14 Well-Rated USB-C Gadgets That Would Be Useful For Seniors

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If you’ve ever needed technology built with accessibility in mind, then you’ll know it’s often the last priority, in both software and hardware. Devices are often built on the assumption that users have full use of their faculties — good eyesight, hearing, dexterity, and so on — making what could otherwise be a great device a frustrating purchase for you or a loved one. This can make it challenging for seniors who need smart devices or easy-to-use smartphones that account for the new challenges they face as they get up there in age. So we’ll take a look at gadgets that seniors in general might want or need.

Our primary criterion here is that a device uses USB-C and is well-rated, but that’s not the only requirement; we’ll get into more detail on our additional methodology later. “USB-C gadget” can include devices that charge with USB-C, connect over USB-C, or need it in some other capacity. With that in mind, check out these 14 USB-C gadgets that would be perfect for you or a senior in your life.

Pastigio People often get more sentimental and emotional with age. Studies seem to agree that as time slips faster and faster through your fingers, you cherish it more. So when your parents, grandparents, or whoever ask for updates and photos, it’s a big deal. An easy, more old-fashioned solution for them might be a digital picture frame, like this Frameo-powered one from Pastigio. Like so many devices these days, it has an app that lets you transfer photos and videos over Wi-Fi to give it a constantly rotating collection to display on the FHD touchscreen. However, since that might be intimidating for a senior, the picture frame also allows adding photos via external storage or over a wire.

Wired transfers on this particular model require a Windows PC. Simply connect it with a USB-C cable. Then, on the picture frame itself, go to Settings > Manage photos > Transfer from computer, and “Enable transfer from computer.” From there, the photo frame gets detected as an external storage device, and photos can be copied directly into the DCIM folder. For most seniors, it won’t be much more difficult than plugging in a USB thumb drive.

The only downside is that the Frameo-powered option we recommend is on the pricey side, at $129.99 — though it does frequently go on sale down to the $100 range. Having said that, competitors are sometimes priced even higher and may not include the same USB-C transfer capability.

Baijiali It’s surprising how long radio has stuck around in an age when most people probably prefer on-demand music streaming services and podcasts. But it’s still around, it’s free, it’s straightforward, and someone from an older generation may well prefer it. So maybe buy them a portable AM/FM transistor radio. This particular model comes with an old-style knob tuner, an extendable antenna, and a handle for carrying. If nothing else, it looks like a blast from the past with its retro plastic body and mesh-covered speaker driver.

So where does the USB-C factor in here? You can charge it over USB-C as long as you have a 5V DC power adapter. Maybe grab them a charging brick while you’re at it. Otherwise, it can be powered with a cell battery (a rechargeable one is included). It can also be used as an emergency radio, supporting shortwave (SW) frequency bands that can come in handy during emergencies. For $20, it’s a solid deal.

Omoton When you buy a mechanical keyboard designed to be spacious and comfortable to type on, the size of the print on the keys usually doesn’t change much — and no matter how well you type, you’ll likely have to look down at the keyboard from time to time. Fortunately, there are keyboards that ship with large-print backlit keys ideal for visibility as much as comfortable typing. Here’s one large-print backlit keyboard we like.

It’s a wired keyboard — so no Bluetooth or dongles that might have connection issues — with a USB-C cable and USB-A adapter. This is great, as modern computers have been gradually shifting toward USB-C over USB-A; some computers, like the MacBook Neo, don’t have USB-A at all. Backlight settings can be controlled easily with the keys above the function row. However, if you don’t want to buy a whole new keyboard, you can always grab a set of large fluorescent stickers to retrofit an existing one.

Cuhioy There are all sorts of situations where a senior might struggle to see clearly in poorly lit conditions: using a keyboard without a backlight, reading a book, working in the garage, the list goes on. This rechargeable clip-on light would work great in those scenarios and many more — anywhere you need a portable lamp that you can clip onto a nearby surface.

And best of all, it charges with USB-C. Also, the LED light can be adjusted for either bright or warm light. Since it’s an LED, the bulb should last a long time. It also works like a traditional desk lamp, with an included base you can set it down on should the clip prove too unstable alone. The manufacturer estimates a maximum of 32 hours of use with the built-in rechargeable battery, and includes a charging cable.

Shelepro Reading books as a senior can present two big challenges. One, the text can be too small, and two, the page may not be well lit. This combination magnifying glass-lamp tackles both those issues for books and newspapers, but could also be handy for the small text on medication bottles, shampoo bottles, or any other fine print. It enlarges text by five times and includes adjustable LEDs on all sides of the back to illuminate the object. The viewing window is large, about 8.26 inches diagonally, and its light weight and comfortable grip should allow for long hours of reading. The manufacturer says whatever the user is viewing should remain undistorted and clear through its Fresnel lens.

