Apple Watch Series 7 has a bigger display and bigger buttons in software.
Apple this week held its annual September event during which the Cupertino-based tech titan unveiled a slew of updates to its products and services. As always when Apple announces new products, there is much to ruminate over from an accessibility point of view. The iPhone 13, iPad Mini, and Apple Watch Series 7 are no different.
The New iPhones
In truth, the new iPhone 13 line has the least applicability when it comes to accessibility. Apple has moved away from the “S” nomenclature—the 2018 iPhone XS is the last iPhone to bear the name—but the iPhone 13 spiritually feels like an S-year update. This is not meant pejoratively; however relatively modest the iPhone 13 may be to tech writers and armchair analysts, it will be a massive leap forward for anyone coming from an iPhone 11 or earlier. In fact, my partner is still rocking the aforementioned iPhone XS and is looking to upgrade this year. The iPhone 13 should prove to be a terrific device for her, and she’s excited to get one soon.
From an accessibility perspective, anyone who’s coming from an iPhone 11 or older model surely will appreciate the new-to-them redesign of iPhone 13, carried over from last year’s iPhone 12. The flat-edged sides, MagSafe, and the OLED display all have important ramifications for accessibility—particularly for someone with visual and fine-motor limitations. It shows what is seen as ho-hum by hardcore nerds, the people who live and breathe the rumor mill and spec sheets, also has the potential to be revolutionary to those who aren’t so fanatic about their smartphone technologies. That can be especially true for a disabled person who’s looking to upgrade their older iPhone. The iPhone 13 will be super compelling to them, and rightfully so.
The New iPad Mini
Apple’s update to the littlest iPad had the biggest impact on me personally. After years of being gung-ho about using iPadOS for productivity—effectively as a laptop replacement—my enthusiasm has been curbed significantly. There are a multitude of factors for this, and is in no way an indictment of the iPad as a computer. In large part due to the pandemic, I have found myself attached to the Mac (specifically, the 2019 Retina 4K iMac on my desk) to the point where macOS feels comfortable and homey and does what I need it to do. What this means for the iPad is my shift in usage has made me yearn for a decidedly more “casual” tablet, one that I can sit on the couch with in the evening and catch up on reading Twitter or surfing the web or my Kindle books—and yes, perhaps triage email and do some light editing in iA Writer.
Besides giving me what I want functionally, the redesigned iPad Mini will be interesting to consider from an accessibility perspective. The large display in a small footprint seems like it will be comfortable to hold for longer periods, since the iPad weighs less than a pound. In addition, having Touch ID integrated into the Power button will be an interesting test of ergonomics. After years of Touch ID being at the bottom of the screen, Apple used this same trick last year with the redesigned iPad Air. While certainly a tour de force of engineering, it is more natural to reach for the bottom than it is the top. Thus, someone with physical motor delays conceivably could have trouble reaching the Power button with the right finger for authentication, etc.
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The New Apple Watch
The story here for accessibility is the larger display and the commiserate larger buttons in watchOS. On a device as small as Apple Watch, any increase in screen real estate is significant—this is particularly true for someone who has low vision. Likewise with the larger controls; the bigger touch targets will be a boon for visual and fine-motor acuities because they should be easier to both see and touch. In practical use, these are important factors for disabled people. That shouldn’t be overlooked simply because the case looks similar to Series 6 and Series 7 uses the same chip.
There has been lots of handwringing in the tech community since Tuesday’s event over the so-called “disappointment” over Series 7’s admittedly modest redesign. The rumor mill expected something more dramatic, akin to the flat-sided iPhone 12 from last year. However disappointing this may be to some, the fact of the matter is Series 7 is a relatively noteworthy update for someone whose vision and motor skills are not the greatest. It’s important to keep this perspective; Series 7 is a solid upgrade in its own right, despite the whining since the unveiling about how the rumor reporters were “bamboozled” or Apple was forced to make a substitution at the eleventh hour.
