Almost everyone is equipped with some sort of gadget these days. Though this is a blessing in most cases, some people – specifically the elderly – find this phenomenon a bit disconcerting. Ultimately, this results in our seniors feeling a bit isolated.
This problem can be solved simply by providing them with a tablet. A tablet can be a great companion for seniors. Tablets have a large surface area for touch engagement while also possessing a big screen to easily display texts and icons.
Though the elderly don’t necessarily require an expensive tablet for daily use, they do need a tablet that’s both comfortable and easy to use. They also need to have all the relevant features.
That’s why in today’s article we’ll be discussing some of the best tablets for the elderly. These tablets come with all the necessary features for a senior person at a reasonable price. Let’s begin!
Amazon Fire HD 10
If you’re looking for the best overall tablet for seniors, the Amazon Fire HD 10 is the one you should go for. It comes with a lot of senior-friendly features at a decent price. It is quite easy to use too!
Let’s talk about the features first and we’ll only talk about the most relevant ones. The Amazon Fire HD 10 comes with an HD screen. It also has loud dual speakers to allow seniors to easily see and hear things. The navigation is so simple that if anyone hasn’t used a gadget before, they would be able to effortlessly use it too.
The Fire HD 10 is compatible with Alexa. Seniors can therefore easily use this tablet through voice commands. It also has a show mode that enhances images and texts by enlarging them. Meanwhile, the home screen displays the apps that are used the most so that the users don’t have to spend time looking for them.
Let’s talk about the technical aspects of this tablet a bit. The build quality is solid so it won’t matter much if it takes a bit of bump now and then. It runs on an octa-core 1.5 GHz processor with up to 2GB RAM. And finally, you can get up to 64 GB storage with this tablet.
However, there aren’t any GPS navigation features on this tablet.
Overall, the Amazon Fire HD 10 is a great tablet at an equally great price. It’s one of the best tablets for seniors.
Pros
- A clear HD screen.
- Dual speakers are clear and loud.
- Compatible with Alexa thus the users can use it via voice command.
- Simple navigation interface.
- Solid build quality so it can take a few bumps.
- A strong performance unit comprising 1.5GHz processor, 2GB RAM, and up to 64 GB storage.
Cons
- No GPS navigation.
Amazon Fire HD 8 PLUS
If you want the same features of the Fire HD 8 PLUS but at a much lower price, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus would be the ideal choice for you. It comes with most of the features of the Fire HD 10 but at a much lesser price.
The Fire HD 8 plus has slightly lesser screen size and speaker power than the Fire HD 10. But both the display and the speaker are still up to the mark. Elders can view all the details clearly and hear without much of a problem.
The navigation on the Fire HD 8 plus is quite simple too. It’s compatible with Alexa thus users can control it through voice. If someone wants to use it normally, they can find the show mode which is the same thing on the Fire HD 10. It will also display most used apps at the front just like the Fire HD 10.
The Fire HD 8 plus runs on a Quad-core 2.0 GHz processor with 3GB RAM. You can find storage up to 64GB on the Fire HD 8 plus. The battery life is the same as the Fire HD 10 at 12 hours.
However, it’s missing a lot of features of the Fire HD 10. The screen isn’t HD. On top of that, the brightness is a bit less if compared to the Fire HD 10.
Overall, the Fire HD 8 plus is a cheap tablet with a lot of features for the seniors. So if you’re on a budget then this is the tablet to go for.
Pros
- Can be used hands-free through Alexa.
- Navigation is quite simple.
- Good processor, RAM, and Storage.
- Decent 12 hour battery life.
- Clear display and moderately loudspeaker.
- Small and light.
Cons
- No HD display.
- Less bright if compared to the Amazon Fire HD 10.
iPad Mini
If you’re looking to provide your beloved elderly with a premium experience then you should take a look at the iPad Mini. The iPad mini provides great user experience at a much lesser price than the other Apple products.
We all know how easy it is to use any of the apple devices. The iPad Mini is no different. First of all, it’s light and comfortable to hold. So the elderly won’t feel the weight of the tablet if they hold it for long. The iPad Mini has an HD retina display that’s perfect for those who are visually impaired because of the true tone and wide color technology.
The iPad Mini has one of the best voice assistants currently known as Siri. The elderly can easily navigate verbally with the help of Siri. Siri can also perform all sorts of basic and complex commands. The iPad Mini can also track the users’ health through Apple’s health app.
There’s nothing much to say about the performance section, to be honest. It runs on the A12 Bionic chipset with 3GB RAM. You can get up to 256 GB of storage depending on the version you pick. And finally, you can get up to 10 hours of battery backup on a single charge.
However, the design is a bit dated. But if a senior person is using it, it won’t matter much to them.
Overall, the iPad Mini is one of the best premium tablets for seniors. And if you’re looking for something non-android then this is the one to go for.
Pros
- Light and comfortable.
- The retina display is perfect for the visually impaired elderly thanks to its true tone and wide color technology.
- Siri can handle all sorts of complex commands.
- Track the health of your elderly through the Apple health app.
- Runs on a strong A12 Bionic chipset.
- Up to 10 hours of battery life and 256 GB storage.
Cons
- Aged design.
Samsung Galaxy S5e
If you’re looking for an Android tablet at the same price range as the iPad mini, you should pick up a Samsung Galaxy S5e. The S5e is one of the best Android tablets for the elderly thanks to its ease of navigation and focused design.
The Galaxy S5e has arguably one of the best displays at its given price range. You’d be getting a 10.5-inch Super AMOLED screen which allows the user to view everything. The display uses OLED technology to display each pixel as clearly as possible.
The Galaxy S5e comes with the Bixby voice assistant. Though it’s not as good as SIRI, it does its job quite well. It can handle with ease most of the complex commands given to it. The Galaxy S5e also has an easy mode that enlarges on-screen icons and simplifies the UI.
The Galaxy S5e is quite powerful in itself. It runs on an octa-core processor that is supported by 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The storage is further expandable through micro SD cards. The speakers are quite loud too as they come in an AKG + Dolby Atmos quad-speaker setup.
However, the S pen is not included with the packaging. The S pen is great for the seniors that prefer writing on their tablet.
Overall, the Galaxy S5e is one of the best Android tablets for the elderly. Its ease-of-use and features make it worth the price.
Pros
- The 10.5-inch Super AMOLED screen displays text and images.
- The Bixby voice assistant is quite good at handling complex commands.
- Easy mode enhances readability.
- Loud AKG + Dolby Atmos quad-speaker setup.
- 64 GB storage is expandable up to 512GB with micro sd cards.
- It runs on 4GB RAM and an Octa-Core processor.
Cons
- S pen not included with the box.
Microsoft Surface Go
If you want to give your elders a taste of using a computer but still want a tablet, we recommend you go for the Microsoft Surface Go. It’s a 2-in-1 tablet that can also be used as a laptop.
The Surface Go comes with a Windows Operating System which many seniors might be familiar with. Meanwhile, the 10” PixelSense Display provides clear high-resolution visuals. There are also extensive display settings that are helpful for visually impaired seniors.
The Surface Go has its own A.I assistant in the form of Cortana. It’s one of the most advanced A.I that can tackle all sorts of complex tasks you might ask it to do. The Surface Go also comes with a built-in kickstand that makes the device easier to hold.
The hardware on the Surface Go is quite strong too. You’ll get an intel Pentium 1.6 GHz processor alongside a minimum of 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The storage and RAM range up to 128GB and 8GB respectively. On top of that, there’s also the option of further increasing the storage through Micro SD card slots.
However, the desktop mode can feel a bit cramped. On top of that, accessories still need to be bought separately.
Overall, the Microsoft Surface Go is a nifty 2-in-1 tablet and laptop combo for seniors. But if you don’t need a 2-in-1 tablet, we suggest you took a look at our other options.
Pros
- The 10” PixelSense Display provides clear high-resolution visuals.
- Extensive display settings are available for visually impaired seniors.
- Cortana is helpful in a lot of situations.
- Good storage and RAM options.
- 2-in-1 Tablet.
- Storage is upgradeable through Micro SD cards.
Cons
- The desktop mode can feel a bit cramped
- Accessories are sold separately.
Wrapping Up
Getting a tablet for seniors can be a tricky thing to do as there are so many tablets with so many features out there. But only a few truly have the necessary features for seniors.
In today’s article, we’ve discussed the 5 best tablets for seniors. Things such as ease of use and useful features have been given utmost priority while making this list. Pick the tablet that you feel is the best!