Selecting an iPhone for use by blind or low vision people

IMPORTANT - Siri AI, an upgrade which is coming soon may be relevant to your choice of iPhone:

Apple began to roll out a set of AI-based features it calls Apple Intelligence in late 2024. Apple Intelligence is available only on phones with the A17 Pro processor or later,  that is the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max and all the iPhone 16 and 17 models as well as the iPhone Air. Apple no longer sells the 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max. Apple Intelligence is also available on iPads with an M-series processor or A17Pro or later processor. It is also available on Macs with an M-Series processor and the MacBook Neo. 

Many blind and low vision users find it very convenient to use Siri, Apple's digital assistant, to control their iPhone with voice commands. Siri is great, but the current version is frustratingly low on features. In June 2026 Apple announced that Siri will receive a long-awaited full AI makeover "in the fall" on devices that support Apple Intelligence. Siri AI should allow users to do much more with their devices using natural language spoken or typed commands and initial reviews of the first test release are promising. I now have the preview of the new Siri on my iPhone 17 Pro and my initial reaction is that it is currently promising, a mix of impressive and frustrating but that's the first test version.

Although all the iPhones now sold by Apple and all iPads, except for the entry level iPad, support Apple Intelligence. Older models will continue to be available both new and used for some time so please consider the likely value to you of Apple Intelligence and its promised major improvements to Siri before purchasing a phone or tablet that doesn't support it. 

Unfortunately, there wil be two versions of the AI model which runs on iPhones, the more advanced model supporting additional features. Which model is installed will depend on the size of memory called unified memory, which is the temporary working memory used as the phone operates. 

Here's a quote from a June 2026 Apple press release.

"Apple’s most powerful on-device model and the features it enables, like expressive voices and more advanced dictation, are available on iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPad (M4) or later with at least 12GB of unified memory, and Mac (M3) or later with at least 12GB of unified memory. The model and expressive voices are also available on Apple Vision Pro (M5)."

Quote ends.

Only phones with at least 12 Gigabytes of unified memory can support the more advanced AI model. This could be significant since unreliable dictation has been a major frustration for years. More expressive voices probably won't be a must have feature but more accurate dictation might be really important for some users. It's too early to say if the basic iOS 27 on-device model will provide adequate quality dictation or whether the most advanced model which is  available currently only on a very limited set of devices is going to be essential for heavy users of dictation. I'll keep this page updated as test results turn up. In early test versions of iOS 27 the advanced dictation feature is described as a preview and is optional.

Although the current iPhone 17 has 8 Gigabytes of unified memory and cannot support the advanced AI model it has been reported that Apple is likely to equip the forthcoming iPhone 18 with 12 Gigabytes of unified memory in order that it can support the advanced AI model. The iPhone 18 is not expected to be announced until March 2027, following a launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max  in September 2026. The least expensive member of the iPhone 18 range is expected to be a forthcoming iPhone 18e. Reports aren't clear about the unified memory expected on iPhone 18e. It is expected to be announced alongside the iPhone 18 in March 2027.

Some considerations before making a decision to buy an iPhone to be used by a visually im ppaired person

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 if they want to make full use of the phone. Less demanding blind users will get by with a combination of Siri and just a few simple VoiceOver gestures but it's still important to assess whether the user will be able to remember and perform these gestures. 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 usually vital for most VoiceOver users to have 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. 

Current iPhone models available from Apple

The list below is a compete list of iPhones currently available from Apple. Before you decide on your purchase it's worth taking Apple's release cycle for new iPhones into account so you don't find yourself buying a phone that either drops in price the next week or month or which is replaced by a superior model at a similar price a few weeks after you buy it. For many years now Apple has released new major iPhone models with performance improvements over the previous range every September; prices of the current phones, excluding the entry level "e" iPhone, usually fall as soon as the new phones are announced. Apple also stopped selling some previous models, usually including the previous Pro and Pro Max iPhones and the oldest model it sold the previous year. According to Mark Gurman, a Bloomberg journalist whose predictions are uncannily accurate, Apple plans to change the way it releases new iPhone models starting in autumn 2026. The prediction is that only the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, together with a new foldable iPhone, will be released in autumn 2026 and that the iPhone 18 and possibly an iPhone 18e, the least expensive models in the iPhone 18 range, will follow about 6 months later. Mark predicts less confidently that an updated iPhone Air may be released in early 2027.

Apple usually updates its least expensive iPhone model, previously called the iPhone SE and currently called the "e" model, in March and the iPhone 17e was launched on 2 March 2026. The smallest memory iPhone 16e had 128 Gigabytes for £599. The smallest memory iPhone 17e has 256 Gigabytes for £599. The iPhone 17e now replaces the iPhone 16e which will still be available from other suppliers for some time but will, of course, have to be reduced in price.

From 2 March 2026 the iPhone models listed below are available from Apple - the price given here is for the smallest memory version); you may be able to find lower prices from other suppliers. If you require the full technical specifications of these phones do an internet search similar to "Apple Support iPhone 17 tech spec". There is also a very useful features comparison tool at apple.co.uk if you first click on iPhone at the top of the page.

iPhone 17e, introduced in March 2026;

£599 for 256 Gigabyte; A19 chip; 6.1 inch screen; Weight 169 grams. 

iPhone 16, introduced in September 2024;

£699 for 128 Gigabyte, A18 chip, 6.1 inch screen, 170 grams .
The iPhone 16 is now available from Apple only with 128 Gigabyte memory. The iPhone 16e has a 256 Gigabyte option.

iPhone 16 Plus, introduced in September 2024;

£799 for 128 Gigabyte, A18 chip, 6.7 inch screen, 199 grams .

iPhone 17, introduced in September 2025;

£799 for 256 Gigabyte, A19 chip, 6.3 inch screen, weight 177 grams.

iPhone Air, introduced in September 2025;

£999 for 256 Gigabyte, A19 Pro chip, 6.5 inch screen, weight 165 grams.

iPhone 17 Pro, introduced in September 2025;

£1,099 for 256 Gigabyte, A19 Pro chip, 6.3 inch screen, weight 204 grams.

iPhone 17 Pro Max, introduced in September 2025;

£1,199 for 256 Gigabyte, A19 Pro chip, 6.9 inch screen, weight 231 grams.

