If you're blind or partially sighted, here are some tips for choosing a phone. When choosing a phone, make sure that it has the features you need before you buy - not all features are available on every phone.
You may want to choose from phones that:
Have a touchscreen - with speech feedback or magnification features
Come with a physical keypad with large well-spaced buttons
Are specially designed to be easy to use, such as the Doro
Voice activation
Most smartphones (Apple iOS, Android and Windows phones) either have built-in features which enable voice control, such as Siri for Apple iOS, or you can install an app to do the same job. Voice activation allows you to:
Call someone in your phonebook just by speaking their name
Search the internet using voice commands
Dictate text messages and email messages
Open applications using your voice
Use your voice to record notes for reminders or to send as messages
General settings
Large buttons, raised tactile keys and a raised dot on the number 5 will help you navigate the keypad
Change your sound settings so you get an alert when the phone is powering up or down, or when the battery is low
Set personalised ringtones for each person so you can tell who is calling you
Choose one touch or speed dialling for the ability to call people easily
Use a Bluetooth headset so you can answer your phone easily without having to find it
Physical or touchscreen buttons that vibrate or make a sound when pressed let you know when you've pressed something
Use a camera with zoom settings to magnify text and images - take a picture or video then pinch the screen to magnify it
Predictive texting or a predictive typing app will limit the amount of typing you have to do
Accessibility settings
Most smartphones have a section in the settings called Accessibility where you can find some helpful features which allow you to:
Change the font to a larger size or easier-to-read font
Improve the screen contrast by reversing the contrast or changing the colours
Increase back lighting or, for those who need limited glare, turn down the screen light
Turn on magnification gestures if large text or pinch to zoom is not enough enlargement for you
Find out what is happening on the screen with speech output. Try Voiceover for Apple devices or Talkback for Android
External keyboard
There are lots of Bluetooth keyboards available that connect to your phone without using cables. This may make typing easier.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) can provide more information about mobile phones for people with sight impairments - call them on 0303 123 999.
Visit an O2 store and speak to us for help with choosing a handset with all the features you need.