In the fall of 2022, Apple announced the debut of its 14th iPhone series. As with previous iPhone releases, the announcement caused a flurry of excitement amongst Apple users. On September 7, Apple released the iPhone 14, the iPhone 14 Pro, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. October 7 saw the release of the iPhone 14 Plus.
Now that the phone has been out for a couple of months, the hype bubble has burst and reviews are pouring in. Users and tech reviewers have had time to appraise and interact with the new iPhone. Many have offered praise, while others have expressed disappointment.
In this article, we will offer our take on this new iPhone series. In particular, we will assess how the iPhone 14 is (and isn’t) accessible.
Accessibility Features
All iPhone 14 devices run on the iOS 16 operating system. As such, they use iOS 16’s numerous accessibility features. These features account for a variety of ability levels amongst iPhone users.
For example, iOS 16’s accessibility features provide accommodations for differing levels of vision. These include:
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VoiceOver, which gives audible descriptions of what’s on the screen
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Zooming in and out
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Motion adjustments to accommodate sensitivities
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Size-adjustable icons
Features that accommodate potential physical needs include:
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FaceID
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Voice control
iOS 16 can also accommodate various levels of hearing. These features include:
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Compatibility with Bluetooth hearing aids
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Subtitles and captions
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LED light alerts
These features help Apple set a standard for smartphone accessibility. In this regard, the iPhone 14 goes above and beyond for users of various ability levels.
Dynamic Island
One of the newer features of the iPhone 14 is what’s called “Dynamic Island.” Dynamic Island is an interactive interface found only in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.
Located in the pill-shaped cut-out at the top of the screen, it’s a central hub for system alerts and a convenient way to minimize and toggle through multiple apps at once. Dynamic Island’s minimized app widgets show condensed relevant details. For example, a minimized timer app will conveniently display the remaining time at the top of the screen.
As far as accessibility goes, Dynamic Island helps with the navigability of the new iPhone. It’s an engaging and user-friendly interface that has received positive reception. It has also received positive feedback from users regarding its adherence to accessibility standards.
However, Dynamic Island does have some accessibility limitations. As Nick Babich notes in his review of the software:
Dynamic island has a relatively small size, and it doesn’t allow designers to play with the size of the elements to create decent content sections. For example, it can be challenging to distinguish the album cover in the image below, especially if you have poor eyesight.
Design
The designs of the iPhone 14 model series don't differ much from those of the iPhone 13. The main difference is the variety of colors and the bigger size of particular models.
The larger size is particularly apparent in the 14 Plus and 14 Pro Max. Both phones are huge at 6.3 by 3.1 by 0.3 inches and weights ranging from 7.2 to 8.5 oz. This can be both a pro and a con when it comes to accessibility.
On one hand, a bigger screen can be better for visual accessibility. With a larger display, individuals with various levels of sight have more room to see what’s on their phone screen.
On the other hand, the phone’s size may contribute to its inaccessibility. According to a review by Forbes, they are “not suitable for smaller hands.” Phones this size don't take users with physical impairments into account.
Price point
The price of the iPhone 14 varies based on its model. Here’s an overview:
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iPhone 14 starts at $799
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iPhone 14 Plus starts at $899
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iPhone 14 Pro starts at $999
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iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1099
As with previous generations, there’s no getting around the fact that the iPhone 14 is expensive. Even with the availability of payment plans, it still adds up to a lot.
Now, for the most part, you get what you pay for with these phones. But the cost isn’t exactly what you could call accessible.
In conclusion
Despite some imperfections, Apple has made incredible strides in accessibility with the iPhone 14. It provides users of all abilities with a friendly and manageable smartphone experience. Hopefully, Apple will continue this momentum with future iPhone releases.
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