How to Choose the Right Device for an Older Parent in Australia
Walk into Officeworks or JB Hi-Fi to buy something for Mum or Dad and the choice is dizzying. Phones, tablets, laptops, all in dozens of sizes and prices. It is easy to come home with the wrong thing, or nothing at all.
The good news is that the right device is rarely the newest or the dearest. It is the one that matches what your parent actually wants to do, suits their eyes and hands, and is easy for someone to help with. This guide walks through how to decide, without the jargon. It is a key step in helping a parent go online.
Quick answer
Start with the one or two things your parent most wants to do. For video calls, photos and reading, a tablet like an iPad is usually the easiest. For calls and texts out and about, a simple smartphone. For typing, printing and proper banking at a desk, a laptop. Match the device to the person, not the spec sheet, and make sure someone can help when they get stuck.
Start with what they actually want to do
Before you look at a single product, have a proper chat. What does your parent picture themselves doing? Seeing the grandchildren on a screen is the big one for most families. Others want to read the news, do a bit of banking, send the odd email, look up a recipe, or just have a phone that works when they are out.
Write the answers down. One person might say video calls and photos, which points straight at a tablet. Another might say calls, texts and not much else, which is a simple phone. Buying for the person they are, rather than the tech-savvy person you hope they will become, is the single best decision you can make.
The three main choices, in plain English
Almost every decision comes down to a phone, a tablet, or a laptop. Here is the quick version of who each one suits.
| What they want most | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Video calls, photos, reading, simple games | A tablet, usually an iPad. Big screen, very simple to use. |
| Calls and texts while out, kept in a pocket | A smartphone, or a simple phone if they want even less to think about. |
| Typing letters, printing, banking at a desk | A laptop, with a proper keyboard and bigger screen. |
| A bit of everything, but mainly the family | A tablet first. Add a phone or laptop later if a real need appears. |
If you are torn between the three, our guide on choosing between a laptop, tablet or desktop goes deeper. For phones, how to choose a phone for an older parent is the place to start.
Eyesight, hands and hearing matter more than specs
This is where families often go wrong. The store assistant talks about storage and processors, when the things that decide whether your parent loves a device are far simpler.
If eyesight is fading, a bigger screen wins. A tablet or a laptop with a larger display is far kinder than squinting at a phone. If hands are stiff or shaky, a device that sits flat on a table beats one held in mid-air, and a touchscreen with large buttons beats tiny keys. If hearing is the issue, look for a good speaker and the ability to turn the volume well up, and remember that headphones or a hearing aid can pair with most modern devices.
Whatever you choose can be made easier afterwards. Every phone, tablet and laptop has settings for larger text and a clearer display. Our guides cover this for the iPad, the iPhone and a Windows laptop.
Think about who will help when something goes wrong
Something will go wrong. A password gets forgotten, an update changes a button, a screen turns sideways. The real question is who fixes it.
If you use an iPhone or iPad yourself, getting your parent the same makes helping far easier, because you know where everything is and can talk them through it on the phone. If your local Be Connected or Tech Savvy Seniors program runs classes for a particular system, that tips the scales too. There is also plenty of free help around, which our guide to free tech help for seniors in Australia lists in full. Choosing the device you can support is often wiser than choosing the one that scores best in a review.
A few real-world traps to avoid
A handful of mistakes come up again and again. Worth knowing before you buy.
- Buying too much device. A top-end model full of features they will never touch is harder, not better.
- Forgetting the running costs. A phone needs a SIM and a plan. A tablet may need home internet. Factor that in.
- Picking a brand no one in the family uses, which leaves your parent stuck when they need a hand.
- Skipping the setup. A device handed over still in its box, with no accounts signed in, often ends up in a drawer.
A quick checklist before you buy
- We know the one or two things they most want to do.
- The screen and buttons suit their eyes and hands.
- Someone in the family can help with this device.
- We have budgeted for any plan or internet it needs.
- We will set it up together, not just hand it over.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
FAQ: Choosing a device for an older parent
What is the easiest device for someone who has never used one?
For most people, a tablet. The screen is large, you tap what you want, and there is no keyboard to wrestle with. An iPad is the most widely used and the easiest to get help with in Australia.
Should I get the same brand as the rest of the family?
Usually yes. If you use an iPhone or iPad, the same for your parent makes helping much simpler, because you already know your way around it.
Is it worth spending more for a better model?
Only up to a point. A solid mid-range device that is easy to use beats a top-end one full of features they will not use. Put any spare money towards setup and a good case instead.
My parent says they do not want any technology. What now?
Start very small, with one thing that solves a real problem, like a tablet to see the grandchildren. Usefulness wins people over far more than features.
Where can we get help if we get stuck?
Your local Be Connected or Tech Savvy Seniors program, your library, and the store you bought from can all help. Our guide to free tech help for seniors lists the main options around Australia.
