Basic mobile for the technically challenged

Murmansk

I'm trying to sort out a mobile phone for a friend who lives miles away. He's elderly and not at all technical.

He seems to have a mobile he got from Virgin called an Artfone C1 but as far as I can see that's no use as 1. Virgin are ceasing to exist and 2. It's only a 2G phone. He's never even opened it. 

He only needs the thing for calls and texts so my plan now is to buy him a phone, stick an RWG 2 year SIM in it and post it to him so it's ready to go

So I reckon I need a "basic" phone that does 4G so does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks

pallyman

I have just got a Acatel 4g flip mobile from Tesco for a 82 year old relative which she loves,£44.99.

lohr500

Have a look also at the Doro range. Specifically designed to be simple with large buttons and text. 

Perhaps something like this with a charging station which may be easier for your friend to handle the charging than a fiddly USB lead. 

https://www.doro.com/en-gb/shop/mobile-devices/easy-phones/doro-5860/

Murmansk

Thanks very much, I've got that very Doro model and it looks very suitable so we'll see how it goes although the person who'll be using it seems to have spent a lifetime working on being no good with technology

Altior

Texting is a right faff with a fixed keyboard. A basic, large screen smartphone is better, then you can adjust lots of settings to make it easier for an impaired user.

I did just that for my Mum with a Samsung J5. That was a few years ago, so there will be an upgraded, but similar model option. 

lohr500

Murmansk said:

Thanks very much, I've got that very Doro model and it looks very suitable so we'll see how it goes although the person who'll be using it seems to have spent a lifetime working on being no good with technology

Sounds exactly like my father 
He now has a Doro after struggling to even make a call with his smartphone. 
My mother on the other hand (aged 86), has mastered both her laptop and smartphone. 

Murmansk

I've not done a scientific study but anecdotally I've visited quite a few elderly couples where it's usually the female that is into tech and the male is utterly useless in that regard!!

I spoke to one 93 year old lady and when I asked her "did you find me via my website?" she said "no, I found you on my iPad"!