The Tech Grandkid · thetechgrandkid.com/buying-guides/phone-accessories-for-older-parents/
Phone accessories that make life easier for an older parent
How we picked, and how we're paid
We picked accessories that fix everyday trouble: a phone that slides around, a charger plug that's hard to line up, a phone that's always in the other room, calls that are hard to hear. Prices and specs come from the maker's page or Apple's store, linked on each pick. We have not used or tested these products ourselves.
We earn nothing from these links right now. If we ever add paid or affiliate links, we'll label each one where it appears.
Small things make a phone easier to live with: a stand on the nightstand, a grip that stops drops, a cord long enough to reach the recliner. Each pick shows who it suits, its price on the date we checked and the one thing we'd want to know before buying it.
Charging without fumbling
Magnetic chargers snap onto the back of the phone, so there's no small plug to line up. On iPhone that means an iPhone 12 or later. For the Galaxy S26, Samsung sells Magnet cases.
Anker MagGo Wireless Charger (Stand with Spotlight)
$59.95 Price as of October 15, 2026, from Apple Store: Anker MagGo Wireless Charger (Stand with Spotlight).
Good for: an iPhone owner who'd like the phone standing up on the nightstand, easy to see and easy to grab.
- The phone snaps on and charges at up to 15W (Qi2)
- Holds the phone upright or sideways, tilting up to 54 degrees
- A built-in light with touch controls for brightness and warmth
- Comes with a 5-foot USB-C cable and a 40W wall charger
The one downside: It's for iPhone only. Apple's compatibility list starts at iPhone 12.
Sources: Apple Store: Anker MagGo Wireless Charger (Stand with Spotlight) specs and compatibility
Apple MagSafe Charger (2 m)
$49 (the 1-meter version is $39). Price as of October 15, 2026, from Apple Store: MagSafe Charger (2 m).
Good for: an iPhone owner whose outlet is a long reach from the bed or chair.
- Snaps onto iPhone 12 and later with magnets
- A 2-meter (about 6.5-foot) cable
- Also charges iPhone 8 and later, and AirPods with a wireless charging case, without the magnets
The one downside: No wall plug in the box. Apple recommends its 30W USB-C Power Adapter, sold separately, for the fastest charging.
Sources: Apple Store: MagSafe Charger (2 m) overview and compatibility; Apple: Search results for MagSafe Charger (1 m and 2 m prices)
Samsung Magnet Wireless Charger
$49.99 Price as of October 15, 2026, from Samsung: Magnet Wireless Charger, Dark Gray.
Good for: a parent with a Galaxy S26 in one of Samsung's Magnet cases.
- Samsung calls it its first 25W Super Fast Wireless Charger, with a Qi2 magnetic design
- Ultra-slim, with a fabric cable
The one downside: The case matters. Samsung lists its Magnet cases as the Galaxy S26 cases that work with magnetic accessories, so a regular case or no case won't hold it in place.
Sources: Samsung: Magnet Wireless Charger (price); Samsung: Accessories for Galaxy S26, S26+, S26 Ultra and S26 FE
Anker New Nylon USB-C to USB-C Cable (10 ft)
$9.99 Price as of October 15, 2026, from Anker: New Nylon USB-C to USB-C 100W Cable (10 ft).
Good for: any phone with a USB-C port, when the outlet is across the room.
- 10 feet long, so your parent can use the phone in bed or in a recliner while it charges
- Braided nylon, rated by Anker for 12,000 bends
The one downside: It's only a cable. You'll also need a USB-C wall charger, and both ends are USB-C.
Sources: Anker: New Nylon USB-C to USB-C 100W Cable (10 ft) features
Easier to hold and carry
PopSockets Adhesive PopGrip
$10 for the black one. Patterned ones cost up to $25. Price as of October 15, 2026, from PopSockets: Black Adhesive PopGrip.
Good for: a parent who drops the phone, or whose grip isn't what it was.
- Sticks to the back of the phone case
- Pops out for a secure one-handed hold
- Folds down into a stand for video calls
The one downside: PopSockets says it doesn't stick to silicone, textured or soft cases, and may not hold as well on a bare phone. A smooth, hard plastic case works.
Sources: PopSockets: Adhesive PopGrip details and compatibility; PopSockets: Adhesive PopGrip prices
Apple Crossbody Strap
$59 Price as of October 15, 2026, from Apple Store: Crossbody Strap.
Good for: a parent who leaves the iPhone in another room and misses calls, or who needs both hands free on a cane or walker.
- Wear the iPhone across the body, hands-free
- Magnets adjust the length from 42.5 to 81.9 inches
The one downside: It only attaches to certain Apple cases, which cost extra. For iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e, Apple lists only the Silicone Case with MagSafe.
