Doro 8100 Phone Review - A useable smartphone for all?

Many of us rely on our smartphones for many aspects of our daily lives, whether it's staying in touch with friends and family or banking.
The Doro 8100 smartphone has been designed for people who don't have much experience of using a smartphone or who might require additional assistance.
It has some fantastic features such as the Response by Doro app and button which can alert family members that the user requires assistance or the superbly intuitive interface.
This review focusses on the Doro 8100 and how the user of the device might benefit from using it.
Watch the full video to learn more!
If you want to buy the Doro 8100 mentioned in this video or indeed anything else off Amazon (and want to support me at the same time), please consider doing so from the following Amazon Associates link, it will cost you nothing but I will earn a little commission from any sales. You don't even need to buy the item, if you click on the link below and then search and buy different products, you'll still be supporting me!
Amazon Link:
Doro 8100 Phone: amzn.to/3oe560E
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Nikon Z6 II: amzn.to/3NbSIWV
Nikon 24-70mm F/2.8 S: amzn.to/3ulwGbq
Manfrotto 055 CXPRO4: amzn.to/3iNIHBj
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Angelbird AV PRO CFexpress SE 512GB: amzn.to/3JNwyI4
Chapters for the video:
00:00 - Introduction
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www.youtube.co... the full video to learn more!

[@MrFreesearcher]

I've just got my father a simple brick phone, for while he is in hospital with a broken back. While he will be able to make and receive calls with family and friends, banking is becoming a problem for us in rural Lincolnshire, where banks are closing faster than high street shops. He really does struggle with technology, and has a hard time with a Samsung tablet he got at Christmas. Thanks to this wonderful Video, I can confidently say I will be getting him a Doro phone for this Christmas.

[@alithevegancatlady74]

Hey im in my 40s and im interested in this phone ..im hoping its a simpler smart phone without all the bells n whistles of newer phones..does it have amplified sound pls ..i think it does ..glad of a reviewer that goes thru things without it being patronising or vague ..i get really mithered when a phone becomes too complicated ..i hate the fact its marketed to an elderly audience ..drives me daft ..like alot of disabled stuff out there ..

[@HamerReviews]

Totally understand re marketing. In terms of speaker it is definitely louder than usual - hope that answers your question 🙂

[@alithevegancatlady74]

@@HamerReviews i appreciate that thankyou ..think this n the watch will be perfect ..

[@pennykennedy5461]

We've just got this phone for our dad who has dementia. He can use it to make calls even though he doesn't remember that he knows how to use it for calls. Would recommend for other people suffering from dementia, especially if they've had some experience with using a smart phone in the past.

[@joburton4082]

Thank you I will buy this for my Mother. Clear review at a very good pace.😄

[@richardstonhold2615]

Over 80, thinking of getting a smartphone so will investigate the Doro 8100. It seems to be fairly easy to use. And not too expensive. Thank you for your review.

[@HamerReviews]

How did you end up getting on? 🙂

[@LukasLevi1]

Have been looking at getting this phone for my grandparents as their first smartphone. Your review has been super helpful and I will definitely be getting it for them now. Thank you!

[@HamerReviews]

Glad this was helpful!

[@anitanewman5739]

Thank you for your calm and precise explanation I can now buy the doro8100 with confidence I will probably view your video a few times it is very relaxing!

[@leosearle]

Thanks, nice easy to listen to and understand video. I really like your softer British approach compared to the tiring rah-rah in-your-face style of many American presenters. This looks perfect for me, never having used a smartphone and nearly 70. One question: There seems to be no way to replace the battery, so what would I do when the battery inevitably dies?

[@HamerReviews]

Hate to say it, Z but when batteries die these days it’s a case of replacing the phone. Or having it replaced by the manufacturer. That being said, the it should be good for a few years

[@NannyOggins]

This looks perfect for my pop, I love the fact that you can get to apps in a number of ways that’s genius. I have to ask though, is it safe for use with a pacemaker? My dad was given a phone recently that came with a warning not to use it near his pacemaker which meant he had to hold the phone six inches from his ear! As he also needs to use a hearing aid this was a trifle inconvenient! 🤪 Many thanks for this review, very well presented with no flashy sales pitch.

