Jitterbug Smart3 Review

[@Tocimah]

It's large because people older need to see the screen. This is something young people just don't seem to understand. Nor do they understand that one needs to speak at a normal rate not like one is running to a fire. Ryan did speak at a normal cadence. Thank you.

[@KrisD007]

Right? The youth of today need to cherish their eyesight bc it’s gonna go some day.

[@llkg9]

I want to see him actually go through a feature (eg, making a call) using the on-screen menus (not voice) to see if it's truly suitable for my senior.

[@garrettcrna]

Totally agree. This video is worthless

[@mariamercy7317]

It's the worst thing for seniors! Not elderly folks friendly!

[@Theseniorlist]

Thank you for your comment. In our future reviews, we'll be sure to do walk-throughs of the more basic features.

[@shelleyneidich8385]

I am 78 y/o and recently bought the jitterbug 3 on sale. I have had experience with computers at home and work, programing my DVR etc. I found this phone quite easy as my first smartphone. I do have doubts about a senior who has had no computer experience i.e. email and internet or is impaired in some way. I did not get the emergency help since I found that expensive and I am quite capable to call 911, like everyone younger than I. I hope this helps with your decision.

[@Micha35672]

Not senior friendly for my mom or my aunt. We sent them back.

[@kevinw9073]

One of the best explanations on this product. Thank you.

[@ag4allgood]

I found it good for a quick overview why a senior would like this phone ! The fact its big is probably a plus for me as the eyes are not that great.

[@BEKenna]

Thank you for a very helpful and educating video. Can you please do one with this phone showing (1) How to set up and (2) Use google maps (Driving) How do you get driving direction that avoid freeways, on this phone? Thx again Brian

[@Theseniorlist]

You're welcome Brian! To set up the phone, we'd recommend watching this video made by Lively: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6WQpWN3qtacl8k&ab_channel=Lively For Google Maps, you click on the app, plug in your address, and the directions will begin. In your Google Maps settings, you can select the option that says "avoid highways" and your directions will bring you along different routes. Hope that helps! For more reading on Google Maps, check out this page: support.google.com/maps/answer/144339?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS

[@PeggyFosterExecCoach]

Is there an easy way to switch from smartphone: I'm thinking specifically of contacts and photos. Thanks for hitting the key points so well!

[@aussie8114]

Someone should make a phone for the oldies. This phone might be ok for younger oldies but the real oldies need one simpler than this. Having been a carer in nursing home age oldies they would need a phone for phone calls not a screen based device. Maybe it could be a simple large button phone that is programmed from a seperate device. The phone would rely mostly on a few speed dial buttons.

[@dacontreras867]

Just purchased yesterday, for my 97 year old Dad.. he's already figured out most of it, and no, he is not computer savvy. Wish we had purchased earlier, since the base rate is now $39.99 and no longer the cheaper rates. You snooze you lose.

[@cruzecruz5246]

Thank you so much for reviewing this phone, it's been so hard to find a phone for elderly parents. Wondering if it menu and voice command can be in Spanish. Does it have a flashlight option? Are there any heavy duty phone cases available. Thanks so much for thinking about ways to simply things for seniors.

[@Theseniorlist]

Yes, this phone does have Spanish menus, and Google Assistant can support Spanish voice commands and speech. The phone also has a flashlight. As far as heavy-duty cases, go, Lively gives you the option to purchase either a hard or soft shell case during checkout; however, we did not test these out.

[@mariamercy7317]

Not elderly folks compatible. 😔

[@shelleyneidich8385]

@@mariamercy7317 It is compatible for seniors who are healthy and somewhat computer savvy.

[@shelleyneidich8385]

@@mariamercy7317 I also think you are judging the phone from one senior's experience. I am 78 and found this phone an easy learn.

[@techtalk8397]

This is what we got my Nana & she seems great with it, so far. She doesn't use the internet, as far as I know just the phone.

[@JackSanders-xd6sq]

Best video on Jitterbug #3, mucho thanks mon. I will go to your website next but wanted to ask what the statement on Lively's website means below and does this apply to all service providers other than Lively? Lively website states: "Your existing cellular provider may offer you a senior discount for your monthly bill, but you won’t get the benefit of having a phone designed for seniors." ? Saludos....

[@JackSanders-xd6sq]

HUMM...me wife (boss) just said it means other Providers phones were NOT specifically designed for seniors but Jitterbugs were designed for seniors. If this is correct then I understand...well, make that me wife understands. Gracias.

[@mariamercy7317]

Nope, not the best phone for Seniors!

[@shelleyneidich8385]

It means exactly what it states. That is the reason I left consumer cellular, they did not have a smartphone for a seniors first.

