Choose around the task your relative finds difficult, rather than their age or a device labelled as simple. A focused phone may make communication easier to navigate; a configurable smartphone or tablet may suit a specific vision, hearing or input need; and a computer may suit longer tasks or physical keyboard and mouse use. Try the essential tasks with the intended settings before buying, and agree who will manage accounts, updates and ongoing help.
Calls, messages, photos and video calls may be the priority when crowded screens and too many choices get in the way. Apple describes a focused Assistive Access experience on iPhone, while Doro describes a simplified interface on its Aurora smartphones; the required apps still need checking on the intended setup.
Small text, hard-to-hear alerts or difficult touch controls call for a more specific choice than a generally simpler interface. Google, Samsung and Microsoft describe different accessibility settings and input options, but the person needs to try the relevant ones on the device they would use.
A family member, friend or carer may help select apps, set up an account and deal with updates or problems later. Apple notes that setting up Assistive Access may be easiest with a trusted supporter; agree on that role with the person who will use the device.
Start with where the device will be used and what the person wants to do on it, then check the obstacle that makes those tasks difficult. Age UK likewise advises beginning with the activities the person wants to do.
Consider when: A trusted supporter can configure a focused set of apps for a relative who mainly needs straightforward phone communication.
Trade-off: Apple describes larger onscreen items and focused features, but the selected apps and account arrangements must suit the person’s actual tasks.
Consider when: Adjustable access settings and conventional Android apps matter; a tablet is worth trying if a larger touch display is useful.
Trade-off: Google says accessibility feature names and navigation can vary by device and market, so the intended model needs a hands-on check.
Consider when: Calls, messages and selected apps are essential, but a conventional home screen is difficult to navigate.
Trade-off: Doro describes a simplified Aurora interface and remote support; check the exact model’s required apps and whether its touchscreen suits the user.
Consider when: Longer reading, forms or documents call for a stable workspace, or a physical keyboard and alternative pointing device are easier to use.
Trade-off: Microsoft documents Windows accessibility tools, but the person and their supporter must also be comfortable managing windows, accounts and peripherals.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Simple navigation | Try a few essential tasks with the intended apps and settings; check who can change that setup later. | If crowded screens make calls or messages hard to find, I need to complete those tasks without searching through menus. Around 26% of consumers put straightforward navigation first. |
| Screen visibility | Try text size, contrast and magnification at the person’s usual reading distance. | When controls or text are hard to see, I need a display I can read comfortably, even if larger content means more scrolling. Around 21% of consumers make visual access their first concern. |
| Physical input | Test touch accuracy and comfort with the intended keys, pointing device or voice controls. | If tapping small targets or typing on glass is difficult, I need an input method I can operate reliably. For around 21% of consumers, physical input is the main priority. |
| Hearing access | Try calls, alerts and captions in the usual setting; check compatibility with any device the person already uses. | If I miss calls or cannot follow audio clearly, communication is still difficult even when the screen is easy to navigate. Around 16% of consumers prioritise hearing access. |
| Setup and support | Agree who handles account recovery and updates, and check support information for the exact model. | When help will be needed after the first day, I need someone I trust to resolve account and update problems with my consent. Ongoing support comes first for around 16% of consumers. |
A simpler screen will not necessarily address text that is hard to see, calls that are hard to hear or controls that are hard to press.
Write down a few essential tasks and let the person try them using the proposed settings and input method.
Google says accessibility navigation can vary by device and market; Samsung says available update types and versions depend on the model.
Check the required settings and software-support information for the exact device and variant before ordering.
Apple notes that Assistive Access may be easier to configure with a trusted supporter. The person may also need help when apps, account details or software change.
With the user’s consent, agree who will manage recovery details, updates and requests for help.
Allow time for account recovery, app changes and troubleshooting after the initial setup.
A device that looks manageable on a product page may feel different during everyday use. GOV.UK says traders must tell customers about cancellation rights for covered online purchases of goods, including the right to cancel up to 14 days after delivery.
Check the seller’s applicable terms and arrange a prompt trial of the person’s essential tasks. Keep the order and delivery records; remedies for faulty or misdescribed goods are a separate matter from changing your mind.
An iPhone route to consider when a focused set of apps and a trusted person to configure them fit the user’s needs.
A Galaxy phone or tablet may be relevant when the person wants a conventional device with adjustable access settings.
A Pixel phone is worth considering when documented, model-specific software support matters to the household.
Doro describes both physical-button phones for calls and texts and Aurora smartphones with a simplified touchscreen interface.
These two phones offer different physical-key approaches: a Nokia handset to consider for calls and texts, and a Unihertz Android smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard for someone who also needs apps. Neither replaces trying the person’s essential tasks and checking the support they will need.
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Consider this phone when calls and texts are the priority and the person prefers physical keys. Try its screen and keypad for readability and comfort, and confirm any required online service or app before choosing it.
The product name identifies the TA-1543 DS variant and 4G connectivity; check compatibility with the intended mobile service.
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Consider this Android smartphone if physical typing is preferable but apps are still needed. Try the keyboard and screen with the intended tasks; confirm the required accessibility settings and software-update support for this model.
The named configuration has a physical QWERTY keyboard, 12 GB RAM, 512 GB storage, NFC/OTG support and Dual SIM.
Start with the tasks and where they will be done: a phone suits portable calls and messages, a tablet is worth trying for a larger touch display, and a computer may suit longer tasks or physical keyboard and mouse use. Age UK advises beginning with what the person wants to do; let them try the intended input method before choosing.
No: Google says feature names and navigation may vary by device and market. Check the exact phone or tablet for the settings your relative needs, then try those settings during the device trial.
Set up the necessary contacts, apps, account access, charging routine and update preferences with the user’s consent. Apple notes that a trusted supporter may help choose apps for iPhone Assistive Access and may need account information, so agree who can access and recover the account.
Look up support for the exact model rather than assuming a brand-wide period. Samsung says update availability depends on the Galaxy model, Google publishes different periods for Pixel model families, and Apple recommends automatic updates for software releases available to the device.
Check whether the purchase qualifies for a change-of-mind cancellation right and act promptly: GOV.UK says traders must tell customers they can cancel covered online goods orders up to 14 days after delivery. Faulty or misdescribed goods are a separate issue; the Consumer Rights Act 2015 provides a short-term right to reject goods that fail statutory standards, generally subject to a 30-day limit. Keep the order and delivery records and contact the seller about the applicable remedy.