Buying technology can be confusing.
There are hundreds of phones, tablets, speakers, watches, doorbells and gadgets to choose from — often with complicated specifications and features most people will never use.
At Simple Tech Guide, we think there is a better way to choose technology.
Instead of asking:
“Which product has the most features?”
Ask:
“Which product will make something easier for me?”
This guide looks at 10 types of useful technology that can be particularly suitable for beginners.
We aren’t suggesting that everyone needs all ten.
In fact, we’d recommend the opposite:
Find one problem you’d like technology to solve and start there.
1. A Simple Smartphone
📱 Useful for: Calls, messages, photographs, maps, video calls and everyday internet access.
A smartphone is probably the most useful piece of technology many of us own.
But that doesn’t mean you need the most expensive model.
For a beginner, we’d prioritise things such as:
- a clear screen
- good battery life
- straightforward controls
- reliable software updates
- sufficient storage
- good accessibility options
- a comfortable size
Don’t be persuaded by impressive specifications you’ll never use.
Simple Tech Guide tip
Choose the phone that’s easiest for you to use — not necessarily the phone with the longest list of features.
2. A Tablet
💻 Useful for: Browsing the internet, email, photographs, reading and video calls.
A tablet can be a good alternative when a smartphone screen feels too small.
The larger screen can make websites, photographs, emails and controls easier to see.
Tablets can be particularly useful around the home because they’re portable without requiring you to work on a small phone screen.
Who might benefit?
Someone who wants something:
bigger than a phone but simpler and lighter than a laptop.
3. A Smart Speaker
🔊 Useful for: Radio, music, timers, reminders, questions and voice control.
A smart speaker can be surprisingly useful even if you have no intention of creating a complicated smart home.
Depending on the device and services you use, you might say:
“Set a timer for 20 minutes.”
“Remind me at 3 o’clock.”
“Play BBC Radio 2.”
Voice control can also be useful for people who find small screens or buttons difficult.
4. A Smart Plug
🔌 Useful for: Controlling suitable electrical devices more conveniently.
A smart plug sits between a suitable appliance and the wall socket.
Depending on the product, you may then be able to control it through an app, compatible voice assistant or schedule.
For example, you could use one with a suitable lamp and turn it on without reaching the socket.
Smart plugs are also one of the simplest ways to experiment with smart-home technology.
👉 Related guide: What Is a Smart Home? A Simple Beginner’s Guide
| I want to… | Consider… |
|---|---|
| See things more clearly | Tablet |
| Use voice commands | Smart speaker |
| Control a lamp easily | Smart plug |
| Find lost belongings | Bluetooth tracker |
| See who’s at the door | Video doorbell |
| Track activity | Smartwatch |
5. A Bluetooth Tracker
📍 Useful for: Finding frequently misplaced belongings.
Small trackers can be attached to or placed with items such as keys or bags.
They work with compatible phones and networks to help you locate an item.
This can be extremely useful if you’re forever asking:
“Where did I put my keys?”
However, compatibility matters.
Some trackers work better with particular types of smartphone, so check that a tracker works properly with your phone before buying it.
6. A Video Doorbell
🔔 Useful for: Seeing who’s at your door.
A video doorbell combines a doorbell with a camera and connected technology.
Depending on the product, it may allow you to receive an alert and see a visitor from your smartphone.
Before buying one, check:
- installation requirements
- whether your Wi-Fi reaches the front door
- battery or wired power requirements
- video storage
- privacy controls
- whether useful features require a subscription
That last point matters.
The purchase price isn’t always the full long-term cost.
7. A Simple Smartwatch or Fitness Tracker
⌚ Useful for: Time, notifications, activity and certain health/wellbeing features.
Modern smartwatches can do an enormous number of things.
But beginners don’t necessarily need all of them.
You might simply want:
- a clear watch face
- step counting
- timers
- phone notifications
- activity tracking
- certain safety or accessibility features
Battery life is worth considering because some watches require charging much more frequently than others.
8. A Digital Photo Frame
🖼️ Useful for: Enjoying family photographs without printing them.
Digital photo frames have become considerably more useful than the early versions.
Some connected models allow photographs to be added remotely.
That can make them particularly interesting for families.
For example, relatives may be able to send new photographs to a compatible frame without its owner having to transfer files manually.
For the right person, that’s technology solving a genuine problem.
9. A Streaming Device
📺 Useful for: Watching streaming services and adding features to compatible televisions.
You don’t necessarily need to replace an entire television to access modern streaming services.
A relatively small streaming device may add services and features to a compatible TV.
The important question for beginners isn’t which device supports the greatest number of services.
It’s:
Does it support the services I actually watch, and is the remote/control system easy for me to use?
10. A Power Bank
🔋 Useful for: Charging your phone when you’re away from a socket.
This isn’t particularly exciting technology.
But it can be extremely useful.
A portable power bank stores electrical energy that can be used to recharge compatible devices when you’re away from a normal power socket.
It can be useful for:
- days out
- travelling
- long journeys
- emergencies
- older phones with weaker batteries
Make sure the power bank and charging cable are compatible with your device, and buy electrical products from reputable retailers and manufacturers.
Don’t Buy Technology Just Because It’s “Smart”
This is one of our most important recommendations.
A product having Wi-Fi, an app or artificial intelligence doesn’t automatically make it better.
Sometimes the simplest product is the best one.
Before buying a new gadget, ask yourself:
1. What problem does it solve?
You should be able to answer this in one sentence.
2. Will I actually use it?
A £30 device used every day may offer more value than a £500 device left in a drawer.
3. Is it easy enough for me?
Don’t assume you’ll “get used to it” if it already seems unnecessarily complicated.
4. Will it work with what I already own?
Check compatibility before buying.
5. Are there additional costs?
Look for subscriptions, accessories, cloud storage or other ongoing charges.
6. Will it continue receiving security updates?
This matters particularly for internet-connected products.
Before You Buy New Technology
✓ What problem will it solve?
✓ Will I actually use it?
✓ Is it easy to operate?
✓ Does it work with my existing devices?
✓ Does it need a subscription?
✓ Are accessories required?
✓ How long will it receive updates?
✓ Can I return it if it isn’t suitable?
What Technology Is Best for Older Adults?
There isn’t one device that’s automatically “best for older people.”
People have different eyesight, hearing, dexterity, confidence, experience and requirements.
Instead, useful features to investigate can include:
- larger text
- high-contrast displays
- adjustable volume
- simple navigation
- voice control
- emergency features
- long battery life
- physical buttons where helpful
- accessibility settings
Our Accessibility & Health Technology section explains these types of features in more detail.
The objective shouldn’t be to give somebody “technology for older people.”
It should be to find technology that suits that particular person’s needs.
Should Beginners Buy the Cheapest Technology?
Not automatically.
Very cheap technology can sometimes mean compromises in build quality, software support, security updates or ease of use.
But expensive doesn’t automatically mean better either.
For beginners, we generally favour:
simple + reliable + supported + suitable
over:
expensive + complicated + packed with unnecessary features.
How Simple Tech Guide Will Recommend Products
This is worth establishing from the very first Product Recommendations article, because it gives the category a clear editorial policy.
When we recommend technology, we’ll focus on:
Ease of use — Is it genuinely beginner friendly?
Usefulness — Does it solve a real problem?
Value — Are you paying for features you’ll actually use?
Compatibility — What other equipment does it require?
Ongoing costs — Are subscriptions involved?
Support and security — Is the product likely to remain properly supported?
Accessibility — Can it be adapted for different users?
We won’t recommend something simply because it’s new or fashionable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best technology for beginners?
There isn’t one best device. Start by identifying something you’d like technology to make easier, then choose the simplest reliable product capable of doing it.
What is the easiest smart technology to use?
Smart plugs and smart speakers can be relatively straightforward starting points, although ease of use varies between individual products.
What technology can help older people?
Depending on the individual, larger-screen tablets, smart speakers, video doorbells, trackers and devices with strong accessibility features may be useful.
Do I need expensive technology?
No. The best device is one that meets your needs reliably and is comfortable for you to use. More expensive doesn’t necessarily mean more suitable.
How do I know whether two devices will work together?
Check the manufacturer’s compatibility information before purchasing. Pay particular attention to your smartphone operating system and any smart-home platform you already use.
Start With the Problem, Not the Product
Technology companies are very good at telling us what their latest products can do.
That doesn’t mean we need them.
At Simple Tech Guide, we’re going to approach product recommendations differently.
Start with a real problem.
Find the simplest technology capable of solving it.
Learn to use it confidently.
Then decide whether you actually need anything else.
Technology should make everyday life easier — not give you another problem to solve.
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