Lower-scoring models were much more difficult to use, especially for those with dexterity problems. They often come with little instruction on how to use the phone and its features, which can be very frustrating for users with less experience.
Doro 8200 – intuitive and feature-packed
Doro is a popular simple mobile phone brand. The latest Doro 8200 is a thin smartphone that's built to be easy to use with extra help for entry-level users. It has a 6.1-inch touchscreen that you swipe and tap to make calls and access apps, and a QWERTY keyboard will appear for writing texts.
On the back of the phone is an emergency button, which you can set up to automatically connect you with your loved ones if you need immediate assistance. TeamViewer allows a trusted contact to access the phone remotely from their own device to assist you.
Once the phone is set up, the Doro interface has icons that are led by commands instead of individual apps. This can be make navigating the phone a much more intuitive process than selecting traditional apps you find on Apple and Android smartphones. For example, to send an email or text, you select ‘send’ on the homescreen and then choose the relevant application.
It has Google Assistant to control some commands using your voice, such as to search the web. There's also a triple-lens camera on the back of the phone with various shooting modes – features that are rare on simple mobile phones.
or see where else it's on offer below.Emporia SMART.6 – the biggest screen we've tested
The Emporia SMART.6 is the simple phone with the biggest screen we've tested and it's the first to come with 5G. Standing at 6.58 inches, there's a lot of space to enlarge text and see icons clearly.
On the back of the phone is a triple-camera system. Sitting next to this is an assistance button that you can enable to alert up to five contacts in an emergency. It has a few features usually reserved for smartphones, such as a fingerprint sensor to unlock the phone and NFC for contactless payments.
Find out what happened when we sent this phone to the lab in ourNokia 2660 Flip – compact clamshell design
The Nokia 2660 Flip phone is a clamshell (or 'flip') phone with 4G. When closed, there’s a 1.77-inch screen that displays the time and date, but when open, the main screen is 2.8 inches and you use the buttons and keypad below to control it.
You can't download apps on this simple phone, but you can use it to browse the web - and of course, to play Snake.
See our expert verdict in ourTCL 4022S – one of the cheapest we've reviewed
The TCL 4022S is one of the cheapest simple mobile phones we've tested. It is a candybar phone with a 2.8-inch screen and tactile buttons below that you use to browse the phone, make calls and send texts. There’s help on the device and in the printed manual for entry-level users to learn how to use it. It has a low-resolution camera lens, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a torch. The SOS button on the back can get in touch with your loved ones in an emergency.
Haven't seen the device you for? Head over to our to see all your options.Three great value Sim deals for simple mobile phones
Our pick: Lebara (Vodafone network) 8GB of data
Other low-data deals to consider
Alternatively, check the low-data deals below for more packages that we think also represent good value for money.
Benefits of simple mobile phones
The latest smartphones have an overwhelming array of high-tech features and apps. Choosing a simple mobile phone instead offers you a no-fuss device that's easy to use.
As well as going back to the basics, a number of simple mobile phones are built for seniors and are equipped with extra accessibility features, such as emergency buttons to alert loved ones immediately. Find out what sets them apart.
1. They are easy to use
Simple mobile phones are usually designed for entry-level mobile phone users and those who may struggle using a traditional smartphone. The best simple phones teach you how to use the phone on-screen as you set it up, or they have clear and detailed instructions in the manual.
If you're not going to use the latest smartphone apps and features, these devices can quickly become frustrating rather than useful. Simple phones take away a lot of this confusion.
Generally there are three types of simple mobile phone designs to choose from, but they are all intended to be simpler to use than a smartphone. The most advanced are touchscreen phones with a big screen and a digital keypad that will appear on screen when you want to make calls and send texts. A clamshell model is worth considering if you prefer physical buttons to a touchscreen. On these, the screen flips down over the buttons when you're not using it. Candybar phones have the screen and keypad on the same surface, and have the benefit of being small, compact and light.
2. They have extra accessibility features
A number of simple mobile phones are created for older users or those who may need extra assistance. An emergency button is a common feature found on simple mobile phones. You can set these up to immediately contact loved ones with one press. Hearing aid compatibility is a common feature too.
Some Doro phones let a trusted contact control the Doro phone from their own device (when granted permission from the phone's owner).
3. They have long battery lives
Some of the latest smartphones require a lot of power to fuel bright screens, numerous apps, and internet browsing. This can mean they need to be charged every day. With much more simplified features, the best simple mobile phones last for at least five hours of calls, or 18 days on standby if you mostly want to use it for emergencies only.
Tech tips you can trust –source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/which-has-just-tested-its-highest-scoring-simple-mobile-phone-aoqU89N3leMM