Tablets are very versatile devices; you can use them for work, and you can use them for leisure. It is sort of a mix of everything. It works as a TV, phone, laptop, radio, book, gaming console, etc.

But how do the elderly use tablets? Seniors tend to use tablets for video calls, web surfing, video and movie watching, social media, podcasts, e-book reading, email checking, and gaming.

As it turns out, there’s no big difference, just like everyone else. The biggest difference is that seniors are not interested in working on tablets, creating art, or taking notes.

1
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2022)
Android

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2022)

  • Released: 2022, May
  • Operating System: Android
  • Display Size: 10.4-inches
  • Storage: 64GB, 128GB
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Ports: USB-C
  • Camera: Front: 5MP | Rear: 8MP
  • Battery: Up to 8h
  • Cellular(LTE): Yes
  • Stylus Support: Yes
  • Micro SD Card: Yes
  • Applications: Google Play Store

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2022 Model) is a well-balanced non-premium tablet with a lot of value. It strengths lie in S pen that’s included in the price, LTE support, and Android customization support, and it’s also a very good-looking tablet with a beautiful display.

If you are looking for a portable device for watching movies, TV shows, podcasts, videos, playing games, reading ebooks, news, and social media, Galaxy Tab S6 can do all of that and more.

The included Samsung S Pen is a valuable bonus for the elderly. As people age, their skin can become thinner and drier, leading to decreased responsiveness on touchscreens. The S Pen proves handy in such scenarios.

You can easily play games like Sudoku and Candy Crush Saga on Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, but more demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty will be a bit laggy. It’s recommended to lower your settings when playing demanding games. 

If you want a long-lasting Android tablet that you don’t have to charge every day, it’s a very solid option. 

You can get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2022 model) for $214.99 on Amazon.

Pros
  • Comes with Stylus(incl. in price)
  • Has LTE support
  • Good Performance
  • Has Samsung DeX
Cons
  • Face ID is glitchy
  • Takes a long time to charge
  • No palm detection
2
iPad 10
iPad OS

iPad 10

  • Released: 2022, Oct
  • Operating System: iPadOS
  • Display Size: 10.9-inches
  • Storage: 64GB, 256GB
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Ports: USB-C
  • Camera: Front: 12MP | Rear: 12MP
  • Battery: Up to 10h
  • Cellular(LTE): Yes
  • Stylus Support: Yes
  • Micro SD Card: No
  • Applications: Apple App Store

Apple creates the most popular tablets in the world – iPads. iPad 10 is the latest generation of classic iPads. It’s a very versatile device; you can work on it, and you can use it for entertainment.

It comes in four colors: Silver, Blue, Pink, and Yellow.

iPad , at its core, is an excellent tablet. It has great performance, great battery life, great cameras, a wide choice of apps that make it a great choice for many people: students, young adults, adults, old adults, etc. 

It’s a tablet you buy for casual use: play games, watch movies, videos, TV, listen to podcasts, call your family in video calls, etc.

It’s also compatible with Apple Pencil Gen 1 and Apple Pencil USB-C; you can also attach a keyboard to it to get more of a laptop experience. 

Apple iPad is the best tablet for most people, but it’s also the most expensive tablet in the market. Especially with the biggest storage and all the accessories, but the quality is unmatchable.

Apple iPad 10 costs $499 and you can buy it at Amazon.

Pros
  • Long battery life
  • Beautiful screen with vibrant colors
  • Great camera in front and back
  • Wide variety of apps
Cons
  • Expensive
  • The screen is laminated
  • No Face ID authentication
3
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3
Chrome OS

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3

  • Released: 2022, May
  • Operating System: Chrome OS
  • Display Size: 10.9-inches
  • Storage: 64GB
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Ports: USB-C
  • Camera: Front: 5MP | Rear: 8MP
  • Battery: Up to 12h
  • Cellular(LTE): No
  • Stylus Support: Yes
  • Micro SD Card: No
  • Applications: Google Play Store

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 has a 10.9-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2000×1200, it offers a high-quality visual experience. It delivers smooth performance and it’s a good tablet for various activities.

Thanks to its vibrant OLED display, this tablet excels in activities like watching movies, YouTube videos, and TV series. While the speakers could be improved, simply plugging in headphones solves the issue.