Sources: Apple Store: Crossbody Strap overview and compatible cases
In the car
To connect the phone to the car itself, see our help for iPhone or Android.
mophie Magnetic Car Vent Mount
$29.95 Price as of October 15, 2026, from Apple Store: mophie Magnetic Car Vent Mount.
Good for: an iPhone 12 or later owner who uses Maps or CarPlay.
- The iPhone snaps on with magnets, one-handed
- Hooks onto a vent up to 41 mm deep, then tilts and swivels
- Two-year warranty
The one downside: It holds the phone but doesn't charge it. Apple also sells mophie's charging version for $69.95.
Sources: Apple Store: mophie Magnetic Car Vent Mount specs and compatibility; Apple: Search results listing mophie's charging vent mount at $69.95
iOttie Easy One Touch 5 Dash / Windshield Mount
$24.95 Price as of October 15, 2026, from iOttie: Easy One Touch 5 Dash / Windshield Mount.
Good for: most phones, Android or iPhone. iOttie says the cradle fits large phones and more cases than its last model.
- Locks and releases the phone with one hand
- A telescopic arm that reaches 4.5 to 6.75 inches and pivots 260 degrees
- A magnetic clip on the base keeps the charging cord tidy
The one downside: Nothing on iOttie's page says it charges the phone, so plan on a separate car charger and cable.
Sources: iOttie: Easy One Touch 5 Dash / Windshield Mount description and specs
Hearing calls and conversations
Free first: Live Captions and Live Listen on iPhone and Live Caption and Sound Amplifier on Android.
AirPods Pro 3, with the Hearing Aid feature
$249 Price as of October 15, 2026, from Apple Store: Buy AirPods Pro 3.
Good for: an iPhone owner with mild to moderate hearing loss who hasn't gotten hearing aids yet.
- Apple describes the Hearing Aid feature as clinical-grade, for adults 18 and over with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss
- It's tuned from a hearing test on the iPhone with the AirPods, or from an audiologist's audiogram
- Media Assist makes music, videos and calls clearer
- They also work with Live Listen, which turns the iPhone into a remote microphone
The one downside: They need an iPhone or iPad to set up and adjust, and Apple's Hearing Aid feature is only for mild to moderate loss.
Sources: Apple: Use the Hearing Aid feature on your AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3; Apple: Use iPhone as a remote microphone with Live Listen
For shaky or stiff hands
Free first: Touch Accommodations on iPhone can ignore accidental taps.
Adonit Pro 4 stylus
$29.99 Price as of October 15, 2026, from Adonit: Pro 4.
Good for: a parent whose fingertip taps land on the wrong button.
- A precision disc tip that Adonit says resists scratching the screen
- Adonit says it works on most iPhone, Android and Windows touch screens
- Light aluminum body with a pen clip and a twist cap
The one downside: It's pen-thin, 9.25 mm across per Adonit, so it won't help much if a thin pen is already hard to hold.
Finding the keys, the wallet or the bag
Apple AirTag
$29 or $99 for a 4-pack. Price as of October 15, 2026, from Apple Store: Buy AirTag.
Good for: an iPhone owner who loses keys or a bag.
- Shows up in the Find My app, and the iPhone can point the way to it when it's nearby
- A built-in speaker Apple says is 50% louder than before
- A replaceable battery that lasts more than a year, and the iPhone tells you when to change it
The one downside: It sets up with an iPhone or iPad, so it's not for an Android phone.
Sources: Apple: AirTag
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2
$29.99 Price as of October 15, 2026, from Samsung: Galaxy SmartTag2, Black.
Good for: a Samsung Galaxy owner who loses keys or a bag.
- Find it in the SmartThings Find app, with arrows to it on Galaxy phones that have UWB
- Battery lasts up to 500 days, or 700 in Power Saving Mode, Samsung says
- IP67 water and dust resistance, with a metal loop for a key ring
The one downside: Samsung's announcement describes it for Galaxy phones and the SmartThings Find app. For an iPhone, pick AirTag.
Before you buy
- Try the free features first. Our iPhone and Android guides cover bigger text, Magnifier, captions and call screening.
- Check the phone model. Magnetic chargers, the mophie mount and the Crossbody Strap need an iPhone 12 or later (the strap also needs an Apple case), or a Galaxy S26 in a Samsung Magnet case.
- We left out the plastic screen magnifiers that sit in front of a phone. The phone's own text size, zoom and Magnifier features are free, so start there.
Questions?
Email us at [email protected]. Never send us a password or a code.