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Smartphones and tablets

An RNIB guide to the features and benefits of smartphones and tablets for blind and partially sighted people.

A photo showing 6 different types of smartphone that are available, among many others, these are laid face down and side by side on a table

Smartphones

A smartphone is a phone that can connect to the internet. 

This means they can do a lot of the same things as a computer. In addition to normal phone calls and text messages, a smartphone can connect to mobile data so you can take it outside the house and use the internet. For example, you can use a smartphone to look up bus times while you wait at a bus stop. 

Smartphones are small and portable, and many blind and partially sighted people use them to:

  • Get directions
  • Send and receive emails
  • Talk to family and friends by making audio and video calls
  • Take photos and videos
  • Find information on the internet
  • Use social media
  • Make payments
  • Listen to music, digital radio and podcasts
  • Download a wide range of useful programs and apps, such as online banking.

There are two main types of smartphones: Apple and Android. Apple smartphones are called iPhones. Android smartphones are made by lots of companies, including Samsung, Sony, LG, Huawei and HTC.

Smartphones come in a range of sizes, described as a screen size. Screen size is measured diagonally from corner to corner, and ranges from 4 inches up to 7 inches. 

Smartphones use a touch screen, and only have a few buttons (such as the power and volume controls) on the side. To get the phone to do something, you tap or flick across the touch screen, rather than pressing a physical button.

Tablets

A tablet is a small, portable computer. It can connect to your home internet (also called wireless or Wi-Fi). They use a touch screen, just like smartphones. 

Whilst they are similar in many ways, there are some differences between smartphones and tablets. Tablets have larger screens than smartphones. This can be helpful if you still have some sight but find it harder to see a smaller screen. Unlike smartphones, most tablets don’t have mobile data. This means that you can only connect to the internet at home or in public buildings where there is public Wi-Fi (such as the library), and not when you’re out and about. 

There are two main types of tablets: Apple and Android. Apple tablets are called iPads and come in a range of options, such as the iPad Pro and iPad Air. Android tablets are made by lots of companies, including Amazon, Google and Samsung.

Grants

Smartphones are available to apply for through the RNIB Technology Grant Scheme. Other items include video magnifiers, RNIB PenFriend 3, kitchen equipment, clocks and watches, accessibility software and DAISY players. Click here for more information about grants.

How to make your smartphone or tablet easier to use

There are lots of ways to personalise your device so it’s easier to use and access content on your screen. Smartphones and tablets have a range of built-in accessibility features for larger, bolder text, magnification and speech. These settings aren’t usually turned on by default, and you may need some support to change them.

How to increase the text size

If you find it difficult to see letters and numbers on your smartphone or tablet, increasing the text size might make help you access messages, emails, and other apps.

How to make the text larger on an iPad or iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap on Accessibility
  3. Tap on Display & Text Size
  4. Tap on Larger Text
  5. Enable Larger Accessibility Sizes
  6. Drag the slider at the bottom of the screen to choose your preferred text size.

How to make the text larger on an Android phone or tablet:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap on Accessibility
  3. Tap on Font Size
  4. Drag the slider at the bottom of the screen to choose your preferred text size.

How to turn magnification on

Another option is the built-in magnification settings. If this is switched on, some items (such as icons and text) may appear to be ‘off screen’. To find them again, you’ll need to move around your screen with finger gestures. These are explained below.

How to enable the Zoom feature on an iPad or iPhone:

The built-in magnification setting on an iPad or iPhone is called Zoom.

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap on Zoom
  3. Enable Zoom (the top option)

This will magnify your whole screen. To move around the screen, drag with three fingers. To zoom, double tap with three fingers. To change zoom, double tap and drag with three fingers.

How to enable magnification on an Android device:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap on Accessibility
  3. Tap on Visibility Enhancements
  4. Tap on Magnification
  5. Tap on Magnification Shortcut

Now you can choose how you would like to enable the magnifier. There are four options. If you would like to use finger gestures, triple tap with one finger.

Good to know: you can also enable magnification temporarily. To turn it on, triple tap the screen with one finger and hold. When you let go, your phone will go back to its normal settings. 

How to increase the display size

You can increase the display size on your smartphone or tablet to make icons, buttons, and other items on your screen larger. 

How to make the display larger on an iPad or iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap on Display & Brightness
  3. Tap on Display Zoom
  4. Tap on the Zoomed option
  5. Tap on Set in the top right.
  6. Your device needs to restart to make the changes. Tap on Use Zoomed to restart.

How to make the display larger on an Android phone or tablet:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap on Accessibility
  3. Tap on Display Size
  4. Use the slider at the bottom of the screen to choose your preferred display size.

How to change the screen colours

You can change the screen colours on your smartphone or tablet to suit your preferences, for example if you find it easier to read white text on a black background. 

How to change the screen colours on an iPhone or iPad:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap on Accessibility
  3. Tap on Display & Text Size

From this screen you can tap to enable a range of features such as Smart Invert and Classic Invert to reverse colours on your screen. These will also reverse the colour of images and videos. You can also enable Increase Contrast to increase the contrast between foreground and background colours.

How to change the text and background colours on an iPhone or iPad:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Display & Brightness
  3. Select Dark to turn on Dark Mode
  4. Select Light if you want to turn Dark Mode off.

Dark Mode turns the background colour of your screen black and the text white. 

How to change the screen colours on an Android smartphone or tablet:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap on Accessibility
  3. Tap on Colour & Motion
  4. Select Colour Inversion
  5. Toggle the switch to turn on Colour Inversion. 

How to change the text and background colours on an Android device:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap on Display
  3. Toggle the switch to turn Dark Theme on or off.

Accessing and typing on a touch screen

It’s easy to miss buttons, icons and other items on a touch screen. Tablets and smartphones have accessibility features which make it possible to use them without relying on seeing the screen at all.

Most smartphones and tablets also come with a voiceover function or virtual assistant. This is a feature where you can talk to and ask questions or command your device to do something, such as send an email or text message. The virtual assistant on Apple devices is called Siri. On Android devices, it’s called Google Assistant.

Another key element of touch screens is how you type on them. Since most smartphones and tablets have a large touch screen with few physical buttons, they display a keyboard on the screen when you type a message. If you’re finding it difficult to type with the keyboard, you might find dictation helpful. This enables you to type with your voice and dictate text anywhere your keyboard appears. This includes messages, emails and on social media

For more in-depth information, read our guides to Apple devices and Android devices.

How to enable dictation on an iPhone or iPad:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap on General
  3. Tap on Keyboard
  4. Toggle the switch to Enable Dictation
  5. If a pop-up appears at the bottom of the screen, select Enable Dictation.

How to enable dictation on an Android device:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap on System
  3. Tap on Languages & input
  4. Tap on Virtual keyboard
  5. Tap on Gboard
  6. Tap on Voice typing
  7. Toggle the switch to turn Voice typing on.

Smartphones designed specifically for blind and partially sighted people

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.

Help with the cost of smartphones and tablets

Technology can be life-changing, but it can be expensive.

We offer grants to help with the cost of smartphones, tablets and other accessible technology that can help you live your life the way you want to. 

The RNIB Technology Grant Scheme offers grants towards a range of accessible equipment and software, including:

  • Smartphones and tablets
  • Video magnifiers
  • Kitchen equipment
  • Clocks and watches.

You can apply any time of the year online, by post or by email. 

Click here for more information about grants.

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