Ageing parents suddenly require new tech!!!

[Koldov]

My parents (both over 70 years old) have suddenly decided that they require a smart phone!

 

There are a few issues:

 

1. They have a little trouble with new technology (they currently use an old mobile phone similar to the legendary Nokia 3310).

2. They mostly live in Spain (so troubleshooting and warranty issues aside) but come back for a few months a year, so I'm not sure they should buy one from the UK.

3. I don't have a clue what to recommend as I have been using an old iPhone 5s for years and don't know what is available.

4. I'm not sure if they might be better getting a deal with a Spanish phone company or a UK one with roaming especially with the UKs position after Jan 1st, but they will probably need to use it in both countries...

5. They are a little paranoid about 'new fangled technology' stealing all their bank details, so getting them to download even basic apps will be tough going and they would need to be confident on downloading the correct one from the correct place!

 

So, they need something slightly more robust or a very decent case (as they will undoubtedly drop it, shove it in a pocket/handbag - bearing in mind what they are used to), not too big (but big enough to see easily), good battery life (as they will forget to charge it - and their current one lasts weeks on one charge), good update regime (hopefully won't go EOL or out of update/security patches for a long time) I know that's a big ask these days, but I can't see them swapping phones every couple of years somehow...

 

I mean the whole Spanish/UK thing I could leave up to them to get advice on, also which plan to get (how much data and calls), but with a smartphone too little data could see them losing out once hammered with updates/patches and things they don't know about being left to run in the background etc...

 

Budget isn't really a concern, but no sense in paying for what they might never use.

 

I know this will be very subjective, but....

 

HELP!

[paulkerton]

Pixel 4a if you're going the Android route. £350, and really the Google devices are really the only ones that definitely have a good update regime

[bknaggs]

iPhone SE if going the iPhone route.

[LeMarchand]

I was looking into something similar for my uncle BC (Before Covid) and was going to suggest a cheapish android with a decent sized screen and little bloatware (maybe a Pixel, Nokia or a Motorola?) and then use a suitable theme to simplify it: https://www.geckoandfly.com/32547/senior-mode-android-smartphone/ . Apparently Samsung's have a "simple mode" that can be activated.

 

You can probably find a dual-sim model so that (if they're likely to remember/be capable of doing) they could switch Spanish/UK SIM as appropriate. Otherwise, it's time to research plans with Roaming - or wait to see what happens. I'd lean towards them getting the phone in Spain (so that they have the relevant charger etc) and them bringing it to you to set up. If you can get TeamViewer or similar set up you can remote in as necessary. If you're worried about data use, this can be forced to wi-fi only with many apps.

 

Cases should be easy enough to get hold of for most models.

[Rob_D]

The cynic in me assumes this is for the track and trace app.

 

From the android side again, OnePlus are very good at keeping older phones updated still preforming well. They're also pretty resistant to incidental damage my dad's one fell from a chest pocket onto the road while he was cycling and was fine (was in a simple leather flip style case). I've found the battery life to be very good (I get 3(ish) days on a charge with pretty heavy usage (stuffed in a pocket not doing much with wifi/bluetooth/etal turned off I don't why it should be able to do about a week).

But they are on the more expensive side.

 

It might be more hassle than it's worth, but you could go dual sim so they can have UK and Spanish sims. (go PAYG for whichever one they're going to use less).

[MatthewL]

A suggestion, what about a tablet and leave the phone as it is?

 

Tablet is bigger and would be easier to use, my Dad recently went smart and we started him off with a tablet, he does have a smart phone now which he struggles with as its small but got to grips using a tablet first.

[elsiegee40]

Yep, we started both my Mum and my in laws on tablets.

 

My sister and I got Mum an iPad with a SIM in it, as she doesn’t have broadband, and she took to it very easily. Mum literally only used hers for Google, BBC news app, BBC weather app and iMessage for the first couple of years. She is now using Skype as well.

 

Some updates do require wifi, but my sister would take Mum and the iPad to a coffee shop or cafe for lunch and use their wifi to do the updates [emoji4]

 

I think the SIM will have to be Spanish. The free roaming on mine requires me to use it in the UK at least once every two months.

Edited October 8, 2020 by elsiegee40

[admars]

my elderly parents asked me for advice (they're in UK), and I suggested Tesco, probably cheapest contract they do, and one of the cheapest Samsung phones they do, they seem happy enough, does the job - i..e my mum takes some photos puts them on facebook now and again, but she mostly wasnts to see pics of grandkids, other family, and keep in touch with relatives overseas.

 

they don't have home broadband, so only internet they do is on phone, which isn't too much, so they use wifi in library, or when they could come here/go to my aunt's house.

 

they cope with it ok, they don't know how to use a computer, haven't asked me many questions at all which i'm surprised about (true story when helping my mum on my laptop, when i said move mouse up, she did lift the mouse up in the air!)

[Koldov]

Pixel 4a if you're going the Android route.

