The outdated trope that outdated individuals are hopelessly illiterate in relation to know-how is considerably unwarranted. The house laptop revolution is many years outdated at this level, and smartphones have been round for over 16 years. Seniors might not function their smartphones as adroitly as their grandkids, however they aren’t simply sitting round pining for the times of rotary dial telephones.
Seniors want iPhones, too, however they could have distinctive wants. They’re typically on fastened incomes and should have problem studying small textual content, endure from arthritis, or produce other accessibility wants. The very best iPhone for seniors is one which gained’t value an arm and a leg and can proceed to be up to date for at the very least just a few years. Past that, we’re going to make two suggestions: a small iPhone for seniors who discover massive telephones tough to hold and manipulate, and a big iPhone for many who want bigger textual content and pictures.
Proper now shopping for an iPhone for an older individual is rather less easy than ordinary. We beforehand really helpful the iPhone SE as a result of it has a Dwelling button, which simplifies the iPhone interface for the much less tech-minded and is cheaper. Nonetheless, Apple discontinued the iPhone SE in February 2025 and not provides iPhones with Contact ID and a Dwelling button. If that’s what you need, test third-party retailers and see if they’ve any in inventory.
Additionally notice that Apple Intelligence options are solely supported by Apple’s latest telephones, the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Professional, 16 Professional Max, and 16e. Apple sells the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus for $699 and $799, respectively, however they don’t assist Apple Intelligence, so if you’d like these options, it’s essential get an iPhone 16.
1. Apple iPhone 16: Finest for seniors
Execs
- Glorious battery life
- Nice processing and graphics efficiency
- Digital camera Management is a boon for customers who steadily shoot images
Cons
- No always-on show
- Will not be sufficiently small for many who want small telephones
Value When Reviewed:
$799
Finest Costs Right this moment:
$829
$829.99
iPhone 16 128GB – Black – Unlocked – eSIM
$717
iPhone 16 128GB – Ultramarine – Unlocked – eSIM
$749
iPhone 16 128GB – Pink – Unlocked – eSIM
$750
We suggest the iPhone 16 because the best choice right here primarily as a result of it represents the very best worth for cash proper now. At $799/£799., it provides a twin digital camera system with a Digital camera Management button. It may additionally shoot 4K video at 60 fps. The iPhone 16 additionally provides Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc, Crash Detection, Roadside Help by way of satellite tv for pc, and Messages by way of satellite tv for pc.
That A18 processor is greater than quick sufficient for e mail, checking social media apps, taking photos, making FaceTime calls, and all the things else a senior desires an iPhone for. And it’ll nonetheless get a number of years of iOS software program updates.
Face ID may take just a little getting used to if the person is used to Contact ID and the Dwelling button, however may show to be a neater strategy to safe an iPhone for these with arthritis.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone 16 overview
2. Apple iPhone 16e: New $599 possibility
Execs
- Small dimension
- Help for Apple Intelligence
- Lengthy battery life
Cons
- No MagSafe assist
- Outdated set of Photographic Kinds
Value When Reviewed:
From $599
The iPhone 16e is Apple’s latest reasonably priced possibility that replaces each the iPhone 14 and iPhone SE. Beginning at $599/£599, you get an iPhone with the identical A18 processor however with fewer GPU cores (4 vs 5). It has a single 48MP digital camera, however as we’ve seen on different iPhones it’s fairly good with options like Deep Fusion for higher low-light images. Apple calls it a “2-in-1” digital camera since its high-resolution images enable it to zoom at 2X with none noticeable degradation.
Apple not provides a Dwelling button and Contact ID. The iPhone 16e makes use of Face ID, and also you swipe up from the underside of the display to get to the Dwelling display. Some seniors will discover Contact ID simpler to cope with than Face ID (particularly if their earlier smartphone was an older iPhone).
The iPhone 16e is not as small because the iPhone SE it changed, however it’s amongst Apple’s smallest telephones within the present lineup. Regardless of its dimension, battery life is rated by Apple to final 26 hours, which is the longest ever for a 6.1-inch iPhone.
The iPhone 16e helps 5G and is available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities. If you happen to resolve on the 128GB mannequin, you possibly can go for an iCloud subscription plan if you end up needing further storage. We’ll replace this with our full overview however when you can’t wait, the iPhone 16e must be a strong possibility for customers trying to spend rather less.
3. Apple iPhone 16 Plus: Huge-screen iPhone
Execs
- Massive 6.7-inch display
- Lightest large-screened iPhone
Cons
- Cumbersome and heavier than smaller iPhones
Value When Reviewed:
$899
Finest Costs Right this moment:
The massive show of one of many Plus-sized iPhones shall be a lot simpler for outdated eyes to see clearly. Excluding the iPhone 16 Professional Max, there are two selections with a 6.7-inch display right here: the iPhone 16 Plus, and iPhone 15 Plus. Once more, it can save you $100/£100 by shopping for the iPhone 15 Plus (at $799/£799) as a substitute of the newer iPhone 16 Plus (at $899/£899). This time we suggest spending the additional cash if there’s a funds obtainable as a result of the iPhone 16 era is a leap forward of the iPhone 15 by way of processor and digital camera.
Another excuse to decide on the iPhone 16 Plus: it helps Apple Intelligence. The iPhone 15 Plus doesn’t. The Apple Intelligence options might not attraction to you now, however they transform helpful sooner or later. If you’d like Apple Intelligence and a bigger iPhone then the most suitable choice is the iPhone 16 Plus.
For extra recommendation about equipment on your Mac, iPad or iPhone see all our Finest Picks.
