User experience (UX) refers to the journey users take when interacting with products, from purchasing them and using them to troubleshooting and troubleshooting issues. UX design emphasizes creating products that fulfil real needs while offering real value to the end-users.
The top smartphones for accessibility come equipped with numerous features that make using them simpler, such as VoiceOver, which narrates what’s onscreen and helps navigate apps.
RealSAM Pocket
RealSAM Pocket is a user-friendly voice-operated smartphone designed for people living with sight loss or blindness. Comprised of a Samsung handset equipped with RealSAM software that controls its user experience, RealSAM Pocket does not require any apps for its operation – its “tap to talk” button takes over 20% of its screen as its primary access point.
Real SAM Pocket offers an array of functionality, from basic tasks such as adding contacts to more advanced features such as guided navigation or labelling outdoor locations. Users can even use it as a magnifier with just the command “Magnifier,” with control over display size and invert colour options available to them. In addition, Real SAM Pocket gives access to content designed specifically for blind and partially sighted people, including talking books, newspapers and radio stations.
RealSAM Pocket can serve as both a phone and tablet, and it can also connect with hearing aids or other Bluetooth devices. Phonak hearing aids can stream audio directly into RealSAM Pocket.
RealSAM Pocket offers advanced phone features not available on an iPhone, such as text dictation and image recognition. It can connect with Be My Eyes – an app which pairs users with volunteers who can assist with simple visual tasks – while sending and receiving notifications, making it an emergency communication tool. Users can customize its appearance and functionality through the Customer Portal; additionally, a complimentary SIM card is included with this device.
Motorola G Play
Motorola is renowned for making affordable phones, and the G Play – 2024 upholds that legacy with decent performance, strong battery life, and an expansive display. It handles basic browsing, streaming, video calls, and casual game playback, pairing with Braille displays, and it has a screen reader feature. Still, those in search of more robust solutions should look elsewhere.
This phone comes equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 system on chip, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage (there’s also a microSD slot to add more). It excels at lighter tasks like emailing, browsing, and media playback but needs help handling more intensive activities such as playing games or multitasking. I experienced occasional seconds-long lag when clicking apps; it took longer than expected when multitasking; for example, when running Blind Drive, it took several seconds each time to launch successfully.
The back of the device contains a fingerprint scanner and triple camera system; an 8MP in-display selfie camera sits up front. While both sets of cameras provide acceptable results when used under good lighting conditions, low-light scenes produce grainier images than expected.
I particularly liked that this phone runs an almost-stock version of Android, as this provided me with an invaluable feature: Family Space allows parents to create an access-controlled area for children that limits screen time and app usage, with its password-protected password-protected area called Family Space providing parents a way to limit screen time for kids with apps such as Family Timer. In addition, there was an app called Device Protection that managed security by creating secure folders, setting app permissions, etc. Motorola also offers additional Moto apps, such as its tip bot and well-curated customization engine – perfect for families!
MiniVision2+
The MiniVision2+ is an accessible essential cell phone designed for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, featuring an easy-to-use physical keypad with tactile feedback for better use of features that appeal to blind individuals or visually impaired users. Google certified the device to offer both touchscreen gestures and an easy-to-use physical keypad with which the user can navigate their display; they can switch easily between these modes to access desired features.
This smartphone offers high-contrast mode and extensive text on its 5.5-inch display, as well as accessibility tools such as TalkBack, Voice Access and Magnification that can be tailored to the individual needs of users with low vision. Furthermore, Android 11 includes numerous tools designed to make life easier for those living with visual impairments.
This phone is fully accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals. It narrates everything seen on screen and can be controlled to a great extent through voice command, with a dedicated button enabling access to Google Assistant for many functions, such as calling out numbers, setting reminders, and even composing texts!
The MiniVision2+ features a large keypad with ample tactile cues, such as its distinctive OK button with a distinct texture, prominent bumps on five keys, power button and call button surfaces and unique colours and shapes that help users easily orient the device and locate keys quickly and efficiently.
Apple iPhone SE
Apple’s iPhone SE is, for many, an ideal phone with its eye-catching design and size, powerful processor, ample software features, and competitive price point.
The iPhone SE uses aerospace-grade aluminium and tough glass found on other iPhone models and is certified IP67 for water resistance. In everyday use, it feels excellent while offering exceptional software support over its lifespan.
Although the iPhone SE’s 4.7-inch display may seem small by today’s standards, its colours and brightness make outdoor use enjoyable. Unfortunately, any unused space above and below its display makes typing or viewing videos feel restricted; the A15 Bionic processor makes apps open quickly; even graphics-intensive games like Genshin Impact ran smoothly during testing on this iPhone SE model.
Apple’s iOS provides a user-friendly system for customizing the home screen layout and organizing app icons into bottom rows or separate folders. It also provides accessibility features like Magnification Gestures and double tapping the Home button to launch Siri or take pictures using the camera. Furthermore, the iPhone SE supports wireless headphones that quickly connect with Bluetooth devices.
The iPhone SE offers industry-leading security and privacy features found on newer iPhone models, such as Touch ID and Secure Enclave for fingerprint data protection; Intelligent Tracking Prevention in Safari to stop advertisers from following you across websites; and Machine Learning Photos which automatically organize photos into albums. Furthermore, this smartphone is compatible with over 27,000 Lightning accessories, such as cameras and speaker systems – offering even greater peace of mind!
Samsung Galaxy S7
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is an elegant device boasting an outstanding camera, long battery life and microSD card slot. Furthermore, it comes equipped with Samsung’s Bixby voice assistant as well as facial recognition technology to unlock it quickly – plus being water resistant!
Samsung’s once polarizing design choices finally began to improve with the S6, and much of that phone’s celebrated aesthetic remains in the Galaxy S7. Unfortunately, however, some drawbacks exist with its glossy finish, which collects fingerprint smudges quickly, as well as software, which may need to be clarified when compared with Apple iPhone and Google Nexus phones.
The Samsung S7 boasts an eye-catching Super AMOLED screen that outshines that of the iPhone 6s’ LED. It can display valuable data like time, date and battery status even when turned off; plus, its colour saturation and contrast are far superior.
As with previous Galaxy devices, the S7 offers the capability of side-by-side multitasking with two applications on each screen at once for multitasking purposes. However, this feature can be challenging to use intuitively, and overall reaction times are slightly slower than on comparable stock Android smartphones. My unit came preinstalled with 28 apps from Verizon, Amazon, Google and Samsung; these were neatly organized into folders so they wouldn’t clutter my app tray.
Samsung also introduced a feature that alerts users of incoming notifications by vibrating and making an audible sound, making this feature particularly helpful for people playing games or using applications that require them to pay close attention, such as games or email applications. Furthermore, this alert function may also serve as a helpful reminder to answer phone calls or emails for people with physical disabilities who require such reminders.