Are These 5 Cellphones for Seniors as Helpful as They Claim?

Are senior phones the safest way to get help during an emergency?

If you worry about your or your older parent's safety, a medical alert is the safest way to protect them. Making calls on a smartphone is not intuitive if you are used to older phones. In the case of an emergency, seniors need to be able to easily and quickly access help. Many seniors may not even have their phones within reach if an emergency strikes.

Medical alerts, on the other hand, are wearable on the wrist, around the neck, or on a belt clip. Senior phones serve a different purpose entirely. Senior phones are for making calls and taking pictures. Medical alerts are for emergencies of any nature and for creating 24/7 peace of mind.

Why Choose a Medical Alert

A medical alert ensures round the clock senior safety, especially if an older adult lives alone or has a chronic condition. When accidents happen, nothing beats the speed and convenience of a medical alert system.

While medical alert systems are the safest way to keep older people safe, a cell phone is still needed for normal, daily communication. We hope you will find the senior phone recommendations and reviews below to be helpful. With a medical alert, your parents will have 24/7 protection while you have peace of mind. 

How do I choose the best senior phone?

Cellphones for Seniors Review – Punkt MP0

The Punkt MP01 is a minimalist cell phone for seniors. It performs 2 main functions: make calls and send texts.

My first impression upon opening the box is that it looks like a small remote control that would come with a DVD player. You have the ability to save phone numbers in your address book and set alarms and reminders. It also has Bluetooth capability and a USB charger.

Pros

• Simple and easy-to-use. To set up the phone, you put in your SIM card, charge the battery if it is low, and power on. Having only two main features makes learning a breeze. Making phone calls is very intuitive on the MP01 since it is so similar to older home phones.
• Aesthetically designed. The MP01 has a classy, vintage feel and thoughtful design. Its sleek black and white letters make it visually appealing. The calculator-like font fits the Punkt style. Being 4.5 inches long, 0.6 inches thick and 2 inches wide, this senior phone fits in your pocket with ease. A protective, glass screen protects it from scratches and keeps it looking clean.
• Loud and clear sound. The speaker is loud and has a clean sound. My personal favorite part is the bird hoot sound that it makes when powering on. It is a very crisp and full sound for such a small device. Those who are hard of hearing should be able to hold a conversation without missing a beat.
• Long Battery life. At almost 5 hours of talk time and a 20-day standby life, this is longer than most cell phones for seniors.

Cons

• It’s expensive. On the official website, the MP01 is about $300. You can find it cheaper on Amazon for around $290. Paying $300 only to make calls and send texts is a steep price. Sure, it looks nice and is well designed, but other senior phones do the same thing and more for a lower price.
  
• Small Screen. Even though it the screen is an LCD gorilla glass screen, it is small. For those whose sight isn’t what it used to be, the screen may be difficult to read. The white letters with a black background are nice but don’t help its readability. This feels like a strange oversight for one of the most popular cellphones for seniors.
• Difficult to write texts. If grandma loves to text, this isn’t the phone for her. Using a keypad is hard enough on its own, and this phone’s preprogramed interface does not make things easier. 

Summary

The Punkt MP01 is a simple, minimalist phone. It doesn’t distract you with too many features like a supercomputer smart-phone. Its focus is on communication, but I was not a fan of its texting interface. And for such a simple phone, the price is high. 

Senior Friendly? - No.

The Punkt MP01 is minimalistic and simple but not among the best cellphones for seniors. It doesn’t seem to best meet the needs of an aging individual. This phone seems ideal for hipsters or young adults trying to kick their smartphone addiction. The buttons are small, texting is difficult, and the screen is hard to read. During an emergency, having to find your phone, unlock the screen, and dial 911 are steps that might be very challenging with this phone. By contrast, medical alerts have one button and are attached to your body at all times. If you are unable to talk, you won’t be able to receive help with the MP01. But Alert1’s home fall detection knows when you fall and sends help even if you are unable to push your button.

Cellphones for Seniors Review – Alcatel© One Touch Pixi 3

The Pixi 3 is an affordable senior smartphone that does everything you would expect a smartphone to do. Unlike the Punkt MP01, it has a camera, internet, email, and can runs apps. The dimensions are 5 inches long, 2.5 inches wide, and 0.4 inches thick. A 4.5-inch display covers most of its body and it has about 4 GB of storage. Selling price is around $50 dollars on Amazon.

Upon first glance, it looks like an outdated smartphone. It isn’t ugly but it doesn’t offer anything new or unique in its appearance. The dimensions are 5 inches long, 2.5 inches wide and 0.4 inches thick. A 4.5-inch display covers a majority of its body and it has about 4 Gb of storage (more with an SIM card). 

Pros

• Easy to read. The large screen and bright front notification light make it very easy to read. Font size is not an issue since it’s easily adjustable in the settings menu. Readability is not a problem for this phone.
• Cheap. The Pixi 3 is only $50, which is a small price to pay for all the features this senior phone comes with. That being said, the more you use this phone, the more you realize why the price is so low. More on that in the cons section.
• Full day battery life. The slow processor the Pixi 3 has allows for a longer battery life than most cellphones for seniors. It lasts a full day.

