Accessibility features make tech simpler and more comfortable to use. They’re designed to help people with visual, hearing, mobility, or cognitive challenges get the most out of their phones, laptops, and PCs.
Whether it’s making text easier to read or reducing the need to use a keyboard, there are accessibility tools for all kinds of situations. The exact features depend on the device and operating system you’re using, so there’s plenty to discover. To help you out, this guide will take you through everything you need to know, including:
iPhone accessibility features and how they work.
Android phones accessibility settings across various brands.
Windows 11 accessibility tools for laptops and PCs.
The differences between iPhone, Android, and Windows accessibility.
Tips on choosing the right device.
iPhone accessibility features explained
Apple’s accessibility settings are built directly into iOS, so they work consistently across apps and menus. Once you get used to how things work, you can move between tasks on your iPhone and MacBook without having to relearn anything.
You’ll find everything in Settings > Accessibility, grouped into four areas:
Vision
Hearing
Mobility
Cognitive tools
Here’s a simple breakdown of the most useful options in each group, and what they can help you with:
Vision and screen tools
These are designed to make your screen easier to see, follow, and interact with. They’re especially useful if you feel that text looks too small, or layouts feel too cluttered:
VoiceOver. Reads everything on screen aloud and lets you control your iPhone using simple swipe and tap gestures.
Zoom. Magnifies parts of the display so text, images, and buttons are easier to view and interact with.
Display and text size. Improves readability with options like bold text, higher contrast, and reduced motion effects.
Hearing support
This support helps makes sounds, calls, and alerts easier to follow. It can also add visual alternatives when audio isn’t enough.
Live captions. Converts spoken audio from calls and videos into real-time on-screen text.
Sound recognition. Detects important sounds like alarms or doorbells and sends a visual notification.
Hearing device support. Connects compatible hearing aids directly for clearer calls and improved audio quality.
Voice and mobility control
These controls give you more ways to use your iPhone without relying on standard touch gestures.
Voice control. Allows you to operate your phone entirely by speech, from opening apps to sending messages.
AssistiveTouch. Replaces complex gestures with an easy on-screen control menu.
Switch control. Lets you navigate using external switches or adaptive devices such as buttons and foot pedals.
Cognitive support
This support helps reduce distractions and makes everyday tasks feel simpler and more manageable.
Guided access. Keeps your iPhone locked to a single app so you can stay focused on one task.
Speak selection. Reads highlighted text aloud, so you can listen instead of reading.
Predictive text. Suggests words as you type to make messaging faster and easier.
Android accessibility features explained
Android is Google’s mobile operating system, found on big name phones like Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel. It comes with a strong set of built-in accessibility features designed to make your phone easier to see, hear, and control.
The exact layout can vary by brand, but you’ll usually find everything in Settings > Accessibility, with options grouped into different categories. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most useful features and what they help with:
Vision and screen tools
These tools are designed to make your screen easier to see, follow, and interact with:
TalkBack. Reads everything on screen aloud and guides you through apps, menus, and settings using spoken feedback.
Screen magnification. Lets you zoom into parts of the display so text, images, and buttons are easier to see.
Colour and display adjustments. Includes options like colour correction, high contrast text, and display tweaks to improve visibility.
Hearing support
These features make it easier to understand and respond to what’s happening on your device:
Live caption. Automatically adds captions to videos, podcasts, voice messages, and calls in real time.
Sound notifications. Alerts you when important sounds are detected, like alarms, doorbells, or appliances.
Hearing device support. Connects compatible hearing aids and audio devices for clearer calls and improved sound quality.
Voice and mobility control
This gives you more flexible ways to use your phone without relying on standard touch gestures.
Voice access. Lets you control your phone using speech, for tasks like opening apps and typing messages.
Switch access. Works with external switches or adaptive devices to help you navigate your phone differently.
Accessibility menu. Adds a simple on-screen menu with quick access to common actions and controls.
Cognitive support
This helps reduce distractions and makes it easier for you to interact with your device.
Select-to-Speak. Reads selected text aloud so you can listen instead of reading.
Reading mode. Reduces clutter on screen and lets you adjust text for a more comfortable reading experience.
Live transcribe. Turns spoken words into real-time text, helping you follow conversations more easily.
Windows accessibility features
Windows 11 comes with a wide range of accessibility tools built in. You’ll find them in Settings > Accessibility, where they’re grouped into vision, hearing, and interaction tools. Here’s a round-up of what’s available:
Visual accessibility
If you’re reading text, working across documents, or just want things clearer on screen, Windows gives you these helpful options:
Narrator. Reads text, buttons, and on-screen elements aloud. It also lets you navigate using keyboard controls instead of a mouse.
