We bought and tested 8 devices to find the Best Flip Phones for Seniors taking into account different skill levels, vision levels and budgets of all sizes.
If you’re in a hurry, Editor’s Choice for the best on our list is the Jitterbug Flip Easy-to-Use Cell Phone. This piece of gear receives our stamp of approval for value, customer rating (1,420+ reviews) and it’s designed specifically for seniors!
Let’s get started…
If you for once harbored the thought that the opposite of a ‘smart phone’ is a ‘dumb phone’, then just hold on till you see the number of people who have little or no interest in smartphones. Of course, smartphones are an upgrade — the rave of the moment — and flip phones are just one step behind, but that’s just how most seniors like it.
The thrill about flip phones is that they come in handy for elderly seniors who would really appreciate saving themselves the stress of wrapping their heads around how to successfully operate a smart phone. While the number one function of flip phones is to offer the basic mobile device functionality to users, some are specially designed with senior citizens in mind.
OUR TOP PICK
No products found.Jitterbug5 Easy-to-Use Cell Phone for Seniors
EDITORS CHOICE
No products found.BEST VALUE
No products found.What are flip phones?
Flip phones are mobile devices that offer basic mobile device functionality to users. They are very user friendly devices and are highly recommended for the elderly who would want to stand in-between older generation phones and smartphones.
Their physical appearance is such that a flappable (flip) cover is attached to the body of the phone. The cover also serves as the screen when flipped open. This flap cover serves as both a quick notification system (with the little screen behind) and ultimately a protective feature for the device itself.
Why are flip phones suitable for elderly seniors?
We have at a point or the other seen an elderly person make a mess of trying to operate a smartphone — it might be funny but it isn’t a big deal. It just wasn’t the thing during their generation (generational difference). Flip phones give seniors the chance to focus on their main need from a mobile phone — communication (and most times, nothing more).
Why flip phones? The most important feature on a phone — the screen — is naturally protected in flip phones. Also, they have been around for quite a while and many elderly ones have been accustomed to their functionality and user interface.
Flip phones for the elderly (seniors): What to look out for
Just so you know, you’ll need almost as much meticulousness when buying flip phones as you’ll need when buying a smartphone. This is because there are a few points to check when buying a flip phone either for your personal use or for elderly ones.
The points mentioned below will help you to easily narrow down your options to a few devices and it will save you the stress of buying a flip phone and seeing the one you should have bought later.
- Appearance: The structure of a flip phone is very important and even though all have the flappy top cover, some phones give you the option of carrying quite a number of operations without even flipping the cover open. On some flip phones, the mini screen serves more than just to notify you of incoming calls or text and to show you battery levels.
- Keyboard: The button arrangements on some keyboards make inadvertent dialing or stressful texting inevitable. On some other flip phones (especially the ones reviewed below), the buttons are big and well-spaced. Be sure to check out this feature before proceeding to purchase a flip phone… well, except you don’t mind.
- Speaker: Be sure to check out the loudness and clarity of the flip phone’s speakers, especially if the user has some form of hearing impairment. This feature might be the making or breaking factor and it varies from phone to phone.
- Durability: You might not be able to easily determine this, but there are some flip phones that give a sign away about how much fall or rugged use they can withstand. You might notice it in the way some phones flip, some it’s in the way their buttons press, and so on.
- Battery life: Flip phones should logically be able to go over a day on standby and around 5 hours of straight talk time. You don’t want to get a device that’ll be sulking for power every now and then. Be sure to confirm the capacity and duration of the flip phone’s battery before going ahead to part ways with your cash. This is a very important factor.
Review: Best flip phones for seniors (the elderly)
The market abounds with flip phones by several different brands. This explains why making the right choice can be really challenging.
However, to make the selection easier for you, we have scoured the market and have compared various flip phones with the aim of coming up with a short list of the best.
After our research, we found the following flip phones to be the best the moment — based on real buyer opinions, product features, brand trust, and other important factors.
OUR TOP PICK
Jitterbug5 Easy-to-Use Cell Phone for Seniors
No products found.The GreatCall Jitterbug5 Cell Phone is one of the most purchased flip phones for seniors on the market. More and more buyers keep having different things they love their Jitterbug5 flip phone for.
