First ever smartphone for 80 years old person

googdi on 05/12/2016 - 21:59
Last edited 06/12/2016 - 08:46

Need suggestions on a smartphone for an 80 years person, who has never used a smart phone in his life before. Here is some information which might be useful for suggestions
1. The concerned person is not tech savvy at all however wants to give it a try given lot of his friends talk about the social apps available on smartphone e.g. whatsapp, facebook etc.
2. The only use cases of the phone i can think of are talk, sms, camera, whatsapp and facebook
3. Do not want spend too much (budget between $200 - $400)
4. The concerned person is hard of hearing and wears hearing aid. So phone with very loud ringer and the hearing aid compatibility would be great.
5. Given the likelihood of accidental drop and damage of phone, it would good to have phone with low repair costs.
6. Doesn't require a very big screen (screen size of iphone 5 or 6 should suffice)

Other points which may not be as important as above points:
1. Would be better if the phone has good resale value in case things doesn't work out
2. Open for a contract with maximum $40 monthly commitment. Call credit of $100 and 0.5GB data allowance (monthly) should be sufficient.
3. Currently using Doro 409 gsm phone, which is most basic phone for senior citizens.

Mobile

Comments

PVA on 05/12/2016 - 22:11

my dad has a samsung s4, mum has a Boost something.
they are 80, not tech savy and had a flip phone a few years back.
Android is fine and easy to use as I deleted all apps not needed from the screens, they only want phone, sms/mms, photos and thats about it.
both phones are 5inch screens, makes the keyboard a decent size for their fingers and they can see the pictures in mms etc without having to zoom in and out.
sane on 05/12/2016 - 22:16

The Moto G always used to have hearing aid compatibility (eg the induction loop). I think that continues to the current model (check under Accessibility). For an 80 year old that might be a deciding factor (it's also quite cheap).
windwai on 05/12/2016 - 22:19
Open for a contract with maximum $40 monthly commitment

From this, You can get the Huawei P9 - a very good phone lol or even iPhone SE
http://www.virginmobile.com.au/hotoffers/?i_cid=MM_Hotoffers

One other benefit from it is that if there is any problem, they only need to go to the store.
- akd on 06/12/2016 - 09:27
  
  iPhone SE for 80 year old. Please have some mercy on his eyes.
Stewardo on 05/12/2016 - 23:45

Iphone 5
- akd on 06/12/2016 - 09:26
  
  I may be wrong but I believe easy mode is only on Samsung phones. It is not in-built Android feature.
[Deactivated] on 06/12/2016 - 00:32

+1
My technophobic father hated technology and can barely work a TV. Wouldn't trust him with installing AA batteries.

He discovered dating girls younger than his children online.

Now texts faster than Shane Warne. It's horrifying.
googdi on 06/12/2016 - 00:34

Which OS one has the simpler interface for people in this age andriod, iOS or windows?
Also i like the idea of options to increase the keyboard size, font and hearing aid compatibility, these are all very valid points for choosing the next phones. Please share information of phones with these features as these will be extremely useful for that age.
I agree with the suggestion to have minimum apps so that there is less chance for confusion. I remember that for iPhone you are stuck with many of these apps
- scrimshaw on 06/12/2016 - 00:50
  
  IOS has so many features now it is comparable to any other OS in terms of complexity.
  
  The thing about Android is that we can install homescreens. Homescreens completely replace the app drawer and widgets, and there are 'simple' homescreens that are geared towards users who find smartphones intimidating to use.
  
  Some examples
  
  Samsung's Easy Mode (not downloadable, available as a phone feature)
  Huawei Easy Mode (not downloadable, available as a phone feature)
  LG Easy Home (Not downlodable, available on LG flagship devices such as LG G3, G4, and G5)
  BIG Launcher
  Wiser
  Necta
  Grand Launcher
  Smart Launcher Pro
  
  in any case, I bought my mum a Motorola G4 Plus. They hover around $300 though. You can get away with something much lower end like a Huawei GR3 for example ($200)
- amkssg on 06/12/2016 - 01:34
  
  As mentioned but quite a few people, get an Andriod phone, and turn on "EASY MODE".
  It basically "dumbs down" the phone, and gets rid of all the complicated menu.
  And yes, it also means you can max out the font size and have big button keyboards.
Nutrino on 06/12/2016 - 00:42

+1

Nokia 5110
- captobvious on 06/12/2016 - 00:51
  
  choice phone for an 80 year old. my grandpa still uses his 8210 which has been through the wash a few times.
googdi on 06/12/2016 - 08:41

