Apple will release new accessibility features for its products later this year. For example, Magnifier is coming to Mac to help users with low vision. Photo: Apple
Ahead of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Apple announced new accessibility features that will come to the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro later this year. These features are expected to debut with iOS 19, macOS 16, iPadOS 19, watchOS 12, and visionOS 3, which will be unveiled earlier next month at WWDC 2025.
To start, Apple is bringing Accessibility Nutrition Labels to the App Store, allowing developers to highlight the accessibility features of their apps and games. This provides a clearer way for users to determine if apps are accessible before downloading.
Accessibility Nutrition Labels will help users with disabilities determine if an app has the accessibility features they need. Photo: Apple
Later this year, Magnifier will launch on the Mac. It connects to a user's camera and allows them to zoom in, read text, and detect objects in their surroundings. Magnifier for Mac supports Continuity Camera on iPhone, as well as attached USB cameras, and supports reading documents using Desk View.
Magnifier for Mac is also integrated with another new accessibility feature, Accessibility Reader. It is a system-wide reading mode designed to make text easier to read for users with disabilities, including dyslexia and low vision.
Users can customise text and focus on content with extensive font, colour, and spacing options. Accessibility Reader also supports Spoken Content. It can be launched from any app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro.
Live Captions will help users who are deaf or hard of hearing. Photo: Apple
Live Listen Controls and real-time Live Captions will come to the Apple Watch, which benefits users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Live Listen transforms the iPhone into a remote mic to stream content to the AirPods, Made for iPhone hearing aids, or Beats earphones. Users can view Live Captions of what their iPhone hears on a paired Apple Watch while listening to the audio. Live Listen can also be used with the AirPods Pro 2's hearing health features.
For the blind and visually impaired individuals, Braille Access enables them to take notes in Braille format and do calculations with Nemeth Braille. It also allows them to open Braille Ready Format (BRF) files from Braille Access. Additionally, there is an integrated form of Live Captions to transcribe conversations in real time on braille displays.
Braille Access turns your Apple device into a braille note taker. Photo: Apple
Apple is enhancing the Vision Pro experience for users who are blind or have low vision. Zoom on the Vision Pro is updated to allow users to magnify everything in view with the main camera.
Moreover, a new API will enable approved apps to access the main camera to provide live, person-to-person assistance for visual interpretation in apps like Be My Eyes.
Apple has been steadily introducing new accessibility features across its various operating systems for the past 40 years.
Just last year, the company brought Eye Tracking to the iPad and iPhone, Music Haptics for songs, and Vocal Shortcuts. In 2023, it introduced Personal Voice to help users who are at risk of losing their ability to speak. In 2021, the company added support for third-party eye-tracking devices on iPadOS and AssistiveTouch for watchOS users.
Source: Apple
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