Best Phone Accessories for Seniors in Australia: Cases, Stands and Grips
The right phone makes a difference, but so do the few small things that go with it. A good grip stops drops. A stand holds the phone up for a video call so the arms do not tire. A lanyard keeps it from going missing down the side of the chair. None of these cost much, and together they can make a phone far easier and safer to live with. For choosing the phone itself, see our guide to the best smartphone for seniors in Australia, and for a larger device, the best tablets for seniors in Australia.
This guide runs through the accessories that genuinely help an older person, what each one solves, and where to buy them in Australia. We do not quote exact prices, since they change. We point you to where to check.
Quick answer
If you buy just three things, make them a protective case so a drop does not end in a cracked screen, a grip or stand so the phone is easy to hold and prop up, and a tempered glass screen protector. A lanyard and a simple charging stand are the next two worth adding. Most are sold at Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Big W and Amazon Australia, and PopSockets has an Australian store of its own.
Which accessory solves which problem
| The problem | What helps |
|---|---|
| The phone is dropped or slips from the hand | A grippy case, plus a finger grip or strap |
| Holding the phone up for a video call is tiring | A stand, or a grip that folds out into one |
| The phone goes missing around the house | A lanyard worn around the neck |
| Tapping the screen accurately is hard | A stylus, and a tempered glass screen protector |
The accessories worth buying
A protective case
This is the one to buy first. A phone is easy to drop, and a good case turns a dropped phone into a non-event. For an older person, look for a case with a bit of grip and a raised lip around the screen, not a slim, slippery one. A folio or wallet-style case that folds open is popular too, because it protects the screen and props the phone up for watching or calling. Cases are sold everywhere, including Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi and Amazon Australia, and it is worth buying one made for the exact phone model.
A grip or finger loop
A grip that sticks to the back of the phone, like a PopSocket or a finger loop, gives something to hold onto. For anyone with arthritis, shaky hands or just a fear of dropping the phone, it makes holding it far more secure, and most fold out into a small stand as well. PopSockets has an Australian store, and similar grips are easy to find. It is one of the cheapest, most useful additions you can make.
A stand for video calls
Holding a phone up for a long video call with the grandchildren makes the arm ache. A simple stand fixes that, propping the phone at a comfortable angle so the person can sit back and talk. A folding grip doubles as one, or a small desk stand does the job for a few dollars. If video calls are a big part of why they have the phone, this is well worth it. Our guide on making an iPhone easier has more on setting up calls.
A lanyard or neck strap
A lanyard that holds the phone around the neck or over a shoulder means it is always to hand and far less likely to be lost or dropped. It is especially handy for someone who moves around the house and garden a lot, or who keeps mislaying the phone. Look for one with a comfortable strap and a secure attachment.
A tempered glass screen protector
A tempered glass screen protector is cheap insurance for the most expensive part of the phone. It takes the scratches and the knocks so the screen underneath stays perfect. Most phone shops will fit one for you when you buy the phone, which saves the fiddly job of lining it up at home. Worth doing on day one.
A stylus
If tapping the screen accurately is a struggle, a stylus can help. It gives a single, precise point to touch with, which suits anyone whose fingers are less steady, or whose dry skin does not always register on the screen. They are inexpensive and any basic one works on most phones.
A charging stand or dock
Fiddling a small cable into the bottom of a phone is harder than it sounds when eyesight or dexterity is not what it was. A charging stand or dock lets the person simply rest the phone in place to charge, and it sits the phone upright where it is easy to see ringing. For a phone that is forever going flat in a drawer, a stand by the armchair is a small thing that helps a lot.
Accessories for specific needs
A couple of accessories solve particular problems. If hearing is the issue, a small Bluetooth speaker or a clear wired earpiece can make calls easier, and our phones for hearing difficulties guide covers the bigger picture. If eyesight is the concern, a case with a stand and a good grip helps the person hold the phone steady and close, alongside the large-text settings covered in our phones for poor eyesight guide.
Where to buy in Australia
Most of these are easy to find. Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Big W and Kmart carry cases, grips, stands and protectors in store, and Amazon Australia and eBay have huge ranges online. PopSockets has its own Australian store. The very cheapest online cables and screen protectors vary a lot in quality, so for a charging cable it is worth paying a little more for a known brand. And if anything you buy from an Australian business turns out faulty, the Australian Consumer Law still applies, so you can ask the seller for a repair, replacement or refund.
Accessory buying checklist
- A grippy protective case made for the exact phone model.
- A finger grip or strap to prevent drops, that folds into a stand.
- A tempered glass screen protector, fitted in store if you can.
- A lanyard if the phone is often mislaid, and a charging stand by the chair.
- A stylus if tapping the screen accurately is hard.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
The accessories worth starting with
If you do nothing else, get a grippy case and a tempered glass screen protector on day one, and add a finger grip that folds into a stand. Those three cover the most common problems: drops, cracked screens, and tired arms on a video call. A lanyard and a charging stand are the easy next additions. None of it is expensive, and together it makes the phone safer and far more pleasant to use.
Our recommendation
Start with a grippy case, a tempered glass screen protector and a finger grip that folds into a stand. Add a lanyard if the phone gets mislaid and a charging stand by the armchair. Buy a case made for the exact model, and ask the shop to fit the screen protector when you buy the phone.
Next steps
If you are still choosing the phone itself, our budget phones guide and our advice on how to choose a phone for an older parent are good places to start. All of our phone advice lives on the phones for seniors hub.
FAQ: phone accessories for seniors
What is the single most useful accessory?
A good protective case. Phones are easy to drop, and a grippy case with a raised screen edge turns most drops into nothing. Pair it with a tempered glass screen protector for the best protection.
What helps if the phone keeps getting dropped?
A finger grip or PopSocket stuck to the back gives something secure to hold, and a lanyard means the phone hangs safely when not in use. Both are cheap and make a real difference for shaky or arthritic hands.
Where can I buy these in Australia?
Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Big W and Amazon Australia all stock cases, grips, stands and protectors. PopSockets also has its own Australian store. Buy a case made for the exact phone model.
Do I need a stylus?
Only if tapping the screen accurately is hard. A stylus gives a single, precise point to touch with, which helps anyone with less steady fingers. They are inexpensive, so it is a cheap thing to try.
Should I get the screen protector fitted in store?
If you can, yes. Lining one up perfectly at home is fiddly, and most phone shops will fit it for you when you buy the phone, often for little or nothing.
