TV For Seniors: How to Choose a TV That’s Easy to Use

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man
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Best TV For Seniors

Over the years, I have been asked to recommend a TV hundreds and hundreds of times. As longtime readers know, I am partial to LG’s OLED TV because it delivers such a crystal-clear picture. But today, we are looking at this question from a different perspective: What type of TV would be best for viewers who are in their late 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond?

Yes, the picture is still important but ease of use becomes just as important as we get older and begin to struggle with new physical and mental limitations. When shopping for a TV for older viewers, the bells and whistles such as advance gaming, 8K, and Dolby Vision rarely matter. What does matter is that the TV is easy to operate, easy to see and doesn’t require much maintenance.

You also want a set that has the right screen size for your room, easy-to-understand menus, and voice control would be nice, too.

So, let’s start digging in:

TV For Seniors: Get the Right Screen Size

I love a big screen. But if your TV will be placed in a relatively small room, it doesn’t make a lot of sense. The picture could feel too overwhelming. However, a set that is too small could strain your eyes as you squint to see certain details. So here is a good rule of thumb. If you are sitting:

– 4-6 feet away: 32-43 inches

– 6-8 feet away: 43–55 inches

– 8–10 feet away: 55–65 inches

– 10–12 feet or more: 65–75 inches

Before going to the store, or shopping online, get the measuring tape out and determine where the TV will be placed and where you will sit. You will want the set at a comfortable height so the center of the screen sits roughly at eye level when you are seated. (So many homes today have their sets installed atop fireplaces but that’s a big mistake for a lot of reasons. See our article for more details on that.)

Pick a TV With Excellent Contrast

Sets with strong contrast ratings will make seeing faces and other details such as closed captioning text much easier on aging eyes. And guess what? That LG OLED (and other OLED sets) are noted for their excellent contrast levels. Top quality LED/LCD sets from companies such as Sony and Samsung are also good.

Those sets will also provide enough brightness on screen in case the room has windows or bright lamps.

If a set boasts that its accessibility settings can increase closed captioning text size, that’s another plus for seniors looking for a TV.

If you’re shopping in a store, don’t get intimidated by all the fancy terms such as 8K, Dolby Vision or HDR. You’re looking for a TV with a decent picture that’s easy to use for a good price. Everything else is noise.

Choose a Simple Interface, Menu and Voice Control

Some Smart TVs are so complex with multiple menus that they will make you feel dumb the minute you try to use them. If you’re in the store, ask the salesperson to let you use the remote so you can get a feel for what it’s like to use it.

However, even if the Smart TV’s menus seem too complicated for you, there’s a backup. You could install a Roku or Amazon Fire TV streaming device to the TV’s HDMI port and use their menus and interfaces. Both are much simpler to use than the average Smart TV. (See our article on how to connect a Roku or Fire TV.)

You also will want a TV remote that has large and/or well spaced out buttons which you can see easily without ‘readers.’

Finally, if the set has voice control, such as a built-in Alexa or Google assistant, it’s even better. Voice control allows you to command the TV by just speaking rather than fiddling around with on-screen menus. You can adjust the volume, search for shows or even call up apps such as Netflix or Hulu. Test the TV’s voice recognition feature if you’re in the store.

A Few More Tips:

•  The best TVs for seniors will come with a simple ‘Input’ or ‘Source’ button so switching between programming sources (satellite, streaming, etc.) is done with the touch of the button.

•  When trying out the TV remote in the store, make sure the buttons are large enough to read in dim lighting and are well spaced out. You might also want to consider buying a universal remote that’s designed with larger buttons. For example, there is the Flipper Big Button Remote (see Amazon link), the EZclicker Big Button remote (see link) and the EasyMote (see link).

If you’re looking for specific models, I haven’t tested every TV on the market. But PC Guide has tested quite a few and has picked an LG OLED as the best TV for seniors. See this link for more information. 

Buying a TV can be an intimidating experience. However, you can keep it simple by focusing on what will make using it simple.

Happy viewing and stay safe!

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The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.