The 5 Best AT&T Phones for Seniors
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April 1, 2024
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AT&T is one of our favorite carriers for seniors, and when you bundle your phone plan with AT&T internet, it can easily be one of the best deals available. That said, one of their phone plans is incomplete without the purchase of a cellphone.
From the latest smartphones to budget-friendly flip phones, AT&T offers a wide range of handsets. The following five phones are our favorite options for seniors, combining affordability, simplicity, and functionality.
Pro Tip: To learn about the different AT&T phone plans, read our guide to AT&T plans for seniors.
The 5 Best AT&T Phones for Seniors in 2024
- Apple iPhone SE : Best Hearing Aid Compatibility
- Samsung Galaxy S24 : Best Android
- Sonim XP3 Plus : Best Flip Phone
- iPhone 14 Pro : Best iPhone
- TCL Classic : Best Budget Option
How We Chose Our Favorites
- Price: A great phone balances quality with cost, and we made sure to include this value in our research. We included both premium options as well as budget picks so people of all income levels can find the right phone for their needs.
- Call quality: Since AT&T’s network is so large, most of their devices have good call quality. However, some phones have higher-quality speakers than others.
- Battery life: People today use their phones not only to call but also to watch movies, play games, and more. Battery life has never been more important, so we considered this as part of our ranking.
- Ease of use: Accessibility is an essential factor in determining how much you’ll enjoy your new phone, especially if you have visibility limitations. We tested how usability factors into the quality of each device.
- Extra features: Modern phones can do so much more than call and text, so we took these features into account to help you gauge the value of each device.
The Best AT&T Phones for Seniors in 2024
1. Apple iPhone SE - Best Hearing Aid Compatibility
What We Like Most:
- Apple App Store access
- 12 MP camera
- 5G compatibility
- Nine hours of talk time
Cost: $429.99 when purchased from AT&T
Overview
If you want a more affordable iPhone that’s rated M3/T4 for hearing aid compatibility, meet the iPhone SE. It’s more than $100 less than the iPhone 14 Pro but still gave us the same great features: Touch ID, quality cameras, and Siri, the ever-helpful voice assistant.
Standout Features
We loved the iPhone SE because it is rated M3/T4 for hearing aid compatibility. Beyond that, the phone is well-suited for hearing-impaired people. During phone and FaceTime calls, we used the phone’s live captions to hear every word from the person we were talking to. We also used it in real life, to make sure we weren’t missing anything when hearing the specials from a waiter at a particularly loud restaurant.
Aside from the fantastic accessibility features of the iPhone SE, we enjoyed using the App store to explore thousands of helpful applications. We loved using FaceTime, which let us video chat with friends and family, and Apple Maps, which we used to navigate wherever we wanted to go. We took numerous photos with the phone’s 12 MP camera. It’s capable of zooming up to five times digitally. We also used Portrait Mode for some professional-looking shots. It’s hard to believe we got such features from an iPhone that costs less than $430.
Drawbacks
The iPhone SE doesn’t have Face ID, only Touch ID. That means to log in, we used our thumbprints, not our faces, which made it difficult to sign in during the winter when our hands were in gloves. We found ourselves having to take off the gloves just to open our phones, which led to some pretty unfortunate dry skin. If Face ID is a must for you, check out the iPhone 14 Pro, which we describe in detail below.
Our Verdict
If you want a more affordable iPhone that can accommodate those with hearing loss, there’s no better option than the iPhone SE.
FYI: To learn more about this phone, read our rundown of the best iPhones for seniors.
Pros
- App Store functionality
- High-quality cameras
- Great battery life
- Clear and consistent calls
Cons
- Display could be brighter
- No Face ID
2. Samsung Galaxy S24 - Best Android
What We Like Most:
- Vibrant 6.2-inch display
- Battery life of up to 78 hours for music or 29 hours for videos
- 50 MP camera
- Access to Android apps and games on the Google Play store
Cost: $799.99 when purchased from AT&T
Overview
If you prefer Androids over iPhones, consider the Samsung Galaxy S24. It boasts a 50 MP camera, super-long battery life, and a 6.2-inch screen, making it the best Android on this list.
Standout Features
Since the Samsung Galaxy S24 is an Android phone, we had access to the Google Play store’s apps as well as Google Assistant, the Android equivalent of Siri. We used Google Assistant to give us directions, tell us the weather, or play a TV show on the phone’s 6.2-inch screen.
Another cool feature from Google is called “Circle to Search.” It means exactly what it sounds like. Let’s say we were on the street when we saw a woman wearing a cute dress. Instead of going up to her and asking where it was from, we simply pointed our camera at her, circled the dress on the screen, and Google found it for us online. The phone’s artificial intelligence made this possible. It also let us translate live text, making international travel a breeze. In terms of features, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is as advanced as they come.
