The purpose of modern technology is to make our lives easier and make the world more inclusive for everyone. One such device that helps us do that is a smartwatch. While some of us might take this technology for granted, it’s not the case for everyone. The simple act of reading the time can be difficult for visually impaired people.
So if you are someone or you know someone who has some sort of visual impairment, we have carefully prepared a list of 8 smartwatches for blind or partially sighted persons. We have selected the best smartwatches, talking watches, and more. These watches will make reading time more convenient for you.
Quick Navigation
- Best Smartwatch For Visually Impaired Comparison Table
- Best Smartwatches For Blind And Poor Eyesight
- Things To Consider Before Buying A Watch For Visually Impaired
- FAQs
Best Smartwatch For Visually Impaired Comparison Table
IMAGE | PRODUCT | SPECIFICATIONS | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Best Smartwatch For Visually Impaired  | Apple Watch Series 7 |
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Best Talking Watch For The Blind  | Gosasa Talking Watch |
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Best Braille Watch For The Blind  | Dot Watch |
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Best Fitness Tracker For Poor Eyesight  | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 |
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Best Smartwatch For Blind And Poor Eyesight
1) Apple Watch Series 7
Apple Watch Series 7 is the best smartwatch for visually impaired users that comes loaded with features. It offers the best accessibility features that you want in a smartwatch. Let’s talk about them.
This watch has a VoiceOver feature that reads what’s on the screen for you. And during my usage, all the pre-installed apps completely supported this feature. After enabling the VoiceOver, I could navigate by flicking my finger on the screen and the watch told me which app or option I have selected. Moreover, the watch also told me nifty but important details like battery levels, who is calling, and also read my messages.
In this smartwatch for the blind, I was also able to turn on the “Hear the time” feature which announced the time whenever I raised my wristwatch.
Sometimes users prefer to protect what’s on their screen from prying eyes. So Apple Watch Series 7 has a feature called a Screen Curtain that turns your watch display off with the VoiceOver feature turned on. It allowed me to use my smartwatch while its display was off, so no one was able to see what was on the screen. Therefore, if you want to hide sensitive information like bank messages, social media alerts, etc. you can do that.
Now, when it comes to the most crucial task of reading the time, I simply had to lay two fingers on the watch screen and the watch announced the time for me. Moreover, I could also enable the extra-large watch face option, which made the watch face bigger and made it easier for me to read the time. Apple Watch Series 7 offers crucial features like VoiceOver, Screen Curtain, and Time announcement which makes it the best talking smartwatch for the blind.
People with low vision have trouble reading the screen. Thankfully, with Apple Watch you also get the ability to make text bold so all your emails and notifications will be shown in bold letters. Furthermore, I could reduce the transparency of the user interface by enabling Reduce Transparency, this increased the watch’s readability.
Apple Watch Series 4 or later smartwatches come with fall detection. So if the watch detects that you have fallen down then it would show you an alert for calling the emergency services. It will wait for a minute to see whether you are moving or not then the watch will automatically make the call to emergency services. When the call will end, it will automatically send messages to all your emergency contacts along with your location. So you can rest easy knowing your loved ones have a reliable companion with them.
It also has an inbuilt Zoom function so using pinch-in and pinch-out gestures I could easily zoom in on any screen and get better readability.
Talking about the watch’s design, it comes with a gorgeous curved square display which is a better choice for users than round display smartwatches. Simply, because the square display is bigger and increases the readability as well as usability of the smartwatch. It is also on my list of smartwatches with always on display. Overall, Apple Watch Series 7 is a great smartwatch for visually impaired users. The only downside this watch has is that it’s not compatible with Android devices.
2) TimeChant Atomic! Talking Watch
Looking for a talking watch for the blind that announces the time at a push of a button? Presenting TimeChant Atomic watch from Five Senses. This is a simple and cheap minimalistic-looking talking watch for visually impaired users.
TimeChant Atomic watch as the name suggests is an atomic watch, therefore it automatically sets the time and calendar using a radio atomic signal. To put it simply, all I had to do was to put this watch upside down near any non-metallic window, and it automatically set itself to the correct time every night. So you don’t need to worry about the watch ever being unreliable. This watch will always tell you the correct time, making it perfect for the blind, visually impaired, or elderly.
However, it receives the signal from Ft. Collins Colorado, which doesn’t reach the state of Alaska, Hawaii, and the country of Canada. As a result, you will have to set the time manually if you live there.
This watch also has a talking function, so with just a push of a button, the watch told me the time, date, month, year, alarm, and signal reception status. The thing that I liked about this watch is that it only announced the time when I pressed the button. So if you don’t like bringing attention to yourself or don’t want a watch that announces the time every hour then this visually impaired watch is for you. When I pressed the button twice then the watch announced the day, date, and year.
Also, the watch has a big screen that displays the time in big digits, which ensures the watch is easy to read.
