Are there any phones designed specifically for people with sight loss?
There are some smartphones specifically with blind and partially sighted people in mind. At the time of writing (January 2024) the four most popular versions are:
- Synapptic phone
- Blindshell
- RealSAM Pocket
- SmartVision 3
The first three phones use a touch screen. The Synapptic is designed to be used by people who prefer larger text or who need speech or a combination of both. The Blindshell phone is designed for those who need speech only. RealSAM Pocket is designed to make reading the latest newspapers, magazines and books easier. SmartVision 3 is designed for users who prefer a numeric keypad to operate their smartphones instead of a touch screen.
Whilst these phones are designed to be a little easier and simpler to use than standard smartphones, it is done so at the compromise of features. For example, all these phones make it very easy to make phone calls and send and receive standard text messages. RealSAM Pocket even has more features as it comes with a range of assistance features including video access to Be My Eyes volunteers, a magnifier, reminders, navigation assistance and an emergency support function. However, you might not get the full experience when using social media or browsing websites.
You will need to decide if the simplicity of making calls and texts is what you want, or if the other features such as video calls and music etc is more important. If this is the case, then maybe a mainstream smartphone is for you.
