Selecting an iPhone for blind or low vision users
Some things to consider
If you are planning to help someone who is blind or has low vision to select an iPhone or considering buying one yourself, before beginning to look at iPhone models it's important to ensure that the user will be able to use the phone effectively. iPhones can be fantastic tools for many visually impaired people, but people with little or no useful vision need to make a significant effort in learning to use the VoiceOver interface for the blind. If the user has sufficient sight to read the phone screen, then they will probably be able to use the phone the way that fully sighted users do, with some minor adjustments to text sizes and other display changes that can be made in the Settings / Accessibility menu. If the user will need to use VoiceOver, it is important to assess their ability to learn and remember the gestures and also that they have the dexterity to perform the gestures. VoiceOver gestures are not obvious and they will only be remembered if they are used frequently. It is vital that a VoiceOver user has a need to use the phone frequently in order to retain VoiceOver skills. If that's not the case, then other, simpler solutions will be more appropriate for most people.
Apple,from 12 September 2023, sells the iPhone models listed below - the price given here is for the smallest memory version); you will be able to find discontinued iPhone models from other suppliers. Be aware that Apple usually announces new numbered iPhone models every September and prices of the current phones usually fall as soon as the new phones are launched. Consequently, I don't recommend buying a numbered iPhone in late summer unless you are desperate. Updates to iPhone SE are less frequent, maybe in the spring, and there is no certainty that any new SE model will appear. Based on previous launches there may be a new iPhone SE launch in spring 2024.
Current iPhone models available from Apple
iPhone SE, introduced in March 2022, sometimes known as 3rd generation iPhone SE to distinguish it from earlier models with the same name;
£429 for 64 Gigabyte; A15 chip; 4.7 inch screen. (the same screen size as the iPhone 8)
iPhone 13, introduced in September 2021;
£599 for 128 Gigabyte; A15 chip; 6.1 inch screen.
iPhone 14, introduced in September 2022;
£699 for 128 Gigabyte, A15 chip, 6.1inch screen.
iPhone 14 Plus, introduced in September 2022;
£799 for 128 Gigabyte, A15 chip, 6.7 inch screen.
iPhone 15, introduced in September 2023;
£799 for 128 Gigabyte, A16 chip, 6.1inch screen.
iPhone 15 Plus, introduced in September 2023;
£899 for 128 Gigabyte, A16 chip, 6.7 inch screen.
iPhone 15 Pro, introduced in September 2023;
£999 for 128 Gigabyte, A17 Pro chip, 6.1 inch screen.
iPhone 15 Pro Max, introduced in September 2023;
£1,199 for 128 Gigabyte, A17 Pro chip, 6.7 inch screen.
Some personal thoughts
The iPhone SE, Apple's lowest price iPhone, is well specified and may be the iPhone of choice for VoiceOver users who don't need to read the screen and are happy with its smaller screen. You may also be able to buy a refurbished iPhone 13 mini from other suppliers at a lower price than iPhone 13; this is a similar size to iPhone SE, uses FaceID and is identical to iPhone 13 except for its smaller size. However, low vision users, who want to read the screen may prefer iPhone models with larger screens. The correct screen size for a user can best be determined by sampling different size screens in your local Apple Store where staff will be able to assist with changing text sizes and other display changes. As well as larger screens, the more expensive iPhones have additional capabilities, but these may not be of particular significance to basic users. For example, the LIDAR feature on the Pro models is similar to the system that helps guide driverless cars and can be used for some additional features in the Magnifier app. These include door detection and people detection. The SeeingAI app has also used LIDAR in some of its features. In my opinion, these LIDAR features alone are unlikely to be sufficiently useful for mst users to merit the high cost of Pro models for most blind and low vision users.
The iPhone SE doesn't support a feature that guides blind and low vision users to a mislaid item marked with an AirTag. All the other current iPhone models have this feature. Being without the feature isn't so bad, though, for those of us who constantly misplace stuff. All the current iPhones give approximate AirTag locations, such as a street address or letting you know it is nearby and can instruct an AirTag to play a sound to help in hunting for it when it is nearby.
The differences between the iPhone 13 and 14 are relatively minor to most blind and low vision users. Improvements in the iPhone 14 and 15 include a better camera, the ability of the phone to detect and react to car crashes and the ability to send SOS messages over satellite when mobile signal is unavailable. This feature is not available in all countries. Apple's description of emergency SOS lists current availability which does include the UK.
The iPhone 13 could be the best value iPhone for low vision users wanting a 6.1 inch screen and the iPhone 14 Plus could be the best value for users who want a 6.7 inch screen.
The iPhone 15 range has marginal improvements over the iPhone 14 range which may be a reason for some to choose those models. Also bear in mind that the iPhone 15 range will probably be supported by Apple for at least one year longer than the older iPhone 14 range; if you like to hold on to your iPhone, then the additional cost of the iPhone 15 range may be worthwhile for that extra year and, of course, you will get a better price for an iPhone 15 model if you trade in or sell it.
Memory size will depend on your use of the phone and whether you wish to carry large quantities of media on the phone. 64 Gigabytes will be adequate for basic users. However, if you wish to carry a large music library on your phone, for example, then you will probably need larger memory.
Apple usually continues to provide iOS updates for its iPhones for around 5 years after introduction. When iOS updates cease, the phone will continue to operate but eventually, some apps will either not operate correctly or may become unavailable for old iOS versions. Also, when iOS updates cease, the phone is no longer receiving security updates. You should bear this in mind when purchasing older iPhone models.
This brings me to one final comment about the iPhone SE. The current SE was launched in March 2022, two years after the launch of the previous model. It now looks unlikely that Apple will introduce a new iPhone SE in 2024 and rumours suggest that the next iPhone SE, based on the iPhone 14, will appear in 2025. It is very unlikely that any new iPhone will have a home button so the current iPhone SE will probably be your last chance to acquire a new phone with a home button. But don't panic; the gestures that are required when there is no home button aren't particularly difficult for most people to perform. These days all smartphone manufactrers want to sell phones with the largest possible screen size that fits the case and we have to accept that buttons below the screen area are unlikely to return.