Using this watch I could also set one alarm in a day which I found to be a really convenient feature to have. So you can use this watch as an alarm clock or use the alarm function to remind yourself to take your medicine.
If you happen to be looking for an atomic talking watch for blind persons then you can go with this one. The only negative point of the watch is that it is not waterproof.
3. Gosasa Talking Watch
Gosasa talking watch is a cool-looking digital talking sports watch for poor eyesight that offers great durability.
This watch comes with the Talking Time function, so at a press of a button, the watch announced the exact time displayed on the watch while I was exploring it. Furthermore, this watch is also water-resistant therefore, if you happen to be looking for a waterproof talking watch for someone who is blind or has low vision, then this is a perfect watch.
Using this watch I could set an alarm, which gently woke me up every morning. Moreover, the watch also has a Chime function which produces a sound after every hour to alert users that the next hour has begun.
It also comes with a backlight function which lights up the watch’s display when you press a button on the watch. I found this feature to be extremely useful in dark environments, it offered better visibility. The watch displays time in 24-hour format as well as in 12-hour format, therefore I could view time in the format I like.
This watch is best for people with bad eyes as it comes with a big display which makes it easier to read the time. With its robust build quality and a battery that can last up to 3 years, it is a really reliable and dependable watch for poor eyesight.
4) Eone Bradley Edge Watch
Eone Bradley Edge is a premium wristwatch for visually impaired people. What sets this watch apart is not just its design but also the way it works, you can read the time just by touching your watch! More on that later. Also, if you are someone who has a hearing impairment and a talking watch doesn’t get the job done, then you can go for this watch.
Some visually impaired users might not like talking watches, that’s where this watch comes in. Not only you can read time by sight but also by touch. You can be in a crowded or dark room and still would be able to read time just by touching your watch without any difficulty.
This watch comes with two magnetized ball bearings. One runs around the center of the watch representing the minute’s hand, and the other one representing the hour’s hand runs around the outside edges of the watch. The watch dial has raised hour markers which allows you to easily read time by simply touching the watch face. It has a triangular marker that represents 12, stretched line for 3, 6, and 9, and a shorter line marker representing the other dial numbers.
Besides that, if any magnetic balls move out of their place, then simply shaking your hand would automatically move them to their correct positions. Moreover, this watch is water-resistant up to 30m therefore you don’t have to worry about water damaging the watch. All these features make this a perfect accessible watch for people with poor eyesight.
5) Dot Watch- Braille and Tactile Smartwatch
Dot watch is the first smartwatch specifically made for the blind. It might not be far-fetched to say this is the best Braille and Tactile smartwatch for blind or visually impaired users. We will talk about its features in detail, but first, let’s talk about its gorgeous design.
This watch has an aluminum body accompanied by stainless steel magnetic strap. The magnetic strap makes it easier for visually impaired users to wear the watch when compared to traditional straps. Furthermore, the watch’s face is completely white and sports a refreshable braille display. The white watch face along with the silver stainless steel strap gives the watch a perfect minimalistic look.
Talking about the smart features of the watch, since it comes with a refreshable braille display, you will be able to read the date and time, messages, notifications, caller id, and much more by just touching the watch’s face. To enable these features, download the Dot watch app on any iOS and Android smartphone.
Once you have installed the Dot watch app on your smartphone, then you can read on the watch display who is calling you. So you can decide whether the call is an important one or not, and continue focusing on your work if it’s not important. Once the watch is connected to your smartphone, you can get directions from the map, read weather updates and social media notifications, monitor battery levels, and much more.
Moreover, you don’t need to have a smartphone to use the Dot Watch, as it can also function as a standalone watch. When used as a normal watch, it can be used as a stopwatch, timer, or normal braille watch.
Furthermore, the Dot watch comes with two modes, Braille and Tactile mode. In Braille mode, you can read notifications, messages, caller id, and so on. Whereas in Tactile mode, the watch will work in number-only mode, meaning it will tell you the time and date, stopwatch, timer, and the number of notifications you have received. But you won’t be able to read notifications, messages, caller IDs, and other non-numerical information.
In short, all these features and up to 10 days of battery life make the Dot Watch the best smartwatch for the visually impaired. It offers unmatched performance and capabilities at this price.
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6) Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Not everyone uses an iPhone therefore not everyone can use Apple Watch Series 7. For those users, we recommend Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. This watch comes with the best accessibility features that are available for Android users.
Galaxy Watch 5 comes with several crucial features like Voice Assistant. It is essentially a screen-reader and reads out loud notifications, messages, time, and the option selected in the menu. Using this feature, I was able to know which options I have selected, listen to important messages, and also use the watch as a talking smartwatch.
To read the time, all I had to do was tap on the smartwatch display and the watch announced the time. Pretty neat, right?