Magnifier. Zooms into parts of the screen so you can focus on detail without losing your place.
High contrast and text scaling. Makes text stand out more and increases size across Windows.
Hearing support
These features help you follow along when audio isn’t easy to hear or understand - especially in calls, videos, or busy environments.
Live captions. Turns spoken audio into real-time text across videos, calls, and system sounds.
Speech-to-text tools. Converts spoken content into written text so you can follow along or review it later.
Mobility and interaction
If typing or using a mouse takes effort, Windows offers different ways to reduce strain.
Voice access. Lets you use speech to control your PC, and do things like opening apps and writing documents.
Sticky keys and filter keys. Makes keyboard shortcuts easier to use and helps avoid accidental key presses.
On-screen keyboard. Gives you a full keyboard layout on screen for touch or mouse input.
iPhone vs Android vs Windows - accessibility compared
iPhone, Android, and Windows all come with great built-in accessibility features – and each platform has its own strengths.
iPhone is known for making things clear and consistent.
Android phones give you more flexibility to customise things.
Windows 11 accessibility features are tailored for larger displays.
The table below compares the key accessibility features across each platform, so you can quickly see which one matches the way you use technology.
| Feature | iPhone (iOS) | Android | Windows 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen reader | VoiceOver reads on-screen content aloud with gesture controls | TalkBack provides spoken feedback and gesture navigation | Narrator reads text, menus, and system content |
| Screen magnification | Zoom and magnifier app for system-wide enlargement | Magnification tool provides shortcuts and gestures | Magnifier with full-screen, lens, and docked modes |
| High contrast & colour filters | Display filters, colour inversion, and contrast adjustments | Colour correction, colour inversion, and contrast settings | High-contrast themes and colour filters for colour blindness |
| Voice control | Voice control allows full device navigation by voice | Voice access enables hands-free navigation and typing | Voice access allows app control and text input |
| Hearing accessibility | Sound recognition, subtitles, hearing device support | Live Caption, amplified audio, hearing aid compatibility | Live Captions, mono audio and caption customisation |
| Assistive touch / alternative input | AssistiveTouch enables gestures without physical buttons | Switch access and custom controls | On-screen keyboard, eye control, switch support |
| Text size & readability | Dynamic text, bold text, reading focus options | Adjustable font size, display scaling | Text scaling, cursor size, reading enhancements |
| Ease of setup | Centralised accessibility menu in Settings | Accessibility menu varies slightly by brand | Dedicated accessibility section in Settings |
| Best suited for | Users wanting consistent, system-wide accessibility | Users that like to customise their setup | Users needing advanced desktop-level accessibility |
FAQs
Which devices are best for accessibility?
It depends on what matters to you. Phones like iPhone 17, Samsung Galaxy S26, and Google Pixel 10 make voice control and screen readers easy to access. Larger laptops like the LG gram 17, Samsung Galaxy Book5, Microsoft Surface Pro, and MacBook Neo have more space for customised display settings.
What accessibility features does iPhone have?
iPhone includes VoiceOver, Live Captions, Voice Control, AssistiveTouch, Magnifier, and hearing support. These features are built directly into iOS, and designed to work smoothly across apps. You won’t have to download or set up anything extra.
Is Android more accessible than iPhone?
Android isn’t necessarily more accessible, but it is more flexible. It gives you more customisation options and supports a wide range of devices. iPhone focuses more on simplicity and providing a consistent experience for its users.
Does Windows have accessibility tools built in?
Yes. Windows 11 includes Narrator, Live Captions, Voice Access, Magnifier, and keyboard assistance tools. They’re built into the system, so you don’t need to install extra software to start using them.
Can accessibility settings be changed?
Yes, all major platforms allow users to adjust accessibility settings. You can change text size, captions, voice control, gestures, colours, and navigation styles to match your needs, and make your devices easier to use.
Are accessibility features already included?
It’s worth checking beforehand, but these days most good mobile phones, laptops and PCs include accessibility tools by default. They’re available during setup or in the settings menus - so you can enable them without downloading extra apps or software.
Which devices are best for visual impairment?
Devices with screen readers, large displays, and high-contrast tools are best. iPhones, MacBooks, Android phones like Samsung and Pixel, and Windows laptops are popular because they all include strong accessibility features.
Need more help?
If you’d like more advice on choosing an accessible device, here’s a rundown of the best tech for visually and hearing-impaired users. It’s also worth taking a look at our phone buying guide and laptop buying guide. And if you’d like to talk to one of our expert colleagues, you can pop in-store or make a video call using our ShopLive service.
