Best Phone for Elderly Parents UK 2026: Simple Picks That Solve Real Problems
- 4 free fixes
- 6-point checklist
- 5 in-stock picks
- Trade-in savings
Match the phone to the problem. If your parent likes a real button, choose the iPhone SE (2022). If their eyesight is the issue, choose the iPhone 14 Plus with its 6.7-inch screen. If they mainly want WhatsApp video calls, the iPhone 13 is the best value. If they only call and text and can't use a touchscreen, a 4G button phone is the better buy.
Your mum's phone lives on the kitchen worktop. It's flat again, and she missed your call. When she does pick it up, a swipe opens the wrong app and she gives up.
We read through the questions families ask about this on Google and on Mumsnet's Elderly Parents forum. The same few problems come up again and again: small text, missed calls, swipes that don't work, and a phone that is never charged. Most of the people asking want one thing: to see their parent's face on a video call.
This guide shows the fixes worth trying first, then the phone we would pick for each problem from what is in stock at Zextons today.
The causeWhy do elderly people struggle with modern phones?
Usually, the phone doesn't suit the person's eyesight, hands, hearing or confidence. A standard smartphone assumes small text, accurate swipes and charging every night. If one of those breaks down, the whole phone feels hard.
There is a second cause, and it has nothing to do with the person. Networks and apps are dropping older phones:
- All four UK networks have switched off 3G (Ofcom, updated 29 May 2026). EE says 2G and 3G-only phones will stop making calls and texts once 2G is switched off from May 2029.
- From 30 November 2026, WhatsApp will only work on iPhones running iOS 15.5 or newer.
So if your parent "can't work the phone", check the phone itself before you assume it's them.
Try this first4 free fixes to try before you buy anything
These cost nothing and work on most iPhones and Samsung phones. If none of them helps, it's time for a new phone.
- Turn on the simple mode. On iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Assistive Access (iOS 17 or later). It shows only the apps you choose, as large tiles. On Samsung, go to Settings > Display > Easy Mode for bigger icons, text and spacing.
- Make it easier to see and hear. Turn up text size, ringtone and call volume. If your parent wears hearing aids, open Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices on iPhone to pair them.
- Update the phone. On iPhone, open Settings > General > About. If iOS is below 15.5, install the update before 30 November or WhatsApp will stop working. Ask the network whether the phone supports 4G Calling.
- Get free help nearby. Many Age UK branches run free digital sessions, such as one-to-one help in Plymouth. AbilityNet offers free IT support at home for older people.
When the fixes aren't enough: if the phone can't update, has no 4G Calling, or your parent still can't use it after a simple mode, a different phone is the real answer.
Our checklistWhat to check before buying a phone for an elderly parent
We judged every phone in this guide on six things. Use the same checklist if you shop anywhere else.
-
Updates for years
Avoid the cheapest old iPhones. The iPhone XR and iPhone 8 cannot run iOS 26, and the iPhone 11 is the oldest that can. Samsung promised the Galaxy S24 seven years of updates from January 2024. -
Hearing aid rating
Apple lists the iPhone SE (3rd generation), 13, 14 and 14 Plus as M3, T4 and compatible with Made for iPhone hearing aids. T4 is the top rating for telecoil hearing aids. -
Button or swipe
The iPhone SE (2022) has a physical Home button with Touch ID. Every other current iPhone uses swipes and Face ID, which some older users find harder.
-
Screen size and battery
A bigger screen is easier to read and usually means a bigger battery. Apple rates the iPhone 14 Plus at up to 26 hours of video, against up to 15 hours on the iPhone SE.
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Emergency features
The iPhone 14 and later add Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite, free for two years from first activation, so a refurbished phone may be past that. Fall Detection needs an Apple Watch. -
Battery health and plug
Every refurbished iPhone we recommend here has at least 85% battery health. Our phones come with a cable but no plug, so check your parent has a USB plug by their chair.
The best phone for each problem
Start with the problem your parent actually has. Prices are the lowest in-stock price on zextons.co.uk on 6 November 2026 and will change.
| If your parent… | Our pick | Why it helps | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Struggles with swiping, likes a real button | iPhone SE (2022) |
Physical Home button and Touch ID | from £109.99Buy iPhone SE |
| Wants WhatsApp and FaceTime calls with family |  iPhone 13 |
Hearing-aid friendly, runs iOS 26, best value | from £229.99Buy iPhone 13 |
| Lives alone or drives |  iPhone 14 |
Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite | from £269.99Buy iPhone 14 |
| Can't read small text | iPhone 14 Plus |
6.7-inch screen, longest battery here | from £374.99Buy iPhone 14 Plus |
| Comes from an Android family | %20(1).png) Samsung Galaxy S24 |
Easy Mode, updates promised into 2031 | from £299.99Buy Galaxy S24 |
| Only calls and texts, can't use a touchscreen | A 4G button phone | Physical keys, few menus | Not sold at Zextons |
- 18-month warranty
- Free 30-day returns
- 85%+ battery on iPhones
- Free UK delivery
iPhone SE (2022)
The Home button is the reason to choose this phone. Your parent presses one button to go home or unlock it, just like older iPhones. The 4.7-inch screen is the smallest here, so it suits good eyesight and small hands. The 64GB version in stock is fine for calls and WhatsApp, but fills up with lots of photos.
