Best mobile phones for seniors in Australia

A straightforward round-up of the best feature phones and smartphones to consider for older adults, including those with accessibility needs.
Best overall
Opel Mobile TouchFlip
Opel Mobile TouchFlip
4 out of 5 stars
4
  • pro
    SOS emergency button
  • pro
    Big physical buttons
  • pro
    Audible low battery indicator
Best budget
Nokia 8210
Nokia 8210
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
  • pro
    Extremely lightweight
  • pro
    Easy to use
  • pro
    Big battery for weeks of standby time
Best smartphone
iPhone SE
4 out of 5 stars
4
  • pro
    Physical home button
  • pro
    Fast performance
  • pro
    Accessibility options
Best budget smartphone
Oppo A58
4 out of 5 stars
4
  • pro
    Big screen
  • pro
    Long lasting battery life
  • pro
    Accessibility options
Best feature phone
nokia 2660
Nokia 2660
4 out of 5 stars
4
  • pro
    Dedicated emergency button
  • pro
    Long lasting battery life
  • pro
    Big physical buttons

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Kind of like picking a phone for kids, choosing the right mobile phone for older adults isn’t as simple as buying a new or refurbished smartphone. Understandably, older adults may need more from a mobile phone than speedy performance and a flashy camera: features like physical buttons, loud ringtones or hearing aid integration, and other accessibility considerations are great additions.

Thankfully, this also means there are plenty of affordable right-fit options, ranging from under $100 for a feature phone to hundreds of dollars for an appropriate smartphone pick. We’ve gone with the Opel Mobile TouchFlip as our top pick. It’s an affordable feature phone with big physical buttons, an SOS emergency button, and an audible low battery indicator.



Compare the best mobile phones for seniors

Mobile phone
Best for
Price
Screen size
Network
Battery
Storage
Learn more
Read review
Opel Mobile TouchFlipOpel Mobile TouchFlip
Best overall2.8 inches4G1,400mAh4GB (32GB MicroSD)
Nokia 8210Nokia 8210
Best budget2.8 inches4G1,450mAh128MB (32G MicroSD)
Apple iPhone SE (3rd gen)
Best smartphone4.7 inches4G, 5G1,624mAh64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Oppo A58
Best budget smartphone6.72 inches4G5,000mAh128GB (1TB MicroSD)
nokia 2660Nokia 2660
Best feature phone2.8 inches4G1,450mAh128MB (32GB MicroSD)

Prices are accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

1. Opel Mobile TouchFlip: Best phone for seniors overall

Best overall
Opel Mobile TouchFlip
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Opel Mobile TouchFlip takes out the top spot for us because it ticks a lot of the right boxes of what we look for in a mobile phone for older adults. It has a great price, easy-to-use physical buttons (including a dedicated SOS button), and has an audible low battery indicator, so you can be reminded when it needs to be charged.

We love a product that does what it says on the tin, and with the Opel Mobile TouchFlip, you get a feature phone with big buttons. While physical buttons do impact the overall screen size, 2.8 inches is still a good size for this type of mobile phone.

The 5MP camera is functional albeit not amazing, and you can increase the storage from 4GB to include up to 32GB more with expandable memory. For savvier users, there’s Bluetooth support for increased connectivity.

pro
Pros
pro Dedicated SOS emergency button
pro Big physical buttons
pro Audible low battery indicator
pro GPS locating
con
Cons
con
con Screen may be too small for some
con Battery life isn’t the best

In terms of inbuilt accessibility functions, the Opel Mobile TouchFlip is hearing aid compatible, and includes an SOS button, GPS location, flashlight, and a loudspeaker. We also like that it’s simplified with essential apps only. Don’t expect too much out of the 1,400mAh battery with regular use, but this phone has enough standby juice.

Consider pairing the Opel Mobile TouchFlip with a cheap prepaid plan from one of the providers below.

2. Nokia 8210: Best cheap mobile phone for seniors

Best budget
Nokia 8210
Nokia 8210
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
$97
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

More than 20 years ago, the Nokia 8210 was all the rage. Now the Nokia 8210 harks back to that simpler mobile-phone time, albeit with some modern trimmings. The Nokia 8210 is a very lightweight feature phone that’s incredibly easy to use, has expandable storage, and boasts a great price tag.

There are plenty of compromises with the Nokia 8210, most notably a forget-about-it 0.3-megapixel rear camera. Still, it’s tough to go past what you do get for a bargain price.

