Koobee: A Very Good Cheap Phone

[bainbrig]

Well, it's all relative of course, but at £72 from Amazon, I reckon it is a good buy.

It is a 'smart' phone, with all the usual features helpful to the old particularly with poor sight - big figures, different type sizes (small to 'huge'), the ability to reverse the lettering so it's white on black, a qwerty keyboard that when you turn the phone on its side becomes just about big enough to type messages. Battery life not brilliant, but I've had mine on for several days now, on and off, and it still reads more than 70 per cent.

I know nothing of its ability to play tunes, games, etc., or indeed to connect to the internet - I'm just using it with my old Nokia SIM card, which only does telephoning! Oh, but it does have a pretty good camera.

The User Guide is hopeless. Doesn't even tell you how to put the battery in, or how to switch from its default Chinese to English. But perseverance and a bit of help from Amazon Answers got all that sorted, so all in all this would be a good phone for your elderly relation, as long as you can spend a few hours sorting it out. But once all the setting up is done, it's very easy to use.

BillB.

[sapelesam]

So pleased you got sorted Bainbrig.

[hc4361]

Glad you've solved your problem :)

[bainbrig]

Thanks Sam. All the help I got here was invaluable, as finding the right one was a complete minefield!

BillB

[albaqwerty]

am glad to read you found a suitable phone x

[Guilbert53]

I see this Koobee phone is an Android phone.

For anyone with a "normal" Android phone note you can switch Android to "Easy Mode".

This makes it easier to use as it makes the icons larger, reduces (or hides) much of the function to reduce the number of options, and is ideal for some elderly people, or those with poor eyesight, or those with special needs.

Once you have switched to Easy Mode it is easy to switch back to "normal" mode if you want to.

Details here how to switch to "Easy Mode" (note this is for Android so wont work on an iPhone or Windows phone)

http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/what-is-easy-mode-and-how-do-i-activate-it/

[hc4361]

Easy Mode is specific to Samsung phones, not all Android phones.

[bainbrig]

Guilbert - that sounds excellent, but I can’t find an Easy Mode. I’ll put a question in to Amazon Answers - they’re often useful.

B

[bainbrig]

Ah, no I won’t - thanks HC.

B

[hc4361]

If you're interested in the Easy Mode you can download a different launcher that will simplify your phone:

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/wiser-launcher/

[bainbrig]

Thanks again hc, but I think
i’d need to go 4G to download the app. Not sure if my pay-as-you-go could cope with it!

[hc4361]

You could download it over wifi

[Guilbert53]

>>>Easy Mode is specific to Samsung phones, not all Android phones.

Thanks for that.

I have a Samsung phone but always assumed it was part of "stock" Android.

Learn something new every day.

[bainbrig]

hc: do you mean I could connect it to my home wifi and then go on-line?

Haven’t tried it but I will!

[hc4361]

Yes, indeed! My own smartphone will only connect to 3G or 4G when I leave the house, at home it is just connected to my wifi