Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Looking to buy a cheap iPhone to try VoiceOver. Is the iPhone SE a good option or is having a bigger screen better? (self.Blind)
submitted by ErtaySh
So, what the title says. I've been stuck with a Lumia 820 since October 2013 and that's because Windows Phone has a nice High-Contrast theme and most apps there were dark themed. But now, some of the apps I've been using don't work anymore since they've stopped updating them.
So, are there any iPhone SE users on here? Is the smaller screen a problem when exploring with VoiceOver?
So, are there any iPhone SE users on here? Is the smaller screen a problem when exploring with VoiceOver?
CVRTCOMSCATIS 3 points 4y ago
I think an SE or maybe a used iPhone 6s or later. They’ll all run iOS 11. If you have functional vision or particularly large hands you may find the plus sized models a better match.
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
I see, I've been looking at used iPhone SE models and I see they go for about $170, which doesn't seem too bad. My current phone is 4.3'', I don't think I need anything largere than that. Now, I'm not sure if the 0.3'' will make a huge difference.
CVRTCOMSCATIS 2 points 4y ago
It shouldn’t make a difference. Even if you’re hands are a bit big for the onscreen keyboard you can flick instead of dragging or use Fleksy keyboard
ErtaySh [OP] 3 points 4y ago
I've seen good things about the new FlickType keyboard, too.
CVRTCOMSCATIS 1 points 4y ago
I haven’t heard of that one. I’ll check it out. Thanks for the tip!
enjoyoutdoors 1 points 4y ago
One of the better reasons to buy a large iPhone if your vision is a bit blurry is that the Plus models are capable of scaling up the screen. Technically, they pretend to be their kid brother with the smaller screen, so that all the software renders larger on the screen.
Where I work, it's a pretty common way to accommodate older colleagues who whine about needing reading glasses to be able to answer a phone call.
But, it also works in your favour in terms of working around how vision impairment makes the use of a smartphone horrible, as long as you can actually see the screen.
So, if you feel that you can almost rely on your vision to operate a smartphone, consider making things flip over in your favour by getting a larger screen to your phone.
If you can't see the screen anyway, go with the SE. It's not only the cheapest phone Apple has in it's lineup nowadays, it's also the one that comes in the most convenient size in terms of fitting in pockets and so on.
Where I work, it's a pretty common way to accommodate older colleagues who whine about needing reading glasses to be able to answer a phone call.
But, it also works in your favour in terms of working around how vision impairment makes the use of a smartphone horrible, as long as you can actually see the screen.
So, if you feel that you can almost rely on your vision to operate a smartphone, consider making things flip over in your favour by getting a larger screen to your phone.
If you can't see the screen anyway, go with the SE. It's not only the cheapest phone Apple has in it's lineup nowadays, it's also the one that comes in the most convenient size in terms of fitting in pockets and so on.
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
I found a used 6s in good condition that I ordered. The plus models are out of my budget and too large. 4.7'' seems like a decent choice.
FlickType 1 points 4y ago
Reposting my earlier subthread comment here for easier access:
Hey there, I'm the developer of the new FlickType Keyboard, as well as the developer of the original Fleksy Keyboard. I second the sentiment of most comments here saying that screen size doesn't matter too much if you're going to be primarily using VoiceOver, although if you do have some functional vision then larger screens might offer some small additional benefit. I think you're really going to like the switch to iPhone once you get the hang of it, although I don't know much about Windows Phone accessibility.
With regards to on-screen typing with Flicktype in particular, screen size matters so little that you could even type on an Apple Watch with almost the same comfort and speed - we've built an internal prototype that worked surprisingly well.
If you're interested, you can join the FlickType beta and get the keyboard for free, by just sending an empty email $1. Just don't tell anyone else though, because we really depend on the support from paying users through the $1 ☺️
Disclaimer: I am not blind and do not regularly use VoiceOver myself, but I have a lot of experience with it.
Hey there, I'm the developer of the new FlickType Keyboard, as well as the developer of the original Fleksy Keyboard. I second the sentiment of most comments here saying that screen size doesn't matter too much if you're going to be primarily using VoiceOver, although if you do have some functional vision then larger screens might offer some small additional benefit. I think you're really going to like the switch to iPhone once you get the hang of it, although I don't know much about Windows Phone accessibility.
With regards to on-screen typing with Flicktype in particular, screen size matters so little that you could even type on an Apple Watch with almost the same comfort and speed - we've built an internal prototype that worked surprisingly well.
If you're interested, you can join the FlickType beta and get the keyboard for free, by just sending an empty email $1. Just don't tell anyone else though, because we really depend on the support from paying users through the $1 ☺️
Disclaimer: I am not blind and do not regularly use VoiceOver myself, but I have a lot of experience with it.
ErtaySh [OP] 2 points 4y ago
Hey, thanks. I'll drop you an email once I get my hands on an iphone. I watched a demo on youtube, and as a dev myself I can imagine how much work has gone into it. The demo was quite impressive, well done!
FlickType 1 points 4y ago
Thank you!
AllHarlowsEve 1 points 4y ago
It's small, but really not that unreasonable. I find the size a little small for braille screen input, but I'm also very used to my iPhone 6S.
You can definitely get used to the virtual keyboard, I used to be super fast on my 4S's keyboard.
You can definitely get used to the virtual keyboard, I used to be super fast on my 4S's keyboard.
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
I'm currently talking to a redditor that is selling is 6s, he says that the Battery Health says the capacity is at 88%. Do you mind checking your battery health, since you're using the same phone? I'm trying to understand if <90% is bad and will require a new battery, which would be an additional cost.
