I reviewed the SMPL Photo Memory Corded Phone below and liked it a lot, but it’s no longer sold on Amazon. So I looked for the phone that does the same job today, and the closest match is the VTech SN1117 Corded Senior Phone.

Like the SMPL, the VTech has photo speed-dial buttons, so calling family is one press on their picture. It also has big high-contrast buttons, a light that flashes when the phone rings, and it keeps working when the power goes out.

If you’re caring for an older parent, finding a home phone they can use on their own is harder than it should be. Pictures on the buttons solve a big part of that, which is why the VTech is the phone I point people to now that the SMPL is gone. Below is how it compares, and where it’s different.

Big Buttons, a Flashing Ringer and Talking Digits

Like the SMPL, the VTech’s buttons are oversized and printed in high-contrast colors, so the numbers are easy to see. VTech designed it for seniors, including people with low vision or arthritis.

It also says each number out loud as you dial. That helps when eyesight isn’t what it was, because you hear whether you pressed the right key.

When a call comes in, a bright light flashes, the same idea as the SMPL’s visual ringer. You can turn up the volume in the earpiece and on the speakerphone. One difference: the SMPL went up to 85 decibels, and VTech doesn’t list a decibel figure. If your parent has serious hearing loss, try it during the first week, while you can still send it back.

The speakerphone is full duplex, which means both people can talk at the same time without the sound cutting in and out.

Photo Speed Dial: Eight Pictures Instead of Six

The photo buttons are the reason to buy this phone. The VTech has eight of them, two more than the SMPL’s six. You put a photo of each person on a button, and to call them you press their picture. There are no names or numbers to remember.

This visual cue is invaluable for those with dementia or memory difficulties who struggle to recall names and numbers. Tests show even individuals with moderate cognitive decline can successfully use photo dialing.

For more choices like this, see my guide to phones for seniors with dementia and memory loss.

If you want another photo-based option, I also demoed the big button phone with photo speed-dial for memory loss, which adds a very loud ringer and one-touch calling.

For a corded phone built around vision, hearing, arthritis and memory needs, you can also read my review of the Sacumea big button phone for seniors.

Key Features of the VTech SN1117

• Eight photo speed-dial buttons for one-touch calls
• Oversized, high-contrast buttons
• Talking digits that say each number as you dial
• A bright flashing light for incoming calls
• Adjustable earpiece and speakerphone volume
• Full-duplex speakerphone for hands-free calls
• Works during power outages on a landline

What to Know Before You Buy

It’s corded, so it stays next to the wall jack, and it needs a landline. If your parent only has a cell phone, this won’t work.

Caller ID isn’t among the features VTech lists, and the SMPL didn’t have it either. If seeing who’s calling matters to your parent, look at a phone that lists it.

My Hands-On Review of the SMPL

I tested the SMPL Photo Memory phone before it left Amazon, and what I learned is why I picked the VTech to replace it. Here’s what I found. The video shows the SMPL in use, including how to set up the photo buttons.

In my testing, the SMPL was the standout choice for senior calling needs. Setup was quick: plug it into a telephone jack and start using it. The amplified sound went up to 85 decibels, and a visual ringer lit up for incoming calls.

It ran on the phone line, so there were no batteries to run out. The buttons beeped when pressed, and the handset had a nice heft while staying light enough for arthritic hands. The owner’s manual included a template for cutting photos to the right size for the six memory buttons.

The speakerphone, mute button and volume buttons all worked as described. Its downsides were a short cord and no caller ID.

Wrapping Up

The SMPL was a great phone for seniors, and the VTech SN1117 keeps what made it work: pictures on the buttons, big high-contrast keys, a flashing ringer and calls that work in a power outage. It adds two more photo buttons and talking digits.

If your parent has memory loss and a landline, it’s a simple way to help them call family on their own. Set up the photos together on the first afternoon, and put the phone where they spend most of their day.