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The best flip phones for seniors in 2024
This may be difficult for certain generations to believe, but not everyone wants a smartphone. (Collect your jaw, I'll wait.) Some folks just want to make calls or keep a lifeline close by in case of emergencies. That's why flip phones — sometimes known as feature phones — are still a thing. No complicated apps or touchscreens, no need to recharge every single day, no price tag that feels like a downpayment on a Lexus. Just simple, affordable and oh-so-satisfying to flip shut. (Say it with me: "Beam me up, Enterprise. Kirk out.") Below are my picks for the best flip phones for seniors.
LIVELY Jitterbug Flip2 - Flip Cell Phone for Seniors - Not Compatible with Other Wireless Carriers - Must Be Activated with Lively Phone Plan - Red Flip Phone
Best overall flip phone
Consumer Cellular Iris Flip
Best cheap flip phone
Nokia 2780 Flip | Unlocked | Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile | Blue
Best unlocked flip phone
Easyfone Prime-A1 Pro 4G Easy-to-Use Flip Cell Phone, 2.4'' HD Display, Big Buttons, Clear Sound, Large Fonts, SOS Button, SIM Card Included, Dumbphone with 1500mAh Battery and a Charging Dock (Black)
Best flip phone with cheap plans
Motorola razr+ | 2023 | Unlocked | Made for US 8/256 | 32 MPCamera |Magenta, 73.95x170.83x6.99mm
Best flip smartphone
What are you giving up by going the flip-phone route? Mostly app-powered benefits like navigation, social media, music and video streaming and so on. You won't get top-notch cameras, either. If you think a smartphone might be preferable, be sure to read my roundup of the best cellphones for seniors.
Read more: The best tablets for seniors in 2024, tested and reviewed
The best overall flip phone for seniors in 2024
Rated battery life: 12 hours talk, 12.5 days standby | Connectivity: 4G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Camera: 8 megapixel | Charging options: Dock, USB-C | Smart features: 24/7 live agent, Amazon Alexa
The Flip2 does just about everything right, from control buttons with actual text labels (instead of confusing icons) to Alexa-powered text messaging (which solves a major flip-phone problem). Despite a few minor missteps (where are the dedicated call and end buttons?), it's an easy pick as the best option for seniors — especially those who might need extra care.
The $19.99/month starter plan includes unlimited calls and texts, but jumping to the Basic plan ($24.99) adds Urgent Response — 24/7 live agents who can help in an emergency — and Lively Link, a smartphone app relatives can use to check your location and activity. The Premium Plan ($34.99) also includes Nurse On-Call (exactly what it sounds like) and Care Advocate, someone who can help with health concerns, financial matters and more.
Either of these upgrades should afford some peace of mind to both users and their families, and they're priced on par with what you'd pay for a no-frills smartphone plan. In other words: great value.
As for the phone itself, it features an 8-megapixel camera and 16GB of non-expandable storage for photos and videos. Onboard Alexa is a huge asset here, affording a wide range of voice controls and commands, but I also appreciate the little extras like a flashlight function and magnifier. There are helpful accessibility features as well, including extra-large fonts and a read-aloud option.
- Built with seniors in mind
- Clearly labeled buttons
- Alexa voice recognition
- Camera includes flashlight and magnifier
- Optional plan upgrades add emergency services
- No dedicated Call and End buttons
- Plan pricing doesn't include taxes and fees
Other flip phones for seniors we recommend
Rated battery life: 48 hours "mixed use" | Connectivity: 4G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Camera: 5 megapixel | Charging options: USB-C | Smart features: Apps
Successor to the popular Verve Snap, the Iris Flip is a large, comfy phone that's extremely affordable and super-satisfying to snap open and shut. And when you buy a Flip, you're also buying Consumer Cellular — widely regarded as one of the most senior-friendly carriers thanks to award-winning customer service.
Available in black or red, the phone costs just $69 or a mere $2 monthly with 0% financing. Plans start at $20 monthly, and for an extra $3 you get a roadside-assistance add-on that includes towing, jump-starts, flat repair and other AAA-style services.
The Flip's 3.2-inch main screen is a bit larger than most, and its keypad boasts large, easy-to-ready buttons. I particularly like the clearly labeled "Call" and "End" buttons, colored green and red, respectively. There's no chance for confusion there; it's a design decision every flip-phone maker should emulate.