Drawbacks
With a price tag of $799.99 from AT&T, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is the most expensive phone on this list. If you want a cheaper smartphone, consider the iPhone SE, which costs around $430. Or, if you want to stick with Androids, check out our list for the best Androids for seniors. Our favorite budget option is the Iris Connect, which retails for $89.
Our Verdict
If you have extra room in your budget for some amazing features from Google’s AI, you’ll have endless fun and function with the Samsung Galaxy S24.
Pros
- Beautiful screen
- Great battery life
- AI features
- AndroidOS
Cons
- Expensive
- 128 GB storage capacity
3. Sonim XP3 Plus - Best Flip Phone
What We Like Most:
- Affordable price point
- High durability
- 15 hours of talktime, 440 hours on standby
- Loud speakerphone
Cost: $199.99 when purchased from AT&T
Overview
Not everyone needs a smartphone, and you can save a ton of money by going with a flip phone like the Sonim XP3plus. It’s an especially great option for the rugged and accident-prone, as it’s the most durable flip phone we’ve tested.
Standout Features
We’ve all experienced the shame and humiliation that comes with dropping your phone in the toilet. Not only do you have to fish it out, but you also have to see if it’s still working. If it’s not, go to the AT&T store and explain why. But we wouldn’t didn’t have to undergo this emotional turmoil when we purposefully dropped the Sonim XP3plus into a bowl of water.
With an IP rating of 68, it’s completely dust-tight and waterproof. This phone works even after being immersed in water. And, with an operating temperature range of negative 4 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit, we felt confident that we could use it in any location, no matter the season.
Aside from its incredible durability, the Sonim XP3plus is remarkably simple to use, with tactile buttons, a loud speakerphone, and an intuitive home screen. This is a great option for someone not as comfortable with smartphones. The phone features a small outside screen displaying the time, plus two external buttons which we could use to answer, mute, or end calls.
Drawbacks
Of course, with the simplicity and affordability of flip phones comes a lack of features. While there is a front camera, it’s only 8 MP. Plus, there’s no selfie camera. Additionally, the phone doesn’t work with 5G, which means you won’t be able to video chat, stream TV media, or download large files on it. If those features are essential for you, we recommend a simplified smartphone like the Jitterbug Smart4. To learn more, read our Jitterbug Smart4 review.
Our Verdict
You’ll love the rugged simplicity of the Sonim XP3plus, especially if you have cause to be worried about damaging your phone.
FYI: If you’re looking for flip phones from $50, read our guide to this year’s best flip phones.
Pros
- Low price
- Long battery life
- Rugged design
- Comfortable interface
Cons
- Tiny display
- Only one camera
4. iPhone 14 Pro - Best iPhone
What We Like Most:
- 48 MP camera
- Face ID
- Up to 75 hours of audio playback
- Dust-tight and waterproof
Cost: $540 when purchased from AT&T
Overview
With some of the most up-to-date features of iPhones, the iPhone 14 Pro boasts a super-clear, 6.1-inch screen, Face ID, and up to 1 TB of storage, the highest capacity on this list by a longshot.
Standout Features
Of course, the iPhone 14 Pro has all of the features we expect in iPhones. From signing in using Face ID to its 48 MP main camera, using our phone was fun and sleek. Not to mention how long we could use it for. The battery could last for up to 75 hours of listening to music, up to 23 hours of playing our videos, or up to 20 hours of streaming videos from Netflix, Max, and Peacock. That meant less time charging on our wireless charging dock, which, although it’s not included, is a great option for someone with mobility issues.
Another amazing feature of the iPhone 14 Pro was its storage capacity. While most phones top out at 256 GB, we had the option to have 1 TB of storage, which is unheard of in a smartphone. If you want to store really large files like movies and TV shows, or just a ton of podcasts, music, photos, and videos, you will find it hard to run out of space on the iPhone 14 Pro.
Drawbacks
While it’s not the most expensive phone on this list, it is the most expensive iPhone at $540, over $100 more than the iPhone SE. Plus, although we were impressed with the phone’s battery life, charging took a while, and Apple only gave us a USB-C cord, not an actual wall charger.
Our Verdict
Though the iPhone 14 Pro may be expensive, when you consider the fact that the latest iPhone, the iPhone 15 Pro, costs $999.99 from AT&T, nearly twice as much, then it becomes quite the steal.
Pros
- 48 MP camera
- Vibrant display
- Face ID
- M3/T4 hearing aid compatibility
Cons
- High price point
- Slow charging speeds
5. TCL Classic - Best Budget Option
What We Like Most:
- Ultra-low price point
- Great battery life
- Large buttons
- HD voice calls
Cost: $74.99 when purchased from AT&T
Overview
For someone okay with using a phone for calling and texting only, it’s not necessary to spend more than $100, or even more than $80. Meet the TCL Classic, a $74.99 flip phone from AT&T.
