15 Questions You Wanted To Ask About The Best Smartphone For Seniors
Senior citizens often have difficulty using modern smartphones. Large screens are hard for arthritic fingers to press, keyboards require more dexterity and hand strength, and increasingly complicated features are difficult to operate. In this article, we will answer fifteen (15) questions you want to ask about the best smartphones for seniors.
Is The Smartphone Easy For Seniors To Operate?
The screen on a smartphone is much smaller than the one on a tablet or laptop. On some older phones, the keys are crammed together and confusing to operate. In general, features on smartphones and tablets – such as emailing, texting, web-surfing – are similar, so you can usually master them with patience and practice. Some smartphones have large touch screens that are easier for seniors to use than the standard button-based screens; this is particularly true of models designed for seniors.
If you are unable to operate or understand smartphone features such as touchscreens, check the web for a smartphone that has a virtual keyboard – it is easier to type on these keyboards than lists of numbers and letters.
Do Smartphones Run Efficiently For Seniors?
It is important for seniors to have smartphones that run quickly. Like with any device, the speed of operating a smartphone depends on the complexity of its operating system. While smartphones are designed for seniors, some are easier to use than others. Many seniors complain of having difficulty operating their phones because they cannot see the small buttons. This can be prevented by installing apps that will enlarge the buttons and make inputting data easier. If your loved one struggles with operating a smartphone, look for one that is streamlined in terms of operating system and apps.
Does The Smartphone Battery Last Long?
The smartphone is the most used device for seniors. If you can’t stay connected with your friends and family, it’s not a good one for you. That’s why you should look for a smartphone with fast charging technology that can recharge in as little as half an hour.
If you use your smartphone constantly, the battery will drain much faster than if you rarely use it. It’s not unusual for phones with large screens to easily last a day or more on a full charge. However, if you frequently call people or send texts, expect the battery to last only a couple of hours.
What Smartphone Screen Size Is Ideal For Seniors?
The best phones for seniors have large displays that enable seniors to interact with them easily. Don’t buy a phone with a small screen: it’s almost impossible to read, and you’ll soon grow tired of searching for the right word. If you only use the smartphone occasionally, that’s all right, but if you rely on it daily – for checking emails or the stock market, looking up recipes or directions – then a large screen is essential.
Is The Smartphone For Seniors Durable?
Smartphones are designed with sophisticated technology to make them both durable and versatile. However, there is always the possibility that you may drop your phone, or that someone else may damage it. It’s important to choose a phone case and a good screen protector so that they can protect the phone from drops and scratches.
Will Seniors Use The Smartphone Keyboard?
Many seniors have trouble typing on a small physical keyboard. But smartphone technology has optimized the virtual keyboard to make it easier to use a keypad. Also, most smarphones has voice recognition and voice control functions that allow them to operate smartphones by listening to commands from anywhere in the room.
Can Seniors Take Photos Easily With Smartphones?
The camera is probably one of the features that will be used the most for seniors. There are two options for where to capture the most appealing images. A smartphone with a powerful camera that can take pictures in low light or a phone with a large screen and three cameras that let them see and capture everything.
Also, the ability to take photos is an important consideration for seniors. If you use your smartphone to photograph garden plants, friends and relatives, or the sunset over the lake, a camera phone is more important than one that can send texts and surf the net. It’s also easier to do this with a smart phone with a touchscreen rather than one that requires a stylus – although styluses are getting better and easier for seniors to use now.
Do Seniors Need A Lot Of Storage For Their Smartphones?
In order to be able to use their smartphone as intended, seniors need smartphones that have all of the storage they will ever need. If you are trying to figure out which model is the best for a senior, it is important for them to have the largest storage available for them. If the smartphone is going to be used regularly, it is best to get a model that comes with 8, 16 or 32GB.
Can Seniors Easily Download Apps?
Many seniors have difficulty operating small buttons on smartphones. If your phone was made before 2013, you may be able to download apps into an SD card without needing to use the phone’s operating system but, the process varies greatly from phone to phone. Some models are easy to download and install; others require you to search for the apps in a separate store. To use them, you must then log on and download any updates before they will be usable.
What Smartphone Apps Do Seniors Need?
Smartphones are popular with seniors because they can provide high-speed internet access and a range of applications that may be helpful to them. For example, the measure function is perfect for those who frequently make measurements that are hard to see. The weather app is useful for elderly people who don’t like to get confused about the weather forecast. The BBC news app helps them understand world events in details they can understand and with simple language. Apps for directions, news, sports scores and stocks are also useful to seniors.
Is It Easy To Buy A Smartphone For Seniors?
The easiest way to buy a smartphone for a senior is through any of the many seniors-specific stores that are now available. However, there are also several online options that can make it easier to find the best smartphone for your loved one. Look for smartphones with large buttons that are easy to touch. Some smartphones have big letters, which is ideal if your eyesight isn’t what it once was.
Where Can Seniors Buy Smartphones?
You can purchase smartphones for seniors from your local retailer, who will be able to offer advice about which models are the best for your loved one. However, there are also several online options that can make it easier to find the best smartphone for your loved one.
Do Smartphones For Seniors Come With A Warranty?
For seniors, purchasing a smartphone from a reliable retailer is a great way to ensure that they are purchasing a durable product. However, if your loved one’s phone were to break, it might be hard for them to get another one. This is why smartphones sold through online sources should come with some kind of warranty. Since smartphones have the same operating systems as computers, the tech experts at these online retailers will be familiar with the computer software and will be able to assist you with contacting the manufacturer of your loved one’s new smartphone.
What Smartphone Accessories Will Seniors Need?
You should be sure that your loved one’s smartphone has all of the features they need. You can determine this by asking them what kind of apps they use, what their favorite programs are and what their favorite features are. As technology improves and changes, seniors may not be able to keep up with the times. Have a discussion with them about which technology changes they prefer to utilize in their phones – it will help you determine which smartphone is going to work best for them.
What Are The Best Conditions For Choosing A Smartphone For Seniors?
Check the screen size: ideal size is between four and six inches for seniors to optimize its use. Also check if you can use an SD card to download apps aside from the internal memory that the smartphone has. Consider buying a swivel phone or one with a front face camera to make it easier for seniors to use. Buy a phone with an additional battery or one that recharges quickly.
Make sure your eyesight is good enough to read the screen. If not, look for larger letters in menus and apps. If your eyesight isn’t good, ask someone to help you choose the best smartphone you can manage.
All of these features make it easy for seniors to operate smartphones and use them as intended. If you are purchasing a new smartphone, you can choose one that has all of the above features to ensure your loved one is comfortable using it.
Our Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus has the largest screen on a smartphone and its advanced camera makes it ideal for seniors looking to take photos of the family or for their own enjoyment.
The Note 8 is a smartphone meant for those who want it all. It has a large screen, great sound and an advanced camera system with options like wide angle and waterproof. The extra large storage makes it easy to keep family photos without worrying about running out of room or removing apps that they can’t live without.
The iPhone 12 is a revolutionary product developed by Apple that combines the features of the iPad: tablet, laptop and phone in one product which makes it ideal for seniors to use.
It is simple to operate and it has simple sensory functions. Learning and playing games are easily accessible. It is also user-friendly without the hassle of setting up a lot of features.
Whichever smartphones you buy, the things you must consider must always be the ability of the seniors to use it; their ability to hold big smartphones, their eyesight and the most important apps that could be used by our loved ones.