The phone also has a "SPKR" button (for engaging speakerphone mode) and an easily identified clear/back button. Below the keypad there's a Favorites button represented by a person/heart icon, which is easy enough to intuit.
Stocked with a 5-megapixel camera (with flash), the Flip can record 720p video, and there's a microSD slot for storage in case you outgrow the 8GB of onboard storage. The phone's KaiOS allows you to run a smattering of apps, including one that streams podcasts.
Consumer Cellular doesn't specify how much talk or standby time you can get on a charge, instead promising up to 48 hours of "mixed use." A standard USB-C cable recharges the battery; Consumer Cellular also provides an AC adapter, but if you want a dock, you'll have to purchase it separately.
- Low price
- Extra-large screen and keypad
- MicroSD slot
- Top-rated customer service
- Optional roadside assistance plan
- Charging dock sold separately
- So-so camera
Rated battery life: 7 hours talk, 18 days standby | Connectivity: 4G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Camera: 5 megapixel | Charging options: USB-C | Smart features: Apps
Nokia's been around the flip-phone block a few times, so it's no surprise the 2780 arrives with a few tricks inside its clamshell. For starters, it runs a specialized operating system (KaiOS) that supports apps like YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook and even a white-noise generator. You can connect to Wi-Fi as needed for installing apps and streaming media. Just bear in mind that this isn't a touchscreen phone, so all navigation and text input relies on the keypad, same as with other feature phones.
This is also the rare model that's unlocked, meaning you can get service from AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon or any of the carriers that use their networks (such as Boost and Mint Mobile). That affords much greater flexibility in terms of choosing a carrier that offers the best service in your area and plan pricing to suit your budget.
The onboard 5-megapixel camera won't win any awards, but it's good enough for everyday snapshots and video (though the latter tops out at 480p resolution — fine for viewing on the phone itself, but pretty low compared to smartphone cameras). Nokia provides only 4GB of internal storage, not a lot of room for media, but you can expand it cheaply and easily with a microSD card.
Although the numeric keypad employs appreciably large buttons, I think the Call and End buttons are confusingly labeled. One looks like half an oval; the other, half an oval with a circle in the middle. Which does what? No doubt you'll learn their functions quickly enough, but why not actually label them "CALL" and "END"?
My bigger gripe is with battery life, which is on the short side compared with some phones. At least you can easily top off just about anywhere using the 2780's USB-C charging port.
- Unlocked for use with nearly any carrier
- Supports Wi-Fi and apps
- Decent camera
- Expandable storage
- Mediocre battery life
- Low video-recording resolution
- A couple confusing button labels
Rated battery life: 7 hours talk, 96 hours standby | Connectivity: 4G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Camera: 0.3 megapixel | Charging options: Dock | Smart features: None
It's right there in the name: This phone is meant to be easy, and by all accounts it looks to be. In addition to the oversize, easy-to-read keypad, there's a large red "Block" button that will instantly blacklist an incoming spam call. You can set up photo-based speed dialing for quick and easy access to friends and family; just press the contact button and then scroll through the pictures to choose a person to call.
This phone also wants to help in an emergency: There's an SOS button on the rear that, when pressed for three seconds, will sound an alarm and then call the first person on your list of emergency contacts. It'll also send a text message with your GPS location.
Service is provided by a SpeedTalk Mobile SIM card that's included in the package. The carrier uses T-Mobile's network for calls and text messages but has plans starting at just $5 per month. That nets you 100 call minutes and 100 text messages; a few dollars more raises those numbers considerably. Even if you opt for the unlimited plan (for a whopping $9 monthly), this is one of the cheapest options out there.
The only real downside here is the 0.3-megapixel camera, which isn't good for much except snapping the headshots to assign to your speed dial.
- Large buttons
- Dedicated SOS and block-call buttons
- Convenient charging dock
- Affordable service plans
- Low-resolution camera
- Limited carrier compatibility
- So-so battery life
Rated battery life: "Full day" | Connectivity: 5G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Cameras: 12 megapixel (front), 32 megapixel (rear) | Charging options: Wireless, USB-C | Smart features: Too many to list
If you prize the folding, pocket-friendly design of the flip phone but still want a full range of smartphone features, look no further than the Razr+. This modern makeover of the classic Razr is the tech equivalent of going from bicycle to rocket ship. That said, it also carries the complexities of the modern smartphone, something to consider if you're intimidated by touchscreens, apps and jaw-dropping price tags.