So, how to select your ideal iPhone?

Advice for low vision users

Many low vision users prefer phones with larger screens which let them view larger amounts of text at large font sizes and maybe view photos and videos more clearly. iPhones with larger screens, with the exception of the iPhone Air, tend to be heavy and also may be difficult for some people to handle. There's no substitute for checking out your phones shortlist in an Apple Store or other retailer with helpful staff. Larger screens also tend to imply larger prices of course. An excellent value for money choice is he iPhone 16 Plus with its 6.7 inch screen; this was given a price reduction of £100 to £799 in September 2025; you could buy this new or maybe save a little money by buying used from a reliable second hand seller such as Cex. in the UK. The iPhone Air with its 6.5 inch screen has 10% less battery life than the iPhone 17 and a more basic camera system. Unlike all other iPhones it has only one speaker, the earpiece speaker. Reviews suggest that the design compromises are acceptable so if the Air is your perfect combination of screen size and weight and you can accept the compromises and can afford the price tag then its the iPhone made for you. The iPhone 17 and 17 Pro both have 6.3 inch screens and would be excellent choices if their size and price suit you. All the iPhone 17 models start at 256 Gigabyte of memory compared to 128 Gigabyte in the iPhone 16 range. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is essentially a larger and heavier iPhone 17 Pro with significantly longer battery life and a huge 6.9 inch screen. If nothing currently sold by Apple meets your size requirements within budget consider buying earlier used Plus models. They won't support Apple Intelligence but if you don't plan to use Siri much that shouldn't be a problem. Consider the section on Apple's support of older iPhone models before you decide to buy, though.
If you are interested in photography then the better camera systems in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max may be of interest.  There may also be benefits for low vision users who use the phone's camera as a visual aid.

Apple has set 256 Gigabytes as the lowest memory size available on all the iPhone 17 models. The iPhone 16 range starts with 128 Gigabytes. The memory size you need will depend on your use of the phone and whether you wish to carry large quantities of media on the phone. 128 Gigabytes will be ample for basic users. However, if you wish to carry media like a large music library or many videos on your phone then you will probably need larger memory.

Advice for people with severe sight impairment

Now let's look at recommendations for people with severe sight impairment who mainly use VoiceOver and Siri and probably don't need large screens. The iPhone 17 is a great 6.3 inch screen phone at a relatively affordable price of £799. The iPhone 17e at £599 is an excellent value for money 6.1 inch screen phone with an extremely good specification; there are very few compromises over the iPhone 17 that would be important to many users and it's definitely worth considering. The iPhone 17e has now replaced the iPhone 16e, which is no longer available from Apple but the 16e will probably continue to be available from other suppliers for some time and prices have dropped since the 17e offers updated chips, MagSafe charging and twice the memory at the price Apple previously charged for the 16e. The 16e continues to be a good choice for severely sight impaired users but will probably stop being supported by Apple a year ahead of the 17e so be sure to factor this in to your decision as well as the price. I've written an FAQ outlining the differences between the iPhone 17 and 17e and there is a similar FAQ outlining the differences between the iPhone 16 and 16e. All of the iPhone 17 range would be great choices for severely sight impaired users. You can check differences between iPhone models using the comparison tool at apple.co.uk. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models have better camera systems than the iPhone Air and iPhone 17. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max also incorporate LIDAR, a technology used in driverless cars, which enables a few additional features to describe their surroundings more accurately to blind users. For example, Apple's Live Recognition feature can help locate and describe doors and furniture only on Pro models. I think it's unlikely that these LIDAR features are currently sufficient to justify the additional cost of a Pro model. If you are interested, try them for yourself at an Apple Store or other good retailer.  My personal view is that features like this are more useful in wearables and now that affordable wearables such as the Ray-Ban and Oakley Meta AI glasses are available I'd recommend spending the cash you might have spent on a Pro iPhone on the AI glasses instead. To be fair, the AI glasses don't have LIDAR but they do a great job without it. 

Apple has set 256 Gigabytes as the lowest memory size available on all the iPhone 17 models. The iPhone 16 range starts with 128 Gigabytes. The memory size you need will depend on your use of the phone and whether you wish to carry large quantities of media on the phone. 128 Gigabytes will be ample for basic users. However, if you wish to carry media like a large music library or many videos on your phone then you will probably need larger memory.

Apple's support of older iPhone models

Apple usually continues to provide iOS software updates for its iPhones for at least 5 years after introduction. The oldest iPhone range now able to use iOS 26 is the iPhone 11, introduced in 2019 along with the second generation iPhone SE introduced in 2020. Apple has now confirmed that iOS 27, to be released in September 2026 will run on all iPhones which current run iOS 26. 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 either used or new.

Want to know more about using iPhones and iPads with visual impairment?

If you'd like to receive occasional hints, tips and news for visually impaired users of iPhones and iPads in your inbox please send an email to blindiosuk@gmail.com asking to be placed on my learners mailing list. It's not an automated system so just ask to be added to my mailing list and I'll do the rest.

Please take a look at the rest of this website to learn more about the excellent accessibility features built in to iPhones and iPads. I try to give sufficient detail throughout to enable all users, including novice users, to follow step by step instructions where appropriate.

Back to home page

last updated 16 June 2026