All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Nokia is back with a vengeance if rumours about its upcoming feature phones are to believed. Ahead of this year's Mobile World Congress, reports suggest Nokia's China-only Nokia 6 is coming to Europe, and the firm is reviving its classic Nokia 3310.
Given this resurgence in people wanting simple mobile phones with longer battery life, we revisit our pick of the best basic phones for seniors, tech-newbies or fans of calls and texts. Not to mention Snake.
We assessed these simplified, basic mobile phones for usability, capability, performance, style and value for money. We also enlisted a group of Chelsea Pensioners, some of whom were seasoned mobile users, some less so, for their opinions on the handsets specifically tailored to the seniors' market.
You can make calls and send texts with the 105, but not much else - though its battery will last for around a month on standby, and about a week under regular use. Extras include an FM radio, a few games (including Snake) and a torch. The low cost, plus its dust and splash-resistant shell, also makes this ideal as a semi-disposable for festivals and the like.
WIRED: Small and lightweight; simple interface; great battery life Tired: Too basic for some; no internet Score: 7/10 Cost: £18
Specifications
Size: 107 x 45 x 14mm Weight: 70g Features: Dust- and splash-resistant;torch; FM radio; epic battery life
At 11mm thick, it's a little chubby for a smartphone, but it feels very sturdy and reliable. The Y300 runs Huawei's Experience interface, which simplifies Android for its four-inch touchscreen. The dual-core processor is better than you'd expect at this price, and there's a five-megapixel camera on the back, a VGA one on the front, and an FM radio, too.
WIRED: Simplified Android; high spec for a reasonable price Tired: Too bulky Score: 7/10 Cost: £90
Specifications
Size: 125 x 64 x 11mm Weight: 130g Features: Simplified interface; smartphone capabilities; FM radio; five-megapixel camera; powerful processor
The 740's slider givesusers a keypad and a touchscreen, and it's a proper smartphone with internet, email and a limited version of Google Play. Relatives can take control of the phone via a website to set up contacts and calendars. Charmaine Coleman, 81, and Staff Sergeant, Royal Military Police - and a Doro user already - felt that there was "a bit too much on it".
WIRED: Choice of hard or on-screen keypad; senior-friendly apps Tired: Expensive Score: 6/10 Cost: £199
Specifications: Size: 116 x 56 x 18mm Weight: 149g Features: Apps; torch; FM radio; remote control; full internet; five-megapixel camera
Of all the handsets in our test, the Stylistic most resembles a standard smartphone. The screen takes some getting used to, as you need to press hard enough to receive a little buzz of tactile feedback - useful for avoiding accidental presses. It has full access to email, the internet and Google Play, and has the best camera out of the group, at eight megapixels.
WIRED: Smartphone tech made easy Tired: Emergency switch can be a bit fiddly to operate Score: 7/10 Cost: €90
SpecificationsSize: 130 x 64 x 11mm Weight: 138g Features: Tactile feedback; water- and dust-proof; full internet; eight-megapixel camera
This dinky Android smartphone has a low-resolution 3.5-inch screen and a single-core processor clocked at 1GHz, and is a shrunken version of the Vodafone Smart. The lack of power is noticeable next to the Huawei Y300, but as a no-frills handset that gives you SMS, phone, internet and social-networking in a 118g package for £50, it's a tempting proposition.
WIRED: Small and lightweight; inexpensive Tired: Slow in use; poor camera Score: 6/10 Cost: £50
SpecificationsSize: 115 x 62 x12mm Weight: 118g Features: Light and compact; Android smartphone;FM radio; 2-megapixel camera
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
