Smartphone for elderly, non techie relative...advice?

waterwatereverywhere

Hi,

I have an elderly, extremely non-techie relative (by her own admission) who is in spite of this adamant she would like a smartphone to potter about on and maybe place her online food shopping orders.....

Pls can anyone suggest one which might be suitable - not too tricky to use and the best tariff - she will be a light phone user and would just want a tariff that would allow some internet use but with an ability to cap to prevent her receiving nasty surprise bills if she leaves it logged on to something by mistake...

Hopefully with clear buttons and relatively easy to operate and as "budget" as possible, as it does not need to be latest spec or all singing and dancing.

She does not have home internet or a phone line and can't use a computer.... (!)

Any advice gratefully received.

Buzby

I'd say no - the investment is too great to 'give it a bash' and when it fails the Old Grey Whistle Test you're stuffed. With no existing web experience, this sounds like a mistake in the making.

grumbler

I suggest a 3g capable tablet instead.

Tea_spiller

I think a windows mobile like the Lumia 520/625 would be ok - Big enough, easy to navigate & fairly cheap.

(My Mother has a Lumia 620 she get on well with it - which suprised me as she cannot work the TV remote)

JJ_Egan

3G Tablet and a PAYG frome GiffGaff or similar works well .

waterwatereverywhere

Hello

Many thanks for the helpful replies. I couldn't agree more that I don't think it is the best of ideas and I also doubt that whatever is bought will get much use.... but she is adamant she would like one and has her heart set on a smartphone (to flash around...!), rather than a tablet, but I will try and do some persuading on this.

Tea Spiller, your comment about not being able to work the TV remote control did made me laugh and certainly sounds familiar ....

Sometimes I have to delete off her old text messages from the current ancient mobile she has, so I have no idea how she thinks she is going to operate anything more advanced....I don't live nearby either so I can see some long phone calls on the horizon...

I will take a look at the options suggested - thx again.

Many thx in advance.

tyllwyd

My first thought was a tablet as well. Rather than a 3g capable tablet, how about getting a mobile broadband/mifi unit.

Cisco001

I suggest getting Moto G.
I can't comment about the ease of use, as I am techie person.

Regarding the traiff, just get something with unlimited internet like giffgaff £12 goody bag

Tea_spiller

Moto G is a terrific device we have 2.
My mother couldn't navigate android well lol.

Im_just_careful

Another vote for a Windows phone. For a non technical user of a smartphone it is fairly obvious.

The Lumia 520 or 635 are worth a look. I've used the 520 and it is good for the price.

Buy PAYG on any network at Carphone warehouse and then move to 3 on their PAYG 321 tariff. This assumes 3 reception s good where the phone will be used.

Cisco001

Im_just_careful wrote: »

Another vote for a Windows phone. For a non technical user of a smartphone it is fairly obvious.

The Lumia 520 or 635 are worth a look. I've used the 520 and it is good for the price.

Buy PAYG on any network at Carphone warehouse and then move to 3 on their PAYG 321 tariff. This assumes 3 reception s good where the phone will be used.

Lumia 520 is old.
There is 530 replacing it soon