There are 50$ smart phones that could do that …

There's more "cost" to an 81 y/o person picking up their first smartphone than just the money they'll be spending.

Well context is important and this was in directly response to the (spurious strawman) claim that if you can't spend $500 on a phone then you are excluded from society.

Yea I'd argue even less. You can get a used android phone w/ shipping for $15 on ebay. A new android phone for $30!

That's the price of one meal at a restaurant...