Diwali 2024: Best phones to gift your parents this festive season

Learning to use a new smartphone can be a daunting task for many, especially senior citizens who might get comfortable and familiar with a certain operating system and layout of a particular device. However, all smartphones eventually lose their newness and become a bit sluggish over time, especially when it comes to battery life or performance. If your parents or older relatives need a new smartphone, Diwali is a great time to gift one to someone who needs it.

Of course, older folks tend to prefer familiarity and consistency, so you should choose carefully when picking a new smartphone for your parents or any other elderly relatives or friends. Here are our top picks among mobiles for senior citizens that you can buy right now.

Best phones for senior citizens in 2024

1. Apple iPhone 16

2. OnePlus Nord 4

3. Samsung Galaxy S24+

4. Nothing CMF Phone 1

1. Apple iPhone 16

Perhaps the most user-friendly and easy-to-use smartphone in the world, the Apple iPhone is popular for a number of reasons. The latest is the new iPhone 16, which features a convenient and relatively compact form factor, with a 6.1-inch OLED display, a dual-camera setup at the back, and up to 512GB of internal storage. 

ALSO READ: iPhone 16 vs iPhone 14: What you need to know before an upgrade

What makes it so good for senior citizens is iOS, which is easy to get used to, and fairly consistent across different iPhones. Once you get your parents used to iOS, they’ll find it easy to switch to a newer iPhone later on, without having to fully re-learn the user interface on the new device. Additionally, the iPhone 16 is IP68 rated for dust and water resistance, and supports wireless charging, thus making it durable and easy to charge at home.

2. OnePlus Nord 4

Just like with the iPhone series, OnePlus smartphones feature a fairly straightforward and consistent user interface based on Android, with OxygenOS. The OnePlus Nord is a good mid-range device that will be particularly suitable for older users, because of the simple form factor and largely consistent UI across devices; switching to another OnePlus phone later on won’t feel too different.

The OnePlus Nord 4 is well equipped for a mid-range device, offering a good balance of performance, battery life, and sensible pricing. It has a big 6.74-inch display which will be easy to read and has plenty of room for larger font sizes. A big 5500mAh battery with support for 100W fast wired charging will keep the phone powered longer. It’s also IP65 rated dust and water resistant for added durability.

3. Samsung Galaxy S24+

Older folks who are photography enthusiasts will appreciate the Samsung Galaxy S24+ for a number of reasons, including its excellent triple camera setup, easy and convenient Android operating system, and big 6.7-inch AMOLED display which is bright and easy to read on. The device is great for taking pictures with ease, delivering great results with minimal effort.

Older users will also appreciate the big 4900mAh battery, up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, and IP68 dust and water resistance. Samsung is also excellent with its software updates for its flagship devices, so you’ll be able to use this smartphone for a long time, thanks to frequent improvements and optimisations.

4. Nothing CMF Phone 1

Although the Nothing CMF Phone 1 may look and feel like a device for younger users, it’s actually quite well suited to elderly users too. It has a durable and replaceable back panel, and a rather interesting user interface based on Android 14, which makes visibility and access to frequently used apps and tools a fair bit easier.

There is also a big 5000mAh battery, a 6.67-inch display, and very good performance and specifications for the price. It’s a good starter smartphone for your parents or older relatives, with all the necessary features and specifications that you’d expect to see in a decent affordable device.

Choose one that suits their needs and your budget.