Cons

• Has a lot of features, but none that you want to use. There are plenty of apps on this phone to choose from, but they do not run at optimum performance. The capability to play video games is there but they will run very slowly. All these features can be very confusing to those new to using a smartphone. And the slow processor only makes the learning process more frustrating.
• Low quality camera. The camera on this phone makes each image look foggy, and videos have a very low frame rate.
• Nothing New. This phone is similar to other cheap cellphones for seniors, but you would be better off with a more mainstream brand. There is nothing new or unique to make this senior phone stand out and it’s slower than its competitors.

Summary

We believe there are much better and more affordable senior phone options out there. The Pixi 3 has many features, but they run slow and are not easy-to-use. Its slowness hinders its performance. Since it’s not any simpler than other smartphones, we think you would be better off with a regular smartphone.

Senior Friendly? – No.

Besides the large screen and bigger font size, this phone is not senior friendly. It has less features but is not any simpler to use. Most seniors wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the Pixi 3 and a regular smartphone.

Using this phone requires preexisting smartphone knowledge or a lot of time. Finding the settings requires swiping down on the tool bar at the top. To make a call, you must tap the phone icon and find the number pad. These little navigation tricks are far from obvious to figure out on your own.

Struggling to make a call on a complicated smartphone after a fall is the last thing you want. With mobile medical alert fall detection none of the issues listed above are a problem. You push the button and your location is sent to respondents. Then a live person stays on the line with you until help arrives. Unlike our medical alerts, the Pixi 3 is not fall or waterproof. Smartphone screens crack easily and break when dropped. Medical alerts are more durable and designed to stay intact during falls.

Cellphones for Seniors Review – Doro Liberto 820

The Doro Liberto 820 is a smartphone created with seniors in mind. Everything is bigger and there is an emergency help button on the back. Prices are around $150 these cellphones for seniors, which is a little on the high end when compared to phones with similar specs. At first glance, it looks a bit chunky, but that is not a bad thing. It is very durable and looks like it could handle a few falls.

Pros

• Large icons. The icons on this phone are huge and easy to understand. Much bigger than other smartphones. The screen is 4.5 inches and has 560 x 940 resolution. This makes the buttons very prominent and readable when outside and in the sun. Some angles outside cause glare but it does not hinder readability.
• Walk though steps. Everything you do on this senior phone has a guide that walks you through the process step by step. This is especially useful for beginners who have never used a smartphone before. You won’t have to remember how to use the interface since it tells you each time. You can turn the guide off once you learn how to use the different functions.
• Resting cradle for charging. The Doro comes with a charging cradle that allows you to set the device in for charging. This is a godsend for those who don’t want fiddle with USB cables or don’t have steady hands.
• Comes installed with useful apps. Many useful and popular apps are preinstalled and have large icons for added clarity.
• Design is sleek and durable. The raised edges on the front protect the screen when face down. The buttons underneath the screen are robust and accessible. This is good since these buttons are used so often.

Cons

• Help Button. On the back of the device there is help button that contacts emergency services when pushed. This seems like a great feature on cell phones for seniors, but unfortunately, it creates a false sense of security. It leads you to believe that you can rely on this button during an emergency. But if the phone is out or reach or on its cradle or you are unable to push your button after a fall, help will not come. Plus, this feature is only useful if the phone is charged. This phone feature is not the same as a medical alert and should not replace one.
• Battery life. It has an average battery life that is good for 7 hours of continuous use. It lasts longer if you are using it less often. This is average for a normal smartphone, but since it has a help button too, this hinders its reliability.
• Comes with a European charger. If you don’t have European style outlets in your house, you will need to order a separate USB charger.
• Small keypad for texting. The keypad on this senior phone is small. Rotating the screen sideways does increase the text size, but seniors may still have difficulty texting.

Summary

The Doro 820 is easy-to-use, durable, and has a help button for emergencies. Texting may be challenging and the battery life could be longer but besides that, this is a good senior phone. It may take some time to get used to, but the built in guide will help.

Senior Friendly? Yes, but do NOT use it in replacement of a medical alert!

This phone is easy-to-use for seniors. Even seniors not familiar with smartphones will be able to navigate its interface. For most phones, having too many apps is overwhelming. Unused apps don’t hinder your interactions, since this senior phone limits the home screen to four icons. Plus, the interface guide walks you through step-by-step.

The help button is a nice idea but shouldn’t replace a medical alert. These cell phones for seniors have a short battery life, and they are not worn on the user’s body. Alert1’s medical alerts are worn as bracelets, lanyards, or clip to your belt.

Cellphones for Seniors Review – Jethro© SC-628

The Jethro SC-628 is a small and minimalistic phone, even by most cell phones for seniors standards. It is small and simple and does not have any unnecessary features. Like the Doro, the Jethro also has a help button on the back for emergencies.

