What is the best computer for seniors?

• Our top pick – Apple iPad
• The best budget tablet – Amazon Fire HD 10
• The best cell phone for seniors – see our full guide
• The best smart speaker with a screen – Amazon Echo Show 5
• The best laptop – Apple MacBook Air (or a Chromebook on a budget)

Technology is one of the best ways to keep in touch with family and friends – but having the right device makes all the difference. So what is the best computer for seniors? A lot depends on how comfortable you (or the senior you’re helping) already are with technology. Don’t panic if a traditional laptop feels like too much – there are several other options, from a phone to a tablet or even a smart speaker.

Speaker, tablet, laptop or phone?

For most people with a reasonable amount of tech confidence, a tablet is a great option, and Apple’s iPad is the best tablet for seniors – it works as a touchscreen device for browsing and video calls, and doubles as a more traditional laptop if you add a keyboard. We’ve got a full guide to the best iPad for seniors, and if the price is a stretch, Amazon’s Fire HD 10 is a solid budget tablet at around $120.

Buy the Amazon Fire HD 10 on Amazon

A smartphone is often the only computer someone needs. We’ve got a full, regularly updated guide to the best cell phone for seniors, covering everything from a simple flip phone to the latest iPhone.

While laptops are a great option too, the latest low cost Chromebooks are far easier to use and less likely to get hit with a virus than a traditional Windows PC – see our guide to the best Chromebook for seniors. For a proper Mac without breaking the bank, Apple’s MacBook Neo is our overall pick for the best laptop for seniors.

Is a smart speaker the simplest option?

At the most basic level, a smart speaker with a screen such as Amazon’s Echo Show 5 may be the easiest option of all – it lets someone simply ask questions or make video and voice calls with voice commands, without learning how to operate a phone or tablet at all. It’s also affordable, at well under $100.

We’ve got a full guide to setting up Alexa for a senior, and a downloadable Alexa cheat sheet that’s worth printing out and leaving next to the speaker – a list of common commands nearby makes a huge difference early on.

You can also set up routines, so multiple commands trigger from a single phrase – saying “Alexa, good morning” can turn on lights, set the temperature and start a favourite radio station, all at once.

Buy the Amazon Echo Show 5 on Amazon

How will they connect?

While most of us take home wifi for granted, don’t forget many people don’t have it set up, or find it confusing to manage. For a phone or tablet, it may be worth paying a little extra for a device with its own cellular connection, so it can get online on its own without relying on a home network at all.

Whichever device you choose, we’ve got a guide to setting up an iPhone for seniors and setting up an iPad for a senior that cover exactly what to change to make either one as senior-friendly as possible.

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