Top 8 Best Big Button Phones for Seniors
Finding the perfect cell phone can be hard for anyone. There are so many brands and models that it can be mind-boggling. It can be challenging if you’re a senior who has vision problems or larger hands. Sadly, my mom runs into this problem with her phone. The buttons are so small that when she tries to type in a phone number or text; she is always hitting the wrong number or letter. If you can relate, no worries. There are many phones on the market with bigger buttons to help seniors make connecting with loved ones much easier.
1. Jitterbug Flip2
Jitterbug has been around for a long time, and they gear their phones toward seniors. This phone works with Lively, and has a long battery life with 14 hours of talk time and 16 days on standby. It also has 4G LTE internet and a 5MP camera. It also has a medical alert feature and is voice-activated via Amazon Alexa. The buttons are big and backlit and it has a large screen that makes reading texts easy. The medical response feature is only available on Preferred or Premium Lively phone plans. Also, you can’t download apps from Google Play.
Plan Starting Price: $19.99/mo.
2. IRIS Easy Flip
Consumer Cellular, a phone company that caters to seniors, offers the IRIS Easy Flip phone. The battery life on this phone is 12 hours of talk time and 19 days on standby. It has large buttons, a large screen, 8 GB of RAM, and a 5MP phone. You must use the Consumer Cellular service with this phone. Overall, it is pretty basic compared to other phones.
Plan Starting Price: $20/mo
3. Sonim XP3
This phone is offered through ATT and has a battery life of 15 hours of talk time and 18 days on standby. It has 4G LTE internet speed, a mobile hotspot, and an 8 MP camera. Some features of this phone include 16 GB of memory and buttons that are easy to read. It also has noise cancellation and voice command functionality. It is also compatible with hearing aids. In addition, this phone comes with a three-year warranty and has a damage-resistant design.
Plan Starting Price: $8.75/mo
4. TCL Flip Go
Offered through TMobile, this phone’s battery life has 20 hours of talk time and 13 days on standby. It has an internet speed of 4G, a mobile hotspot, and a 2MP camera. This phone has large buttons compared to a touch screen and large, bright external and internal screens, and is hearing aid compatible. Features that are not so great are the inferior quality camera and that it only has 1 GB of RAM.
Plan Starting Price: $25/mo
5. Snapfon ezFlip
Offered by phone company Snapfon, this phone features a battery life of 5 hours of talk time and 4.5 days on standby. It features 4G internet, a mobile hotspot, and a 5 MP camera. A unique feature of this phone is that it has emergency response features. It has an SOS button and fall detection capabilities, so if you fall, it will alert the emergency contact program in your phone and dispatch help if you need it. It also has pre-programmed emergency text messages and a siren to help seniors feel more protected and secure. You can also use speech-to-text, the phone is hearing aid compatible and is Bluetooth-ready.
Plan Starting Price: $15/mo
6. RAZ Mobility Memory
The designers created this Memory Mobility Memory Cell Phone for those with memory issues (Alzheimer’s and Dementia) and other health issues—a very cool design. Instead of a traditional keypad, users rely on photos and can add up to 30 contacts. The phone can also make voice and video calls. You can also add a 911 dial button for an additional cost. This button helps dispatchers verify that the call is legitimate and they can notify your emergency contacts and give first responders important information about location and health information if you can’t speak. Relatives and caregivers can also manage this service remotely. This phone works with ATT, TMobile, and other service providers, but not Spring or Verizon. One con of this phone is a hefty price tag of $349, but if you can afford it, it’s a brilliant investment.
Plan Starting Price: $20/mo
7. USHINING 4G LTE
This phone has several interesting features including large, colorful buttons, FM radio, flashlight, and two chargers, either corded or docking, and a one-touch speakerphone option. It also features an SOS button that dials five preset emergency numbers when held for over three seconds. This phone only works with specific prepaid plans and brand-new SIM cards.
Plan Starting Price: $12.67/mo
8. Jitterbug Smart3 Smartphone for Seniors
This phone has custom controls so seniors can choose font sizes and can also hold down the screen to make supersize text. You can talk, text, video chat, and take photos with this phone. However, seniors need to understand the cost differences between talk, text, photos, and internet usage, as well as data usage. Other pros to this phone include a Health and Safety package option for an additional cost. The phone will also talk back, which means it will read texts out loud. A con with this phone is tiers of plans which can be confusing to seniors. If you are going to purchase this phone, I would have someone with you to help explain things.
Plan Starting Price: $14.99/mo
Things to Consider When Shopping for a Phone
- What features are important to me or my loved one?
- How technologically savvy is my loved one? Do I feel comfortable using the technology on the phone?
- How much do I want to pay for a phone?
- How much do I want to pay for a phone plan?
- Is there a contract involved?
- What carriers is the phone compatible with?
- Who can I call to get help with the phone or plan if needed?
These phones range from having all the bells and whistles to those that are very basic. Make a list of features you want or don’t want, questions to ask, and then go shopping. This will make it much easier for you to find the perfect phone for you or someone you love. The perfect big button phone for you is out there! All you have to do is find it.
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Originally published January 13, 2025
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