As a proper feature phone—in fact, so ‘dumb’ in features that it doesn’t have WiFi support—you can take advantage of standby time beyond a week. There’s Bluetooth and 3.5mm headphone connectivity for audio outside of the Nokia 2810’s speaker, plus the minimal 128MB internal storage can be boosted up to 32GB with a MicroSD card.

pro
Pros
pro Extremely lightweight
pro Easy to use
pro Expandable storage
con
Cons
con No dedicated SOS button
con No hearing aid support

The Nokia 2810 really is a phone for those older adults who want to be contactable more than they want to dig into advanced features. That said, the Nokia 2810 has FM radio support, a removable battery, and a torch feature.

To help save money, consider pairing the Nokia 2810 with a cheap phone plan from one of the providers below.

3. Apple iPhone SE (3rd gen): Best smartphone for seniors

Best smartphone
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

While smartphones have the potential to be overwhelming for older adults, the 2022 version of the Apple iPhone SE goes a long way to helping simplify smarter features. We like that the iPhone SE has retained the physical home button and that its speedy performance is paired with some great accessibility options.

If you’re new to the wonderful world of smartphones, we recommend starting with an Apple iPhone because of its user-friendly operating system. The iPhone SE third-generation handset is the latest model of Apple’s budget smartphone, which isn’t as cheap as its Android counterparts, but is still a worthy investment.

Older adults can take advantage of a voice assistant for hands-free use, 12MP camera for solid user-friendly pics, and some great accessibility features. Unlocking the phone is as simple as swiping your finger, and the physical home button makes backing out of apps a one-touch affair.

pro
Pros
pro Physical home button
pro Fast performance
pro Accessibility options
con
Cons
con Battery life should be better

While the 4.7-inch screen size could be bigger, the Retina HD display makes things easy to see. We also like that the iPhone SE has great water and dust resistance, hearing aid compatibility, and grants access to a world of accessibility apps via the App Store.

If you’d prefer to pay off an iPhone SE with a phone plan, consider one of the popular picks below.

4. Oppo A58: Best budget smartphone for seniors

Best budget smartphone
Oppo A58
4 out of 5 stars
4
$257
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Apple ecosystem may do a better job of handholding new smartphone users, but going with Android opens up a world of cheaper options. The Oppo A58 is our pick for the best budget smartphone because it boasts a generous 6.72-inch main display, plenty of battery life, and includes some neat accessibility features.

While we’re not fans of the lower resolution display, and the speaker could be better, there’s a lot to like about the Oppo A58 outside of the bargain price.

The Oppo A58 isn’t the cheapest Oppo or Android phone on the market, but it has generous 128GB internal storage and great performance. It’s also running Android 13 by default, with years of pledged upgrades, which means access to some great accessibility features today and updates in the future.

pro
Pros
pro Big screen
pro Two-day battery life
pro Accessibility options
con
Cons
con Lower-resolution screen
con Speaker could be better

Tinker with accessibility options for visibility enhancement, hearing enhancements (including hearing aid compatibility), and dexterity tweaks to improve the overall experience. Users can also launch the Google Assistant. Plus, download accessibility-boosting apps from the Google Play Store, including launchers that make icons bigger and easier to use.

You can pair your Oppo A58 with a prepaid mobile plan (with at least 8GB of data, so you can browse the web and check Facebook worry-free) from one of the providers below.

5. Nokia 2660: Best feature phone for seniors

Best feature phone
nokia 2660
Nokia 2660
4 out of 5 stars
4
$127
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Flip phones aren’t for everyone, but they do make life easier for older adults by opening and closing gestures that answer and end calls. We also like the inherent protection and compact size that comes from a folded flip phone.

While the 2.8-inch main screen isn’t the biggest, the Nokia 2660 is a feature phone with simplified functionality and big-by-default apps. We like that connectivity options include a 3.5mm headphone jack and Bluetooth, plus it’s great to see hearing aid support with a cheaper handset.

The Nokia 2660's battery life is okay for a smaller battery. Alternatively, you can replace the battery if you want to carry a backup. That said, as a feature phone, battery life is preserved by the lack of phone ‘smarts’.

pro
Pros
pro Dedicated SOS emergency button
pro Expandable battery
pro Loud volume
con
Cons
con Battery life could be better
con Limited internal storage
con Low-quality camera

It’s great that the minimal 4GB internal storage can be upgraded by up to 32GB of MicroSD storage, even if the low-resolution camera doesn’t provide the best pictures. Still, the Nokia 2660 has great older adult-friendly accessibility features, including a torch, loud volume, and a dedicated emergency button.