When folded, you might mistake the Razr+ for a traditional flip-phone — albeit one with a dazzling 3.6-inch color touchscreen that's quite capable in its own right. Open it up and you're treated to the complete smartphone experience. It's remarkable that the internal screen has no seam across the middle, at the fold point, but of course there's also no physical keypad here. Indeed, the only buttons on this thing are for power and volume.
Before you cry "dealbreaker," remember that the Razr+ comes with Google Assistant onboard. That means you can use voice commands for just about anything, like placing phone calls, sending text messages, adding reminders to your calendar and so on. You can even dictate text so you don't have to mess with the onscreen keyboard.
Remember, too, that this is a proper smartphone, useful for everything from reading e-books to watching movies to staying connected on social media. It's crazy-expensive, yes, but if you want the best of both worlds, it might be worth dipping into your savings.
- Amazingly compact when folded
- Gorgeous screens
- Superb cameras
- Versatile Google Assistant voice controls
- Very expensive
- No physical keypad
- Single-day battery life
How we chose the best flip phones
For starters, there aren't a ton of choices out there these days — although flip phones do have their advantages, especially for seniors, it goes without saying that smartphones rule the market. Thus, we drew products from a fairly shallow pool. But all the models here are the best-in-class for their category, based on a combination of specs, product reputation and user ratings.
Factors to consider when choosing a flip phone for seniors
Although smartphone models number in the dozens, you don't have a ton of options when it comes to foldable phones (also known as "feature phones"). That said, it still pays to consider the following when making your choice:
Design: Does the keypad have large buttons with easy-to-read numbers? Is the screen large enough to read comfortably and visible under direct sunlight? How’s the overall durability?
Battery life: One huge flip-phone advantage is a battery that doesn't need charging every day. As you evaluate different phones' specs, look for both "talk time" (usually measured in hours) and "standby time," which is how long the phone can remain on before needing a recharge.
Camera: It's always handy to have a camera in your pocket or purse, but some flip phones are definitely better than others when it comes to photography. As a general rule, the higher the megapixel count, the sharper the photos will be. You might also want to look for a phone that can accommodate a microSD memory card, which will give you more storage space and make it easier to offload photos to your computer.
Charging options: Some flip phones charge by dropping into a dock, which makes life easy when you're at home but a little more challenging if you travel. Others rely on a fairly standard USB charging cable (usually micro-USB or USB-C), which can be easier to throw in a carry-on bag (and easy to replace if lost).
Price: Traditional flip phones run anywhere from $50 to around $200, plus the cost of a service plan (which can range from as little as $5 monthly on up to $25, depending on the carrier and plan options). Non-traditional flip phones, like the one below from Motorola, could cost you as much as $1,000.
Smart features: Speaking of Motorola, if you want the folding, pocket-friendly design of a flip phone along with a full — and I do mean full — range of smartphone features, look to the modern marvel from this company. Although you'll give up the low price, simple operation and amazing battery life, you'll gain excellent cameras, superb messaging capabilities, internet access and a ton of great apps.
Flip phones for seniors FAQs
Can you text on a flip phone?
All flip phones can send and receive text messages, but composing and replying to texts is... not fun. That's because in most cases you have to rely on the 9-digit keypad to slowly enter one letter at a time. At least one phone, however, has a voice-powered assistant in the form of Amazon Alexa, meaning you can dictate messages — a much quicker and easier option.
What can't you do on a flip phone?
An easier question might be, what can you do? Because you can make calls, of course, but things get a bit limited beyond that. As noted above, texting is do-able but challenging. You can take photos, but the quality won't be great. You might be able to run some rudimentary apps, but nothing on the level of what smartphones offer.
Do you need to buy data for a flip phone?
That depends on the phone and the carrier. You may be able to choose a simple, inexpensive talk/text plan, keeping in mind that without data, you won't be able to leverage features like mapping, internet search and so on. The good news is if you do end up needing (or wanting) a data plan, you definitely don't need an expensive "unlimited" one.
Is my flip phone going to be obsolete?
As long as it doesn't experience any physical problems (like a busted hinge or screen), a flip phone should last you a long time. Operating system updates are typically few and far between, so you don't have to worry about a sudden inability to run new software.
The only real challenge is the battery: It will lose capacity over time, and if it can't be easily replaced, you may find yourself needing a new phone.