Pros

• Large buttons. Those with deteriorating eyesight should be able to dial phone numbers. The keypad has actual buttons, which are easy to read and push.
• Easy to read screen. The screen is only 2.3 inches across but is very bright and easy to read outside. The minimal information on the screen allows for large text size, which helps as well.
• Hearing aid compatible. You can connect your hearing aid via Bluetooth. For the hearing impaired, this is a useful feature. Most phones have trouble connecting to hearing aids; the Jethro does not have that issue.
• Simple to make calls. Similar to the Punkt MP01, it is easy to make calls on the Jethro. Dial the number and push the call button. No added steps like smartphones have.
• Cheap. Unlike the Punkt MP01, this senior phone is inexpensive. The Jethro is only $69.99 and has more capabilities than the MP01. It doesn’t look as nice but it gets the job done.
• Has a flashlight and camera. Having a flashlight is a surprisingly useful tool on cell phones for seniors. And the camera is an added bonus.

Cons

• Small and hard to grip. The Jethro is small and made of plastic. It is easy to drop even though the back has small holes to improve its grip. Not sweaty-hand friendly. If you have arthritis, using this senior phone would be a challenge.
• Cradle charger is not included. The front of the box shows the Jethro in a charging cradle. Unfortunately, there is no cradle inside the box. If you want a charging cradle, you will have to order one separately. The cradle costs around $15 if you order online.
• Emergency button activation before use. The factory default setting for the emergency help button is off. Unless you read the user guide, you would never know to turn it on. During an emergency, you would be out of luck unless you activated the help button beforehand. Another reason why a medical alert is the safer choice.

Summary

The Jethro SC-628 has its heart in the right place. It caters to many of the needs a senior would have: Large text, easy-to-use keypad and hearing aid compatible. The downside is that it is small and could easily be lost or dropped. There are other Jethro models that are affordable and may better fit your needs. This an easy-to-use senior phone that is cheap and reliable. Make sure you activate the help button if you plan on using it.

Senior friendly? Yes, but get a medical alert too.

This would be an easy-to-use phone for a senior. It’s affordable, easy to read and has some added features such as a flashlight which is useful.

The Jethro senior phone has a help button but if you did not activate the help button beforehand, the button would be useless. Also, the Jethro only contacts 911 emergency services. Our medical alerts contact friends, family or neighbors as well as emergency services. Sometimes emergency services are not necessary after a less serious fall. For example, if you are not injured and only need help standing up after a fall, an Alert1 responder will contact a nearby friend and have them assist you.

Cellphones for Seniors Review – Emporia Click Plus

The Emporia Click Plus is a flip phone designed with seniors in mind. It has large buttons, a help button, and is hearing aid compatible. There is a lot to like about this phone based on the reviews and my first impressions. The design is very modern for a flip phone and it looks easy-to-use. You can find them online for around $150.

Pros

• Easy-to-use. As mentioned above, this phone would be very intuitive for a senior to use. Its design is straightforward and simple.
• Bright Screen. The screen is easy to read, has large buttons and a simple interface. Readable even when the sun is shining on it. Seniors will have no problem reading the texts.
• Loud. This senior phone is very loud and is hearing aid compatible like the Jethro.
• Comes with a charging cradle. Unlike the Jethro, the Emporia comes with a charging cradle. No added cost for it either.

Cons

• Short battery life. The battery charges fast but only lasts for a few conversations. This is typical for most phones but it defeats the purpose of having a help button. If you have to choose between using the phone or using it as a help button then the device is a failure.
• Help button is not as good as a medical alert. The help button leads to a false sense of security, which can be dangerous with cell phones for seniors. Emergency services will not be able to pinpoint your location when you need help. A medical alert uses GPS to send help to you and is a wearable device, unlike a phone.
• Not secured to your body. The Emporia, as well as any cell phone, isn’t attached to your body. This is a problem because if you fall and can't get up it could easily be out of reach. Alert1’s medical alerts are available as a bracelet or necklace and are worn on your body at all times.

Summary

The Emporia is a well-designed flip phone that is easy-to-use, read, and hear. But the help button should not replace a medical alert. There are many customer complaints about the short battery life. A short battery life is my top concern when using this phone. Having a long conversation would drain the battery.

Senior Friendly? Yes

These are great cellphones for seniors who want to make calls and send texts. But if your intent is to keep safe, then get a medical alert as well. This phone is simple, intuitive, and comes with a charging cradle. Large text size and easy-to-read screen add value too. The price is high for a flip phone, but since it’s specially designed for seniors, the price is justifiable. 

So, which option makes the best cellphones for seniors?

After reviewing these senior phones, my recommendation for seniors is the Emporia Click Plus. It is the most intuitive to use and senior friendly. If you are more tech-savvy than the average senior, then the Doro smartphone may be a better fit.

Still, you should always invest in a medical alert system alongside cell phones for seniors. The added help button on the cell phone is a nice touch, but it’s not nearly as reliable as a wearable medical alert. Here’s a quick recap as to why senior phones should not replace a medical alert:

• Short battery life. If you phones dies, help won’t come.
• No fall detection.
  
• Are not securely worn on your body.
• A Command Center respondent does not stay on line with you until help arrives.
  
• Senior phones are not as durable.

Each senior phone serves its function as a phone, but they should not replace a medical alert. When it comes to your safety, you don’t want to cut any corners.