Verify current prices and plan details. Phone prices, trade-in deals, and plans change often. Read the full terms and compare at least two carriers or stores.
1. iPhone or Android?
| Type | Good for | Think about |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Works the same across models. Easy FaceTime with family who have iPhones. Long software support. | Only made by Apple, so fewer price options. |
| Android | Many makers, sizes, and prices. Easy to customize. | Screens and menus vary by brand. Check how many years of updates the maker promises. |
Tip: if your family mostly uses one kind, matching them makes video calls and photo sharing simpler, and they can help you.
There are also simplified phones made for older adults, with big buttons and fewer menus. They're worth a look if you only want calls, texts, and maybe photos.
2. Features that make life easier
- Screen size: bigger is easier to read but harder to hold. Try a few in your hand.
- Accessibility: every modern phone can make text bigger and bolder, read the screen aloud, boost volume, and pair with many hearing aids. Ask to see these in the store.
- Emergency features: most phones can share your location and call emergency contacts. Set these up on day one.
- Battery: look for all-day battery life in independent reviews.
- Storage: if you take lots of photos, get more storage or plan on cloud backup.
- Updates: choose a phone that will get security updates for several more years.
3. Picking a plan
- Look at your current bill. How much data do you really use? Many people at home on Wi-Fi need much less than they pay for.
- Ask about 55+ plans. Some carriers offer them, so compare the terms.
- Prepaid plans can cost less with no contract. Check coverage where you live and travel.
- Be careful with "free phone" deals. They often lock you in for 2–3 years. Read the fine print.
- An unlocked phone works with more carriers and makes switching easier.
4. Smart buying tips
- Buy from the carrier's own store, a major retailer, or the maker. Avoid deals from unknown websites, texts, or calls.
- Nobody legitimate calls you to "upgrade your phone" and asks for payment by gift card.
- Get a case and screen protector. They're cheaper than a repair.
- Ask about the return period before you leave the store.
5. Switching phones
- Before you switch, back up your contacts and photos.
- Write down your important passwords (email, Apple or Google account) and keep them somewhere safe at home.
- Moving from Android to iPhone (or the reverse)? There are official transfer apps. This is a great thing to get help with.
- Wipe and reset the old phone before you sell, trade in, or recycle it.
6. Checklist
- iPhone / Android / simplified phone
- Held it in my hand and the size feels right
- Saw big text and hearing features in action
- Plan: I know how much data I need
- Read the contract length and "free phone" terms
- Backed up my old phone
- Return policy: ____ days
Get help buying
Still not sure? Book a single session and we will go over your needs together, compare a few options, and set up your new device when it arrives, in your home or by video or phone.