The magnifying glass charges over USB-C and has a 1,000 mAh battery inside. That should be enough for a few hours of use, though user reviews suggest you might get less than three hours on a higher brightness setting. For $19.99, this is an affordable tool that could become essential for a senior.

Reidea An open flame is obviously a fire hazard, making a household lighter a potential risk for seniors who have limited dexterity. That, and a lot of those household lighters are kind of annoying to use when you have to push the igniter and trigger together. A better solution may be a plasma arc lighter, which is easy to use, safer, effective, and will probably last a lot longer than a typical gas-powered lighter that needs to be discarded once empty.

It uses a little arc hot enough to light candles, gas stovetop burners, gas-powered water heaters, or anything else without wind blowing it out or a moving flame making it tricky to get the angle right. Once turned on, the user only has to slide the igniter forward. The arc goes out automatically after 10 seconds, preventing accidents.

It charges over USB-C. The manufacturer claims a single charge provides about 80 uses, and since it has a lithium-ion battery, it can be charged hundreds of times before it needs to be replaced. Further, it comes in a two-pack, so the user could potentially have years of usage for just $19.99.

GE A lot of people have both a smart TV and a streaming box beneath it, each with its own remote. Some streaming box remotes can be programmed to control your TV’s main functions, like volume, but usually you can’t use the TV remote to control the streaming box. That, and the remote might be small, like the tiny Apple remote with its frustrating touch circle button. Instead, someone may prefer a universal remote that can be programmed to control their television, streaming box, and potentially other devices housed under the television.

This GE rechargeable TV remote is just that: a full-sized remote with buttons on the larger side, wide device compatibility, and the ability to control a maximum of four devices. It makes connecting to these devices easy with automatic code searching and programming, so you spend less time trying to figure out how to get your device working. The only limitation is that it doesn’t control RF-only devices, so someone with a streaming stick shouldn’t get this one. Last but just as important, it charges with USB-C, so you never have to worry about replacing batteries.

Levn These days you can connect just about any wireless pair of earbuds to a smart TV. But there’s a special category of headphones you may not have heard of before: TV headphones. They’re designed for comfort, ease of use, and low latency, and they support older TVs that don’t have Bluetooth. Here’s a great example from Levn. They include their own charging base, so you can leave them plugged in and ready next to the TV. They connect over optical, 3.5mm AUX, and RCA cables — basically everything you possibly could connect over — with a Bluetooth fallback in case those don’t work. With up to 65 hours of battery life, you could watch TV for weeks before needing a charge.

These are meant to be as painless to use as possible. Just pick them up, put them on, and start watching. No need to worry about pausing and taking the headphones off during bathroom breaks; as long as you’re within range they will continue to work. They also let you cook or do chores while watching. The charging cable uses USB Type-C. And for the $89.99 price, their battery life rivals that of headphones that are much more expensive.

Logitech Though the evidence is not always conclusive on whether alternative mice like trackball mice are better for sore hands and wrists, many people swear by them. It’s worth a try if other attempts to fix your ergonomics didn’t work. Logitech’s MX Ergo S Wireless Trackball Mouse is shaped like a mouse but uses a thumb-operated trackball. Like with a trackpad, you can keep your hand in the same position and move the pointer with your thumb only. Logitech claims the mouse produces 27% less muscle strain in the forearm. Seniors struggling with limited hand mobility and/or pain from arthritis may benefit in a huge way from this.

What’s great about this mouse is it has all the modern benefits other Logitech mice do: six customizable buttons to activate smart actions, quiet clicks, a Logi Bolt USB receiver and Bluetooth support, and about four months of battery life. It uses USB-C for charging, and a one-minute charge provides a full day’s use. Our only concern about this mouse is the price: It’s $119.99, normal for Logitech’s high-end mice but perhaps unconscionable for some buyers — though it often goes on sale into the $90 range.

Canslab Speaking of pain in the hands and wrists, some everyday activities can provoke it just as badly as an unergonomic computer mouse. Automate the process with a simple, relatively affordable tool. The Canslab Ultrablade SE Electric Can Opener is our recommendation. It attaches easily to can lids, cuts along their edge (so there’s no sharp metal to hurt yourself on), and removes the lid effortlessly with a magnet when finished. Any stubborn lids that refuse to come off can be tackled with the clip. It’s quiet, safe to use, and rechargeable via USB-C. One charge will open dozens of cans.

