I need a smart phone for the internet but with actual buttons - does it exist

[soupfiend]

I need this for one of my parents. I couldnt see an IT section on here, or a section about the elderly (although I could have sworn that Ive seen both before), so sorry if this is in the wrong place

They cant 'swipe' on a screen but ideally would have access to watsapp or other internet stuff.

Does this exist, Ive been googling but couldnt see anything that fits the bill, there are button phones but I cant work out if they are internet accessible (and Im not great with tech myself)

Maybe a blackberry?
From a quick google you can use what's app on them

Doubt it. Smartphones use on screen kybds to access functions. Blackberry were that sort of phone but times have changed. Better having some kind of laptop

Would a laptop be a better bet? Is it for on the go communications or just comms in general.

I’m pretty sure it’s only Blackberry that still have that design.

I miss buttons too.

I think a laptop or tablet with a keyboard may be your best bet.

You can get keyboards that attach to iPads. But then you may as well get a laptop I suppose.

My parents have just brought a screen that you connect to your smartphone. It looks like a laptop, as it has a screen and keyboard, but it is just a mirror of your phone. So everything on you phone is displayed on the screen, so WhatsApp is there, and to type you use the keyboard. Not great for leaving the house, but if its just for indoors it's perfect.

Googling finds two Nokias, 6300 and 8000

https://www.hmd.com/en_gb/nokia-8000-4g?sku=16LIOB01A13

Link to Elderly Parents topic in case you want it:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/elderly_parents

Doro phones are good for this kind of thing. https://www.doro.com/en-gb/products/mobile-phones/

This article was written last year so should be reasonably in date still.

https://www.ageco.co.uk/useful-articles/money/the-best-mobile-phones-for-the-elderly/

Their smart phones don’t have buttons though?

Is there a reason they can't swipe but can use buttons? I use a stylus on mine (admittedly it's a tablet not a mobile, but similar principle) which helps a lot.

EDIT - Does it actually need to be a phone, ie text and calls, or just Internet and whatsapp? Tablets are very good for the latter, plus have bigger screens
https://faq.whatsapp.com/670052398160812

Thank you, I went through all the topics and couldnt see it

Its for when in hospital/appointments etc and general functioning of the phone in general

I couldnt tell you why the swipe wont work, they just cant do it, very disabled hands but also perhaps my dad in particular has alien hands which dont swipe. Ive sat there and watched him, it just doesnt have any effect on the phone, like the phone wont recognise his swipe, but it does everyone elses

My mum can hold a phone and swipe at the same time, she can only hold and press a button.

@Lolololololol
any idea what brand?

Would a smart phone with a stylus be an option? https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-stylus-phone/

The iPhone also has accessibility options like tapping the back of the phone 2 or 3 times and tapping two locations instead of swiping. There might be a combination of options that works for you. https://support.apple.com/en-gb/111772

https://support.apple.com/en-mk/guide/iphone/iph77bcdd132/ios

He has a sort of stylus thing, he calls it a dibber, so he uses this to write texts, but it wont answer the phone and he cant answer the phone with his hand. I cannot tell you why, but its causing huge frustration at the moment, the phone is probably about 10 years old in any case, it doesnt support watsapp, which is what everyone else uses so I have to keep trying to remember to check my texts, i dont use my own phone because of my own hand disabilities! Its a nightmare.

I think a combination of Face ID and Siri might work. The settings would have to be set up to be accessible options though.

Can he do these things on someone elses smartphone? As if the stylus isnt working either, then it sounds like a phone-issue rather than a him-issue. You can set up some phones so when you want to answer a call, you can press the side screen-lock button, I have done this on samsung in the past, and I think there may be settings so you can hold down on the green phone symbol when the phone is ringing. Most phones will have an accessibility mode now too.

He’s probably using his nail. My DM used to do this.

For WhatsApp does he need it for calls too or just messaging? There's one on amazon for about £40 that supports messaging and voice notes but no calls.

This one.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TTfone-TT240-Simple-Whatsapp-Mobile/dp/B08P7M64BJ/ref=mpssa113?crid=23G2FG9MDCTU0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.X43o2mEgOmdjQEKZqrkjl7zght4AKQVr4lUdRfN2IYrl2Bc4P0OKJL0VkS5QQ1V9xv3jLRBb8Cd0IypIPZyOenAFYLVs0SmdIroujSeCKr4ZqIgwnbeMhJqBvUc7s4e8LRXnJeeZhpTJDvhEnPCxpRx90KZDxEYoDxhixMYGrqdoLlJfpIv1vzqskvVJjFQbLTNN2jTINsyUBdIG937sQ.N1NvQ3xOIT7r39bfPsQdV8Xt4DU7FBuIeo8PkfbpQyE&dibb_tag=se&keywords=smartphone+with+keyboard&qid=1713000166&sprefix=smarphone+with+%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-3

There is no one else with a smartphone! The phone would be for both of them, he doesnt have friends and we dont live nearby.

The stylus works to text but the way the phone works is that you swipe to answer the call, the dibber doesnt answer the phone, you have to swipe it, but the phone is very very old so needs to be replaced anyway, this happened last time he was in hospital and it never progressed and now it needs to