The 5 Best 5G Phones for Seniors
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June 28, 2024
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Most of us don’t know a 5G phone from a kiloamp capacitor. “5G” is just what commercials say to imply that a phone is good, but do you really need 5G service?
In today’s fast-paced world, 5G comes with a lot of benefits. Basically, 5G means “fifth generation,” referring to the standard in global wireless connection speeds. Prior generations were labeled 4G, 3G, and so on. If your phone can connect to a 5G network, your connections will be clearer, your upload and download speeds will be faster, and your whole cell phone experience will be smoother — particularly if you use your phone for data-heavy tasks like streaming video.
Even if you have a 5G plan, you can’t connect to a 5G network without a compatible phone. This is why we researched the best ones seniors should consider buying in 2024.
FYI: If you’re not concerned about ultra-fast data speeds, you can definitely find more affordable devices. To see our favorites, check out our rundown of the best phones for seniors.
The 5 Best 5G Phones for Seniors in 2024
- Apple iPhone SE : Best Voice Commands
- Moto G 5G : Most Affordable
- Google Pixel 8 : Best Android
- iPhone 14 : Best Screen
- Samsung Galaxy S23 : Best Camera
How We Chose
When choosing the best 5G phones for seniors, we pulled from a pool of over 30 options from Apple, Samsung, and Motorola, among others. To evaluate them, we looked at the following criteria:
- Value: A phone’s price point shouldn’t be as important as its value, meaning how much you get for how much you paid. We included options in multiple price brackets to give you some choices.
- Call quality: The best reason to go for 5G is to get reliable, clear sound quality on every call. Just because a phone lists 5G in its description doesn’t mean it delivers the best call quality.
- Ease of use: Screen size, speaker quality, keypad size, and more can improve a phone’s ease of use. Accessibility is essential, especially when you pay hundreds of dollars for a new phone.
- Extra features: Modern phones can have numerous extra features that improve quality of life, including voice commands, app integration, Bluetooth connectivity, and more.
1. Apple iPhone SE - Best Voice Commands
What We Like Most:
- M3/T4 hearing aid compatible
- Log in through Touch ID
- 12 MP main camera
- Text magnifying using VoiceOver
Cost: $429 from Consumer Cellular
Overview
If you need a phone that’s compatible with hearing aids, meet the iPhone SE (3rd generation), a more affordable alternative to the iPhone 14. You’ll appreciate the iPhone’s many accessibility features, from text magnifying to Siri voice commands.
Standout Features
If you suffer from hearing loss, you’ll love the accessibility features of the iPhone SE. Not only did it work with our hearing aids, but it also gave us what it calls “Live Captions,” transcripts of conversations as they were happening. We used this even on FaceTime calls when we couldn’t hear the other person. Moreover, the phone helped us hear conversations in loud places, like restaurants, by sending the audio to our wireless headphones, a feature called Live Listen.
Aside from the fact that it works with hearing aids, we loved all of the accessibility features on the iPhone SE, which help people who are blind as well as deaf. For example, VoiceOver described what was happening on screen with auditory descriptions, which could help someone with low or no vision. Additionally, we used the magnifier to blow up text, and we turned this text into audio, as well.
Another way to make your iPhone even easier to use is with Assistive Access mode. With Assistive Access mode enabled, you can enlarge icons on the home screen, simplify app layouts, and streamline the entire iPhone experience. We think this feature is great for both seniors and anyone looking for a simpler phone experience.
>>Read more: Guide to Assistive Access Mode
Our Plan Recommendation
While the iPhone SE is available on just about every network, we recommend Consumer Cellular, a carrier with prices ranging from $20 to $50 per month — the lowest prices on this list aside from Mint Mobile. We recommend the $50 per month unlimited plan, but all plans offer unlimited talk and text, plus 5G access throughout the nation. To learn more about the various options from Consumer Cellular, read our guide to Consumer Cellular senior plans.
FYI: Consumer Cellular is one of our favorite cellular carriers, but it’s not the cheapest. To find cell phone plans for $15 per month or less, read our guide to this year’s best senior phone plans.
Drawbacks
Because this is an older iPhone compared to the iPhone 14, it lacks Face ID, which lets us unlock our phones using facial recognition. It still had Touch ID, but some people will want the latest in biometrics.
