Table of Contents
Getting a new phone as a senior can be complicated. For instance, you might want the latest and greatest device or something simpler to make and receive calls. PCMag can help, since we've been writing about cell phones for at least three decades and reviewing them for about as long. Therefore, you can rest assured that the phones on this list are the best ones available right now. The Apple iPhone 17 and Google Pixel 10a top our list of Editors' Choice winners, for their superb value and power, respectively, but our other picks have merit, too. Check out our in-depth reviews of each phone to determine which is best for you or the senior in your life, and make sure to read to the end for some helpful buying guidelines.
Our Top Tested Picks
Apple iPhone 17
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The iPhone 17's robust battery life, fast performance, pro-level display, and capable cameras easily make it the best iPhone for the money and our top pick. The base model is on a more even footing with the iPhone Pro than ever before.
Pros
- Best value among iPhone 17 models
- Fast performance
- Competitive battery life
- Speedy wireless connections
- Pro-level display
- Flexible cameras
Cons
- No telephoto camera
Google Pixel 10a
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
With excellent cameras, a brighter screen, and strong AI features, the Pixel 10a remains one of the best values in midrange Android phones.
Pros
- Outstanding cameras for the price
- Sharp, bright screen
- Excellent Google AI
- Long software support commitment
- Simple, well-made hardware
Cons
- Outdated processor
- No magnetic charging
- No mmWave 5G
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Samsung Galaxy A57 is a midrange phone that combines good looks with a durable build, a bright screen, and a long-lasting battery, making it a compelling option for those who don't need a pricey flagship or the latest AI.
Pros
- Slim, appealing design
- Colorful, sharp display
- 18 hours of battery life
- Solid camera results
- Six years of software and security updates
Cons
- Sluggish performance limits gaming
- Rear glass attracts fingerprints
- Costs more than last year's phone
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Samsung Galaxy A17 delivers exceptional value thanks to its large display, long battery life, good cameras, and long support commitment, making it our top pick for an affordable phone.
Pros
- Good battery life
- Quick-enough 5G and Wi-Fi
- Impressive cameras for the price
- 6-year support commitment
- Decent quality build
Cons
- Outdated processor
- Limited RAM
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra impresses with sharp cameras, smart AI features, a cutting-edge screen, and a classic design, making it easy to recommend to creatives pros.
Pros
- Class-leading cameras
- Excellent performance
- Privacy Display hides your screen
- Practical AI tools
- Useful S Pen stylus
Cons
- Limited viewing angles
- Average battery life
- Lacks magnetic charging
TCL Flip 4 5G
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
TCL has completely reimagined its affordable Flip voice phone with a fresh design, extended battery life, and a 5G connection.
Pros
- Affordable
- 5G and Wi-Fi
- Long battery life
- Quick performance
Cons
- Limited third-party apps
- Poor cameras
- Embedded battery
Apple iPhone 17e
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Apple has built an excellent midrange phone that captures the essence of the iPhone experience, without many of the compromises you’d expect, and with some welcome upgrades over last year's model.
Pros
- Superb performance
- Long battery life
- Vibrant screen
- Roomy 256GB base storage
- Camera takes sharp photos
- MagSafe charging
Cons
- Limited camera system
- Older Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios
The Best Phone Deals This Week*
- Google Pixel 11 Pro 256GB Unlocked Phone With $200... — $1,299
- Samsung Galaxy A37 5G 256GB Unlocked Phone (Awesom... — $539 ($539) Save $0.01
- Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB Unlocked Phone (Black) — $799 ($899) Save $100.00
- Nothing Phone (3) 256GB Unlocked Phone (Black) — $599 ($799) Save $200.00
- Apple iPhone 16 128GB Unlocked Phone (Black, Renew... — $599 ($699) Save $100.00
- Get the Best Prices On Phones — Download Our Free Price Comparison Tool $0
EDITORS' NOTE
July 29, 2026: With this update, we added the Samsung Galaxy A57. Our remaining picks have been vetted for currency and availability. Since our last update, we reviewed and evaluated about a dozen new phones for potential inclusion in this roundup.