The device comes with a noise cancellation feature, which means that you don’t have to either shout or strain your ears to clearly hear or be heard. It also features distinctive keys, to cancel out scenarios of inadvertently pressing the wrong buttons. The highlight is that the Jitterbug5, has its Medical emergency button and the customer service is quite nice. It’s surprisingly really affordable too.
Cool features
- Distinctive big buttons to aid texting/dialing.
- Really light weight at just 3.8 ounces.
- Very interactive, with just “Yes” or “No” commands.
- Screen texts have bold fonts and size.
- Very user friendly.
- Long lasting battery.
- Toughly built to enhance durability.
- Voice commands/Voice dialing.
- One-touch 5Star button auto-dials for medical assistance.
- Very affordable device (a bargain for its functions).
Shortcomings
- The monthly plans can be expensive.
EDITORS CHOICE
Samsung Rugby 4
No products found.Like the name implies, the Samsung Rugby 4 is a flip phone you could exchange for the rugby ball and still have a good game… Well, not really, but it’s a very rugged flip phone. If you drop your phone a lot, here’s your ‘friend’ that wouldn’t mind.
The Rugby 4 features a military grade protection, making it water, dust, and shock resistant. Its 2.4 inches display features big texts and with its Wi-Fi connectivity, one can still enjoy basic web usage.
Cool features
- Superb battery life.
- Very strong, rugged and durable.
- Very strong network reception.
- Water, dust, and shock resistant.
- Accurate Compass and GPS direction guide.
- Bold text font and size to aid easy reading.
- Wi-Fi connection for basic web usage.
- A highly recommended flip phone for seniors.
Shortcomings
- The device is a bit heavy (it weighs 5.3 ounces).
BEST VALUE
Samsung Convoy 3
No products found.According to a lot of users the Samsung Convoy 3 is the ‘smartphone’ of the elderly. It has very simple and basic functionality, rugged structure, and a lot of outstanding features. This flip phone is water and dust resistance, has a long lasting battery life, has a bold 2.4 inch display and has noise-cancellation technology feature for smooth calls.
You can carry out quite a number of tasks on this phone without having to flip it open, as the back screen serves a whole lot of functions.
Cool features
- Superb battery life.
- Noise cancellation feature for calls.
- Dual speakers for calls and music.
- Acceptable weight, at just 4.1 Ounces.
- Water, dust, and shock resistant.
- Memory card slot for access to files.
- Strong network reception.
- Very user friendly.
- Voice command and interaction
- Strong battery life and talk time.
- Functional back screen.
- Very affordable.
Shortcomings
- Some older customers complained about the thickness.
- Some customers also complained about the fact that it doesn’t have a slot for SIM card.
RUNNER UP
Samsung SGH A157 Go Phone
No products found.All the positive feedbacks the Samsung A157 keeps getting aren’t just for nothing. The phone is the definition of ‘simple and basic’. The flip phone is one of the most durable ones you can lay hands on, the keys are neatly spaced out, and the light weight is a feature a lot of users have lauded.
Cool features
- Very affordable flip phone.
- Clear voice reception and speakers (so you neither have to strain your ears to hear nor shout to be heard.
- Really light weight, at just 2.88 Ounces.
- 77 inches super sharp display.
- Up to 10 days standby and 5 hours talk time.
- Strong network reception.
- Very friendly user interface.
- Voice command and interaction
- Distinct buttons to avoid inadvertent pressing.
- Very affordable.
Shortcomings
- Some customers have complained about the missing camera feature.
- Initial text maybe too small for seniors. (Simply go the phone’s settings, select font size and adjust it to the size that works best for you.)
RUNNER UP
LG Exalt
No products found.The LG Exalt is one flip phone that has been highly recommended for seniors. It is rugged, lightweight, and durable. Its battery life is also one of its major highlights. The phone’s 3.2 inches display doesn’t require any form of squinting and the keys are well spaced. It features a compass and a GPS- enabled direction guide. What’s more? It’s pretty affordable.
Cool features
- Interactive and very user friendly.
- Easy to carry around at just 3.8 Ounces.
- Voice interaction (text reader and voice dial).
- Bold text font and size, enabling easy reading.
- Bright LED backlight.
- Long lasting battery.
- Accurate GPS & Family Locator.
- A very affordable flip phone.
Shortcomings
- The speakerphone is at the back, making it difficult to use (except of course one holds it while using or turns it face-down).
Last update on 2023-12-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API