Looking at the the suggestions above, i'm getting inclined toward the Android OS. Now I'm thinking on zooming down on the phone.
I've thoughts of couple more requirements since the original post
1. The concerned person is hard of hearing and wears hearing aid. So phone with very loud ringer and the hearing aid compatibility would be great.
2. Given the likelihood of accidental drop and damage of phone, it would good to have phone with low repair costs.
- scrimshaw on 06/12/2016 - 11:17
  
  If a phone screen breaks, regardless of how little or how much you paid for the phone, the cost of replacing the screen is about the same, since a large percentage of the cost is in the labour and not the parts.
  Unless you do it yourself of course.
  
  e.g a smashed Galaxy Note 5 display maY set you back $200 to replace, but so would a smashed Motorola G3 display.
  
  In this situation you may as well buy the budget phone if you wish to lessen the 'oops! I just broke an expensive phone' pain.
  
  I would look into getting a tempered glass screen protector for around $2 dollars on eBay and a tough case (around $15 on ebay)
- sane on 06/12/2016 - 11:52
  
  As I say, I'd suggest the Moto G range (probably the G4). They seem to still support the hearing aid T switch well, the screen is big enough, and the price low enough.
  
  https://www.motorola.com/us/about/hearing-aid-compatibility-…
  
  As for repair, put it in a decent case (same is true for all phones).
- Slippery Fish on 06/12/2016 - 20:04
  
  +1
  
  Get a tough case
boomramada on 06/12/2016 - 08:49

+1

How about Android phone with following koala launcher, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koalaphone…
Avoid any 2G phone, as they be out of use soon.
googdi on 06/12/2016 - 08:57

Thanks, looks like a really good App, will definately consider installing
Lacerta on 06/12/2016 - 09:21
The concerned person is not tech savvy at all however wants to give it a try given lot of his friends talk about the social apps available on smartphone e.g. whatsapp, facebook etc.

Since the smartphone is going to be used for facebook and whatsapp (viewing photos photos and reading text), have you considered getting a tablet instead? The larger screen makes it easier to see photos, read text and type using the on screen keyboard.

The only use cases of the phone i can think of are talk, sms, camera, whatsapp and facebook

Currently using Doro 409 gsm phone, which is most basic phone for senior citizens.

Keep the simple mobile phone as well for calls and sms, since it has easy-to-press physical buttons. (Just make sure that that phone will continue to work on 3G when the 2G network is switched off)
- scrimshaw on 06/12/2016 - 11:22
  
  Only problem I see is that 3G enabled tablets have somewhat dwindled in supply over the years and while Samsung 4G tabs are still around, the cheapest options are actually still quite pricey.
googdi on 06/12/2016 - 12:20

He is currently using the 2G phone and given it is no longer supported, he is in the market for new phone. The idea is to have one gadget for the basic stuff rather than having a phone and tablet.
googdi on 06/12/2016 - 12:23

It appears that there are quite a few decent phones between $250 and $400 (including buys from eBay) however looking for suggestions what is best phone based on the criterion mentioned in original post.
- scrimshaw on 06/12/2016 - 12:27
  
  Motorola g4 fits the bill. It is also hearing aid compatible
  
  I bought the G4 Plus for my 60 yr old mum and it's easy to use. The larger screen makes it easier for her to use the keyboard.
  
  https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/111315/~/is-the-moto-g-plus-(4th-gen.)-hearing-aid-compatible%3F
  
  If you find the 5.5 inch display too big, there is also the Google Nexus 5x, and the Moto G4 Play (both 5 inch phones) and are compatible with hearing aids.
googdi on 07/12/2016 - 08:21

So far there are suggestions for Samsung Galaxy S5 and Motorola G4 phones. Just checking are there any other good phones in the similar criterion?
I looked at Samsung Galaxy S5 and it has also got support for hearing aid:
https://www.cellcom.com/hearing-aid-compatibility.html
Also any suggestions that which phone might be better between Samsung Galaxy S5 and Motorola G4 phones and what's the best place to buy them?
- sane on 07/12/2016 - 11:33
  
  Officeworks, Hardly Normal or Good Guys. It's possible to find it for less via an online store, but for the difference it's not really worth it.
  
  Not sure you can source the S5 for within your price range except via an online cheapy store.
DeepSea on 07/12/2016 - 13:26

I haven't tried this "easy mode" on Android phones, but I find the standard Android UI to be poorly designed (vanilla Kitkat, and Lollipop). I have a major intolerance for this shitty UX of the droid phones I have a had the misfortune of using the last two years, and every now and then I think about throwing these directly into a wall. So with $400 I would pick an iphone 5s or 5c everyday.

First ever smartphone for 80 years old person

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