- Best value among iPhone 17 models
- Fast performance
- Competitive battery life
- Speedy wireless connections
- Pro-level display
- Flexible cameras
- No telephoto camera
The iPhone 17 has a sharp, vibrant 6.3-inch display that's easy to see and use. It offers long battery life, so you won't have to hunt down a charger often, while its excellent cameras let you take lots of good family photos. Apple's mobile OS is also intuitive to use, regardless of your tech skills, and the phone even supports Apple Intelligence.
The iPhone 17 is for people who need a solid smartphone that handles the basics and includes a little extra. Its bright screen, good battery life, sharp cameras, and reasonable price make it a balanced offering.
- Outstanding cameras for the price
- Sharp, bright screen
- Excellent Google AI
- Long software support commitment
- Simple, well-made hardware
- Outdated processor
- No magnetic charging
- No mmWave 5G
The Google Pixel 10a is an excellent and affordable Android device. It is easy to hold and see thanks to its bright 6.3-inch AMOLED screen. It is also water-resistant, fast charging, and supports wireless charging. An ultra-wide camera with 4K video capture means it's great for snapping photos and videos of the grandkids. It also supports Google's Gemini AI features and tools.
If you want some truly convenient features and long-term software support, the Google Pixel 10a is a wise choice that doesn't cost too much.
- Slim, appealing design
- Colorful, sharp display
- 18 hours of battery life
- Solid camera results
- Six years of software and security updates
- Sluggish performance limits gaming
- Rear glass attracts fingerprints
- Costs more than last year's phone
The Samsung Galaxy A57 5G can handle most tasks you throw at it and delivers enough battery life to last you a full day on a single charge. Moreover, Samsung's promise of six years of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates means you can keep the phone for several years without worry. The 6.7-inch AMOLED display also gets quite bright for enhanced visibility.
If you want an affordable smartphone that can handle more than the basics, the Galaxy A57 is the phone to get. Its cameras produce better images than most phones at this price, with crisp detail and good color; it has an appealing design; and its battery lasts for an excellent 18 hours in testing.
- Good battery life
- Quick-enough 5G and Wi-Fi
- Impressive cameras for the price
- 6-year support commitment
- Decent quality build
- Outdated processor
- Limited RAM
The capable Galaxy A17 5G packs the best of Samsung into an affordable package. It has a large, sharp display with a speedy 90Hz refresh rate, delivers good performance for the price, and comes with an excellent software update commitment. We also like that it has a microSD card slot for expandable storage and an IP54 rating for protection against splashing and rain.
If you want a budget-friendly phone with a big screen and snappy speed, the Samsung Galaxy A17 is a steal.
- Class-leading cameras
- Excellent performance
- Privacy Display hides your screen
- Practical AI tools
- Useful S Pen stylus
- Limited viewing angles
- Average battery life
- Lacks magnetic charging
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is arguably the best Android handset for seniors. It has a huge screen, terrific cameras, and top-notch build quality. If you like to jot down notes by hand, the included S Pen stylus slots right into the phone. Samsung's Easy Mode also helps less tech-savvy people use the phone to its fullest.
Like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the S26 Ultra is for people with deep pockets and a desire to use the latest mobile tech. The S Pen works better than any other stylus we've tested, so this phone should especially appeal to artists and notetakers.
- Affordable
- 5G and Wi-Fi
- Long battery life
- Quick performance
- Limited third-party apps
- Poor cameras
- Embedded battery
The TCL Flip 4 5G is our favorite, low-cost flip phone. It offers great battery life, Wi-Fi connectivity so you can check email and browse the web, and, most importantly, both the earpiece and speakerphone sound loud and clear.
If you just want a phone to make and receive calls, the TCL Flip 4 5G handles those tasks with aplomb. It's quite affordable and easy to carry around.
- Superb performance
- Long battery life
- Vibrant screen
- Roomy 256GB base storage
- Camera takes sharp photos
- MagSafe charging
- Limited camera system
- Older Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios
The iPhone 17e offers all the key benefits of the Apple iPhone 17 in a more affordable package. It has a modern processor, screen, and camera, supports basic 5G, and can run Apple Intelligence. This model is also compatible with MagSafe, which makes charging a snap.