AllHarlowsEve 1 points 4y ago
Mine's at 77, and with literal constant usage I generally charge once during the day, at night, maybe twice during the day if I'm using bluetooth and watching videos.
I believe battery replacements are only like $30 for the 6S, fwiw.
I believe battery replacements are only like $30 for the 6S, fwiw.
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Oh, that sounds great then. Thanks!
beadaholic94 1 points 4y ago
It depends on your vision for my specific case i much prefer my SE over the larger phones
Marconius 0 points 4y ago
I love my SE. It's honestly just the perfect size for accessible phone use. I always feel like I'm going to drop any of the iPhone 6, 7, and 8 models, and the larger screen doesn't offer much to me other than making braille screen input more difficult because of the hand position you need in order to not block the phone speaker when not using earbuds. Plus, it has a fucking earphone port! Removing that has definitely been one of the dumbest decisions from Apple. The SE is just the right size, fast enough, hap a headphone jack, and is all around perfectly suited for when you don't have to look at a screen.
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Thanks for sharing your experience with the phone!
ENTJ351 0 points 4y ago
Size shouldn’t be a factor if it’s just voice over. If you are doing it alll auditorily you won’t need a big screen. Any size will be fine. The bigger size does not really make voice over more productive or efficient. I would just get yourself a bleutooth keyboard if you are worried about typing. Any important typing I do is not on screen itself. Right no`w I am composing this to you on a apple magic keyboard, the smaller one, but yeah.
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Thanks for your input, appreciate it.
ENTJ351 1 points 4y ago
Yeah, not a problem. I think any selection of apple phones is excellent and fine. I would get a SE but my only reservation is technical spects and my own needs. All of them are quite accessible to me, but I personally ask for features and a stronger processor for use so I go with regular line. I currently have a iphone 7 and don’t plan to get anything new for a few years. I was actually planning to stick with my iphone six but it got mugged right out of my hands, otherwise I would still be using a 6. I bought the 7 two weeks before the 8 came out and don’t plan to upgrade anytime in the near future. I know people who have 6s or 5s and they work fine with it accessibility wise. I am just a very advanceed iphone user, just short of coding.
multi-instrumental 1 points 4y ago
> I am just a very advanceed iphone user, just short of coding.
What exactly do you do on your iPhone? I do a lot of high frame rate video recording and audio (mostly music) work, but for anything "advanced" I definitely default to my desktop.
I use a few different Android tablets, iPhones, and iPads for the rest of my work though. Do you use a refreshable braille display?
What exactly do you do on your iPhone? I do a lot of high frame rate video recording and audio (mostly music) work, but for anything "advanced" I definitely default to my desktop.
I use a few different Android tablets, iPhones, and iPads for the rest of my work though. Do you use a refreshable braille display?
ENTJ351 1 points 4y ago
App and phone experimentation, I do some audio stuff as well, and stuff like that, not terribly advanced but much more than basic use. I like to play with apps and gage the differences and to experiment with them. Yeah, I prefer the mac but it’s interesting. I am not horribly techy, but I am there. I am no computer scientist but I dabble in computer science and the techy side of things. I know enough of it.
Yes, I do, a lot. My mainstay is a political science student, and I want to be a political scientist/politician, so yes, I read a lot and I don’t like to do it in audio so I usurp a lot of the ibooks and amazon kindle and read tons and tons on my braille display.k
Yes, I do, a lot. My mainstay is a political science student, and I want to be a political scientist/politician, so yes, I read a lot and I don’t like to do it in audio so I usurp a lot of the ibooks and amazon kindle and read tons and tons on my braille display.k
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
I have a relative coming from the US and the phones are generally cheaper in the US, so if I can manage to find a decent used SE or 6s, I'm gonna pick one up.
Sorry to hear about you iPhone 6 :(
Sorry to hear about you iPhone 6 :(
ENTJ351 1 points 4y ago
Ah, oh well it’s gone, maybe in the landfields now who knows it’s been gone a year. Pretty much, I didn’t get this phone until October though and I used my father’s 4s.which in all honesty isn’t terrible, not good but worse comes to worse it works. Not for what I want it to work for, and again that goes with what I want to do with it. It ran 9.3.3 and I needed a lot of gps and stuff that needed a newer phone. I was able to stick with it for 2 months though.
I was also in a bad part of town so.... all things considered it was my fault but eh, good learning experience, and praise the Lord nothing else happened to me and my stuff except that phone and by all means I could have been hurt. I mean It’s not as terrible as they make it out to be, it’s just a sketchy area. It’s not like how they make it out in the movies but eh. It took me six times going there to have it happen, but I am still not eager to go back for another experience hahaha! I’ve walked down the streets and be fine, I’ve wridden the bus there, ate there a few times. But yeah. Oh well.
That sounds like a good idea, I think it will be good. Those are. Still very nice phones. My friend uses a six and it is fine for him. My mother uses one, and when I use her phone things are fine.
I was also in a bad part of town so.... all things considered it was my fault but eh, good learning experience, and praise the Lord nothing else happened to me and my stuff except that phone and by all means I could have been hurt. I mean It’s not as terrible as they make it out to be, it’s just a sketchy area. It’s not like how they make it out in the movies but eh. It took me six times going there to have it happen, but I am still not eager to go back for another experience hahaha! I’ve walked down the streets and be fine, I’ve wridden the bus there, ate there a few times. But yeah. Oh well.
That sounds like a good idea, I think it will be good. Those are. Still very nice phones. My friend uses a six and it is fine for him. My mother uses one, and when I use her phone things are fine.
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