Why is it Important for Seniors to Have a Phone?
Cell phones are probably the greatest invention in the last few decades. They offer their users security and numerous possibilities. We rely on our phones for so many things – to stay in touch with our loved ones, for work, education, to contact healthcare and emergency services, and much more.
Seniors are the most vulnerable people in our society and they need the safety that a phone (especially a portable cell phone) offers more than anyone. Having a phone enables elderly people (especially the ones that live on their own) to keep in touch with their family members and friends, take photos of their grandchildren, contact their healthcare providers and emergency services when in need, and more.
What are the Things to Consider Before Buying a Flip Phone for Seniors
Elderly people tend to be less tech-savvy than younger adults, as such, most of them prefer to have a basic flip phone instead of an overwhelmingly complicated smartphone with intimidatingly advanced features. However, before you consider buying a flip phone for seniors, make sure to take the following important factors into consideration.
Is a Flip Phone Really for Seniors?
Whether your senior friend would enjoy a flip phone or a smartphone more depends on them and their ability to handle advanced electronics. Some seniors would enjoy the countless entertaining apps and practical features that come with a smartphone, even though the device’s interface is much more complicated. Nonetheless, most seniors prefer the no-fuss options offered by basic flip phones. So if simple calling, texting, taking some pictures, and other senior-friendly features are everything your senior friend is looking for, they should definitely opt for a basic flip phone.
Do Your Parents or Senior Friends Need Internet?
Another important consideration is whether or not your senior loved one needs to use the internet? Some flip phones enable users to browse the internet and others don’t. Make sure to choose the flip model accordingly.
Look for Senior-relevant Special Features
Senior-friendly cell phones tend to have a durable design, long battery life, simple navigation, voice-to-text compatibility, hearing aid compatibility, emergency and SOS services, and happen to be relatively affordable. See other senior-relevant features in the section ‘What Important Features to Look for When Choosing a Metro PCS Flip Phone for Seniors’.
Consider Contracts or Prepaid
Is your senior friend willing to sign a lengthy contract or would they prefer to opt for a prepaid deal? Most seniors prefer prepaid cell phone services, however, you must check with your elderly friend.
Network Coverage
As most seniors use their phones to make simple phone calls and text their loved ones, having reliable network coverage is of utmost importance. As they are more likely to need emergency assistance at some time, they must stay within network connectivity at all times.
Focus on Safety Options and Safety Features
Senior citizens, especially the ones that live alone or have certain health issues, must have a phone that comes with various safety options and features, such as a dedicated emergency SOS button. Flip phones are also less prone to viruses and hacking.
The 10 Best Metro PCS Flip Phones for Seniors
MetroPCS or Metro by T-Mobile is an American prepaid wireless service provider owned by T-Mobile US. The company offers affordable prepaid wireless plans and a large variety of no-contract phones and devices. As Metro is a prepaid, no-contract service provider and as such services are more suitable for seniors, it is a great service provider for elderly people.
The company currently only offers one Metro PCS flip phone model, however, they also offer a Bring Your Own Phone program, which allows customers to bring their own Metro-compatible devices. In this chapter, you will see a list of the best Metro PCS flip phones and Metro-compatible flip phones.
Note: If you decide to bring your own flip phone to Metro, make sure that the device has GSM technology, is carrier-unlocked, and compatible with Metro’s services (for example, all T-Mobile phones are compatible). Check your phone’s compatibility at metrobyt-mobile.com/cell-phone/metro-by-t-mobile-sim-card.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G – Metro PCS 5G Compatible Flip Phones
Features:
There are only two 5G compatible flip phones (Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G and Motorola razr 5G) and both of them are actually smartphones with a flip design, as such, they are only suitable for tech-savvy seniors. This model from Samsung comes with 128 or 256 GB of storage, 8 GB of RAM, a 6-7-inch display, a 12MP back and a 10MP front camera, a 3300mAh battery, and many advanced features.
Reason to Buy:
It is packed with numerous entertaining and practical features. It has a long battery life, HD voice with noise suppression, hearing aid compatibility, a compact waterproof design, etc.
Reason to Avoid:
As one of the latest smartphones, it is quite complicated to use. Plus, when folded, it is quite thick.
Motorola razr 5G – Metro PCS 5G Compatible Flip Phones
Features:
This smartphone model from Motorola offers a 6.2-inch display, an impressive 48MP back camera, a 20MP selfie camera, 256 GB of storage, 8 GB of RAM, a 2800mAh battery, and other powerful features.
Reason to Buy:
It has a practical foldable design and a relatively long battery life. It is packed with fun and entertaining features and apps.
