Grandparents’ Guide to Today’s Phones

What this guide covers

Today’s phones are genuinely different from the phones of ten or fifteen years ago — smaller in some ways, far more capable, and sometimes more confusing to set up correctly. This guide cuts through the marketing language and the feature lists to answer the questions that actually matter: What kind of phone do I need? How do I make it easier to use? What can it actually do for me? And what are the risks I should know about?

You don’t need to become a tech expert. You need to know enough to use a phone confidently and safely — to stay connected with the people who matter, to get help in an emergency, and to avoid being taken advantage of.

Understanding the types of phones

There are three broad categories of phone available in 2026. Understanding the difference makes every other decision easier.

• Basic flip phones — fold open to reveal a small screen and physical keypad. Make calls and send texts. No apps, no internet browsing, no camera in most models. Best for: someone who only wants to make calls and text, has no interest in apps or video calling, and prefers physical buttons over a touchscreen.
• Senior-specific smartphones — full Android smartphones wrapped in a simplified interface designed for older adults. Larger icons, clearer menus, fewer confusing options, and often an emergency button. The Jitterbug Smart5 is the leading example. Best for: someone who wants a simple phone experience with apps available but doesn’t want to deal with the complexity of a standard smartphone.
• Standard smartphones (iPhone or Android) — the phones most people carry. Full featured, complex, and very powerful when set up correctly. With the right accessibility settings applied (Section 4), they can be genuinely easy to use. Best for: someone comfortable with technology, or someone whose family all uses iPhones and wants seamless photo and video call sharing.

Which phone — 2026 options compared

These are the phones most frequently recommended for older adults in 2026, based on ease of use, screen size, hearing-aid compatibility, safety features, and long-term software support. Prices are approximate US figures as of mid-2026, not including a service plan.

Settings that make any phone easier to use — right now

These changes are free, built into every modern phone, and take under five minutes each. You don’t need a new phone to benefit from them.

What a smartphone can actually do for you

Most people use their smartphones for a small number of things. Here are the ones that genuinely benefit older adults most — not an overwhelming list, just the ones worth knowing about.

• Video calls. FaceTime, Zoom, and WhatsApp let you see the people you’re talking to — grandchildren’s faces, family gatherings across distances, doctor’s appointments from home. See SM-006 for the full guide.
• Navigation. Apple Maps and Google Maps give turn-by-turn directions so you never need to worry about getting lost. Speak the destination out loud and the phone does the rest.
• Medication reminders. The Clock app’s alarm function, or dedicated apps like Medisafe, can remind you to take medications at the right times — with as many alarms as you need.
• Health tracking. The iPhone’s Health app passively tracks steps and detects falls. The Apple Watch (a separate device that pairs with iPhone) can detect falls and call for help automatically. Both are worth knowing about.
• Photography. Today’s phone cameras are genuinely excellent. Point at anything, tap the screen, take the picture — no settings needed. The photo goes directly to the camera roll and can be shared with family instantly.
• Voice commands. Say “Hey Siri” (iPhone) or “Hey Google” (Android) and ask anything out loud — what’s the weather, call my daughter, set a reminder. Useful for anyone who finds typing on a small screen difficult.
• Emergency SOS. Every modern phone can call 911 by pressing the side button rapidly. Some models detect if you’ve had a serious fall or car crash and call for help automatically.

Common mistakes

• Buying a phone based on what’s cheapest, not what’s easiest. A $30 phone that’s frustrating to use costs more in time and stress than a $200 phone that works well. Buy the phone that fits how you’ll actually use it.
• Not applying any accessibility settings. Out-of-the-box, most smartphones are not optimized for older adults. The settings in Section 4 make a dramatic difference and take minutes to apply.
• Storing only one contact for family members. If a family member gets a new phone number, having only one number stored means you may lose contact. Ask for a backup number — home, work, or partner’s phone.
• Not charging the phone regularly. A phone that dies when you need it most is not a safety device. Get in the habit of plugging it in every night, just as you would an electric toothbrush or hearing aid.
• Tapping “OK” or “Allow” on every prompt without reading it. Pop-up messages on phones ask for permissions and sometimes for money. Pause before tapping anything, and when in doubt, call a family member before tapping OK.
• Keeping the phone on the charger at home while leaving the house. The phone’s safety and emergency features only help if you have it with you. Get in the habit of taking it wherever you go.

Phone safety — scams and risks to know about

Questions to ask before buying a new phone

• What does my family use — iPhone or Android? (Matching phones makes sharing photos and video calls much smoother)
• Do I want to video call, take photos, and use apps — or just call and text?
• Is a physical keyboard important to me, or am I comfortable with a touchscreen?
• Do I use hearing aids — and if so, does this phone have hearing-aid compatibility (HAC) certification?
• Does this carrier have good signal in my home and the places I travel?
• What is the monthly plan cost, and what does it include?
• Is there a return or trial period if I don’t like the phone?

Where to get help

• Apple Support — 1-800-APL-CARE (1-800-275-2273) Free phone support for iPhone questions. Can walk you through any setting over the phone. Also available in-person at Apple Stores — free “Today at Apple” sessions specifically for getting started.
• Consumer Cellular — 1-888-345-5509 US-based customer service, well-regarded for patience with older adult customers. Good option if you want a simpler carrier experience.
• Senior Planet from AARP — seniorplanet.org Free online and in-person technology classes for older adults, including smartphone basics, taught by instructors who specialize in this audience.
• Your local library Many branches offer free one-on-one tech help sessions. Call ahead to ask what smartphone help is available.
• AARP Technology Education — aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology Step-by-step guides to common phone tasks, written for older adults.

What family members helping a parent should know

The single most effective thing you can do when helping a parent with a new phone is to sit with them and set it up together — applying the accessibility settings in Section 4 before handing it over. A phone that arrives configured correctly is a completely different experience from one that arrives at default settings with tiny text and confusing menus.

A few things that help longer-term: create a simple one-page reference card (laminated, taped near the phone) covering the four or five things they’ll do most — call this person, FaceTime that person, take a photo. Ask a grandchild to be the designated tech helper — the combination of patience from a grandchild and motivation from the grandparent relationship is genuinely powerful.

One thing to get right before you leave: make sure they know how to hang up on a call, how to decline an incoming call, and how to call 911. These three things matter more than any app.

Finally, plan for software updates. Most people ignore update notifications and end up on old, insecure software. Either set updates to happen automatically overnight, or commit to checking with your parent every few months. Security updates matter particularly for older adults who are frequently targeted by digital scams.

Related guides

Sources and last-updated date