Furthermore, this watch also has easy-to-use gesture-based navigation. I could swipe left to right to select the next option, and right to left to select the previous option. While I was exploring this watch, I could slide my finger around its bezel to scroll through the menu and select the app.
If you don’t like the voice assistant reading your messages out loud, then you can also enable the Zoom function. Once this feature is activated just triple tapping on the display will magnify the text on the screen. Furthermore, I was also able to adjust the magnification level using a pinch-in gesture to zoom out and a pinch-out gesture to zoom in.
There is also an accessibility feature called Vibration Watch. This feature allowed me to keep track of time using vibrations. There are two vibration modes, the digits, and the terse mode.
In digit mode, I have noticed that the watch produces a short vibration for every minute, or after completion of an hour, and a long vibration for every 10 minutes. However, in terse mode, the watch vibrates every 15 minutes of an hour. So you can keep track of time without having to check your watch again and again.
Moreover, this watch has a built-in mic and speaker. As a result, I was able to talk to people using it.
Overall, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is one of the best fitness trackers for poor eyesight. It is a waterproof smartwatch therefore you can take this watch into the pool, shower, and rain without any worries. If you are looking for a waterproof talking smartwatch that is compatible with Android then select this one.
7) Atomic Top Button English Talking Watch
If you are looking for a simple talking digital watch then go with the Atomic top Button English Talking watch from brand FIVE SENSES. This is a small and easy-to-use talking watch perfect for visually impaired elders.
It is an atomic watch so you don’t have to worry about the watch not telling you the right time. The watch can set itself to the correct time using atomic radio signal being broadcasted from Ft. Collins Colorado. Sadly, the automatic clock settings function does not work for users living in Canada, the state of Alaska, and Hawaii. However, you can still set the time manually and use the watch.
Since it is a talking watch, it allows users to know the time just by a press of a button. And, pressing the same button twice would announce the date. Unlike other talking watches, it has a big button at the front of the watch instead of being on the side. Therefore, if you will buy this talking watch for someone you care about they will find it easy to operate.
Moreover, the watch is fairly loud and the time announced by the watch is clearly audible. Furthermore, this talking watch also comes with a fairly big display that increases the readability of the watch. There are two shortcomings of this watch, first, it is not waterproof, and second, you can only set 1 alarm using this watch.
Overall it is a great English talking watch for elders, and if you can overlook the watch not being waterproof then this can be the perfect option for you.
8) Tactile Braille Watch for Blind People
The last watch on my list of best watches for the blind is especially for the people that are visually impaired and are deaf as well.
This is a simple watch that looks like a conventional watch at first. However, when you look closely, you will see the tactile dots that represent hours. To represent the 3, 6, and 9 hours there are two tactile dots and to represent the 12 hours, there are 3 tactile dots. All the other hours are represented by a single dot.
Therefore you can directly touch the watch to know the time. To protect the watch from dust and other things, there is a glass cover at the top. You can open the glass cover when you want to read the time and then keep it closed to keep the watch safe.
The thing that I really liked about its glass cover is that when it is closed it looks like a bezel that also has markers on it. As a result, no one will be able to say that this watch is made for visually impaired people.
This watch’s dial and bracelet are made of stainless steel, which gives it a classy look. Therefore you can also wear it to parties and functions if you want.
If you are looking for a watch that can tell time by touching and do not want any fancy features then this is the watch for you.
Things To Consider Before Buying A Watch For Visually Impaired
1. Easy to use
It is important to ensure that the watch you select is easy to use. Keep the user in mind before making a final decision. If you are buying for someone young who loves technology then you can choose a full-fledged Dot smartwatch or Apple watch. However, if you are buying a watch for someone elderly like your parents or relatives, go with a simple watch like TimeChant or Atomic top button watch from FIVE SENSES.
2. Requirement
The second factor that you should take into consideration is the features that the person who is going to use the watch needs. Some users may prefer a chargeable smartwatch while some might prefer a simple smartwatch that doesn’t need to be charged.
3. Waterproof
A lot of users don’t see whether the watch they are purchasing is waterproof or not. Let us be the first one to tell you, that depending on the person you are buying the watch for it can be a very important feature to have. So if the person you are purchasing the watch for can take care of the watch and then you can select non-waterproof otherwise we would recommend going with waterproof watches.
FAQs
Is Apple Watch Good For Visually Impaired?
Yes, Apple Watch comes with several features like Screen Curtain, Fall Detection, Zoom and so on which makes the watch more accessible to visually impaired users.
What Does A Dot Braille Smartwatch Do?
The Dot braille smartwatch comes with a refreshable braille display. This allows visually impaired users to read text messages, notifications, caller IDs, and much more.
How Does The Dot Watch Work?
The Dot Watch uses a refreshable braille display so when Dot Watch is connected with your smartphone it syncs all your notifications, messages, and other alerts to your watch. Braille display allows users to read all the information just by touching the watch face of the smartwatch.