Reason to Avoid:
As one of the latest smartphones, it is quite complicated to use.
Schok Flip – Metro PCS 4G Compatible Flip Phones
Features:
This is the only original Metro PCS flip phone model that is currently sold by Metro. It has a 5MP camera with flash, a vibrant 3.2-inch display, a 2000mAh battery with a battery life of 8 hours of talk time and 111 hours of standby time, 256 GB of maximum expandable memory, 1 GB of RAM, 4G connectivity, etc.
Reason to Buy:
It is a simple senior-friendly flip phone with hearing aid compatibility, a large backlit keypad with tactile buttons, an optimized speaker design and VoLTE + HD Voice for crystal clear calls, and more.
Reason to Avoid:
It has a basic camera and volume controls can get accidentally pressed when in the pocket.
TCL Flip Go – Metro PCS 4G Compatible Flip Phones
Features:
This flip phone model by TCL is currently offered by T-Mobile, therefore, you can easily bring it Metro by T-Mobile and it can serve as your Metro PCS flip phone. It offers a 2.8-inch LCD display, a 2MP video-capable camera, 128 HB of maximum expandable memory, 1 GB of RAM, a 1850mAh battery with 14 hours of talk time, reliable 4G LTE connectivity, and more.
Reason to Buy:
The phone has hearing aid compatibility, a bright display, a large tactile keypad, an intuitive interface, powerful speakers, and HD voice functionality, which is great for hearing-impaired people.
Reason to Avoid:
Basic camera and slow OS.
CAT S22 Flip – Metro PCS 4G Compatible Flip Phones
Features:
This basic flip phone with 16 GB of memory is also suitable for seniors. It has a 5MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera, a 2.8-inch touchscreen display, a 2000mAh battery that offers 12 hours of talk time, 2 GB of RAM, etc.
Reason to Buy:
It is both water and dust proof, it has large physical buttons, extra loud speakers, hearing aid compatibility, reliable 4G connectivity, and more.
Reason to Avoid:
It has a small display, limited internal storage, and relatively low battery capacity.
SONIM XP3plus – Metro PCS 4G Compatible Flip Phones
Features:
This feature phone comes with 16 GB of internal memory, 256 GB of expandable memory, 2 GB of RAM, a solid 8MP front camera, a 2.8-inch internal display, a 2300mAh battery with 15 hours of talk time, 4G connectivity, and so on.
Reason to Buy:
The phone has a rugged design, powerful speakers, programmable buttons, hearing aid compatibility, and a good camera for a flip phone.
Reason to Avoid:
It has a lower battery capacity and a small RAM size.
Plum Ram PLUS 4G LTE – Metro PCS 4G Compatible Flip Phones
Features:
This 4G LTE phone has 32 GB of memory capacity, a 2.8-inch inner screen and 1.8 external display, a 2MP rear-facing camera, a powerful battery, etc.
Reason to Buy:
It has a durable design, a large keypad, a bright display, water and dust protection, and it offers crystal clear voice quality.
Reason to Avoid:
It has basic features and capabilities.
Plum Flipper – Metro PCS 4G Compatible Flip Phones
Features:
Plum Flipper is a 4G VoLTE feature flip phone that comes with a 1000mAh battery that offers up to 7 days of standby time, a 1.3MP rear camera with flash, 512 MB of RAM, 128 MB of internal storage, a 2.4-inch screen, and more.
Reason to Buy:
It has a durable design, lightweight, external memory expansion slot, 4G connectivity, and several senior-friendly features.
Reason to Avoid:
It has a poor camera, a limited screen resolution, and no water resistance.
Kazuna eTalk Takumi – Metro PCS 4G Compatible Flip Phones
Features:
This 4G GSM phone by Kazuna is popular among seniors. It has a 2.8-inch display, 512 MB of RAM, 4GB of internal memory, a 2MP rear-facing camera, internet access, a solid battery life, etc.
Reason to Buy:
It has a simple menu with intuitive navigation, a durable design, a large keypad with large buttons, a colorful display, complete wireless and network features, and other senior-friendly features.
Reason to Avoid:
It has a small RAM, a basic camera, and basic apps only.
Alcatel Go Flip – Metro PCS 4G Compatible Flip Phones
Features:
This is a flip phone from a reliable manufacturer that supports 4G connectivity and comes with a 2.8-inch LCD screen, 4 GB of storage capacity, 512 MB of RAM, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, a 2MP camera, and more.
Reason to Buy:
The phone has a large keypad with physical buttons, a bright display, Wi-Fi connectivity, a solid battery life, etc.
Reason to Avoid:
It has a poor camera and a slow user interface.
You can read one of our past articles Best Free Flip Phones for Seniors 2022
What Other Phones are Compatible With Metro PCS for Seniors
In addition to the Metro PCS flip phones and compatible flip phones listed in the previous section, there are also some other feature phones and smartphones that are compatible with Metro, including:
- Apple iPhone 11
- Apple iPhone 12
- Apple iPhone 13
- Apple iPhone SE
- Motorola moto g 5G
- Motorola moto g power
- Motorola moto g pure
- Motorola moto g stylus
- Nokia X100 5G
- Nord N200 5G
- OnePlus Nord N20 5G
- OnePlus Nord N20 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A03s
- Samsung Galaxy A13
- Samsung Galaxy A13 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- TCL 20 XE
- TCL 30 XE 5G
- TCL Stylus 5G
- T-Mobile REVVL 4+
- T-Mobile REVVL V
- T-Mobile REVVL V+ 5G
In case you also need information How to Activate MetroPCS New Phone for Free
Does Metro PCS Offer Any Special Plans for Seniors?
Metro currently doesn’t offer any special plans for seniors, however, as senior citizens tend to have limited resources and participate in various government assistance programs, they may be able to subscribe to the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and thus receive a $30 discount on any Metro plan.
Metro plans include:
- The basic $30/month plan with unlimited talk and text and 5 GB of high-speed data per line. For ACP subscribers it’s free of charge.
- The $40/month unlimited plan with unlimited talk and text and unlimited high-speed data. The price for ACP subscribers is $10 a month.
- The $50/month unlimited plan with unlimited talk and text, unlimited high-speed data, 5 GB of hotspot data, and 100GB Google One membership. The price for ACP subscribers is $20 a month.
- The $60/month unlimited plan with unlimited talk and text, unlimited high-speed data, 15 GB of hotspot data, 100GB Google One membership, and Amazon Prime membership. The price for ACP subscribers is $30 a month.
All Metro plans offer access to T-Mobile’s 4G and 5G networks.
What Important Features to Look for When Choosing a Metro PCS Flip Phone for Seniors
As mentioned before, one of the most important considerations when choosing a Metro PCS flip phone for seniors are senior-relevant features. These features include:
- Big Buttons and a Large Screen: Seniors tend to have visual impairments, therefore having a phone with a large screen and big buttons makes it a lot easier for them to read off the screen and write. Luckily, all of the Metro PCS flip phone models mentioned above have both.
- Keypad Backlight: Visual impairments also require users to have a phone that has a backlit keypad, which makes typing easier even in the dark.
- Ease of Use and Accessibility: Most seniors prefer phones that are accessible and have a very simple and intuitive interface.
- Voice-to-text Compatibility: As many elderly people find texting difficult and exhausting, it would be great if their phone would have voice-to-text compatibility, which would enable them to write text messages by speaking.
- Audio, Hearing Aid Compatibility, and High Volume: Seniors also tend to be hearing impaired, therefore the device must have high-quality speakers with high volume and crystal clear audio. In addition, the phone should have hearing aid compatibility.
- Battery Capacity: Elderly people are used to stationary phones, which don’t have to be charged, therefore, they often forget about charging their cell phone or find it frustrating. As such, it’s best to opt for a phone with long battery life.
- Emergency Dial or SOS Button: Seniors who have health problems or live on their own should also have a phone with a dedicated emergency button, which will call an ambulance directly to their location with a press of a single button.
- Guaranteed Privacy: In addition, the last thing a senior wants to worry about is viruses and phone hacks, therefore, choose a phone that guarantees privacy.
Why Metro PCS Flip Phones Are a Great Option for Seniors
Metro PCS flip phones are from reputable providers and of high quality. Moreover, buying a Metro PCS flip phone comes with many other benefits. It enables users to:
- Access T-Mobile’s nationwide coverage for a much lower price
- Choose from many very affordable prepaid service plans
- Enjoy the provider’s reliable services and frequent special deals
- Get ACP discounts for eligible seniors
- And more.
Can I Replace or Upgrade a Metro PCS Phone if It’s Not Working or Damaged?
If your handset is insured with Premium Handset Protection, you will be able to receive a replacement if the phone gets damaged, broken, lost, or stolen. You must simply file a claim at metrobyt-mobile.com/services/protection.
If, however, your device is not insured, the company is not responsible for any malfunctions or damages and will not provide you with a free replacement phone. Nonetheless, the phones do come with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty, which covers malfunctions.
If you need information How to Upgrade Metro PCS Phone 2022
