CBS News
The 7 best phones for seniors
Lively
Not all smartphones have to be complicated. Maybe you’re one of the millions of people who have trouble seeing a display, interacting with buttons or hearing calls. Our in-house phone experts have rounded up some terrific smartphone options with larger buttons, easier navigation, better speakers and more features that are perfect for seniors — or anybody who just wants a simpler smartphone.
Even better: Many of these models are more affordable than a typical smartphone. Some have tech that makes them compatible with some hearing aids. And these phones allow users to create a favorites list of people they call the most. So you can call someone with just one or two button presses. In some cases, emergency services (9-1-1) is just one button away.
If you’re shopping for a phone for a senior, or anyone who would benefit from simpler-to-use phone, here are seven of your best options.
Pro Tip: Some smartphones have accessibility tools that make them easier to use for someone with vision, hearing or physical impairments. These phones can also be set up so only key features are accessible, which makes them easier to use for someone who cannot grasp advanced technological features.
The best easy-to-use phones for seniors
There are three key things to consider if you’re looking for a simple-to-use phone. Do you want a digital assistant, an emergency S-O-S button, fall detection, the ability to stream music, compatibility with hearing aids, or access to 24-hour monitoring and assistance?
Next, consider your own limitation and needs. Do you need a phone with physical buttons? Does the speaker need to be extra loud, or does the display need to showcase larger size text? Finally, focus on price. This applies to the phone itself, and for its service plan. Once you know what you’re looking for in a phone, finding the perfect model is much easier.
Best phone for seniors: Nokia 2780 Flip
Amazon
This is a modern-day phone, but one that offers just the basics when it comes to functionality — just like the original flip phones of yesteryear. It’s also very inexpensive.
You can activate it with any cellular service provider, so you can shop around for the best plan. This one relies on 4G LTE cellular technology, but that should be more than adequate for most people who just want the basics.
The outside display can display caller ID information, so you don’t have to unfold the phone to see who’s calling. The phone is compatible with some apps and can handle basic web browsing and texts too.
We like this phone because it offers larger buttons, instead of a touchscreen. It’s also compatible with many hearing aids and real-time text devices. The phone’s rechargeable battery offers up to seven hours of talk time, but can left in standby mode for up to 18 days before needing a recharge.
The phone lacks an alphanumeric keypad, so texting is a bit more involved. But it’s priced at just $88, so the Nokia 2780 Flip phone offers a really good value.
Best budget phone for seniors: Consumer Cellular Iris Easy Flip
Consumer Cellular
Consumer Cellular caters to older people, offering a handful of services beyond just calling and texting. Priced at just $59, this flip phone has both a front and inside display. Both offer full color and are 2.8 inches. The phone is designed to be held comfortably in one hand and easily slips into a pocket. It weighs just 5.47 ounces.
By default, it displays extra-large text on a backlit display. This makes it extra easy to read in most lighting situations. There’s also a simple camera built in. This IRIS Easy Flip uses 4G LTE cellular service. It offers up to seven hours of talk time, but can be left in standby mode for up to 14 days.
The interface uses large and easily identifiable icons. And when it comes to making calls, you can create a favorites list that’s accessible with a single button press. Because the phone has integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, it pairs with many hearing aids, as well as wireless earbuds. That said, the phone also has a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack.
For as low as just $20 per month, Consumer Cellular offers nationwide service plans with unlimited calling and texting. There are no contracts or activation fees, and you can finance the phone for just $2 extra per month for 24 months. The Iris Easy Flip phone, however, will only work with Consumer Cellular’s phone service.
Best phone with safety features for seniors: Lively Jitterbug Smart 4
Best Buy
For anyone who wants more functionality than what a flip phone can offer, but still doesn’t want the complexity of a full-featured smartphone, the Lively Jitterbug Smart 4 is a good choice. It offers an easy-to-view, 6.75-inch display and has both a front- and rear-facing camera, so it can be used for voice calls and video calls.
This phone relies on 4G LTE cellular connectivity, as opposed to 5G. Its battery lasts for up to 37 hours of average use. This phone runs Android 13, but features a scaled-down and easier-to-use interface than most smartphones. This makes key features easily accessible, thanks to large and bright icons.
The phone only works with Lively’s network. Among the phone’s most notable features is a loud, but adjustable, speaker. You also get voice-to-text real time captioning that works during calls, and an urgent-response help button that’s available 24/7. The service plan that includes the Urgent Response feature costs just $40 per month, but if you subscribe to the Premium plan for $50, you also get phone access to nurses, doctors and care associates.
If the user needs help getting directions, ordering an Uber ride, or has a questions about using the phone, the Ask Lively associates are only a button press away. This unique feature is included with each Lively phone service plan.