 

Thanks, I did look at the Pixel, although budget isn't an issue I'm just not sure the extra money spent is going to provide them with anything extra they need (although good update/support is worth it I suppose).

 

iPhone SE if going the iPhone route.

 

I did think about the iPhone just for the security of things like the app store.

 

Apparently Samsung's have a "simple mode" that can be activated... You can probably find a dual-sim model... If you're worried about data use, this can be forced to wi-fi only with many apps...

 

Some good shouts there, I will look out for those!

 

The cynic in me assumes this is for the track and trace app.

 

From the android side again, OnePlus are very good

 

Actually, quite close! It was really due to the hassle they had recently coming back into the country... They hadn't kept up with the latest regulations and ended up having a right faff having not filled out their entry form! Border Control were not impressed.... They had to sit there and fill out the form online there and then on an iPad they were provided with (which even then my mum struggled with). However, they saw lots of people just showing something on their smartphones and off they went!

 

I'd never heard on OnePlus.

 

A suggestion, what about a tablet and leave the phone as it is?

 

Yes, they do have a tablet (one from Tesco I think) - I'm not sure why they haven't used its full potential, maybe they don't know what it can do...

 

Some updates do require wifi, but my sister would take Mum and the iPad to a coffee shop or cafe for lunch and use their wifi to do the updates [emoji4]

 

I think the SIM will have to be Spanish. The free roaming on mine requires me to use it in the UK at least once every two months.

 

Unfortunately, part of the problem was when they were coming back into the UK (on a ferry as they motorhome to and from Spain) they realised they had to fill the form in and I think my mum tried to use the tablet with the wi-fi on the ferry, unfortunately the browser said the connection was not secure and she promptly turned the tablet off!

 

Ultimately I think I will leave the SIM choice to them as they have managed ok so far (and I don't really understand all the roaming choices and restrictions).

 

my elderly parents asked me for advice (they're in UK), and I suggested Tesco, probably cheapest contract they do, and one of the cheapest Samsung phones they do, they seem happy enough, does the job - i..e my mum takes some photos puts them on facebook now and again, but she mostly wasnts to see pics of grandkids, other family, and keep in touch with relatives overseas.

 

I think that's pretty much all she wants to do with the phone so that might be a winner, my mum is a big Tesco (clubcard especially) fan and I think her UK sim is already with them. Plus the Samsung phones appear to be ok and as mentioned above have a 'simple mode'...

[Koldov]

Had to add to this reply specifically to @paulkerton as I didn't realise what even basic smartphones were going for these days... I'm slowly realising £350 might not be that bad, compared to lower spec phones still commanding £250+... still think my dad is going to spit his scotch out when I tell him...

[LeMarchand]

Had to add to this reply specifically to @paulkerton as I didn't realise what even basic smartphones were going for these days... I'm slowly realising £350 might not be that bad, compared to lower spec phones still commanding £250+... still think my dad is going to spit his scotch out when I tell him...

 

You can get Motorolas and Nokias sub £200, along with "up and coming" brands. If all you want is a very basic model most supermarkets have one or two <£100.

[jmak]

There are still a few decent deals on the Google Pixel 3a around for about £250 from reasonably trustworthy sources (lots of places seen to be trying to sell it for £350 which is the same as the 4a [emoji2369]).

 

https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/google-pixel-very-silver-5-32gb-unlocked-sim-free-g-2pw4100-32sil/version.asp

 

I reckon that's probably better than the "low end"phones at £200 to £250.

 

As an Android user for the last 12 or so years... I've pointed a couple of friends towards the iPhone SE recently. At £450 I think it's good value for the build quality and 5 years of support - although almost double what I've ever paid for a phone, but apparently that's mid-range nowadays.

[Koldov]

I've pointed a couple of friends towards the iPhone SE recently. At £450 I think it's good value for the build quality and 5 years of support - although almost double what I've ever paid for a phone, but apparently that's mid-range nowadays.

 

I know, I can't honestly ever see me paying over £1200 for a phone!

 

Thing is I hate recommending things for people and even get stuck myself, sometimes when I look at the range of things available and think "oh if I spend £10 more I could get that, but if I spend £20 more I could get that" etc...

 

You can get Motorolas and Nokias sub £200, along with "up and coming" brands. If all you want is a very basic model most supermarkets have one or two <£100.

 

So, between £150 and £200 from places like Tesco/Argos, I'm roughly looking at this list (in no particular order):

 

Samsung Galaxy A20e

 

Samsung Galaxy A21s

 

Huawei P Smart 2020

 

Huawei P Smart 2019 64GB

 

Huawei P30 Lite 128GB

 

Nokia 5.3

 

Motorola G8 Power Lite 64GB

 

Sony Xperia L4

 

Any clear winners here?

Edited October 8, 2020 by Koldov

[paulkerton]

You can get Motorolas and Nokias sub £200, along with "up and coming" brands. If all you want is a very basic model most supermarkets have one or two <£100.