[@truthrn7975]

I wouldn't have another one of these if they were GIVING them away. The way customer service treated my 85 year old mother with dementia was pathetic.

[@danw5414]

So you're saying You're mom who has dementia try setting up this phone with customer service. You think with her disability maybe you should've been the one setting up the phone. Maybe you're the one that has dementia.

[@timh8324]

The menu design is not very good for someone who has a hard time seeing. The colors dont stick out enough and the white background does not help. In some cases I cannot change the colors so i cannot get the apps in the order i want and the colors would be better taking up all of the white space. It is actually harder for my mom to see than the regular android phone where she can recognize app colors and where they are on the screen

[@dannihardy7874]

The biggest issue I f8nd on the Smart phone 3 is that the volume button is above the button to activate the main screen from black to active. Then he calls and can't hear because he pushes the down volume when he pushes the button below to turn on the main screen.

[@JSYoutuber2]

My parents can't figure it out. They can barely use a rotary phone. They don't want features! Or tiny side buttons. Icons without text are meaningless. Why do we developers never really learn to understand where a targeted user is coming from. There are some good ideas here but my parents would call users of this phone "Computer geniuses". I need to make a mobile phone that works exactly like the western electric rotary. Actually someone has but it relys on hardware that won't work anymore.

[@shelleyneidich8385]

Well then your parents should take some computer courses at their senior center or just stay with a flip phone. I am 78 y/o and have some computer/tech experience with computer/DVR/etc and for me the smart phone was a little daunting at first. The major problem from me was tapping and scrolling until I bought two ended styluses from Amazon. I am between the older folks for whom tech is frightening and the younger kids for whom tech is like brushing your teeth, no biggie. So good luck helping mom and dad.

[@aussie8114]

Yes, too complicated for many oldies.

[@forpuplove1]

Same. This phone was a train wreck for us and my 82yr old FIL. It also kept adding back the removed apps. Daily updates, etc. Very frustrating phone!

[@ELPCOTILLION-SD1970]

Perhaps I Can Convince My Mother To Try One Of These Absolutely Splendid Phones Since It Especially Made Simpler Than Other Smartphones...I Doubt Tho...She Turned 75 Today And Is Quite Closed Minded To New Technology...Still Rather More Prefer Her FlipPhone...

[@mariamercy7317]

Don't waste your money on this. Too many options for seniors.

[@ELPCOTILLION-SD1970]

@@mariamercy7317 Doesn't Mean She Has To Use All The Options...It Doesn't Matter~Shes Completely Closed To ANY Smartphones Anyway...This Is Her 3rd Flip Phone And She's Quite Satisfied With It...

[@mariamercy7317]

@Sebastian Good for her cause this phone is no where near splendid.

[@MommaBearsCorner]

great video. Been trying to figure out what to get. Will check them out. Appreciate such a detailed video. You did such a great job and OMG, I LOVE the design of that building you are in there. Thank you so much. This video really helped me.

[@carlosvillareal267]

Wow you're handsome!

[@Daniel-so5fn]

Oh, he cute.

[@rabbi6225]

Thank you

[@mikefa5891]

Thanks for the review. Do you know if this phone is unlocked? I am thinking about getting this phone for my mother who lives in Taiwan. By the way, is it able to install Facebook Messenger on the phone?

[@petergriffinelectricdrums4164]

❤❤ PLEASE QUESTION?? Where did you get that Cellphone 📲 Holder I see you using? Thanks 🙏🏻

[@denniscasey1104]

How do I scan QR Codes using this SMART 3 phone? 😮😊😢

[@Atagrl_13]

Can you advise on how to take brighter photos at night when the only light you have is the moon or few street lights?

[@paultrantow5759]

Does anybody know if, when you text this model, the text actually appears on the screen like any other text would? I ask because on the Smart 2 you have to actually OPEN THE TEXT APP to see what the message is, TOTALLY defeating the usefulness of a text message.

[@58fenderdeluxe]

thanks a lot, my google assistant just tried calling my mom who is sound asleep!

[@tracipareti871]

Can the text notification be set to go off twice if the first time it wasn't answered? The notification is so short I often don't catch it the first time

[@MG36963]

The phone has android 10. Is there an upgrade capability or at least support for security updates? I'm not expecting it to run android 13 but I'm curious if it can at least bump up to 11

[@MargauxNeedler]

Good point

[@fouroakscrafts7240]

My parents have a Jitterbug Smart phone and I've been trying to help them manage telemarketer / scam calls. I don't see an obvious way to block "unknown" numbers that tend to be telemarketers. Can anyone give any advice on how to block calls? Do I need a higher version or different plan?

