The old trope that old people are hopelessly illiterate when it comes to technology is somewhat unjustified. The home computer revolution is decades old at this time, and smartphones have been around for over 16 years. Seniors are not allowed to serve their smartphones as adroitly as their grandchildren, but they are not just sitting around in pinching in the days of rotating died phones.
Seniors also need iPhones, but they may have unique needs. They are often on regular incomes and may have difficulty reading small text, suffering from arthritis or other needs accessibility. The best iPhone for seniors is one that does not cost an arm and a leg and will continue to be updated for at least a few years. In addition, we will make two recommendations: A small iPhone for seniors who find large phones difficult to carry and manipulate, and a large iPhone for those who need larger text and pictures.
Right now it is a little less simple to buy an iPhone for an older person. We recommended previous iPhone SE because it has a home button that simplifies iPhone interface to the less tech minded and is cheaper. However, the Apple iPhone SE interrupted in February 2025 and no longer offers iPhones with Touch ID and a home button. If that’s what you want, check out third -party dealers and see if they have anyone in stock.
Also note that Apple Intelligence features is only supported by Apple’s latest phones, iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max and 16E. Apple sells iPhone 15 and 15 Plus for $ 699 and $ 799 respectively, but they don’t support Apple Intelligence, so if you want these features, get an iPhone 16.
1. Apple iPhone 16: Best for Seniors
Benefits
- Excellent battery life
- Great treatment and graphics benefit
- Camera control is a blessing for users who often shoot photos
Disadvantages
- No always-on-screen
- May not be small enough for those who prefer small phones
We recommend the iPhone 16 as the top choice here primarily because it represents the best value for money right now. To $ 799/£ 799. It offers a double camera system with a camera control button. It can also record 4K video at 60 FPS. The iPhone 16 also offers emergency situations via satellite, crash detection, roadside assistance via satellite and messages via satellite.
This A18 processor is more than fast enough for E email, control of apps on social media, taking pictures, making FaceTime calls, and everything else that a senior wants an iPhone for. And it still gets several years of iOS software updates.
Face ID may take a little get used to if the user is used to touch the ID and home button, but may prove to be an easier way to secure an iPhone for those with arthritis.
Read our full Apple iPhone 16 Review
2. Apple iPhone 16E: New $ 599 Option
Benefits
- Small size
- Support to Apple Intelligence
- Long battery life
Disadvantages
- No Magsafe Support
- Old sets of photographic styles
IPhone 16E is Apple’s latest affordable option, replacing both iPhone 14 and iPhone SE. From $ 599/£ 599 you get an iPhone with the same A18 processor, but with fewer GPU kernels (4 against 5). It has a single 48MP camera, but as we have seen on other iPhones, it is quite good with features such as Deep Fusion for better photography with low light. Apple calls it a “2-in-1” camera as high-resolution photos allow it to zoom at 2x without any noticeable degradation.
Apple no longer offers a home button and touch ID. IPhone 16E uses Facial ID and you stroke up from the bottom of the screen to get to the Home screen. Some seniors will find Touch ID easier to handle than Face ID (especially if their previous smartphone was an older iPhone).
The iPhone 16E is not as small as the iPhone SE, it replaced, but it is among Apple’s smallest phones in the current lineup. Despite its size, the battery life of Apple is assessed for last 26 hours, which is the longest ever for a 6.1-inch iPhone.
IPhone 16E supports 5G and comes in 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB of capabilities. If you decide on the 128 GB model, you can choose an iCloud subscription plan if you find that you need additional storage. We will update this with our full review, but if you can’t wait, the iPhone 16e should be a solid option for users who want to use a little less.
Learn more about iPhone 16E.
3. Apple iPhone 16 Plus: iPhone on large screen
Benefits
- Large 6.7-inch screen
- Lightest big -shielded iPhone
Disadvantages
- Voluminous and heavier than smaller iPhones
The great view of one of the plus-size iPhones will be very Easier for old eyes to see clearly. Excluded iPhone 16 Pro Max there are two choices with a 6.7-inch screen here: iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 15 Plus. Again, you can save $ 100/£ 100 by buying iPhone 15 Plus (for $ 799/£ 799) instead of the newer iPhone 16 Plus (for $ 899/£ 899). This time we recommend spending the extra money if a budget is available because the iPhone 16 generation is a jump in front of the iPhone 15 in terms of processor and camera.
Another reason for choosing the iPhone 16 Plus: It supports Apple Intelligence. IPhone 15 Plus doesn’t. The Apple Intelligence Functions may not appeal to you now, but they turn out to be useful in the future. If you want Apple Intelligence and a larger iPhone, the best option is iPhone 16 Plus.
For more advice on accessories for your Mac, iPad or iPhone, see all our best choices.