The Duet 3 is a significant improvement over the original Lenovo Duet. It boasts a brighter screen, features 2 USB-C ports instead of 1, and the keyboard functionality has been enhanced. It supports external monitors and delivers faster performance, but it does have some drawbacks. It may struggle with multitasking, and having too many apps open simultaneously could lead to freezing.

The Duet 3 is not designed for power users; it excels in activities such as web surfing, using Google Suite, reading ebooks and light games, and streaming videos.

Overall, Chrome OS tablets are a great option for older adults, since you can run Google Chrome in the full desktop version. Sort of like a 2-in-1 tablet. 

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 costs $289 at Amazon.

Pros
  • OLED display
  • Google Chrome desktop version
  • Stylus and keyboard support
Cons
  • The speakers could be better
  • No LTE
4
Amazon Fire Max 11
Fire OS

Amazon Fire Max 11

  • Released: 2023, May
  • Operating System: Fire OS
  • Display Size: 11-inches
  • Storage: 64GB, 128GB
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Ports: USB-C
  • Camera: Front: 8MP | Rear: 8MP
  • Battery: Up to 14h
  • Cellular(LTE): No
  • Stylus Support: Yes
  • Micro SD Card: Yes
  • Applications: Amazon App Store

Amazon Fire Max 11 has stylus support and keyboard support, which is new for Amazon Fire Tablets. It’s the newest and largest tablet from Amazon.

Amazon tablets are typically known for affordability, not high-tier performance. While this one is faster than the company’s other models, it still doesn’t compete with Samsung or iPads. They increased the performance a bit and also the price with that. 

The tablet runs the Fire OS operating system, and with that comes with limitations. You can’t get apps like Google Chrome, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Microsoft Office, Zoom, etc. By default.

In order to get these apps on Amazon tablets, there are a few workarounds you need to do. 

So, if you are looking for a cheap tablet, where you need to look for workarounds to install the basic apps, Amazon Fire Max 11 is worth considering.

Amazon Fire Max 11 $244.99 and you can order it on Amazon.

Pros
  • Long battery life
  • Beautiful big screen
  • Fingerprint reader
Cons
  • Limited apps
  • Amazon ads
5
Microsoft Surface Go 3
Windows

Microsoft Surface Go 3

  • Released: 2021, Sep
  • Operating System: Windows
  • Display Size: 10.5-inches
  • Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
  • RAM: 4GB, 8GB
  • Ports: USB-C
  • Camera: Front: 5MP | Rear: 8MP
  • Battery: Up to 10h
  • Cellular(LTE): Yes
  • Stylus Support: Yes
  • Micro SD Card: Yes
  • Applications: Microsoft Apps

Microsoft Surface Go 3 has the same body and build as its predecessor and as Microsoft Surface Go 4, but it’s only available for businesses, not individuals.

Microsoft Surface Go 3 is a 2-in-1 laptop, you can use it like a laptop when you attach the keyboard, and when you detach it, you can use it as a tablet. If you have ever used Windows laptops, using Surface Go 3 will be a breeze. 

As great as it is, I would still recommend Android, iPadOS, Chrome OS, and Fire OS  for elderly above Windows tablets. It’s far too expensive and doesn’t offer that much in return.

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 costs $329 and you can buy it at Amazon.

Pros
  • 2-in-1 device (Stylus and keyboard support)
  • Kickstand
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Heats up
  • Palm rejection doesn’t work that well
6
Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4)
Budget Android Tablet

Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4)

  • Released: 2023, Apr
  • Operating System: Android
  • Display Size: 8-inches
  • Storage: 32GB, 64GB
  • RAM: 3GB, 4GB
  • Ports: USB-C
  • Camera: Front: 5MP | Rear: 8MP
  • Battery: Up to 11h
  • Cellular(LTE): Yes
  • Stylus Support: No
  • Micro SD Card: Yes
  • Applications: Google Play Store

Lenovo Tab M8 Gen 4 is an excellent option for seniors. It’s a simple, straight-up, cheap Android tablet. If something happens to it, it’s not the end of the world since it costs less than $100. 

It’s smaller than other tablets on the list. It’s only 8 inches in size. If the senior has poor eyesight, this might be an issue. If not, it’s a great compact choice. You can play games on it, watch movies and videos, listen to radio and podcasts, make video calls, send messages to loved ones, etc. 

Overall, it’s a good cheap Android tablet on which you can do the basic stuff. If you don’t expect premium performance, you will be satisfied.