Additionally, the phone lacks a headphone jack, although it’s compatible with hearing aids and wireless headphones. We’re slaves to our AirPods, so this wasn’t an issue for us. However, if you like more old-school headphones, it may be an issue for you.
Our Verdict
If you want the benefits of an iPhone with some awesome hearing and vision accessibility features, you can save money by getting the iPhone SE (3rd generation). It costs hundreds less than the iPhone 14.
Pros
- Works with M3/T4 hearing aids
- 12 MP main camera
- Bluetooth compatible
- Hearing and vision accessibility features
Cons
- No Face ID
- No headphone jack
2. Moto G 5G - Most Affordable
What We Like Most:
- $198 from T-Mobile
- 48 MP rear camera
- M3/T3 hearing aid compatibility
- 6.46-inch screen
Cost: $179.99 from AT&T
Overview
Spending less than $200 on a smartphone is impossible, right? Wrong. Meet the Moto G 5G, which sells for $179.99 at AT&T and supports 5G signal.
Standout Features
The Moto G 5G is an especially good option for someone with visual impairments, as it has the largest screen on this list at 6.46 inches. We loved using the phone for video chats with faraway friends and family — it felt like we were in person.
In addition, the phone has some of the best cameras we’ve ever seen. The rear camera was 48 MP, which meant that we were able to take some really professional-looking photos, if we do say so ourselves. While this wasn’t as high quality as the Galaxy S23 or Google Pixel 8’s 50 MP cameras, it comes pretty close, for hundreds of dollars less. In total, the Moto G 5G has three cameras: at 48 and 2 MP in the rear, and one front-facing 8 MP camera for selfies.
Our Plan Recommendation
If you’re 55 or older, and live in Florida, then AT&T offers affordable plans with unlimited talk, unlimited text, and yes, unlimited 5G data. These plans start at $40 per month per line, and the higher-tier plans, though more expensive, include bonuses like free in-flight Wi-Fi and Netflix subscriptions. AT&T offers affordable prepaid plans, too.
Drawbacks
We could only store up to 64 GB of files on the Moto G 5G. This pales in comparison to the storage capacities of the Google Pixel 8, Samsung Galaxy S23, and iPhone SE, which support up to 256 GB; in addition, the iPhone 14 caps out at 512 GB. If you have a lot of photos, videos, and other files that you want to store on your phone, you’ll run out of space pretty quickly on the Moto G 5G. Thankfully, you can always opt for cloud storage.
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for a 5G smartphone that won’t break the bank, the Moto G 5G will get you there.
Pros
- $179.99 price tag at AT&T
- Large screen
- Hearing aid compatible
- 48 MP rear camera
Cons
- Up to 64 GB of storage only
- People under 55 will not get the discount
3. Google Pixel 8 - Best Android
What We Like Most:
- 50 MP camera
- Works with M3/T4 hearing aids
- Google Assistant
- Dust- and water-resistant
Cost: $699 from Mint Mobile
Overview
If you’re already in the Google ecosystem, you’ll love using the Google Pixel 8; it has favorites like Google Assistant, Google Calendar, and of course, Gmail. But aside from these classics, we were blown away by the phone’s artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, which let us expertly edit photos and videos, to name a couple.
Standout Features
The Google Pixel 8 has an incredibly impressive 50 MP wide camera in front, plus a 12 MP ultrawide camera and a 10.5 MP front-facing camera. This made our photos and videos the crispest on this list, but Google took things several steps further with its AI.
For example, we took a group photo where someone blinked, ruining the photo — that is, until we combined multiple photos to make a brand-new one. We also played around with studio lighting, moved our subjects around photos, and erased background noise in videos. For the amateur photographer, this phone is a Godsend.
Another feature of Google’s AI is its ability to translate language in real time. We did this both by pointing our camera at foreign words and by using the Transcribe feature for real-time conversations. The app could hear the conversation and translate what the other person was saying. From there, we could type what we wanted to say and it would translate it for the other person and say it out loud, as well as give the translated text. If you’re a senior who likes to travel, you’ll love the confidence this provides in foreign countries.