- 85% min battery
- 18-month warranty
- 30-day returns
iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 is the phone we'd suggest to most families. It runs iOS 26, so Assistive Access and the latest WhatsApp both work. It is rated M3, T4 for hearing aids, and its screen is a good middle size.
- 85% min battery
- 18-month warranty
- 30-day returns
iPhone 14
The iPhone 14 adds Crash Detection, which can call emergency services after a severe car crash. It also has Emergency SOS via satellite for places with no signal. It looks and works almost exactly like the iPhone 13.
- 85% min battery
- 18-month warranty
- 30-day returns
iPhone 14 Plus
The 6.7-inch screen makes text, keys and faces on video calls noticeably bigger. Apple's rating of up to 26 hours of video playback means fewer flat batteries. At 203g it is the heaviest here, so it suits two-handed use.
- 85% min battery
- 18-month warranty
- 30-day returns
Samsung Galaxy S24
If the rest of the family uses Android, a Galaxy keeps everyone on the same system. Easy Mode is built in, and Samsung's seven-year update promise means the S24 should stay supported for years.
- Battery professionally tested
- 18-month warranty
- 30-day returns
Why we left out the cheapest iPhones: the iPhone XR and iPhone 8 are cheaper, but they can't run iOS 26. For a parent who will keep the phone for years, that is a false saving.
Save moneyPay less: trade in your parent's old phone
An old phone that has lost WhatsApp, or won't work after the 2G switch-off, still has value. With a Zextons trade-in, the value comes off the new phone straight away.
- Get a quoteEnter the brand, model and condition. Quotes last 14 days.
- Accept itThe value comes off the new phone, or stays as store credit.
- Post it freeUse the prepaid, tracked label.
- InspectionIf it doesn't match, you get a revised offer to accept or decline.
- New phone shipsUsually within two to three days of approval.
The old phone must switch on. A cracked screen is fine, but a water-damaged or dead phone may not qualify. Before you post it, back up the photos, sign out of iCloud or the Google account, and reset the phone. Trade-in credit can only be spent at Zextons; for cash instead, use sell.zextons.co.uk.
Get a trade-in quote for their old phone
Check for a discount code too. Before you pay, look at today's deals and discount codes. Usually only one code can be used per order. You can also spread the cost with Klarna or Clearpay.
Honest adviceWhen these phones aren't the right choice
A smartphone is the wrong phone for some parents, and we'd rather tell you than sell you one.
- They can't tap or swipe reliably, even with Assistive Access or Easy Mode turned on.
- They only want calls and texts. A smartphone adds features they will never use.
- They won't charge a phone every day. Basic phones usually last longer between charges.
- Their memory is declining quickly. Ask their GP or care team what will help before you buy.
For these parents, a 4G button phone is the better buy. Zextons doesn't sell them, so look for 4G with 4G Calling, because all 2G and 3G phones need replacing, plus hearing-aid compatibility and a charging cradle.
Set the phone up before you hand it over
Do the setup yourself, then show your parent how to use it. Don't teach them the settings.
- Update the software, then add their contacts and install WhatsApp.
- Turn on Assistive Access or Easy Mode and remove apps they won't use.
- Pair their hearing aids in Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices.
- Write the passcode down somewhere safe. On iPhone, add a recovery Apple Account so you can leave Assistive Access if they forget it.
- Put a USB plug and the cable by their chair, then call at the same time each day for the first week, so answering becomes a habit.
Phones for elderly parents: common questions
What is the easiest phone for an elderly person to use?
For calls and texts only, a 4G button phone with big keys is easiest. For WhatsApp and video calls, the easiest is an iPhone with Assistive Access turned on. The iPhone SE (2022) suits parents who want a real Home button.
Is an iPhone good for elderly people?
Yes, for most. iPhones work with Made for iPhone hearing aids, and Assistive Access reduces the screen to a few large tiles. One Mumsnet user with several elderly relatives found iPhones the most intuitive. An iPhone is not right for someone who can't use a touchscreen at all.
Will my parent's old phone stop working?
It might. UK 3G networks are already off, and EE will switch off 2G from May 2029. A phone without 4G Calling will then stop making calls. From 30 November 2026, an iPhone also needs iOS 15.5 or newer for WhatsApp.
Finding the right phone for Mum or Dad
The right phone is the one your parent will pick up, charge and answer. Every iPhone we've picked comes with an 18-month warranty and 30-day returns, so you have time to check it suits them.
Still deciding? Compare every unlocked iPhone with 85% minimum battery health, or read which iPhone to buy.