Best phone for seniors with hearing loss: T-Mobile XP3plus
T-Mobile
Available exclusively from T-Mobile, the XP3plus is a flip phone that offers up to 15 hours of talk time, or it can be left in standby mode for up to 18 days. The phone has a small outside display that shows the time and incoming call information. When open, you get a larger, 2.8-inch display and a numeric touchpad with physical buttons (not a touchscreen).
For someone who has trouble hearing, the XP3plus has a speaker that can be turned up to 100db, yet maintain clarity. It also offers a noise-cancellation feature that greatly reduces unwanted background noise during calls. Plus, users get access to a built-in 8-megapixel camera.
The XP3plus is also extra durable. It can withstand being accidentally dropped. You can purchase the phone outright and activate it with an affordable T-Mobile service plan, or finance the phone for an extra $8.75 per month for 24 months, which will be added to your monthly service bill. Unlimited calling and texting plans from T-Mobile start at under $50 per month.
One of the perks of using T-Mobile as your cellular service provider is that it offers discounted rates for people age 55 and up. And most of the plans include a free subscription to the Apple TV+ and Netflix.
Best durable phone for seniors: AT&T Sonim XP10
AT&T
AT&T also offers discounted cellular service plans for the older crowd, as well as this phone.
The XP10 is designed for durability thanks to its water- and drop-resistance. Yes, it can even be taken into the shower. It also features an extra-loud speakerphone option that relies on both noise and echo cancellation to make calls easier to understand.
We also like that the 5.5-inch touchscreen display is bright enough to be seen in sunlight and can display more than 16 million colors, which means it can showcase lots of detail and make text easy to read. Plus, the touchscreen can be used by someone wearing gloves.
Talk time is up to 32 hours, while standby time is up to 22 days. This is an Android phone, so you can customize the app selection and appearance of the home screen and lock screen, plus take advantage of the accessibility features baked into the operating system. These features can make it much easier for someone with a vision, hearing or physical disability to interact with the phone, using voice commands and an altered interface.
The XP10 works with many hearing aids that have an M4 or T3 rating, as well as real-time text devices. The phone relies on a 5G cellular network, so using the internet is fast and secure. This phone is closer to a smartphone than a basic no-frills phone, but its additional features and design make it a viable option for people with needs a typical cell phone does not offer.
Best Apple iPhone for seniors: Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation)
Apple
The iPhone SE runs the same operating system and comes with the same collection of apps as higher-end iPhones, but this one is physically smaller and designed to be easier to use. It’s also more affordable, with a starting price under $450.
An iPhone SE works with any cellular provider. You can customize the features for someone with a vision, hearing or physical impairment. Plus you can add apps to provide the specific help someone needs, such as a tool for managing daily prescriptions or monitoring heart rate.
The iPhone SE also has built-in safety and security tools, including an SOS Emergency button, fall detection and crash detection. Plus, it works with an Apple Watch and other medical devices.
For someone with a smart doorbell, smart thermostat or smart door locks, the iPhone SE makes it easy to control this equipment from anywhere. So someone can see who’s at their front door without getting out of bed, or unlock their front door to let a healthcare worker in, without having to get up from the couch.
As a full-featured, but customizable, smartphone, the iPhone SE can also be used for calling, texting, video calling and more. It’s also ideal for streaming music, podcasts and audiobooks, playing all sorts of games, and providing a virtual assistant that responds to voice commands and questions. Yes, an iPhone SE takes a bit more know-how than a flip phone, but it also offers so much more customization. And the phone can also be paired with many hearing aids.
Best Android smartphone for seniors: Google Pixel 8a
This is a powerful Android model that lets a user expand the phone’s capabilities using apps.
The Google Pixel 8a now includes powerful, but very easy-to-use, AI tools, so you can interact with the phone using you voice, or get help composing texts, summarizing websites or documents, managing a schedule, creating do-to lists, finding information and much more.
Since the Pixel 8a was designed by Google, the same company that developed the Android operating system and Google AI, users get access to features that other Android phones don’t offer. Plus, the phone is rather affordable, compared with other full-featured smartphones.
The Pixel 8a also has online safety and security features, as well as an SOS Emergency feature and crash detection. And since the phone responds nicely to voice commands, a user can initiate a voice or video call simply by saying, “Google, call my daughter,” or the name of the person they want to call. The navigation features built into the phone are also top-notch, so they can prevent someone from getting lost.
If you need help choosing between the Google Pixel 8a and the more advanced Google Pixel 8 Pro, we’ve got you covered with our in-depth comparison, which explains what sets these two popular phones apart. The Google Pixel phones also have accessibility features that can be personalized to help users with vision, hearing or physical disabilities.
If you’re thinking about switching from an Android smartphone to an Apple iPhone, be sure to read our coverage of the five reasons to switch from an Android phone to an Apple iPhone. But if you’re an iPhone user looking to make the transition to an Android phone, you’ll want to read our coverage of the five reasons to switch from an Apple iPhone to an Android phone. And if you’re looking to use your smartphone with a smartwatch, check out our coverage of the six best smartwatches for 2024 and our in-depth review of the Apple Watch Series 9.