Sure, you could always use a traditional counter-mounted electric can opener, but you couldn’t take it anywhere like this one. It claims to work on almost all cans, potentially even those extra-large cans you use for food storage. Seniors who want to keep cooking independently may no longer find this simple task limiting.

Gusever Monitoring blood pressure becomes increasingly important as we reach our twilight years. Some smartwatches can read it, but they are not clinical-grade results. Fortunately, blood pressure cuffs for doing reliable at-home tests are well within anyone’s budget. Here’s a great option. You can do a one-press test with a big, legible screen, and verbal readout. The battery allows for about 150 uses. Further, the monitor keeps track of past measurements over time and stores readings for two users. It’s a great on-the-go device thanks to the USB-C charging, too.

The manufacturer claims that the readings are “clinically validated,” and the monitor is FSA/HSA eligible. With many blood pressure monitors these days shifting to smartphone app functionality, this particular model might be preferable for seniors who just want a straightforward, no-nonsense way to get a blood pressure reading. USB-C charging also means you don’t have to worry about finding spare batteries, and you can probably use the same cord and brick you use to charge your smartphone.

Amazon Hot take incoming: e-readers are better for seniors than traditional paper books. Why? For one, they’re arguably more “ergonomic” than a book you have to hold open, especially if you’re holding it one-handed. They also let you increase the text size and change the font. And importantly, the built-in light ensures an e-reader’s screen is readable in all lighting conditions. Despite the many issues with Amazon, the Kindle Paperwhite continues to be one of the best e-readers on the market, hands down.

Going beyond the benefits we’ve already mentioned, Kindles are world-class in their accessibility options. They include a built-in Assistive Reader that reads books out loud and helps readers follow along; the VoiceView screen reader announces your options; and dark mode flips the contrast if the light mode is too hard on the eyes. And aside from all of the functionality, Kindles make shopping for new books ridiculously easy. Seniors who may be intimidated by technology likely won’t struggle much at all adjusting their reading habits to a Kindle.

Toloco It seems like percussion massage guns have rapidly grown in popularity in recent years, and for good reason: they’re an affordable, easy, and relatively safe way for someone to massage those sore spots from sleeping in an awkward position, or what have you. There are tons of options on the market. This Toloco Massage Gun is one we like.

It comes with multiple massage heads that could probably tackle just about any sore area, with different speed and intensity settings controllable from a clear interface. Once charged with the USB-C cable, you’ll get about six hours of massage time. Based on personal experience (as someone who is not a senior), having a tool like this around quickly becomes essential for managing back pain, leg pain, or any other frequent problem areas that a hot compress or Tylenol can’t stave off. Our only recommendation is to not use this thing carte blanche. There are definitely wrong ways to use it that could possibly lead to injury.

Etekcity Keeping track of your weight is easy with just about any scale, but we’d argue smart scales definitely facilitate the process, especially if a senior is trying to keep track of their weight over the long term and look at it in aggregate. Affordable smart scales, like this one, even sync with your smartphone. USB-C charging makes it a lot better than those battery-powered scales that go dead when you need them most and force you to hunt around for spare batteries. One charge should last six to eight months, and recharging only takes a few hours.

One huge upside to the scale is that it doesn’t report its metrics exclusively to a proprietary app; through Etekcity’s free VeSync app, you can also send your weight automatically to Samsung Health, Apple Health, or whichever major health tracking app ecosystem you use. Rather than having to squint or contort to see the results, your weight will go straight to your phone for you to check on at your leisure. The manufacturer also claims it measures other body metrics like body fat and BMI. It’s also worth noting that this scale has sold over 150,000 units and maintains a 4.7-star average on Amazon, which is really, really impressive for an Amazon product.

PeopleImages/Shutterstock We didn’t want to pigeonhole or stereotype seniors when making this list. So we kept our focus very broad, looking at things those of advanced age in particular might benefit from and enjoy. We chose USB-C gadgets (often USB-C-charged ones) because, frankly, USB-C is just better and easier to use than USB-A. That, and it’s far more convenient to have everything work with a single cable.

We put major emphasis on accessibility here. Items for this list should be easy to use, requiring minimal to no setup, and (ideally) not requiring a senior to call a tech-savvy relative for help — though we weren’t afraid to mention devices that do support some smart functionality for the seniors who want that. Everything on this list had to have at least 100 reviews and a minimum 4-star average, though in every case they well surpassed that. Think of this as both a recommendation list for gift-buying and a point of inspiration for a senior in search of USB-C gadgets.