The iPhone 17e is the best choice for budget shoppers who still want an Apple handset. Chances are, at least someone you know uses an iPhone, so getting help with anything shouldn't be an issue.
The Best Phones for Seniors in 2026 Compare Specs
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Best Voice Phones
We regularly get emails from readers who are frustrated because they don't feel like there are enough simple, high-quality voice phones. They look at the current lineup of voice phones and see them as a step back, not a step up.
They're right. The hardware demands of 4G LTE voice calling mean inexpensive voice phones are slower and less reliable than in the past. We've tested several, and the one we recommend most right now is the TCL Flip 3. It's cheap, and it works well. The TCL Flip 2 is also good if you can't find the Flip 3.
There are a bunch of flip phones kicking around the cell phone aisle at Walgreens and Walmart from carrier brands like Tracfone and Net10. We don't review them, but some appear to be older, decent-quality models. If your budget is tight, try one of those. Avoid phones where the carrier appears to be the phone maker; those are typically rebranded phones from low-rent manufacturers. Stick to options from Motorola and Samsung if possible.
What Phone Features Are Most Important for Seniors?
Icons and touch targets on large, affordable devices with lower-resolution screens are easier to hit, so you should consider buying an older, less-advanced phone if one suits your needs. (That said, a flagship phone is a good choice if you want to look at photos and videos at full quality.)
If a smartphone's default abundance of options feels too cluttered or confusing, try Samsung's Easy Mode. It's available on handsets from the low-cost Galaxy A17 5G to the high-end Galaxy S26 series.
Fans of pen and paper might enjoy using Samsung's S Pen on the S26 Ultra or Motorola's Moto G Stylus 5G. You can also use a third-party passive stylus with many iPhones.
It's worth looking for a phone with an IP rating and reinforced glass. With those features, you can worry less about dust, water ingress, or damage from drops. Most affordable models lack an IP rating.
Finally, if you depend on a tech-savvy person for smartphone tech support, you might want to get the same type of phone they have (either one that runs Android or iOS). The two main phone operating systems are very different, and someone familiar with one might not be able to answer questions about the other. There are a lot of iPhones out there; here's how to choose the best iPhone. We also have a roundup of the top Android phones and the best cheap phones overall.
What Are the Best Senior-Specific Phone Carriers?
Two wireless carriers specialize in the senior market: Lively and Consumer Cellular. Lively, formerly known as GreatCall, uses the Verizon network, while Consumer Cellular runs on AT&T. Of the two, Lively has more specialized features for those who need health monitoring: an urgent response button, 24/7 access to nurses, and connected medical alert devices.
Now a Best Buy subsidiary, Lively sells first-party hardware. Its flip phone, the Jitterbug Flip2, is the company's simplest device. We haven't reviewed it and, therefore, don't have any opinions to share about it, but it sells for around $80. The Jitterbug Flip2 can also be found at a discount if you look around online.
On the other hand, we recommend Consumer Cellular highly. Consumer Cellular has a marketing arrangement with AARP and doesn't offer specialized services, but it received high marks from our readers in the past for customer service. It sells several of the phones on our list.
Do Senior Phones Work on Standard Carriers?
Many seniors are more comfortable with older phones, but some might no longer work. You must ensure your phone supports 4G LTE networks, which will remain active until at least 2030. All three major carriers have turned off their 3G already. That means you need to go with a voice phone that supports voice over 4G LTE, also known as VoLTE.
There are other benefits to 4G as well. 4G LTE basic phones support HD Voice; that means you can conduct high-quality voice calls with anyone else who has an HD Voice-capable mobile phone. Those higher-quality calls can be easier on aged ears. As for 5G, many of the phones on our list already support it.
The major carriers offer senior discount plans for smartphone users. AT&T and T-Mobile have special plans for people over 55. Verizon has limited offers available only to residents of Florida.
The Best Prepaid Carriers for Senior Phones
Seniors on fixed incomes should check out our story on the best cheap phone plans, which has a lot of low-cost virtual carriers—prepaid carriers that use the major carriers' networks but tend to charge a lot less per month for basic service. If you're looking for limited, voice-only plans, you can get them on a range of carrier networks for around $10 per month. Those plans usually require that you bring over an unlocked, compatible phone.
