The 5 Best T-Mobile Phones for Seniors

Credit: T-Mobile

Cost: $599.99 when purchased from T-Mobile

The iPhone 16e is an affordable phone from Apple with features like Siri the voice assistant powered by Apple Intelligence, video chatting through FaceTime, and Apple Pay.

We’ve become dependent on the iPhone 16e for just about every task. For example, rather than rifling through our wallets in busy checkout lines, we simply pull out our iPhone 16e and pay with Apple Pay, which takes only a simple hover.

We’ve also become dependent on Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, for everyday tasks. Why turn on a smart light when we can have Siri do it for us? Why open the weather app when Siri can tell us if it’s raining or not? And why Google something if Siri knows all? With Apple Intelligence integrated throughout the phone, Siri is even more helpful and natural than before.

The iPhone 16e has all of the great features we’ve come to expect from an iPhone, plus a 48-megapixel Fusion camera with Portrait Mode, which lets us blur and focus on objects like we’re using a film camera. We could even zoom in digitally up to 10 times to capture those details, like the buds of moisture on a flower in a botanical garden. The camera also enables a 2x telephoto option, giving us even more versatility for our shots.

We were impressed by the phone’s durability too. With an IP68 rating, the iPhone 16e can handle dust and water submersion up to 6 meters for 30 minutes. That means we didn’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain or accidentally dropping it near the pool.

At $599.99, the iPhone 16e is mid-range for an iPhone, but it’s still more expensive than some other options on this list. If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest option, you might consider the TCL Flip 4 5G or the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G. However, keep in mind that you’re getting Apple’s latest A18 chip, advanced camera features, and the full iOS experience with Apple Intelligence.

The iPhone 16e hits a sweet spot between affordability and premium features. At $599.99 from T-Mobile, you’re getting Apple’s newest technology, including Face ID for secure facial recognition, the powerful A18 chip, and Apple Intelligence for a more helpful Siri. Plus, you still get those great Apple features like FaceTime, Apple Pay, and amazing cameras with up to 10x digital zoom.

Credit: T-Mobile

Cost: $228 when purchased from T-Mobile

If this country is split on anything, it’s iOS vs. Android. But if you fall into the Android camp, you’ll love the impressive display and cameras of the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G, the best Android from T-Mobile.

>>Read more: The Best Android Phones for Seniors

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G has an impressive camera system for its price point. With a 50-megapixel main camera, 5-megapixel ultrawide, and 2-megapixel macro camera, we had plenty of options for capturing different types of shots. We were particularly impressed with the wide-angle camera, which made landscape shots incredibly clear. When we took a panoramic shot on top of Runyon Canyon, we were able to see the tiniest details of West Hollywood, including a man walking a rainbow-colored dog.

One of the things we loved most about this phone was its stunning 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. Scrolling through social media and websites felt incredibly smooth, and the screen was bright enough to see clearly even in direct sunlight. At 800 nits of brightness, we had no trouble reading texts or checking emails outdoors.

The battery life was another standout feature. With a 5000mAh battery, the Galaxy A16 5G lasted us well over a day of heavy use. According to our testing, it achieved an impressive 43 hours and 30 minutes of endurance, which meant we didn’t have to worry about constantly charging our phone throughout the day.

While the Galaxy A16 5G offers excellent value, it doesn’t have the premium feel of more expensive phones. The plastic back and frame are functional but not as luxurious as glass or metal. Additionally, the video recording maxes out at 1080p at 30fps, so if you’re looking to shoot 4K videos, you’ll need to look at a higher-end model like the iPhone 16e.

If you’re an Android user looking for an affordable phone with a large, beautiful display and solid camera capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is hard to beat at just $228. Keep in mind that Galaxy A16 5G also works with other major carriers, including Verizon and AT&T.

Credit: T-Mobile

Cost: $99.99 when purchased from T-Mobile

Some of us don’t need the fancy features of the latest iPhones and Androids. If you want to save money, consider the TCL Flip 4 5G, which T-Mobile sells for only $99.99.

Compared to Apple and Samsung phones, the TCL Flip 4 5G is refreshingly simple. We love the fact that, instead of typing on a screen, we were able to type with actual buttons. The buttons were large and tactile, with intuitive shortcuts for quick access to apps and favorite contacts, ideal for someone who prefers physical keys. Plus, the 3.2-inch inside screen was bright and easy to read, and displayed the time much clearer than our watches could.

We also appreciated the dual-display design. The external 1.77-inch preview screen let us check notifications and alerts without having to flip open the phone. This made it easy to glance at incoming calls or texts while the phone was closed.