[@ron2823]

Although I gave a thumbs up, he didn't cover texting. Although I knew it has voice-to-text, I wanted to know if you can just use the common qwerty keyboard screen to text.

[@shelleyneidich8385]

Yes, you have to tap the microphone icon on the keyboard to use voice. Otherwise you have to use the keyboard.

[@user-hr5yn2rd2r]

Is there any way to reorder the Favorites in contacts?

[@TT-ls1yz]

Thanks for this review. Does this phone have Google Play to install apps?

[@Theseniorlist]

Yes it does.

[@cvnkj4032]

Will this work in another county or it only works with their service?

[@markbhoward]

If a senior is alreadya acomstomed to a normal smartphone but has declining vision, will this help or the pain of learning a new phone not be worth it?

[@Theseniorlist]

This might make things easier, as the icons are larger and are more separated from one another. I'd recommend visiting Best Buy to try one out in store. This should give you (or your loved one) a feel for how they like the phone.

[@somethingelse419]

It offers a bit too much for the senior I’m thinking off. She needs pictures of folks on her contact list, to be able to make manual calls, and to turn the volume up. That’s pretty much each. All those other options are excessive.

[@mariamercy7317]

You are correct! Elderly folks don't need all those options which they don't understand and will never use!

[@mariamercy7317]

By the way, you mention to turn volume up... My dear lady friend, usually hits the volume buttons without meaning to and lowers it completely where she can't hear the phone ring. Those side buttons are too sensitive to the touch.

[@Chorkymom]

There an Alzheimer's phone with photos of contacts. It's twice as much money, though.

[@aussie8114]

@@Chorkymomalmost all oldies have some cognitive impairment. A phone designed for Alzheimer’s would greatly benefit many oldies.

[@PHILLIP-mo5ty]

how do you send a picture.

[@FunintheSun813]

This is great for my mom. Thank you for this review😊

[@LaBestiaRD]

Hello Tengo el jitterbug 2 y solo da error code 1 o 5 o 3 , que puedo hacer para poder usar mi cell. Y formateo y nada sigue igual

[@mariamercy7317]

Devuelvelo a la compañia. Ese celular no es apto para personas majores!

[@LaBestiaRD]

@@mariamercy7317 gracias por responder, pero pude solucionar el problema yo mismo . Descubrí el fallo y le quite ese error .

[@Southphxgal2023]

What about storage and security updates. Always thought androids were slow and worried about if they do auto security & updates included.

[@nikimethadonefreeiam1800]

Tyvm

[@cherylfoertsch181]

where do I get the stand for the phone your using?

[@gervaiselantier]

Thank you! Very helpful!

[@sistershane100]

Hi! I don't want to transfer my existing phone number-cell or my landline...want to keep those-my husband an family use the phones. so-do they give me a new phone number-for the Jitterbug smart 3??

[@JanetJares]

Can the home page list be modified?

[@Theseniorlist]

Yes, you can add and subtract, as well as reorder, the home screen apps.

[@forpuplove1]

You can, it kept randomly adding back the removed items on ours. It was a daily task to fix/monitor this phone for us.

[@chefbambu9382]

Can the JitterBug 3 be used on another cell phone service provided other than Lively? You provided a good explanation of the phones operations. Thanks.

[@Theseniorlist]

The Jitterbug Smart3 (and Flip2) are unlocked, so they can potentially work on other networks; however, we can only guarantee that they'll work on Lively's.

[@chefbambu9382]

@@Theseniorlist Mucho thanks mon. To be safe 'll look for another option as Lively isn't so forth coming if they work on another Plan or not.

[@robertaswanson5633]

When Jitterbug first came out a few years ago it go Horrible reviews for customer service. Has that improved? Elderly people are not always tech savvy and they need kind and understanding people working in customer service.

[@mariamercy7317]

Still not worth getting for seniors!

[@shelleyneidich8385]

If a senior is not tech savvy they either need your help or they should stay with a flip phone.

[@janronk6360]

Can you use Siri on the phone?

[@karlavandenbrande4964]

Is this also usable in belgium? I see you have an emergency button?

[@jaimegeiser8726]

on my jitterbug3 phone how do i swipe up to answer

[@user-pb1wv9ir5l]

Does thesm art phone have free card games?

[@GerardW76]

This came across as an advertisement for the phone. If it is, I would appreciate disclosure that they are partnering with the company. He gave a couple weak criticisms toward the end, but they felt contrived. Saying the phone is too big came isn't really a critique, it's a personal preference. Saying that a $150 phone is slower than an iPhone means he thinks his audience is dumb and actually finds that type of information useful. He did show how any of the navigation worked. How to use and app on the phone. Again, if you are advertising the phone, that is fine, just say so.

