<p>I have the new Galaxy Note 3 and love it. However, a friend of mine wants a new phone but really struggles with the “complexities” of Smart phones. I showed her mine, and it overwhelmed her. :(</p>
<p>What is the easiest smart phone. I think even an iPhone would confound her.</p>
<p>edited to add…provider is AT&T</p>
<p>The easiest phone to use is the land line phone.</p>
<p>A landline phone is not a smart phone.</p>
<p>I think the easiest smart phone is an iPhone.</p>
<p>Complexities? The Iphone is not any simpler than the S3. I have used both. Your friend will more than likely struggle with any smart phone.</p>
<p>I think an iphone if someone sets it up for her is likely the easiest, but I don’t think there’s that much difference between Android and iOS. Remember, it isn’t the phone but the operating system that matters.</p>
<p>You can set up the first iPhone screen so the basic functions are right there and nothing else. If someone sets up contacts and the phone dialer so favorites are listed, then the phone and messages are easy to use. It’s all about the time put into setting it up to match ability.</p>
<p>I don’t consider myself a “technical illiterate” but I have problems figuring out what I’m supposed to do with iTunes whenever I try. It’s not an easy thing to use.</p>
<p>I personally vote for the iPhone, but the key is this - to any smartphone. Initially, JUST USE IT AS A PHONE! Don’t overwhelm them with apps, games, lots of features, etc. Just the process of sending and receiving a phone call and maybe setting up contacts. That’s it. </p>
<p>Introduce all the cool stuff later when they have mastered the phone part.</p>
<p>I vote for iPhone as well. </p>
<p>
What do you mean you don’t know what to do with iTunes? It’s iTunes.</p>
<p>
Ah, to be young again!</p>
<p>That’s why I asked the question, Hunt. iTunes is an app. It’s like the equivalent to asking what to do with the Contacts app.</p>
<p>Further info…</p>
<p>One example…This person WANTS to be able to text, but really struggles with texting. You know how some phones will “suggest” words when you text, well, if it’s the wrong word, she can’t seem to get to the right word (even tho I showed her how.)</p>
<p>I showed her that on my phone (and many smart phones) there is a microphone icon that you can press and just “speak” your text message. You do have to check to make sure that all the words came out right, but it works really well.</p>
<p>Would an iPhone be easier than an Android? When I got my phone on Friday, I did snoop around a bit for other phones and was showed a phone that has some kind of “simple feature” (don’t remember the actual term or the actual phone) that really seemed to dumb down the phone for easier use.</p>
<p>Initially, JUST USE IT AS A PHONE! Don’t overwhelm them with apps, games, lots of features, etc</p>
<p>I agree. Right now…the person really just needs phone usage, texting (done easily!) and “visual voice mail” (because she hates having to listen thru voicemails when she wants to hear a particular one right now.)</p>
<p>My mom recently got her first smartphone. She got an iphone and loves it. (I have Samsung Galaxy Note II). She used to have a lot of trouble figuring out her old flip phone - how to check messages, and never had texting, etc. She is having no problem at all using her iphone (a couple grandkids spent 5 minutes showing her how to call, text, and check voice mail). I get texts from her a lot now - it’s great!</p>
<p>When I was choosing between iphone and android, most of the comparisons I found boiled down to the opinion that the iphone is easier to use but not flexible (you can’t change as many things about the user interface), and that android is more flexible but not quite as easy to navigate.</p>
<p>Perhaps a larger smart phone with a larger keyboard would be best for them. I know some smarty phones (not the iPhone) have a feature where you can slide your fingers to each key. Would they like that feature?</p>
<p>Getting a phone with visual voicemail doesn’t seem like a problem.
[AT&T</a> Visual Voicemail overview- AT&T Wireless Support ](<a href=“http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB115686&cv=820#fbid=maelP9KsnVw]AT&T”>AT&T Customer Support)</p>
<p>On the iPhone you can see each voice mail and decide which one you want to listen to without having to listen through more than one.</p>
<p>and that android is more flexible but not quite as easy to navigate.</p>
<p>That’s what I’m starting to think. Maybe an iPhone would be best. </p>
<p>One thing that I think confuses her with more sophisticaged phones is realizing that menu’s differ depending on what you’re currently doing/looking at.</p>
<p>As an aside…a funny thing to share…When I was getting my new phone on Friday, a person came in needing a new SIM card and asked for a new stem cell. lol</p>
<p>My dad is slowly learning more and more features of his iPhone. He’s had it for nearly two years. He likes it a lot so far and plans to get one for my technophobe mom. He just learned about text messages and email on his phone. He also has an ipad and a laptop as well as a desktop. </p>
<p>He mainly uses it as a phone with a calendar (that he also uses). Don’t think he uses the camera much. He doesn’t use voicemail but is happy to know who called and calls them back. </p>
<p>He likes having Siri and plans to get the 5S when his plan allows him to upgrade next spring. He is thinking of getting one for mom too.</p>
<p>My sister loves her droid but admits its tougher to set up and use than an iPhone, in her opinion. We let our kids choose and are fine with the iPhone. </p>
<p>It is helpful if you who are helping friend have same or similar type of device, so you can help field questions. One good thing about apple devices is the apple store, where you can get free hands on help. For us, it’s in a mall near our and my parents’ home, so we can all go there if we have problems.</p>
<p>I agree that the Iphone is easiest, I just got my first smart phone a few months ago and its an Iphone 4. That doesn’t mean it is EASY, your friend will still struggle at first, but I thought it was the easiest to get used to. I am a youngster and it still took getting used to for me, so I wouldn’t give up just because it isn’t intuitive right off the bat-- I don’t think it is for anyone unless they had Apple products in the cradle. My dad, who has a basic cell phone without texting because he can’t handle anything else, is getting along okay with his Ipad-- but he wanted to break it at first because it did take getting used to.</p>
<p>If she lives near an apple store, it is a no brained as she can hang out there and learn as much as she wants.</p>
<p>My brother bought a droid but found it too confusing so returned it for blackberry he’s happy with.</p>