Standout Features
Do you frequently have long conversations with family and friends? We tend to, which is why we loved that we could talk on the TCL Classic for up to 14 hours without it dying. Standby time is a whopping 14 days.
The TCL Classic is rated M4/T4 for hearing aid compatibility, and you’ll be able to navigate with the flip phone’s large buttons easily. While it’s nowhere near the cameras of smartphones, the TCL Classic has a 2 MP camera and 4GB of local storage, enough to store the photos you take. With a simple screen and large buttons written in white writing on a black background, this phone is great for someone who’s not familiar with the latest technology and wants a phone only to talk and text.
Drawbacks
While some internet browsing is available, it’s not the fastest. This is because the TCL Classic isn’t 5G-compatible. We found that when we checked our email inboxes on the phone, speeds slowed to the point where it almost wasn’t worth it. Additionally, the photos we took were pretty pixelated, as the camera is only 2 MP. For comparison’s sake, the camera on the Samsung Galaxy S24 is 25 times better!
Our Verdict
The TCL Classic is perfect for someone on a budget who wants to use a phone to talk and text, with some occasional light internet browsing.
Pros
- Budget price
- Extensive battery life
- Classic clamshell design
- Big buttons
Cons
- 4G LTE, not 5G
- Slower speeds
Does AT&T Have a Senior Plan?
Yes, AT&T does have a senior plan. However, it is only available to adults ages 55 and older who have Florida billing addresses. The offer is two lines for $80 a month, or $40 per line per month. Both lines have unlimited talk, text, and data in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, 5G access, unlimited texting from the U.S. to more than 200 countries, as well as spam calling blocking. Note that you may experience slower speeds when the network is busy, and streaming is standard-definition only.
But of course, most people don’t live in Florida. What are the plans for the rest of us? Keep reading to find out.
AT&T Plan Options
AT&T offers monthly plans ranging from $50 to $85.99. You can get anywhere from 4 GB to unlimited data. The highest-tier plans have more high-speed data, as well as extras like 4K UHD streaming. But even the two lower-tier plans include international talk, text, and data. See exactly what you get with each plan below.
AT&T Wireless Plan Comparison
| AT&T Plan | 4GB | Value Plus VL | Unlimited Starter SL | Unlimited Extra EL | Unlimited Premium |
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| Monthly Price for One Line | $50 | $50.99 | $65.99 | $75.99 | $85.99 |
| Unlimited Talk & Text | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly Data | 4 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited and speeds are never throttled |
| International Features | Talking, texting, and data in U.S. Canada, and Mexico | Talking, texting, and data in U.S. Canada, and Mexico | Talking, texting, and data in U.S. Canada, and Mexico | Talking, texting, and data in U.S. Canada, and Mexico | Unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data in 20 Latin American countries |
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Can You Bring Your Own Phone to AT&T?
Yes, you can bring your own phone with AT&T. If you want to get an entirely new wireless plan for your phone (as opposed to putting the device on your current plan,) go to AT&T’s website and enter your device’s IMEI number.
From there, AT&T will tell you how to activate your device on its network. For us, we used an iPhone 8+, which meant our only option was to have AT&T mail us a SIM card we could insert and activate ourselves. From there, we picked a wireless plan and add-ons. The process was super simple. It only took about two minutes from start to finish.
That being said, not all phones will work with AT&T’s network. To see if you can transfer service, you can enter your phone number on the company’s website.
Bottom Line
The good thing about buying a phone from AT&T is the sheer amount of options you get, not to mention the benefits of going with a network rather than a MVNO, a mobile virtual network operator. You’ll get prioritized first in terms of high-speed data, depending on your plan. Whether you want a simple flip phone like the TCL Classic or an advanced smartphone like the iPhone 14 Pro, there’s an option for you from AT&T.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do you have to purchase a phone from AT&T to use it on their network?
No, AT&T allows you to bring your own phone to your new plan. It does have to be compatible with their network though. Buying one of their phones guarantees it’ll work with your new service.
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Is it worth it to trade in your phone with AT&T?
The value of trading in your phone to get a new one depends on your old phone. Newer models will get you better trades and save you the hassle of selling it yourself. Check their trade-in page to see what your phone could be worth.
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Is it cheaper to buy a phone with AT&T installment plans?
No, the AT&T installment plan simply divides the retail price of your new phone by the number of months it’ll take to pay it off, usually in $5 to $6 installments. You won’t pay interest or finance fees so it won’t cost you extra, but you won’t save any money either.