The Best Cell Phones for Older Adults in 2025

After a new round of testing, we recommend the Apple iPhone 16 Plus (128 GB), the Google Pixel 9, and the Lively Jitterbug Smart4 as our top picks for the best smartphones with exceptional health and safety features. For older adults, choosing a cell phone is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. After testing 23 models (including previous generations of our picks), we recommend two full-featured smartphones, a simplified smartphone, a phone for folks with dementia or memory issues, and a simple non-smartphone.

Top Recommendations for Every Need

Best full-featured Apple smartphone: Apple iPhone 16 Plus

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is a full-featured smartphone with a large screen. It’s lighter than previous generations, but people with smaller hands or reduced grip strength may still find it difficult to hold.

Best full-featured Android smartphone: Google Pixel 9

The Google Pixel 9 is another full-featured smartphone, but it runs on the Android operating system rather than Apple’s iOS. It’s smaller than the iPhone 16 Plus, but its screen is brighter.

Best simple smartphone: Lively Jitterbug Smart4

The Lively Jitterbug Smart4 is a simplified smartphone with accessibility and safety features geared toward older adults. It’s larger than previous generations, on a par with the iPhone 16 Plus in size.

Best for cognitive issues: RAZ Mobility Memory Cell Phone

We also tested the updated version of the RAZ Mobility Memory Cell Phone, which we still recommend. It is caregiver-controlled and designed to be easy to use for people with dementia or cognitive decline. It’s as large as the high-end iPhone and Pixel models we recommend, and it even has a specific mode for people with hand tremors or arthritis.

Best non-smartphone: Snapfon ez4G

The Snapfon ez4G is the smallest phone, and the only non-smartphone, we recommend. It has a dedicated SOS button on the back.

Selection and Testing Methodology

All of them offer exceptional safety, health, and accessibility features that many older people and caregivers will appreciate. To ensure quality, our process included the following:

  • We tested 23 models of smartphones and basic phones, including previous generations of our picks.
  • We spoke with experts on consumer technology and aging and disability, interviewed manufacturers, and consulted with older adults and caregivers around the United States on what makes a phone “senior-friendly.”
  • We read clinical studies about the benefits of cell phones for older adults and their families, which include helping to alleviate isolation and loneliness, allowing a person to maintain a sense of independence, and providing caregivers with additional peace of mind.

Criteria for Senior-Friendly Devices

The phone shouldn’t be complicated to set up or navigate, and customer service should be helpful. In our selection:

  • Emergency Access: The phone should make it simple to call 911 or get in touch with emergency contacts.
  • Feature Balance: We sought a balance of nice-to-have features, such as an excellent camera, with a reasonable cost.
  • Compatibility: We preferred compatibility with a variety of major carriers.

Summary of Recommended Models

  • Apple iPhone 16 Plus: Full-featured smartphone with a large screen, best for Apple users.
  • Google Pixel 9: Full-featured Android device with a brighter, smaller screen.
  • Lively Jitterbug Smart4: Simplified smartphone focused on safety.
  • RAZ Mobility Memory Cell Phone: Specialized device for dementia, caregiver-controlled.
  • Snapfon ez4G: Basic non-smartphone with a dedicated SOS button.