4 Tech Tools Worth Learning in 2026

If you’ve got a smartphone, use video calls comfortably, and already check email without a second thought, this list probably isn’t for you. But if a bit of tech uncertainty has kept you on the sidelines, these four tools offer the most value for the time it takes to learn them.

First, some reassurance: as of 2025, roughly 78% of adults 65 and older own a smartphone, up sharply from just 61% in 2020. You’re not behind — you’re part of a wave.

1. A smartphone

Everything else on this list is easier with one. Budget-friendly options have gotten genuinely good — carriers built specifically for older adults, like Consumer Cellular, offer simplified phones and lower-cost plans without sacrificing call quality or reliability. A smartphone also puts a camera, a map, a calculator, and a way to reach family in one place, which is why it’s worth the modest learning curve even if you mainly use it for calls and texts at first.

2. Video calling

FaceTime (built into iPhones), Zoom, and Facebook Messenger’s video calling all let you see family and friends in real time, not just hear them. Most grandchildren already use one of these regularly, so learning whichever app your family prefers is usually the fastest way to more frequent, richer conversations — especially with family who live far away. Ask a family member to walk you through a call once; after that first try, most people find it becomes second nature.

3. A tablet

A tablet’s larger screen and simple touch interface make it a gentler entry point into technology than a full computer — no keyboard shortcuts or file systems to memorize. It’s excellent for reading, video calls, browsing, and photos, and budget options like the Amazon Fire HD 10 now start well under $200, putting it within easy reach. If you already have an older tablet sitting in a drawer, it’s often still perfectly capable — the fastest way to get comfortable with one may already be sitting at home.

4. AI-assisted search

The single biggest shift in web research over the past few years: you can now just type or speak a plain-English question — “what’s a good way to lower my cholesterol without medication” or “how do I set up automatic bill pay for my electric company” — into a search engine or an AI assistant like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot, and get a clear, direct answer instead of a page of links to sort through. This is a genuinely useful skill: instead of needing to know the “right” search terms, you can ask questions the way you’d ask a knowledgeable friend, and get a synthesized answer written for you.

Getting started: you don’t have to adopt every new tool at once. Pick one from this list, ask a family member or a store associate for a short hands-on walkthrough, and give yourself a week of casual practice before moving to the next. Comfort builds faster than most people expect.