[@HamerReviews]

It doesn’t have magnetic charging - which I assume is what the issue was - so it MIGHT be Ok? But I’d say always consult a doctor

[@22MellyBabe]

Thank you. A really helpful video and I love your presentation style. Will be getting this phone for my elderly mother thanks to your useful insights.

[@pablomercedes2936]

great video - really helps --- 1 question how do you add new apps to the Home Screen ?

[@HamerReviews]

So if you download them from the play store they should end up on the Home Screen, if you hold your finger on it you should be able to move it to a different part of the screen so it always shows up

[@stevenryderx]

Thanks very much for creating this review, genuinely helpful. My Dad really struggles with standard Android and the guided menus look game changing (and the size is 6.1" which is shirt pocket friendly).

[@HamerReviews]

So glad you found this useful 🙂

[@stevenryderx]

@@HamerReviews Any idea how to remove the Google Search box along the bottom of the phone?

[@lornarusling5008]

Would like to have seen typing on the keyboard. The size of the letters is often too small for arthritic fingers. Can the keyboard be set to keypad so the individual 'buttons' are bigger?

[@Woodman-Spare-that-tree]

I want a cheap burner smartphone with a “pay as you go” SIM, as a second phone. This might be the one. EDIT: it’s scary that the button on the back could easily dial 999 by accident. By the way, you say it costs £200 but in August 2024, Vodafone is selling it for £118

[@davechippendale8998]

Thanks for the review, this could be just what I need for my older parents. You do seem slightly uncomfortable during the video? Finally, not seen a monthly Solar update for a while, I like to compare your system’s performance against mine.

[@HamerReviews]

Solar updates coming soon - I’ve just been so busy I’ve had to prioritise other videos. Agree the phone is perfect for seniors - I genuinely see a lot of value. As for being uncomfortable - hay fever got me again…

[@nicolabrookes7876]

Thanks for the review, very helpful

[@exwhyz33]

Noce review - pity you didn't show using WhatsApp to make a call whcih is the one thing I need for my parent to be able to use - you should make that video

[@HamerReviews]

Whatsapp is hard to demo as I can’t create a new account. It works fine though.

[@patricemissonnier3151]

Good evening ! were you able to measure the autonomy of this phone please? THANKS

[@wontee2]

Good video, nicely presented,apart from the awful pinny.Every time my eyes saw it my brain went into action stations. All of the relevant phone details explained clearly and easily understood. Could pick it up and use just by watching the video.Unfortunately, wrong phone. I was looking for the cheaper( £160 ) job. Might well be influenced though, I mean, that's what you blokes do innit.

[@HamerReviews]

I mean I just shared my thoughts - don’t see myself as an influencer rather an old school reviewer. If it helps the Doro 8100 seems to be £160 on Amazon at the moment? Not sure which cheaper one you mean - might be an old model as can only see the 8100 and 8200 listed on the Doro website. Good luck in your search though.

[@ellebrook3413]

Hi, thanks for the comprehensive review of the phone. I bought this for a family member but from the start, it has been automatically disconnecting from the home wifi even though all other tablets, phones, computers etc are fine on it. In addition, it works ok on friends and neighbours' wifi! The 8100 has almost zero advanced settings/ special access options, so I can't alter or check any wifi settings. I have called Doro, done their suggestions, sent it to their repair company and it came back unchanged. So frustrating. I know you were just reviewing it, but just wondered if you experienced anything similar?