You can, but if keeping them up to date is imperative, then buying an Android 9 phone isn't exactly the answer.

[LeMarchand]

You can, but if keeping them up to date is imperative, then buying an Android 9 phone isn't exactly the answer.

 

The Nokia 5.3 is on 10, and IIRC Nokia will update for a couple of years from release (March). They're advertising it as ready for 11.

 

Besides which, it's good enough for MI6 - though by the time No Time To Die comes out, it will probably be a bit out of date!

[Koldov]

You can, but if keeping them up to date is imperative, then buying an Android 9 phone isn't exactly the answer.

 

Sorry, what am I missing?

 

Never had an android phone before...

 

Do they update themselves automatically, or are you stuck on the OS version you buy it with?

[Norphy]

Sorry, what am I missing?

 

Never had an android phone before...

 

Do they update themselves automatically, or are you stuck on the OS version you buy it with?

 

Android updates policies are, at best, poor compared to iOS updates. A brand new Android device running the latest OS out of the box is lucky to get three years, whereas iOS devices have been getting five, sometimes six years.

 

Android 9 is already two versions out of date, so buying a new device with that version of Android is only going to get security updates, if you're lucky.

 

This isn't really Google's fault, it's more on the phone manufacturers for not keeping devices up to date and for companies like Qualcomm for not keeping driver support going for more than a couple of years. It's why Google have been separating out core apps from the rest of the operating system more than Apple have.

 

As an aside, I do think it's somewhat rich that some Android fans make fun of iPhone users, thinking that they always update to the latest Shiny Shiny as soon as it comes out. Sure, some do but the reality is that a significant proportion of smartphone users keep their devices for three years or more. As least as an iPhone user, it's safer for me to do that whereas if you want to keep an up to date and supported version of Android going on a phone, you're forced to update at least every three years, if not more.

Edited October 9, 2020 by Norphy

[paulkerton]

Android updates policies are, at best, poor compared to iOS updates. A brand new Android device running the latest OS out of the box is lucky to get three years, whereas iOS devices have been getting five, sometimes six years.

 

Android 9 is already two versions out of date, so buying a new device with that version of Android is only going to get security updates, if you're lucky.

 

This isn't really Google's fault, it's more on the phone manufacturers for not keeping devices up to date and for companies like Qualcomm for not keeping driver support going for more than a couple of years. It's why Google have been separating out core apps from the rest of the operating system more than Apple have.

 

As an aside, I do think it's somewhat rich that some Android fans make fun of iPhone users, thinking that they always update to the latest Shiny Shiny as soon as it comes out. Sure, some do but the reality is that a significant proportion of smartphone users keep their devices for three years or more. As least as an iPhone user, it's safer for me to do that whereas if you want to keep an up to date and supported version of Android going on a phone, you're forced to update at least every three years, if not more.

 

To be fair, Android is still supported down to Android 6 for security updates, it's feature updates that you don't get.

[Koldov]

To be fair, Android is still supported down to Android 6 for security updates, it's feature updates that you don't get.

 

And just for clarity, is there some great central mechanism on the internet for ALL android devices to receive such updates from?

 

Or is it manufacturer dependant/specific?

 

I know very little about android, but I do remember being burnt many years ago (before iPads were 'the' thing) when our Business Manager purchased some random Chinese tablets running some version of Android or other (not that this doesn't happen with other OS) - can't remember what but I've looked at a list and Jellybean rings a bell - but within in a year they were out of date and wouldn't run some app or other the teachers wanted. The manufacturer wasn't interested and said they weren't doing any updates for them!

 

I couldn't find any other way to update them and they have been in the 'cupboard for bad tech decisions by staff' ever since...

[Norphy]

And just for clarity, is there some great central mechanism on the internet for ALL android devices to receive such updates from?

 

Or is it manufacturer dependant/specific?

 

I know very little about android, but I do remember being burnt many years ago (before iPads were 'the' thing) when our Business Manager purchased some random Chinese tablets running some version of Android or other (not that this doesn't happen with other OS) - can't remember what but I've looked at a list and Jellybean rings a bell - but within in a year they were out of date and wouldn't run some app or other the teachers wanted. The manufacturer wasn't interested and said they weren't doing any updates for them!

 

I couldn't find any other way to update them and they have been in the 'cupboard for bad tech decisions by staff' ever since...

 

It's dependant on the device manufacturer, sadly.

[LeMarchand]

It's dependant on the device manufacturer, sadly.

 

Unfortunately, and some are better than others. Nokias tend to be Android One, so good for 2 years (since release): https://www.android.com/intl/en_uk/one/ . Though anything from a decent brand that was released this year with 10 should go to 11 if not 12. Maybe not the Huawei's given their ongoing problems with Google and you're own your own if you go for a barely-known brand from a grey importer, or even from Amazon.

 

TBH, as long as the device is receiving security updates and still running the needed apps, are oldies likely to be complaining that they really need Android 14 on their phone in a few years time?