CBS News
90-year-old great-grandmother graduates from New Hampshire college 50 years after finishing degree
MANCHESTER N.H. – Some people may have thought there was a celebrity in the building at Southern New Hampshire University’s graduation on Saturday. Annette Roberge certainly felt like one as she crossed the stage to get her diploma at 90 years old.
“I’m still on cloud nine,” Roberge said. “I can’t even put it into words. It was exhilarating, it was awesome, it was beyond anything I could’ve possibly imagined.”
Southern New Hampshire University
Degree 50 years in the making
This degree has been decades in the making for the mother of five, grandmother of 12, and great-grandmother of 15. She began taking classes at New Hampshire College, now SNHU, in 1972 one year after her husband of 20 years was killed in Vietnam.
Southern New Hampshire University
She completed several night and weekend courses before it took a backseat to her five kids and two jobs. Roberge worked as an insurance agent while she finished up as a lunch lady at a nearby school. Roberge retired at age 75, but she was a woman who loved learning, and she knew something was missing from her life.
“If I started something I just have to finish it,” Roberge said.
But it wasn’t until recently that Roberge’s daughter began poking around and learned her mom had earned enough credits for an associate’s degree in business administration. Barring some health challenges, Roberge finally walked across the stage on Saturday to the roaring cheers from her fellow graduates and a standing ovation.
“Never give up on learning because what you learn can never be taken away from you,” Roberge said.
“It matters so much for the example it sets about what we do for ourselves, to keep learning and stretching and growing,” SNHU President Lisa Marsh Ryerson said.
“Don’t ever give up on a dream”
Roberge even had a parting message for all of her new fellow graduates.
“If you’ve got a dream don’t let it just sit there. Do something, make it work, don’t ever give up on a dream.”
If you thought Roberge would be satisfied with her associate’s degree you’d be wrong. She plans to start working towards her bachelor’s degree in January.
CBS News
Potential winter storms forecast across U.S. on Thanksgiving week could impact holiday travel
Forecasters around the United States have issued severe weather warnings ahead of another wave of winter storms that could potentially affect travel around the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Meanwhile, parts of the Pacific Northwest and California continued to recover from storm damage and widespread power outages, as they braced for more impact.
In California, where a person was found dead in a vehicle submerged in floodwaters on Saturday, authorities braced for more precipitation while grappling with flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. Thousands in the Pacific Northwest remained without power after multiple days in the dark.
The National Weather Service office in Sacramento, California, issued a winter storm warning for the state’s Sierra Nevada for Saturday through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at higher elevations and wind gusts potentially reaching 55 miles per hour. Total snowfall of roughly 4 feet was forecast, with the heaviest accumulations expected Monday and Tuesday.
“A weak low pressure system will continue directing a plume of moisture at the West Coast over the next few days,” the Weather Prediction Center said in an advisory Sunday, which was effective through Tuesday. “This will likely result in coastal and low elevation rain, while moderate to heavy snow proliferates across the coastal ranges of Washington, Oregon and California.”
The heaviest snow was expected to fall over sections of the Sierra Nevada, forecasters said, noting that areas in the Colorado Rockies would likely see snow showers, too, over the next few days. Another atmospheric river event was forecast to arrive in parts of central California on Tuesday.
The Midwest and Great Lakes regions will see rain and snow Monday and the East Coast will be the most impacted on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, forecasters said.
CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan said the holiday outlook was still uncertain at the end of last week, but the weather system could bring rain and snow to the northeastern U.S. while causing temperatures to drop across most of the country, outside of the Southeast.
“While models can change in the days ahead, Thanksgiving Day is showing a low-pressure system moving across the East and entering the Northeast by evening hours,” Nolan said Friday.
Noah Berger / AP
A low-pressure system is forecast to bring rain to the Southeast early Thursday before heading to the Northeast. Areas from Boston to New York could see rain and strong winds, with snowfall possible in parts of northern New Hampshire, northern Maine and the Adirondacks. If the system tracks further inland, there could be less snow and more rain in the mountains, forecasters said.
Earlier this week, at least two people died when severe weather struck the Pacific Northwest, bringing powerful wind and rain, closing schools, and causing widespread power outages. The two who died were killed by falling trees in Lynnwood and Bellevue, both in Washington state, officials said. Hundreds of thousands lost power, mostly in the Seattle area, before strong winds moved through Northern California.
Rescue crews in Guerneville, California, recovered a body inside a vehicle bobbing in floodwaters around 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy Rob Dillion said, noting the deceased was presumed to be a victim of the storm but an autopsy had not yet been conducted.
