities between it and the OnePlus Nord. Most notably, the Motorola comes with a similar 6.7-inch FHD+ LCD with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 5,000mAh battery – though it only supports 30W fast charging.
Inside is a MediaTek Dimensity 7020 processor with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (expandable via microSD). As for the camera system, you’ll find a dual-lens dual-camera setup on the back – a 50MP wide-angle camera and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera. On the front, you’ll find a 16MP camera for selfies and video calls.
The clean software on Motorola phones has often been a great selling point, but this device will only receive one OS upgrade – to Android 15 – and three years of security updates until 2026. If you’re hoping for a device that stays updated and secure for a long time, you might be want to explore other options. The Motorola G Power 5G launched for $300 and is available unlocked – often for a much lower price – on Amazon.
4 Pixel 8a
Google’s Pixel devices have always promised great cameras and timely software updates (seven years of support). Since the Pixel 6, we’ve seen hardware take a front seat. So if you’re willing to spend a little more, the Pixel 8a is one of the best mid-range phones you can buy. It is also extremely compact and easy to hold.
The Pixel 8a comes with a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED panel with an adaptive refresh rate (up to 120Hz). It is powered by a Tensor G3 processor that has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The processor was first seen on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro flagships. Our Pixel 8a review details that the Tensor G3 remains stable and performs well in most use cases.
Apart from other hardware, the phone has a 4,500 mAh battery that can provide all-day battery life. It also has a dual camera system on the back – a 64MP wide-angle and a 13MP ultra-wide – that takes pictures that would put some flagship phones to shame. The front camera is also a respectable 13MP shooter. Overall, the Pixel 8a is a great package that costs $499 and is available unlocked on Amazon
5 iPhone 14
The iPhone 14 is the oldest phone on this list but also the most expensive, but if you need a phone that will plug into the Apple ecosystem and last well into the future, it’s hard to argue against this device.
It is equipped with a 6.1-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. A larger 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus model is also available if you’re shopping for larger screens. It is powered by the A15 Bionic processor, which is still more than enough for most users. Although the 3,279 mAh battery seems unimpressive on paper, the iPhone 14 should last a day with normal use. The phone can also charge up to 50 percent capacity in 30 minutes using a 20W adapter.
The iPhone 14 features a dual camera setup on the back that includes a 12MP wide-angle lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. On the front, you have a 12MP camera that is part of the TrueDepth camera system that enables FaceID authentication.
The iPhone 14 is available unlocked from Apple for $599. The larger iPhone 14 Plus costs $699 and offers a similar experience to the iPhone 14 with the benefits of a larger screen and battery.
Buying a phone for seniors can be tricky, as narrowing down the right combination is often difficult due to the number of devices on the market. The options above strike a sensible balance, making them ideal choices for your elderly family members or relatives in 2024.