[@tishaperry3856]

Can you make contacts photos if some

[@jaimegeiser8726]

how do i answer a call

[@candacegarrick2176]

We’re do you buy the phone ?

[@Theseniorlist]

You can buy the phone from Lively. To learn more, you can check out our full review: www.theseniorlist.com/cell-phones/jitterbug/smart/

[@realitytc]

Are you able to text and receive emojis?

[@Theseniorlist]

Yes you are!

[@DiTanner1]

Mom accidentally activated talk back and dark screen. I can't seem to un do it. Help!

[@Theseniorlist]

Oh no! With TalkBack, single-clicking items (as you normally would) causes the phone to read the item you've selected as opposed to opening the feature. To turn it off, you'll need to utilize double-clicks and two-fingered swipes. Otherwise, the phone will simply read the option that is selected. Double click on settings, then double click on accessibility, then double click on TalkBack (utilizing two-fingered swipes as necessary to navigate the menus). Then double-click on the button that toggles TalkBack on/off. That should do it. Let us know if that helps!

[@nrg998]

I have 2 issues 1: a robotic female voice totally interrupts the use of the phone, you can’t even restart or power down, how does it happen and how to reset other than holding random buttons down until the log in screen comes back on ? The elderly man that has this phone will let it sit idle until he finds someone who can press different buttons to return the use of the phone, which if an emergency makes this phone totally useless ! 2: you said one can access the Android layout, how? Twice I was able to do such but cannot find the Android layout option again and whenever you do, Lively instantly tells you to switch back (which confuses the elderly man that has this type of phone) and the directions for the switch is hidden (obviously).

[@kentipton2227]

Can the Jiggerbug 3 be wirelessly charged?

[@Theseniorlist]

No, it does not support wireless charging. To charge it, you must use the USB-C port.

[@audrianafreberg5629]

Can you turn off the data plan on this phone, or block it? My elderly mother keeps running up very large data overages every month by just randomly swiping and somehow landing online.

[@Sbellusa]

Can you add or remove lines from the main screen list?

[@Theseniorlist]

Yes, any apps can be added or removed from the main screen list. Hope that helps!

[@timh8324]

yes but i could not change the colors of the apps to the way I wanted it so there are duplicate colors in a row - so confusing for someone who cant see the text.

[@robertevans1343]

👍🏾 in 2022

[@mariamercy7317]

A friend of mine got one for his aging mom. Not even he nor I understood it like an old one she had. Too much for seniors to learn and adapt.

[@shelleyneidich8385]

I am 78 years old, healthy with a lot of computer experience. I also use a DVR which I program w/Fios. This is my first smart phone. I did not sign up for the emergency help. I found this phone very easy to use. A couple of calls early on but I now read my emails, text, check the weather, read newspaper articles etc. without issues.

[@briarboy8959]

This phone can be found on Amazon for $75 at the time of this comment.

[@ELPCOTILLION-SD1970]

Before He Said The Price~I Thought It Be That Price Or $99 At Most...$149 Is A Bit Too Much I'm Afraid...$75 Is Rather More Reasonable...

[@user-hd6vy7dn7m]

One of the worst phones for blocking spam messages and no one can say how to do it. I found out I don't like Android phones at all

[@garrettcrna]

Can you actually go through how to use it. All your doing is a lot of talking. Not very helpful.

[@cvnkj4032]

Is this unlocked

[@johnknowing-zr8de]

Really!!! Why doesn't he show how to actually USE the phone like real life? Not just showing a bunch of "features: means crap. What are they hiding????

[@VictoriaCruz-f7r]

Davis Sharon Harris Jessica Wilson Kenneth

[@-David.-]

Is this a joke? Right off the bat, who would put three buttons on one side of a phone intended for seniors? Seriously, that's just the beginning of a long list of things that should have received a little more thought. That is, if this was actually intended to be used by seniors and I'm not convinced it is.

[@cosmicjerry]

🎅 ☎️...Hello...Hello

[@RoundenBrown]

The Boomer phone!

[@ghrohrs2020]

So, apart from list view over bubble view, this is just another fully-obese smartphone? I don't get the attraction. I was hoping this phone would be free of app infection. When I say that, I mean the infection of having access to apps and the Android store. Apps are addictive and privacy intrusive. Apps are made for one purpose: to steal our data. I had hoped this design built upon that premise to protect and defend senior users from predatory apps. Apparently, this is just a hoax for a phone with bigger text. This is so disappointing. They're just pushing a scam story to entice seniors into thinking they're getting something different and secure. I guarantee Lively collects and sells data just like Android and Apple. Massive disappointment. I'm dumping this idea and focusing on the Techless Wisephone and the Light Phone. Two products that seem to have integrity and a compassion for people's health.