The winter sales are in full swing, and you may be taking advantage of them to buy a cell phone for yourself or a loved one. But be careful, some models on sale will very soon be obsolete.
The cell phone has become, whether we like it or not, an absolutely essential tool in everyday life. More and more seemingly innocuous procedures or actions, such as purchasing a ticket on certain bus networks, require the use of a smartphone. But we are not all equal when it comes to digital devices, especially as they tend to become ever more complex to use.
Elderly people are often cited, rightly or wrongly, as being among the least comfortable with computers in general and mobile phones in particular. However, seniors, and especially those who unfortunately suffer from loss of autonomy, often need to stay in touch with their loved ones and caregivers via connected devices. Manufacturers have understood this well, and many now offer phones adapted to audiences who are not comfortable with digital technology.
These simplified phones, which often resemble that good old Nokia 3310, are most of the time equipped with a physical keyboard with large and readable keys, which makes it easy to handle. They also focus on the essential aspects of calls and SMS, and sometimes include a few additional functions, such as a flashlight that turns on with a single button or easy-to-trigger emergency calls. And since they are simple devices, they often have good battery life and are not very prone to bugs.
But be careful, although these “senior” phones are very practical devices for the people concerned, not all of them are equal, and some should even be avoided in the coming years. Because in terms of connectivity, many of these devices today make do with the 2nd generation mobile telephone network, or 2G (Nokia 105, Energizer E29-2G or even this one). However, this telecommunications technology is in decline in France, and the four major national operators will all stop supporting it by the end of 2026.
At Orange, the shutdown of the 2G network will be done gradually, and will begin in March 2026 in 9 departmentsbefore extending to the rest of the territory and ending in September 2026. Same schedule at SFR and Bouygues Telecom, where the definitive shutdown of 2G is also announced for the end of 2026. And things could go even further faster at Free, with an end to the operator’s roaming contract on Orange’s 2G network scheduled for December 31, 2025.
The 3rd generation mobile telephone network, 3G, will benefit from additional respite with continuity of service until 2028, but its end is also already scheduled. If you are soon planning to buy a simplified mobile phone for your parents or grandparents, be vigilant and consult the technical sheets carefully, to ensure that the chosen model is compatible with at least the 3G standard, and if possible with 4G or 5G.