You can order Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) for $69.99 on Amazon.

Pros
  • Good battery life
  • Stylish design
Cons
  • Weak performance
  • Dim display

Remote Assistant

Suppose you are buying a tablet for your parents or grandparents. In that case, I recommend installing the app “AnyDesk Remote Desktop.” it will give you the ability to connect and control the tablet remotely if the senior has some technical problems. You can connect to their tablet with just two clicks.

Fun & Productive Tablet Apps For Seniors

  • Audible – users can listen to professionally narrated books across various genres, including fiction, non-fiction, and self-help.
  • Last Pass – Password Manager that remembers all of your passwords for you and fills them automatically.
  • Sudoku – Challenge yourself with various difficulty levels by playing the world-famous puzzle game Sudoku.
  • Words with Friends Game – Engage in thrilling word battles with friends or opponents, showcase your vocabulary prowess, and strategize for victory. It’s a great game for families.
  • Spotify – Allows you to discover new music and podcasts; you can listen to them online and offline. You can create playlists and save your favorite podcasts.
  • YouTube – videos that cater to every taste and interest imaginable. Dive into a bottomless pit of cat videos, masterful makeup tutorials, jaw-dropping travel vlogs, and epic fails that will have you laughing till your stomach hurts.
  • Elevate – this app offers personalized brain training exercises that challenge and enhance your mental prowess. Use engaging and adaptive challenges to sharpen your critical thinking, reading comprehension, math skills, and more.

Must-Have Accessories

Sometimes tablets can get heavy on the hands, and it’s a good idea to get a stand for your tablet to enjoy a hands-free experience when you watch long videos and movies.

Tablets Stand Flippy

Flippy Tablet Pillow

Flippy Tablet Stand has three viewing angles. It will work with any tablet on the list(compatible with all devices from 5 to 13 inches). It is great for bed, sofa, chair, desk and even lap. It’s a multifunctional stand. It can be used for reading, watching videos and movies, scrolling social media, etc. It’s made from soft material and has a small pocket in the middle where you can place a charger, wire, and other accessories.

Tablet Floor Stand

Samhousing tablet floor stand is compatible with tablets and phones between 4.7-13 inches. The stand’s height can be adjusted in a range of 27.5-53 inches, and the bracket is 360-degree rotatable, allowing users to switch from portrait mode to landscape mode. It’s made out of carbon steel, so it would last long.

Fun Podcasts For Seniors

Podcasts are the new radio; they are fun and educational, but you need to find the right ones for you. Here are some of the most popular podcasts for senior audiences:

  • Living To 100 Club is a podcast hosted by Dr. Casciani, who inspires people to age well and invites you to reshape your views on aging.
  • The Moth is A collection of real people sharing their extraordinary and entertaining personal stories. These people are talented storytellers.
  • Stuff You Missed in History Class delves into fascinating and often overlooked historical events, perfect for history buffs.
  • Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me! Is a hilarious and informative quiz show covering current events, making the news entertaining and engaging.

Overcoming Touchscreen Challenges

Touchscreens are less responsive to senior citizens because when people age, their skin gets thinner. For some, it happens faster than others. In these cases, I recommend getting a tablet with stylus support.

In case the tablet you have chosen doesn’t have Stylus support, I recommend buying a Capacitive stylus. It will work with any touchscreen because it imitates the touch of a finger.

Final Words

Tablets are just bigger phones with bigger screens, so older adults don’t need to use glasses to talk to their grandkids. With video calls, you can talk to your grandkids, see them in great quality, and hear them laugh. If you are funny enough…Yes, that was a challenge(lol).

Related Posts:

Best Tablets Under $100
Budget Tablets vs Premium Tablets – The Differences

ernests embutnieks wolfoftablet
Founder & Chief Editor | +37122300405 | ernests@wolfoftablet.com | + posts

I'm a writer and editor in iPads & Android Tablets, Windows Tablet section. I'm passionate about technology, especially about tablets. I'm on a mission to assist people in discovering their ideal tablets. In addition, I'm dedicated to producing helpful how-to guides and sharing top-notch tips and tricks. In my early carrier I founded and became and editor at worldoftablet and have been a guest author at many other tech blogs. In wolfoftablet I'm focusing on iPads, Tablets, Apple Pencil, Apps, Reviews, Buyers Guides and Tablet Accessories. In free time I like to play games on my PS5 or iOS.