Understanding Smartphones & Tablets: A Beginner's Guide

"My grandchildren bought me a smartphone last Christmas, but I was afraid to use it — what if I pressed the wrong button?" If that sounds familiar, this guide is written for you.

Millions of Kenyans over 50 are discovering that smartphones and tablets are not as complicated as they first appear. Once you understand a few simple basics, these devices can open up a whole new world of connection, convenience, and confidence.

A smartphone is a small, powerful computer that fits in your pocket. It can make phone calls, send messages, take photos, play music, browse the internet, and much more. Think of it as a telephone, camera, radio, newspaper, and bank — all in one small device.

A tablet is like a large smartphone, but usually without a phone SIM card. It has a bigger screen — similar to a small book — which many seniors find easier on the eyes. Tablets are wonderful for video calls with grandchildren, reading the news, and watching videos.

Don't worry — there are only a few buttons on a smartphone, and each one does a specific job. Here is what you need to know:

• Power button (on the side): Press once to wake the screen. Hold for 3 seconds to turn the phone on or off. This is usually on the right side of the phone.
• Volume buttons (on the side): Press the top button to make sound louder. Press the bottom button to make it quieter. Very useful during calls.
• Home button (at the bottom of the screen or below it): Press this to go back to the main screen from anywhere. It is your "safe" button — nothing bad happens when you press it.
• Back button: On Android phones, this takes you one step back — like going back a page in a book.
• Charging port (at the bottom): This is where you plug in the charger cable. Most modern phones use a USB-C or micro-USB cable.
• Camera (at the back and front): The back camera takes normal photos. The front camera takes selfies and is used for video calls.
• SIM card slot (on the side): This is where your Safaricom or other network SIM card goes. It is already inserted when you buy the phone.

The screen of a smartphone responds to your finger. Here are the basic gestures you need to know:

• 👆
  Tap — Touch the screen once with your finger, then lift it. This is how you open apps, press buttons, and select things. Like pressing a doorbell.
• 👆👆
  Double-tap — Tap the screen twice quickly. Some apps use this to zoom in on photos or maps.
• 👆↕
  Scroll — Place your finger on the screen and slide it up or down. This is how you read long pages or browse through a list — like turning pages in a newspaper.
• 🤏
  Pinch to zoom — Place two fingers on the screen and move them apart to make text bigger, or bring them together to make it smaller. Very useful for reading small text and viewing photos.
• 👆⟶
  Swipe — Slide your finger left or right to switch between photos or pages.
• ⏱️
  Press and hold — Touch the screen and keep your finger there for 2–3 seconds. This often shows you extra options or lets you move apps around. On many phones, this is also how you remove an app from the home screen.

Making phone calls on a smartphone works just like a regular phone — but the "buttons" are on the screen instead of physical buttons.

How to Make a Call

• 1
  Find and tap the green phone icon on your home screen. This opens the dialler.
• 2
  Tap the numbers on the screen keypad to enter the phone number you want to call.
• 3
  Tap the green call button (phone receiver icon) to start the call.
• 4
  When you are done, tap the red button to end the call.

How to Answer an Incoming Call

• 1
  When the phone rings, the screen will show the caller's name or number.
• 2
  Swipe the green button to answer — or tap it, depending on your phone model.
• 3
  To decline a call, swipe or tap the red button.

WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in Kenya. It lets you send text messages, voice messages, photos, and make video calls — all for free when you have internet data or Wi-Fi.

How to Send a WhatsApp Message

• 1
  Open WhatsApp (the green icon with a white phone).
• 2
  Tap on the name of the person you want to message from your chat list, or tap the pencil/compose icon to start a new chat.
• 3
  Tap the white text box at the bottom and type your message using the on-screen keyboard.
• 4
  Tap the green send button (arrow) to send the message.

How to Send a Voice Message (Easier than Typing!)

• 1
  Open a WhatsApp chat with the person you want to message.
• 2
  Press and hold the microphone icon on the right side of the text box.
• 3
  Speak your message clearly while holding the microphone button.
• 4
  Release the button to send — the voice message will be sent automatically!

Your smartphone can be adjusted to be much easier and more comfortable for you to use. Here are the most important settings for seniors:

When choosing a phone, seniors in Kenya should look for a large screen, good battery life, a loud speaker, and a reasonable price. Here are some excellent options available in Kenya in 2026: