Telstra EasyTouch Discovery 3 mobile phone

A flip phone with large buttons may look like a design from yesteryear but Telstra's EasyTouch Discovery 3 is in fact brand new. It's a 3G mobile phone specifically marketed at seniors and older Australians. Although we feel it's a little expensive, the EasyTouch Discovery 3 is a good option for those who just want basic functions.

• Telstra catering for seniors with EasyTouch Discovery 3 phone
• Telstra EasyCall 2 review

Telstra claims it worked on the design of the EasyTouch Discovery 3 for over six months, with the main focus being a simple menu for ease of use. It also put plenty of work into the physical design — the end result is a simple yet attractive case, highlighted by a gloss black finish on the front and a soft, rubber style finish on the back. The glossy finish does attract plenty of fingerprints, so you'll be constantly wiping it to keep it clean.

The Telstra EasyTouch Discovery 3 feels like a pretty well constructed phone despite being made of plastic. The flip mechanism is solid and doesn't rattle or wobble and there are no creaks in the plastic when pressure is applied. On the left you'll find external volume controls, while a camera button and a standard micro-USB charging port (concealed by a plastic flap) are on the right.

Flipping open the phone reveals a bright, 2.4in colour screen and extra large buttons below it. The buttons are easy to press, provide good tactility and sound audible feedback (a voice reads the numbers out loud when the keys are pressed) to aid hearing impaired users. The screen displays large fonts, has surprisingly good viewing angles and is easy to see in sunlight, making the EasyTouch Discovery 3 very pleasing to use.

The menu of the Telstra EasyTouch Discovery 3 is a simple list that is accessed by pressing the large OK button. A colourful icon and and large text describing each menu function aids the user experience and these descriptions are found in all sub menus. We particularly appreciated the ability to view missed calls and new messages by flipping opening the phone — there is no need to browse through the menu.

The Telstra EasyTouch Discovery 3 has excellent voice quality during phone calls. The speaker is clear and of a good quality, and the volume is louder than most other mobile phones we've reviewed. Telstra has given the phone a Blue Tick rating, which means it should deliver enhanced reception and coverage in regional and rural areas of Australia, and it is also compatible with most T-Coil hearing aids.

The Telstra EasyCall 2 is a relatively basic mobile phone but it still has a few extra features. Bluetooth connectivity means you can pair the phone with a portable speaker or wireless headset, and there's also a basic 3-megapixel camera, an MP3 player, hands-free speakerphone capability and a microSD card slot for extra storage. The EasyTouch Discovery 3 will send and receive MMS messages, has predictive text input for typing messages and comes with an FM radio, an alarm, calendar, stopwatch, calculator, world clock and a unit converter.

The Telstra Easy Touch Discovery 3 is available now for $240 outright, or $0 upfront on a $20 Telstra plan.

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