Cheapest Apple Facetime Device?

[Slowboathome]

My mum has recently gone into a care home. I want to be able to call her using Facetime, but I have a Windows PC and an Android phone.

I understand that I can receive Facetime calls on my devices but to initiate a call I need an Apple product.

What's the cheapest way for me to do this? Giffgaff currently have refurbished iPhone 6s for about £80......

[Mammasaid]

Why wouldn't you both use WhatsApp for video calling? It's platform agnostic and simple to use.

[Slowboathome]

Thanks for the suggestion!

Mum is 93. She's used Facetime on her iPad with my sisters for years - she really struggles with anything different. Even texting is beyond her now.

[somouk]

Just grab a cheaper older ipad or similar, there isn't a software solution to do it that I'm aware of as Apple want people to be in the ecosystem.

[JulianHJ]

You can get a new iPad for £319, or go second hand with any iPhone 7 or later (the oldest currently supported device) for ~£50 and up.

[Slowboathome]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Sounds like a cheap refurbed iPad or iPhone is the way to go.

Are Morgans best for that kind of thing? Or are there other reputable places?

[Rushjob]

Slowboathome said:

Thanks for the suggestions.

Sounds like a cheap refurbed iPad or iPhone is the way to go.

Are Morgans best for that kind of thing? Or are there other reputable places?

Backmarket maybe worth a look at? I've used them before and would do so again....

[Slowboathome]

Rushjob said:

Backmarket maybe worth a look at? I've used them before and would do so again....

Thanks - I'd never heard of them. They look interesting and have good reviews.

But I've gone with Morgan for now. Ipad4, A1 refurb for £80 delivered. We'll see how that turns out...

Thank you for the advice.

[Captain_Morgan]

Slowboathome said:

Thanks - I'd never heard of them. They look interesting and have good reviews.

But I've gone with Morgan for now. Ipad4, A1 refurb for £80 delivered. We'll see how that turns out...

Thank you for the advice.

While likely fine for FaceTime you should be aware that the 4th gen iPad was released in 2012, and Apple stopped releasing iOS updates for it in 2019, you might find it’s quite laggy & a number apps will no longer run on it.

I mention this just so you don’t expect quick performance or use it for any security focused tasks, should be okay for FaceTime.

[Brainpox]

4th gen iPad got iOS 10.3.3 then no updates since. I'll be interested to hear if Facetime still works!

Remember there will be a fair few apps you won't be able to install on it

[mcm87]

When purchasing refurbed always check Apples own refurb store - they replace the case/screen/battery so they arrive basically brand new.

Edit - looks like you know FaceTime works across devices but want to call. Refurb is the best option.

[Slowboathome]

Thanks for the heads up re software updates.

I'll test it out when I get it and if it doesn't do decent quality Facetime I'll send it back.

Thanks again.

[Jenny Tailor]

Bear in mind the eyesight might not be razor sharp of a person in their 90's.
So a bigger screen is better.
Just get a second hand iPad.
( Assume care home has wifi?)

[Slowboathome]

Jenny Tailor said:

Bear in mind the eyesight might not be razor sharp of a person in their 90's.
So a bigger screen is better.
Just get a second hand iPad.
( Assume care home has wifi?)

Cheers!

Mum already has a funky iPad. The cheap one is for me. Yes the care home has WiFi. I used to phone her before she went into the home, but the reception in the care home is poor.

[the-norseman]

Install Google Duo on both? My sister insists on Whatsapp video calls but often find the quality poor, where as Duo seems to be spot on between Apple and Android devices.

[Easternlight]

I was in the same situation as you when COVID started.
Bought an old iPhone 5 for £30 from the bay of E and it's been fine.
Won't do group face time but the OS is still supported, but doesn't matter as I only ever use it on WiFi and it has no personal data on it.

[CAPP0]

My iPhone updated recently to iOS 15 and under "Tips" it says this:





Now I suspect that your Mum as the Apple user would have to initiate the invitation, so appreciate that might not be feasible, but just another option to consider anyway. Maybe that was what you meant when you said you could receive FaceTime on your existing devices anyway.

[PF62]

Slowboathome said:

My mum has recently gone into a care home. I want to be able to call her using Facetime, but I have a Windows PC and an Android phone.

I understand that I can receive Facetime calls on my devices but to initiate a call I need an Apple product.

I know you mentioned calling her, but when my mum was in a care home then the care home staff were more than happy for me to give them a ring and one of the carers would initiate the call from their end (I have an iPad but I knew my mum would struggle to answer hers if I rang her).

Similarly my wife does the same thing with her mum who is also in a care home.

Try it before buying an iPad to see if it works for you.

Although it seemed to be putting the care home staff out, they seemed to prefer it as they weren’t having to deal with residents struggling to answer calls, and they could also make sure the residents iPad was charged.