Our Plan Recommendation
We got the Google Pixel 8 from Mint Mobile, which meant that, if we signed up for 12 months, we could get anywhere from 5 GB to unlimited data from $130 to $310, which breaks down into about $11 to $26 a month. Those are the cheapest options we’ve seen from a cellular provider; plus, we saved $50 off the device by signing up for 12 months.
To learn more about these plans and their costs, read our guide to Mint Mobile’s senior plan.
Drawbacks
At $699, the Google Pixel 8 certainly isn’t a good budget option, though it’s cheaper than the iPhone 14 and the Samsung Galaxy S23. It also has the smallest screen on this list at only 5.92 inches. That said, if you have smaller hands, then this might be a benefit.
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for the latest and greatest in AI, you’ll have hours of fun with the Google Pixel 8; it will also prove useful while editing photos and videos and traveling.
Pros
- Video and photo editing with AI
- Real-time language translations with AI
- Google Assistant
- Works with charging docks
Cons
- $699 price tag
- Screen is on the smaller side
4. iPhone 14 - Best Screen
What We Like Most:
- Voice commands through Siri
- Up to 512 GB of storage
- Face ID
- Dust- and water-resistant
Cost: $729.99 from AT&T
Overview
The iPhone 14 is one of Apple’s latest iPhones, released in 2022, meaning it has some of the company’s most innovative features: A Super Retina XDR display (translation: super-clear), Portrait mode with the ability to control focus and depth, and a great battery life.
>>Read more: The Best iPhones for Seniors
Standout Features
We’re used to iPhones, and the iPhone 14 did not disappoint. Unlike the iPhone SE, it has Face ID, meaning to unlock our phones we just had to show our faces. Once we were in, we used Siri to answer questions like, “What is the weather today?”, FaceTimed friends and family, and listened to Apple Music. We also paid for purchases with Apple Pay, which made transactions super quick and easy. No fumbling with wallets for us!
Like the iPhone SE, the iPhone 14 is also rated M3/T4 in terms of hearing aid compatibility, making it a great choice for those with hearing loss. The phone can last for up to 80 hours of audio playback, up to 20 hours of video playback, or up to 16 hours of streamed video playback; this meant we could watch a streaming subscription like Netflix or Max at our leisure. If you’re someone who forgets to charge your phone a lot, you’ll appreciate the iPhone 14’s long battery life.
Our Plan Recommendation
We got our iPhone 14 from AT&T, which offered us plans ranging from 4 GB of data for $50 a month, all the way to unlimited data for anywhere from $50.99 to $85.99 a month. And for Florida residents 55 and over, you can get two lines with unlimited data, talk, and texting for just $80 total, which is quite the steal. Read more about AT&T’s cell phone plans.
Drawbacks
Second to the Samsung Galaxy S23, the iPhone 14 is the most expensive phone on this list at $729.99. It also has a rear-facing camera that is only 12 MP, which is a bit disappointing, considering that the Google Pixel 8 has a 50 MP camera and costs about $30 less.
Our Verdict
The iPhone 14 is a good option if you’re used to Apple products and are already in the Apple ecosystem. Plus, you must be willing to spend a little more for 512 GB of storage, a large screen, and Face ID, when compared with the iPhone SE.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Super-clear screen
- Apple Music, FaceTime, and Siri
- Pay with ApplePay
Cons
- 12 MP camera
- Premium price
5. Samsung Galaxy S23 - Best Camera
What We Like Most:
- 50 MP wide-angle camera
- Up to 22 hours of video playback
- Water-resistant
- 6.1-inch screen
Cost: $899 from Cricket
Overview
Are you a budding photographer? If so, you’ll appreciate the Galaxy S23’s incredible cameras, which allowed us to take beautiful photos — even the ones that weren’t selfies! Like the Google Pixel, it made our photos look even better using AI.
Standout Features
The thing we liked the most about the Samsung Galaxy S23 was the cameras — three to be exact. There was a 12 MP selfie camera, a 12 MP rear-facing ultrawide camera, and a 50 MP wide-angle camera, tied for the highest resolution on this list with the Google Pixel 8. These cameras allowed us to take great pictures not only during the day but also at night. In fact, we took clear pictures of ourselves outside at night and were shocked to see how well-lit we were, as if we were being professionally lit! Thanks, AI. And with the ability to zoom in three times, we were able to capture all of the beautiful details around us while we were walking through a botanical garden.
Aside from the cameras, we loved the fact that we could play videos for up to 22 hours, two hours more than the iPhone 14. Despite this phone’s high-performance capabilities, its battery was long-lasting enough to get us through the day without having to recharge.
Our Plan Recommendation
We bought our Galaxy S23 from Cricket Wireless, which offers plans with 5 GB to unlimited data ranging from $30 to $60 a month. We recommend an unlimited plan for either $55 or $60 a month. What does the extra $5 give you? Well, we got a 15 GB hotspot, a subscription to Max with Ads, and 150 GB of cloud storage compared to 2 GB. Given the fact that the Max subscription alone costs $9.99 a month, this plan more than pays for itself.
To learn more about this provider, read our guide to Cricket Wireless senior plans.
Drawbacks
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is the most expensive phone on this list, rounding out at $899 from Cricket Wireless. That’s a lot of money to shell out for a phone, especially one that doesn’t have as much storage as the iPhone SE. That being said, if photography is your passion, the phone could be worth it for the cameras alone.
Our Verdict
We recommend the Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want high-quality cameras that use AI to enhance your photos.
Pros
- 50 MP camera
- Photos enhanced with AI
- Water-resistant
- 6.1-inch screen
Cons
- Premium price
- Up to 256 GB of storage only
Differences Between 5G and 4G
How different can 5G and 4G be, anyway? The answer is significantly, or exactly 10 times, according to Verizon. The wireless carrier claims that its 5G Ultra Wideband is up to 10 times faster than its average 4G LTE speeds. T-Mobile has similar data, reporting that 5G is 10 times faster than 4G LTE peak speeds of about 100 Mbps, meaning no more buffering. According to T-Mobile, 5G is getting faster and faster, and it could end up being 100 times faster than 4G in the future.
Since 5G is the current industry standard, 4G LTE networks will eventually be phased out, so if your phone isn’t compatible with 5G, you may have to one day replace it. Just ask anyone who had a 3G phone. When the major carriers phased out their 3G networks around 2022, people’s cell phones literally no longer worked.
What Happened to 3G?
As of the end of 2022, 3G no longer exists in the U.S. The major carriers, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, shut down their 3G networks. Since most carriers use these networks, that means that providers like Straight Talk, Boost, and Lifeline will not have 3G, either.
If you have a 3G phone, you may not be able to use it to make calls, send texts, or use data. You’ll need to upgrade to a phone that supports Voice over LTE and 5G, which is the current industry standard network.
What to Consider in 5G Devices
Aside from its network access, here are some other factors to consider when choosing a 5G device:
- Battery life, including maximum talk time and how long it can go without needing a recharge
- Compatibility with charging docks that don’t require wires
- Bluetooth compatibility
- IP rating, i.e., how susceptible it is to solids and liquids
- Hearing aid compatibility
- Size and resolution of screen
- Text-magnifying capabilities
- Speech-to-text capabilities
- Speakerphone
- Video chatting
- Virtual assistants like Google Assistant or Siri
- Size and weight of the device
- Price of the device itself, as well as data plans
- Contract lengths of data plans
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does 5G really make that much of a difference?
Yes, 5G does make a huge difference in terms of speed. According to Verizon, its 5G Ultra Wideband has speeds up to 10 times faster than its 4G LTE speeds. This allows for faster downloading, web browsing, and streaming, as well as fewer disruptions.
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Are there flip phones with 5G?
No, there are no true “flip phones” with 5G. However, Samsung does make some foldable smartphones, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3, that have 5G. That being said, while these technically “flip,” they are not what most people think of when they think of a “flip phone” with tactile buttons.
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Does 3G still exist?
No, 3G no longer exists as of 2022. According to the FCC, Verizon shut down its 3G network by Dec. 31, 2022, AT&T beginning in February 2022, and T-Mobile by July 1, 2022.
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Do Jitterbug phones have 5G?
No, Jitterbug phones do not have 5G. Rather, they’re on Verizon’s 5G LTE network.