Easy-to-Use Tablets for Seniors: What to Look For

How we wrote this guide

We have not bought or used any tablet for this page, it has no affiliate links, and no manufacturer paid to be included. Feature descriptions come from the official accessibility help pages for iPad (Apple) and Android (Google), read to explain what the settings do, not to recommend one over the other. Safety and cost guidance comes from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the FCC's Lifeline page, Medicare.gov and the National Eye Institute. Where an agency site refused our automated fetch, the facts come from its October 2026 copy on web.archive.org; the links below point to the live pages.

Types of tablets for seniors compared

If the person mainly needs to make and take calls, a phone with hearing aid labels or captions may matter more; see easy-to-use phones for seniors.

How to choose an easy tablet: hardware checks

1. Screen size against weight. A bigger screen shows bigger text but is heavier to hold. If the tablet will mostly sit on a table, size matters more than weight; if it will be held in bed, try holding it for ten minutes in the store.
2. A stand or case with a stand. Video calls need the tablet upright and still. A case that folds into a stand also protects against drops.
3. Front camera and speakers. Make a test video call in the store if possible. Check how loud and clear the speaker is at the person's usual listening distance.
4. Hearing devices. Apple says hearing devices can be paired with an iPad; Android lists Live Caption, Live Transcribe and Sound Amplifier among its hearing features. If the person wears hearing aids, ask the audiologist which tablets their model connects to.
5. Buttons and charging. Find the power and volume buttons with eyes closed. A charging stand or dock is easier than plugging a small cable in.
6. Storage and updates. Ask how long the maker supplies software updates for that model; CISA advises installing updates promptly because they fix security flaws.

Accessibility settings to switch on

Both major tablet systems include accessibility features at no extra cost. The National Eye Institute recommends using device settings to raise contrast, make text larger and have text read aloud for people with low vision. What each system offers, from its own help pages:

Feature names and menus change between software versions, so look them up in the help pages for the exact model. If eyesight is the main obstacle, ask the eye doctor about vision rehabilitation; NEI lists it as the route for people whose vision loss gets in the way of everyday activities.

Setting up a tablet before you hand it over

1. Create the account with the person, and write the password in a safe place they and one trusted relative know about.
2. Switch on the accessibility settings they need, and turn text size up before they first see it.
3. Remove apps they will not use and move the four or five they will use to the first screen.
4. Add family contacts with photos and test a video call with each.
5. Turn on automatic updates, and set up multifactor authentication on the main account; CISA describes MFA as using more than a password, such as a text code or a fingerprint.
6. Turn off notifications from everything except messages and calls.
7. Write a one-page large-print card: how to turn it on, how to charge it, how to call family, and "never call a number from a pop-up."
8. Practice together over two or three visits rather than one long lesson.

NIA suggests that older adults look for computer classes through community colleges and libraries, many of which offer free or discounted courses for older adults.

What seniors use tablets for: video calls, telehealth, reading

• Video calls with family. Usually the main reason. Pin the call app to the first screen.
• Telehealth visits. Medicare.gov says that through December 31, 2027, Medicare covers telehealth services from anywhere in the U.S., including the home, and that for most telehealth services you pay the same as for an in-person visit. Ask the doctor's office which app they use and test it before the appointment.
• Books and magazines. Text size can be set to suit the reader. People enrolled in the Library of Congress talking-book program can install the free BARD Mobile app; see reading for seniors.
• Photos and memory projects. A slideshow of scanned family photos; see memory books for seniors.
• Games and puzzles. Word and card games with large text; see large-print games and puzzles.
• Music. Radio and playlists, with the volume kept moderate; see music activities for seniors.

Tech support scams: what to tell a new tablet user

New tablet owners are a target for tech support scams, which the FTC says try to scare people into believing their device has a problem in order to get money, financial details or remote access. The FTC's points, in plain terms:

• These scams often start with a fake pop-up warning made to look as if it comes from a well-known company, or with a call or text from someone claiming to be a technician.
• Real tech companies do not phone, email or text you to say there is a problem with your device, and genuine security warnings never ask you to call a number.
• Scammers often ask for payment by gift card, wire or bank transfer, cryptocurrency or payment app, because the money is hard to get back.
• Another version is a fake "subscription renewal" message. Check the bank or card statement and contact the company on a number you already know, not the one in the message.
• Unsure? Talk it over with someone trusted first. If a scammer got a password, change it, and change it anywhere else it was reused.
• Report tech support scammers to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

CISA's basic habits also apply: strong passwords (a password manager helps), multifactor authentication, and not delaying software updates. Phone call scams and call blocking are covered in our phones guide.

Help paying for internet service

Tablets need Wi-Fi or a data plan. The FCC's Lifeline program gives eligible low-income subscribers a monthly discount of up to $9.25 on qualifying phone, internet or bundled service, with larger amounts on Tribal lands. A household qualifies with income no higher than 135% of federal poverty guidelines or by taking part in certain programs, and only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household. People apply online with the FCC's National Verifier, on paper, or with help from a participating provider; USAC, which runs the program, takes calls at 1-800-234-9473. Our phones guide lists the qualifying programs.

When to ask an eye doctor, audiologist or therapist

If the settings above are not enough, the problem may be the eyes, ears or hands rather than the tablet. An eye doctor can refer to vision rehabilitation, which NEI says can include training with magnifying devices. An audiologist can advise on connecting hearing aids. If tremor, arthritis or weakness makes touch screens hard, ask the doctor whether an occupational therapist could suggest a stylus, a mount or other adaptations.

Someone to set it up and keep it going

A tablet is only easy if someone is around to help in the first weeks. A companion caregiver can do the setup, run short practice sessions, place video calls with family, and spot a scam pop-up before money changes hands. Caregivers apply directly to jobs that families post free on CaregiverConnect, and the family hires and employs the person it chooses. CaregiverConnect does not run background checks; our safety guidance explains what to check yourself. Then look up caregivers close to home.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Apple Support, Get started with accessibility features on iPad
2. Apple Support, Zoom in on the iPad screen
3. Android Accessibility Help, Android accessibility overview
4. National Eye Institute, Low Vision
5. FTC Consumer Advice, How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams (read via web.archive.org copy of 2026-10-18)
6. CISA, Secure Our World (read via web.archive.org copy of 2026-10-13)
7. FCC, Lifeline support for affordable communications (read via web.archive.org copy of 2026-10-21)
8. Medicare.gov, Telehealth
9. Library of Congress NLS, Sign up for BARD and Accessing BARD
10. National Institute on Aging, Participating in Activities You Enjoy As You Age (web.archive.org capture, July 30, 2026)