You shouldn’t need a whole lot of data with the Nokia 2660, so consider one of these basic prepaid plans.

Final word

If you’re an older adult in the market for a mobile phone that’s easy to use, start your comparisons with the feature phones on this page. The Opel Mobile TouchFlip is the most straightforward. Alternatively, save money with the Nokia 8210 or opt for the easier-to-use Nokia 2660. Smartphones have great accessibility features these days, too, so go with the Apple iPhone SE 2022 model or the cheaper Oppo A58 for an Android alternative. Lastly, don

Seniors mobile phone accessibility guide

We recommend choosing a feature phone over a smartphone for older adults because they’re generally easier to use, plus many models are built with older adult users in mind. This means accessibility is baked in at a design level rather than features that are tucked away in the settings menu.

For all mobile phones, we recommend keeping an eye out for the following features, depending on your specific needs:

  • 4G network support as a minimum (3G will be deactivated in the coming years).
  • A screen size that’s big enough to easily see icons.
  • An inbuilt speaker that’s loud and clear.
  • Physical buttons for those who don’t like touchscreens (or find them difficult to use).
  • Generous battery standby time for sporadic use or multi-day capacity for regular use.
  • Predictive text for easier messaging.
  • Speed-dial storage for preselected numbers and/or a dedicated emergency button.
  • An included charging cradle if you don’t want to rely on potentially fiddly charging cables.
  • An easy-to-find torch function for low-light illumination.
  • Optionally, a removable battery so you can have a spare or replace it when it starts to lose charge.
  • Optionally, expandable MicroSD storage to keep more pictures, videos, and apps on your phone.
  • Optionally, hearing aid compatibility.
  • Optionally, an unlocked phone that isn’t restricted to a particular provider network.

Smartphone accessibility options

On first start-up, most smartphones aren’t particularly great on the accessibility front, but this can be improved by jumping into the settings. For iPhone users, go to ‘Settings’, then ‘General’, and finally ‘Accessibility’. You’ll find options for larger text and hearing aid compatibility here, alongside other accessibility features.

For Android users, swipe down from the top of the phone then tap the settings cog. Scroll down through the settings menu until you find ‘Accessibility’. Here’s where you’ll find larger text and hearing aid compatibility, as well as other options that are worth testing to see which ones work for you.

While the iPhone operating system is generally considered to be easier to use than Android, Android users have the benefit of downloading ‘launchers’ that replace the basic look of the main phone options at start-up and during everyday use. Some launchers are free but others are paid. We recommend looking at options like Grand Launcher, BIG Launcher, and Simple Launcher that offer bigger apps and, generally, make smartphones closer in on-screen appearance to feature phones.

FAQ

The easiest mobile phone for seniors to use is a feature phone, which removes many of the potentially overwhelming apps of a smartphone and simplifies functions. Feature phones also tend to have physical buttons and loudspeakers.
A good choice of mobile phone for an older adult is one that meets their specific needs, specifically in terms of visual impairment and hard-of-hearing accessibility features and, potentially, physical buttons.
Mobile phones built for older adults tend to be free of specific network restrictions, unless they’re bought from a network provider (and may be locked to that specific network). To use whichever feature phone or smartphone you buy, you’ll need a SIM card from a prepaid or SIM-only mobile plan.

How we choose the best mobile phones for seniors

Choosing the right mobile phones for older adults isn’t the same process as recommending feature phones or smartphones for other adults. For starters, we favour easy-to-use mobile phones over more complicated options, which is why feature phones are more prominent picks than smartphones.

We’ve ignored any handset that only supports 3G as it’s set to be phased out in 2024, which means 4G is a minimum, though 5G support is a nice addition. More important is the inclusion of physical buttons, loudspeakers, and built-in accessibility features that make using the phone easier for people who are visually impaired or hard of hearing (including hearing aid compatibility).

Standby battery life is important, as is the option for removable batteries and an included charging cradle to simplify recharging. Other nice-to-have features include fall detection, GPS locational tracking, a dedicated emergency button, and simplified call controls.

You can learn more about how we review products by checking out our methodology.


Disclaimer
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time of publish and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer’s website at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. SafeWise Australia utilises paid affiliate links.
Nathan Lawrence
Written by
Nathan Lawrence

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