Best Tablets for Older Adults: 5 Picks for Big Text and Video Calls
Five tablets for older adults, chosen for screen size, built-in video calling and text-size settings, with the specs each maker publishes.
Short answerFor most older adults, the Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) is the simplest pick: FaceTime video calls are built in, Apple lists a landscape front camera with Center Stage, and Apple's Larger Text setting offers bigger font sizes. For a bigger screen, choose the 13-inch iPad Air (M4) or the 13.1-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+. The Amazon Fire Max 11 and Amazon Alexa Tablet 11 cost less and suit a home that already uses Alexa.
Compare the 6 picks
| Pick | Best for | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Apple iPad 11-inch (A16), 128GB, Wi-Fi | Most older adults, and anyone whose children or grandchildren use iPhones. | Check price on Amazon |
| Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M4), 128GB, Wi-Fi | A reader who wants the biggest text and video-call picture and doesn't mind a heavier tablet on a stand. | Check price on Amazon |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ 13.1-inch, 128GB, Wi-Fi | Someone who uses an Android phone and wants a big screen for video calls, photos and word games. | Check price on Amazon |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE 10.9-inch, 128GB, Wi-Fi | An Android household that wants a lighter tablet than the FE+ with the same software. | Check price on Amazon |
| Amazon Fire Max 11, 128GB, without lockscreen ads | A lower-cost tablet for reading, streaming and the occasional Zoom call, for someone already using Alexa at home. | Check price on Amazon |
| Amazon Alexa Tablet 11 (all-new), 64GB, Graphite | A home that already talks to Alexa and wants Google Play apps such as the family's usual calling app. | Check price on Amazon |
Amazon links open in a new tab. We may earn a small referral fee.
On this page
What matters most on a tablet for an older adult
- Screen size: an 11-inch screen shows larger text and video-call faces than an 8-inch one, and a 13-inch model shows more again. Apple measures the iPad 11-inch at 10.86 inches diagonally and the 13-inch iPad Air at 12.9 inches; Samsung lists 10.9 and 13.1 inches for the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and FE+.
- Text size: Apple's support guide says to go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Display & Text Size, and tap Larger Text for bigger font options. It also warns that very large text can make some buttons harder to tap.
- Video calls: a front camera on the long edge keeps faces centered when the tablet sits sideways in a stand. Apple lists a landscape front camera with Center Stage on both iPads here, and Samsung lists a 12MP ultra-wide front camera on the Tab S10 FE series.
- Weight: a bigger screen weighs more. Apple lists 1.05 pounds for the iPad 11-inch Wi-Fi model and 1.36 pounds for the 13-inch iPad Air, and Samsung lists 497 grams (about 1.1 pounds) for the Tab S10 FE and 664 grams (about 1.46 pounds) for the FE+. A stand or folio case helps with the larger models.
- Match the family: if the people she calls most use iPhones, FaceTime on an iPad is the easiest path. Apple says FaceTime video works from iPad to any FaceTime-enabled device over Wi-Fi or cellular.
6 picks and who each one suits
-
Apple iPad 11-inch (A16), 128GB, Wi-Fi
Best for: Most older adults, and anyone whose children or grandchildren use iPhones.
Apple lists a 10.86-inch Liquid Retina display, a landscape 12MP Center Stage front camera, FaceTime video and audio calling, landscape stereo speakers, Touch ID in the top button and up to 10 hours of web browsing or video on Wi-Fi. It weighs 1.05 pounds.
Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee
-
Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M4), 128GB, Wi-Fi
Best for: A reader who wants the biggest text and video-call picture and doesn't mind a heavier tablet on a stand.
Apple lists a 13-inch Liquid Retina display (12.9 inches measured diagonally) at 600 nits, a landscape 12MP Center Stage front camera, FaceTime video with SharePlay and screen sharing, landscape stereo speakers and up to 10 hours of web browsing or video on Wi-Fi. It weighs 1.36 pounds.
Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee
-
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ 13.1-inch, 128GB, Wi-Fi
Best for: Someone who uses an Android phone and wants a big screen for video calls, photos and word games.
Samsung lists a 13.1-inch display, a 12MP ultra-wide front camera, dual speakers, an S Pen in the box, an IP68 water-resistance rating and a 10,090mAh battery. It weighs 664 grams (about 1.46 pounds). Samsung's US store lists the Wi-Fi model as needing no carrier plan.
Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee
-
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE 10.9-inch, 128GB, Wi-Fi
Best for: An Android household that wants a lighter tablet than the FE+ with the same software.
Samsung lists a 10.9-inch display, the same 12MP ultra-wide front camera and IP68 rating as the FE+, an S Pen in the box and an 8,000mAh battery, at 497 grams (about 1.1 pounds).
Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee
-
Amazon Fire Max 11, 128GB, without lockscreen ads
Best for: A lower-cost tablet for reading, streaming and the occasional Zoom call, for someone already using Alexa at home.
The listing describes an 11-inch, 2000 by 1200 display, an 8MP camera for calls on Zoom, 14 hours of battery life, Alexa built in and an optional keyboard case and stylus sold separately. Check that the calling app the family uses is available for Fire tablets before you buy.
Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee
-
Amazon Alexa Tablet 11 (all-new), 64GB, Graphite
Best for: A home that already talks to Alexa and wants Google Play apps such as the family's usual calling app.
The listing describes an 11-inch 2.5K display, 8MP front and rear cameras, dual speakers, up to 15 hours of video playback, Google Play with over a million apps, and Alexa+ for help and smart-home control. It says Alexa+ comes with the tablet and is available on compatible devices with a Prime membership.
Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest tablet for a senior to use for video calls?
If the family uses iPhones, an iPad is usually the easiest, because FaceTime is built in and Apple lists FaceTime video from iPad to any FaceTime-enabled device. For an Android family, a Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE or FE+ with the family's usual calling app is the closer match.
Is a bigger tablet better for older eyes?
A bigger screen shows larger text and faces, but it weighs more. The 13-inch iPad Air weighs 1.36 pounds and the Tab S10 FE+ 664 grams, against 1.05 pounds for the iPad 11-inch, so a stand or folio case helps with the larger models.
How do you make the text bigger on an iPad?
Apple's guide says to go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Display & Text Size, tap Larger Text and drag the slider to the size you want.
How we chose
This guide is desk research. We compared the tablets by the screen size, front camera, calling features, weight and battery figures that Apple, Samsung and the Amazon listing publish, and by whether an exact, new listing was available. We did not test any of these tablets; the notes describe what each maker or listing says, not how a tablet works for any one person.
Listings, sellers and stock change quickly. At time of writing (November 1, 2026), every "Check price on Amazon" button on this page went to an exact Amazon listing for the model named, new, in stock and sold by Amazon.com. Prices are not shown because they change. Confirm the model, storage and seller on the listing before you buy.