Another thing we appreciated about the TCL Flip 4 5G was its battery life. We talked on the phone for up to 40 hours without needing a charge, and it lasted for 15 days on standby. That’s great news for someone who often forgets to charge their phone. The 3000mAh battery can be fully charged in less than 2 hours, so we weren’t stuck waiting around when we did need to plug in.

The phone also features dual microphones with noise cancellation and HD Voice functionality, which meant our calls came through crystal-clear even in noisy environments. We tested this at a busy coffee shop and were impressed that the person on the other end could hear us without any issue.

The TCL Flip 4 5G only had a 5-megapixel camera, so the photos and videos weren’t even close to the quality of the ones we took on the iPhone 16e and the Galaxy A16 5G. Plus, at only 3.2 inches, the inside screen was much smaller than the smartphone screens (the REVVL 8’s screen is 6.6 inches, for example.) Additionally, the phone runs on KaiOS rather than full Android, so your app selection will be more limited compared to smartphones.

If you want a phone that you can talk and text on with ease, you can save hundreds of dollars by choosing the TCL Flip 4 5G. At under $100, it’s the most affordable option on our list and still gives you 5G connectivity.

Cost: $210 when purchased from T-Mobile

Active seniors who love hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities will appreciate the durable design of the Sonim XP3plus, a flip phone we can only describe as unbreakable.

The Sonim XP3plus has that same IP68 rating as the iPhone 16e. The first number, six, means that it’s completely dust-tight and impervious to solids. The eight means that it’s waterproof and can operate normally while being immersed in water. But beyond that, the Sonim XP3plus works on temperatures from negative four to 131 degrees Fahrenheit, making it a great choice whether you live in the hot desert of Palm Springs or in the frozen tundra of Minneapolis.

Aside from its durability, the thing we most appreciated about the Sonim XP3plus was its simplicity. Like the TCL Flip 4 5G, it’s a flip phone with tactile buttons and a 2.8-inch screen. However, it has 16 GB of local storage, significantly more than the TCL Flip 4 5G, plus up to 256 GB available through a microSD card. For you, this means more room for photos, text messages, and contacts.

The Sonim XP3plus is priced at $210 from T-Mobile, which is more than double the price of the TCL Flip 4 5G. If that’s a concern, go with the $99.99 TCL Flip 4 5G, but keep in mind that the Sonim XP3plus has a larger amount of local storage and expandable storage capacity. Additionally, the Sonim XP3plus has an 8-megapixel camera, which is better than the TCL Flip 4 5G’s 5-megapixel camera, but it doesn’t compare to the Galaxy A16 5G’s 50-megapixel camera.

People looking for a durable flip phone with expandable storage should choose the Sonim XP3plus, which works in any environment.

Credit: T-Mobile

Cost: $199 when purchased from T-Mobile

One problem with smartphones is that they can be hard to see. But that’s not the case with the REVVL 8, which has a huge 6.6-inch screen with a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, bright enough even for those with low vision.

We loved the scale and smoothness of the REVVL 8. With a 6.6-inch FHD+ display featuring an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling through apps was incredibly smooth and seamless. At 1080 x 2408 pixels, the screen was very clear and bright, ideal for anyone with vision loss. Whether we were reading emails, browsing the web, or watching videos, everything looked crisp and detailed.

The camera system impressed us too. With a 50-megapixel main camera featuring Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), we could take sharp, steady photos even when our hands weren’t perfectly still. The OIS technology helped eliminate blur from hand movement, which is especially helpful for seniors who might have shakier hands. The phone also includes a 2-megapixel macro camera for close-up shots and a 13-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies and video calls.

We also looked for dozens of Google Assistant “skills” associated with different apps and products. Take our Wyze smart lights, for example. By downloading the Wyze skill to our REVVL 8, we could control our smart lights through voice commands, having Google Assistant turn off all our lights at night and turn them back on in the morning. If you have mobility issues, combining your voice assistant with smart devices will make it easier for you to control lights, your thermostat, or even a robot vacuum, if you happen to own one.

Battery life was another strong point. With a 5000mAh battery and 25W fast charging support, the REVVL 8 kept us going through long days. We achieved up to 37 hours of talk time, which meant we could chat with friends and family without constantly worrying about finding a charger.

While the REVVL 8 offers impressive specs for the price, it has a plastic frame and back, which feels less premium than glass or metal designs. Additionally, at 7.2 ounces, it’s one of the heavier phones on our list, which some users might find cumbersome for extended use.

If you want an affordable smartphone with a large, smooth display and excellent camera features, the REVVL 8 is the smartphone for you. At just $199, it’s an incredible value with features that rival much more expensive phones.