Help me find an inexpensive, easy smart phone

[Clothespegsandplasticbags]

My aunt is 85, technophobic and getting very deaf.
I would like to persuade her to have a phone that I can put a few contacts and whatsapp on.
Her eyesight is good, with glasses, and I think she could manage to type short messages.
It is getting so hard to speak on the phone as she can't hear.
We live a long way from her and I would love to send her photographs and updates, short messages daily.
He dh has a lap top but he gets so exasperated with her he doesn't often show her messages and photos when I send them to him.
I worry that she is missing out on so much.
I do post cards, but the post is slow and unreliable.
Can anyone recommend a really simple smart phone?
She won't entertain the idea of online shopping or banking so I won't go there. I would buy the phone and pay for a sim only contract for her.
TIA

[Garlickit]

Argh. I did this for my mother, same reasons. She's scared of it - or, as she says, can't be bothered with all that 😬 She doesn't even know where the damn thing is now, or I'd have sold it (I'm still tied to her calls & data plan).

Before you invest, I'd recommend showing her yours, talking her through how to WhatsApp, and seeing if there's any enthusiasm!

[oldestmumaintheworld]

I wouldn't bother. My stepmother is exactly the same. We've tried everything but she just won't engaged. I don't know why but she won't. It's frustrating. We just leave her to it now.

[Clothespegsandplasticbags]

I will talk to her next time I see her, which won't be for 4 weeks. She lives a long way from me and I worry about her. But I agree, I can't make her do anything.
It is frustrating.
I have friends and neighbours of a similar age, all joining in the local whatsapp groups that started up during lockdown. Lots of friendships and support networks have developed.
She is in denial about her hearing too.

[Doglover19]

I work for a large well known high st store and our older generation of customers tend to go for Doro phones. Every single time .

[PaminaMozart]

I'd suggest an older, refurbished iPhone as they are very user-friendly - almost instinctive.

Tesco have a PAYG deal without minimum usage restrictions.

Does she have WiFi though? That's another consideration.

[whyamiawakestill]

@Doglover19

I work for a large well known high st store and our older generation of customers tend to go for Doro phones. Every single time .

That's helpful, my mum 79 is so so stubborn she refuses to get a phone and yet she's missing so much in terms of groups locally. She uses email, online shopping but hates phones.

[Monty27]

@Doglover19

I work for a large well known high st store and our older generation of customers tend to go for Doro phones. Every single time .

Never heard of it. Would you like to expand?
There's only so much needed for some folk. Thanks

[Clothespegsandplasticbags]

@Doglover19

I work for a large well known high st store and our older generation of customers tend to go for Doro phones. Every single time .

The most important feature would be whatsapp. Which Doro would be best for that? I see some of them only provide 2g. I don't know if that would work?