Sometimes, the best smartphone options are also the best cell phones for seniors! The Jitterbug Smart2 can access the internet over wi fi or 3G, and supports advanced features like talk to text. With the wide variety of talk, text, and data plans available at a low cost per month for this phone, the Smart2 is a great choice for a senior’s smartphone!
Why We Like It – Jitterbug Smart2
The Jitterbug Smart2 is a great cell phone for seniors. It has a complete health & safety package pre-installed, which includes 5star Urgent Response, GreatCall Link (with US-based customer service), and an Urgent Care app.
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- Wide Variety of Safety Services Preinstalled
- Dial By Voice Feature
- Runs on Android OS
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- Limited to the GreatCall Network
- Replacement Batteries Are No Longer Available
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Overall Performance
As a smartphone, the Jitterbug Smart2 does quite well. Although the layout is designed for seniors in mind (with a simplified layout, large text, and big buttons), this device is still capable of all the normal smartphone features. Since it has the Google Play Store installed, seniors will still be able to install their favorite apps despite the layout of the phone. The downside of this device is the battery, which can no longer be replaced by GreatCall as they have been discontinued (you would have to purchase an entirely new phone).
Battery Life
The battery life isn’t that great on this device (especially when compared to other senior phones like the Nokia 3310 TA-1036). It’s powered by a 1750 mAh lithium-ion battery, and GreatCall claims this will give you up to 5.3 hours of calling time (with 13 days of battery life on standby). Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case as many consumers have reported the battery lasting less than a day. If you need a phone with a better battery life then you can check out the Uleway Flip, which has a 150 hour standby time. Further compounding the issue, GreatCall no longer supports the battery, so there isn’t a way to replace it.
Display
You’ll get a much better visual performance from this phone than you would from the average senior cell phone. The 5.5” screen has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, which qualifies it as “HD”. While this isn’t very good compared to modern phones, it should provide a decent visual experience for someone coming from a flip phone. The screen (which is a touchscreen), is fairly sensitive so even first-time smartphone users should be able to use it without issues.
Durability
For a smartphone, the Jitterbug Smart2 is a fairly durable device. That said, seniors who are used to a flip phone may be a bit rough on the phone, so you may want to invest in a screen protector. Fortunately, you can pick up a screen protector for around $5 and purchase a case for about $15, so protecting this device is a fairly cheap (and worthwhile) investment. If you’re still worried about the device getting broken, a 2-year protection plan is available for $33.99.
Value
Despite costing nearly four times as much as the BLU JOY Cell Phone, we think the Jitterbug Smart2 is worth the price. Although there isn’t any hearing aid support, the phone itself is capable of getting quite loud. It’s a fully-capable Android device optimized for seniors and offers features like a 13 MP camera, Wifi connectivity, Bluetooth, and exclusive GreatCall network features. Unfortunately, the phone is limited to the GreatCall network so you are at the mercy of their available plan pricing (for a smartphone that’s not limited to a single network, check out the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus).
Jitterbug Smart2 Wrap Up
The Jitterbug Smart2 is a great way to introduce a senior into the world of smartphones. The phone is highly capable, easy to use, and available for a reasonable price. While the battery life could be improved and the lack of battery support is disappointing, the Smart2 is still a good investment overall.
