Simple mobile phone for a 90 year old?

Forums › Mobile handsets › Simple mobile phone for a 90 year old?

danepak

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#316237 28-Sep-2024 12:04

Wife’s dad is nearly 90 years old.
A smart phone is not going to work for him.
Any suggestions for a very simple mobile phone with fairly big buttons? Ideally unlocked.
Just need to be able to call and receive calls.
I’ve seen some selling for $300, which sounds madly expensive.

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#3287279 28-Sep-2024 12:25

This might be of interest.

https://www.spark.co.nz/online/shop/products/nokia_2660_flip_group/?srsltid=AfmBOorM6Z0mwLAQ_U53RtMBVe5WAxrvRnEaqunhISjbg7uk4gK5CGGr&offerId=nokia126817spo&planId=mbundle050665&ifpId=pay_upfront

geek3001

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#3287280 28-Sep-2024 12:29

If you haven't already, try https://bigbuttons.co.nz/collections/mobile-phones who advertise through Grey Power.

Grey Power advertising says they offer a 10% discount if you use the code GREYPOWER when ordering.

The high cost of these phones is probably due to them being made in smaller quantities for a smaller market.

alasta

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#3287283 28-Sep-2024 12:37

I wonder if those products support VoLTE on the NZ telcos. I could imagine a lot of elderly people being quite stressed if their phones suddenly stop working when the telcos pull the plug on legacy technologies.

danepak

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#3287285 28-Sep-2024 12:52

Thanks all.

Just found this one.

It’s on a .co.nz website but given that they mention US telco’s makes me wonder:

https://m.bestdeals.co.nz/online-4g-lte-unlocked-basic-cell-phones-elderly-seniors-big-button-sos-loud-volumn-typec-long-standby-75240.html?aid=1002&gad_source=1

cddt

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#3287291 28-Sep-2024 13:42

Not sure if the buttons are large enough? But another option for non-smartphone in NZ (and affordable): https://tonedowntech.co.nz/

My referral links: BigPipe | Mercury

Stu1

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#3287300 28-Sep-2024 14:40

Best to try them as well , I brought a no thrills phone for older people it’s the worst UX ever soo difficult to use . Highly recommended don’t get an Alcatel flip

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danepak

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#3287301 28-Sep-2024 15:17

I’ve ordered the one from Bestdeals. Will report back when it arrives in a few weeks time.

kingdragonfly

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#3287303 28-Sep-2024 15:22

Eldertech.co.nz: Easyfone T6 4G Picture Button Cell Phone for Seniors

$200

Harvey Norman: Alcatel 30.82 4G 128MB Flip Mobile Phone - Dark Grey (One NZ/Locked Network) with Prepay SIM Card

$99

"The Alcatel Flip phone emerges as a practical choice for seniors who value compactness without sacrificing screen size, thanks to its large 2.4-inch display that enhances readability. Its long battery life is a significant advantage, reducing the need for frequent charging.

Functionality is at the forefront with the inclusion of shortcut keys and large buttons, which streamline usage and accessibility. The support for up to 32GB MicroSD cards offers ample storage for photos, contacts, and other essentials.

Designed with senior users in mind, this phone is both comfortable to hold and lightweight, making it an ideal companion for daily use. The addition of a convenient charging cradle simplifies the charging process, while Bluetooth connectivity offers flexibility with wireless headsets and other devices. The Alcatel Flip phone proves to be a senior-friendly choice that combines ease of use with essential modern features."

Stu1

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#3287307 28-Sep-2024 16:06

kingdragonfly: Eldertech.co.nz: Easyfone T6 4G Picture Button Cell Phone for Seniors

$200

Harvey Norman: Alcatel 30.82 4G 128MB Flip Mobile Phone - Dark Grey (One NZ/Locked Network) with Prepay SIM Card

$99

"The Alcatel Flip phone emerges as a practical choice for seniors who value compactness without sacrificing screen size, thanks to its large 2.4-inch display that enhances readability. Its long battery life is a significant advantage, reducing the need for frequent charging.

Functionality is at the forefront with the inclusion of shortcut keys and large buttons, which streamline usage and accessibility. The support for up to 32GB MicroSD cards offers ample storage for photos, contacts, and other essentials.

Designed with senior users in mind, this phone is both comfortable to hold and lightweight, making it an ideal companion for daily use. The addition of a convenient charging cradle simplifies the charging process, while Bluetooth connectivity offers flexibility with wireless headsets and other devices. The Alcatel Flip phone proves to be a senior-friendly choice that combines ease of use with essential modern features."

The phone is terrible very hard to send texts and find contacts , too many steps to send a contact to send a text to .They don’t let you try the cheaper phones or have any demos.

Behodar

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#3287312 28-Sep-2024 17:32

danepak: I’ve ordered the one from Bestdeals. Will report back when it arrives in a few weeks time.

Well, you're braver than I am, given that there are very few specs, no brand or model details (apart from "HC Mobi" in the images), and a really dodgy-looking website!

danepak

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#3287318 28-Sep-2024 17:44

Behodar:
danepak: I’ve ordered the one from Bestdeals. Will report back when it arrives in a few weeks time.

Well, you're braver than I am, given that there are very few specs, no brand or model details (apart from "HC Mobi" in the images), and a really dodgy-looking website!

I’ve ordered from the website before with no issues.
Worst case scenario, I’ll return it.

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nztim

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#3287329 28-Sep-2024 18:55

Make sure it is VoLtE compliant, I was never able to get an answer out of bigbuttons.co.nz if that device was

It will be a brick when 3G networks get turned off if it is not compliant.

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

danepak

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#3287339 28-Sep-2024 19:34

nztim: Make sure it is VoLtE compliant, I was never able to get an answer out of bigbuttons.co.nz if that device was

It will be a brick when 3G networks get turned off if it is not compliant.

But it says it’s a 4G-LTE phone. Why would 3G have anything to do with it?