Apple announces new accessibility features powered by AI for your iPhone: what you need to know

Apple Intelligence accessibility features — (Image credit: Apple)

Apple has announced a suite of new accessibility features that are powered by Apple Intelligence. These tools include VoiceOver, Voice Control, Magnifier and an Accessibility Reader that work with your iPhone.

Additionally, the company announced new eye controls for wheel chair users who have an Apple Vision Pro. Plus, the accessibility designed Hikawa Grip & Stand for iPhone comes in three new colors.

VoiceOver and Magnifier

VoiceOver and Magnifier is meant for users who are blind or have low vision. They can describe onscreen information or your surroundings using Apple Intelligence.

In VoiceOver, the Image Explorer uses AI to give detailed descriptions of images in your phone. Examples include photographs, scanned bills, personal records and other visuals.

Apple is also updating Live Recognition, which can use your camera to get a response about whats in the viewfinder. You can also ask follow-up questions to get more information.

Magnifier is a high-contrast interface that also utilizes the Action button to ask questions and receive answers. You can control the app with spoken requests like "turn on flashlight" and "zoom in."

Voice Control updates

Voice Control is getting a natural language update that lets you navigate your iPhone or iPad entirely by voice. It's supposed to let you describe onscreen buttons and controls with conversational language instead of memorizing exact labels or numbers.

You can say commands like "say what you see" or "tap the purple folder" to control your device. It's meant to make it easier to use your iPhone or get around barriers like improperly labeled elements.

Accessibility reader and subtitles

Accessibility reader is meant for a range of visual impairments from dyslexia to low vision.

According to Apple, Accessibility Reader can handle complex source material like scientific articles. It can provide on-demand summaries, built-in translation and custom formatting, font and colors to help you read better.

Additionally, Apple devices, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Vision Pro, are getting a new subtitle generation feature for uncaptioned videos. Apple Intelligence will recognize speech and generate subtitles for even videos sent from family and friends in messages.

Vision Pro wheelchair control

Apple Vision Pro — (Image credit: Future)

Designed for users of power wheelchairs, Apple has a new precision-eyetracking system for the Vision Pro that enables people to use their eyes to control the chairs. It's helpful for people who can't easily use a joystick and need an alternative drive system.

Apple says the system works in a variety of lighting conditions and doesn't require frequent recalibration.

“The option to control my power wheelchair on my own is gold to me,” said Pat Dolan, founder of GeoALS and a member of Team Gleason’s patient advisory board, who has lived with ALS for 10 years. “With this new feature, Apple is developing life-enhancing technology for the people who need it most.”

Other accessibility features

Apple has a variety other accessibility features that you may find helpful.

Vehicle motion cues: reduce motion sickness for people using Vision Pros as a passenger in cars.
Touch accommodations: New personalized setups in iOS and iPadOS
Made for iPhone hearing aids: more reliable pairing between Apple devices
Larger text: tvOS is getting larger text options for low vision users
Name recognition: Can notify deaf or hard-of-hearing people if someone says their name nearby.
Connect the Sony Access game controller to iOS, iPadOS, or macOS devices. You can configure the thumbstick, nine built-in buttons, and four external buttons or speciality switches to personalize layouts.

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Scott Younker is the West Coast Reporter at Tom’s Guide. He covers all the lastest tech news. He’s been involved in tech since 2011 at various outlets and is on an ongoing hunt to build the easiest to use home media system. When not writing about the latest devices, you are more than welcome to discuss board games or disc golf with him. He also handles all the Connections coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game since it released.