For the keyboard thing -- once you've got a bluetooth keyboard hooked up to the phone, you don't need to worry about a big screen for keyboard use. My partner uses a logitech bluetooth keyboard to type into their phone.

Apple it’s easy to use.

He's using android and pretty hard set on samsung, but I could talk him into something else. I think his biggest thing is a prideful independence feeling? He wants to be able to type. I agree that speech to voice could be the best option, but I don't know how to approach that conversation

I understand him not liking or using accessibility features but they can be easily learned. I hate I phones. To complicated and every app charges. Love my Note 9. I have 3 other visually impaired friends who love theirs as well. It has a pen you can take notes and adjust colors to whatever size and xontrastvwrks best. It has an accessibility button to not have to listen to all talkback as well as bixby who opens apps, etc. Bixby works like a walkie talkie. You also have google assistant. These two can each be used for texting by talking only. You can also get a DEX accessories which allows you to use your phone through your computer.

Apple has VoiceOver, Android has Talkback. They both give spoken feedback to what your finger is touching or doing but they radically change the way you interact with the phone. there is a lot to learn and a lot to gain.

As an example of the differences with using VoiceOver, normally you touch something to "DO IT" and swipe to "MOVE IT", with VoiceOver on if you touch something it will tell you what you touched (e.g. an app, or which letter on the keyboard), you now have to double tap to DO IT, to run the app or type the letter, Now because your finger is sliding round the screen to find what is there if you want to MOVE IT you now use three fingers in the screen when you swipe. There are a lot more things to learn but it can be done with help and support,

If you have a smartphone of your own then learn how to switch off the VoiceOver or Talkback feature before you learn how to turn it on, otherwise you could get stuck with it on. Learn how to use this feature yourself, it will be a lot easier if you can see what you are doing. Once you have learnt then you can be your Dad's teacher and technical support when he can't remember what three-finger-double-tap does or when to use two-finger-swipe-down.

I’m using a Bluetooth keyboard to type this reply. Super easy to use and very compact. I recommend the one by a company called Atguys. It’s very nice and I love the way it feels to press the buttons. No, I’m not sponsored by them lol I wish. I hope this helps.

Go into phone settings and see if you can change all font up a few sizes or bolden it.

Android is the way to go.

Is he using Android? Has he tried TalkBack?