iPhone accessibility settings screen and iPhone screen demonstrating the White on Black feature.

Activate new accessibility features, including the VoiceOver screen reader, from Settings

Make the iPhone display high contrast with the White on Black feature

Accessibility

Making a revolutionary mobile phone means making it easy for everyone to use. That’s why iPhone 3GS comes standard with accessibility features that help people with disabilities experience all that iPhone has to offer.

Accessibility Navigation Watch the video

Built-in Accessibility

Accessibility comes standard on iPhone 3GS. From closed captioning to TTY support, Apple builds accessibility right into the iPhone operating system. And innovative new features on iPhone 3GS take accessibility a step further, right out of the box.

VoiceOver

In addition to Voice Control, iPhone 3GS features VoiceOver, the world’s first gesture-based screen reader. Instead of memorizing keyboard commands or pressing tiny arrow keys, you simply touch the screen to hear a description of the item under your finger, then double-tap, drag, or flick to control iPhone. VoiceOver speaks 21 languages and works with all of the applications built into iPhone 3GS.

VoiceOver also features a virtual control called the rotor. Turning the rotor — by rotating two fingers on the screen as if you were turning a dial — changes the way VoiceOver moves through a document based on a setting you choose. For example, a flick up or down might move through text word by word or character by character, perfect for proofreading or editing text.

Zoom

Zoom on iPhone lets you magnify the entire screen of any application. Zoom up to 5 times normal size and move left, right, up, and down to view any portion of the screen close up. Zoom works everywhere, including the Home, Unlock, and Spotlight screens, and with every application. Even those you purchase from the App store.

White on Black

If you need or prefer higher contrast, iPhone 3GS lets you change the display to white on black. Use the White on Black feature in any application, as well as the Home, Unlock, and Spotlight screens, and with Zoom and VoiceOver.

Mono Audio

If your hearing is limited in one ear, tap a checkbox to route both right- and left-channel audio into both earbuds, so you can hear both channels in either ear.

Learn more about iPhone and Accessibility