Santa Rosa, California, saw its wettest three-day period on record with about 12.5 inches of rain by Friday evening, the National Weather Service in the Bay Area reported. Vineyards in nearby Windsor, California, were flooded on Saturday.
Some 80,000 people in the Seattle area were still without electricity after this season’s strongest atmospheric river, a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows over land. The atmospheric river overwhelmed parts of the Pacific Northwest as well as California, and was the strongest weather event of its kind seen all season.
The storm system hit the area Tuesday. It was considered a “bomb cyclone,” which occurs when a cyclone intensifies rapidly. Although the intensity of the atmospheric river peaked later in the week, forecasters had warned that another bout of severe weather was still yet to come.
Godofredo A. Vásquez / AP
The power came back in the afternoon at Katie Skipper’s home in North Bend, about 30 miles east of Seattle, after being out since Tuesday. She was tired from taking cold showers, warming herself with a wood stove and using a generator to run the refrigerator, but Skipper said those inconveniences paled in comparison to the damage other people suffered, such as from fallen trees.
“That’s really sad and scary,” she said.
Another storm brought rain to New York and New Jersey, where rare wildfires have raged in recent weeks, and heavy snow to northeastern Pennsylvania. The precipitation was expected to help ease drought conditions after an exceptionally dry fall.
“It’s not going to be a drought buster, but it’s definitely going to help when all this melts,” said Bryan Greenblatt, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Binghamton, New York.
Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches, with lesser accumulations in valley cities including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Less than 80,000 customers in 10 counties lost power.
Precipitation in West Virginia helped put a dent in the state’s worst drought in at least two decades and boosted ski resorts preparing to open their slopes in the weeks ahead.
Israel said Sunday that the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found after he was killed in what it described as a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.”
The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel “will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death.” There was no immediate comment from the UAE.
Zvi Kogan, 28, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi who went missing on Thursday, ran a Kosher grocery store in the futuristic city of Dubai, where Israelis have flocked for commerce and tourism since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in the 2020 Abraham Accords.
Jon Gambrell / AP
The agreement has held through more than a year of soaring regional tensions unleashed by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack into southern Israel. But Israel’s devastating retaliatory offensive in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon, after months of fighting with the Hezbollah militant group, have stoked anger among Emiratis, Arab nationals and others living in the UAE.
Iran, which supports Hamas and Hezbollah, has also been threatening to retaliate against Israel after a wave of airstrikes Israel carried out in October in response to an Iranian ballistic missile attack.
The Emirati government did not respond to a request for comment.
Early Sunday, the UAE’s state-run WAM news agency acknowledged Kogan’s disappearance but pointedly did not acknowledge he held Israeli citizenship, referring to him only as being Moldovan. The Emirati Interior Ministry described Kogan as being “missing and out of contact.”
“Specialized authorities immediately began search and investigation operations upon receiving the report,” the Interior Ministry said.
Netanyahu told a regular Cabinet meeting later Sunday that he was “deeply shocked” by Kogan’s disappearance and death. He said he appreciated the cooperation of the UAE in the investigation and said that ties between the two countries would continue to be strengthened.
Israel’s largely ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, condemned the killing and thanked Emirati authorities for “their swift action.” He said he trusts they “will work tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Kogan was an emissary of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of ultra-Orthodox Judaism based in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood in New York City. It said he was last seen in Dubai. The UAE has a burgeoning Jewish community, with synagogues and businesses catering to kosher diners.
The Rimon Market, a Kosher grocery store that Kogan managed on Dubai’s busy Al Wasl Road, was shut down Sunday. As the wars have roiled the region, the store has been the target of online protests by supporters of the Palestinians. Mezuzahs on the front and the back doors of the market appeared to have been ripped off when an Associated Press journalist stopped by on Sunday.
Kogan’s wife, Rivky, is a U.S. citizen who lived with him in the UAE. She is the niece of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who was killed in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The UAE is an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and is also home to Abu Dhabi. Local Jewish officials in the UAE declined to comment.
While the Israeli statement did not mention Iran, Iranian intelligence services have carried out past kidnappings in the UAE.
Western officials believe Iran runs intelligence operations in the UAE and keeps tabs on the hundreds of thousands of Iranians living across the country.
Iran is suspected of kidnapping and later killing British Iranian national Abbas Yazdi in Dubai in 2013, though Tehran has denied involvement. Iran also kidnapped Iranian German national Jamshid Sharmahd in 2020 from Dubai, taking him back to Tehran, where he was executed in October.
90-year-old great-grandmother graduates from New Hampshire college 50 years after finishing degree
The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump’s promises on growth and inflation
Potential winter storms forecast across U.S. on Thanksgiving week could impact holiday travel
90-year-old great-grandmother graduates from New Hampshire college 50 years after finishing degree
The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump’s promises on growth and inflation