[@HamerReviews]

Hi there, I’m afraid I had no WiFi problems, I still have the phone and it continues to work perfectly. However the fact you say it works on your friends and neighbours wifi does lead me to think it may be the network it’s connected to. There’s actually a limit to how many devices can connect to a WiFi access point, is it possible that you’ve reached your limit? Equally if the router is older you may just be having router issues and your other devices don’t show it as obviously as the 8100? Equally it could just be a freak compatibility issue. I assume you’ve tried restarting your WiFi network? If that’s still the issue it may be worth considering and upgrade to your WiFi. Sounds extreme but you can always buy a budget access point or mesh WiFi set off Amazon and then return it if it doesn’t work? Also if it’s your ISP’s equipment you could ask them to replace it?

[@ellebrook3413]

@HamerReviews Thanks for the reply. That's a good point about the limit. Interestingly, it loses connection in a particular room downstairs which has a shared wall with a neighbour with BT full fibre. I have moved our wifi booster device to that room for the time being and the 8100 currently has full strength connection, so will keep an eye on it. The other devices are Samsung flagship phones / tablet and an iPad, so I was also wondering if the 8100 being a bit cheaper may lack a few features that could help here. Btw thanks for explaining the emergency function with the hands-free call back, I had no idea. Appreciate all the detail you went into in your review!

[@LarsRibnell]

@@ellebrook3413 Doro 8100 only uses the 2,4GHz frequency

[@PaulineHobbs-Bateh]

Wonderfull video.This phone looks for my husband post stroke.Can an App for diabetics be added to read the Monitoring discs.

[@HamerReviews]

@@PaulineHobbs-Bateh you have full access to the Google play store so as long as it’s there you can add it 🙂

[@juliaevans9521]

Since many phones such as the Samsung have an Easy Mode which hides many non-essential buttons, how would you compare Doro phones to using this Easy Mode?

[@asmerom3025]

Don't bother watching if you want to learn how to set up this phone or how to use it. Yakerty yakerty yakerty yak.

[@HamerReviews]

@@asmerom3025 shockingly it’s a review not a how-to guide. 🤣

[@HamerReviews]

Actually I literally show some of the elements of how to use it around 4 mins, your comment is moronic.

[@juliaevans9521]

I want to know what is under My Vision Settings to see how adjustable it is for sight impaired users for whom such a phone is surely designed.

[@cormacio100]

Does it have a headphone jack and SD Card slot?

[@KeithWSt]

Hi, thanks for the review. I bought an ordinary Doro mobile phone about 10 years ago for someone elderly. It had the emergency button. They kept setting it off by mistake, about half a dozen times on day one alone! It stressed us both out and we ended up disabling it. Two questions: can you see this button being pressed enough to set it off inadvertently? And is there any way to disable it if that does turn out to be a problem? Thank you again.

[@ChristineDraper-s5p]

I am a reluctant smart phone user (very happy with my old 3G Doro but new signal forced me to purchase 4G Doro 8100 smartphone). I am struggling to download my photos from my Doro 8100 to my MacBook Air. Android File Transfer App which I have downloaded to my Macbook says I must go into my phone and change it to MTP code or File Transfer but I cannot find where to do this on my Doro phone and Doro 8100 phone guide does not seem to mention it. Can you help please?

[@LarsRibnell]

Hej. Call Doro support and they will guide you. It´s free.

[@pie_IRL]

Great review, thank you! There are some more things I would have liked to know, I will go and research them myself now but it would have been nice to see what settings you can change, whether it has a built in browser and what that's like if so, and whether the emergency call button on the back be disabled if the user doesn't want that feature.

[@gemma3877]

Thanks for this review. I love the intuitive native apps, to guide the user to what they're wanting to do. Just bought one today in a Vodafone shop (will be delivered) for £129! [Turns out it came with a charging cradle, despite what the guy in the shop assumed, but the cradle's not likely to work with the kind of chunky case we favour.] (Included in £129 price is a Vodafone SIM with £10 credit. Not planning to use that SIM. Together it's still a good deal cheaper than the RRP!)

[@RayR33]

Good review. Thank you.

[@gixermorg4833]

does have wifi calling as signal is bad most smart phone do ?🤔

[@LarsRibnell]

Yes it has WiFi calling.