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The best TVs for people who are blind or partially sighted
How we test TV accessibility
More accessibility testing than anyone else
Finding what accessibility features are available on a TV isn't easy. If retailer or manufacturer websites have the information at all then it's usually hidden away. All our reviews have a wealth of accessibility information, so you can see whether a TV has the right features you need and find out how well they are implemented.
Quality of the screen reader
Not every TV even has one, but if it's there we make sure the screen reader is available for every TV menu, page and setting. Plus, we check all the information is read out and in a logical order, so you're not wasting your time hearing all the details of a TV show only to learn it doesn't have audio description until the very end.
Ease of control
Accessibility features are no good if you can't control the TV. Our tests check how simple it is to use the remote by touch alone, whether accessibilty features are easy to access by remote or voice, and if you can set subtitles and audio description to be on by default rather than having to activate every time you watch something new.
No stone unturned
Blindness is a broad spectrum, so our tests cover every accessibility feature a TV has. From propietary tech, like Samsung's Relumino, to screen magnification and colour adjustment. Which? tests are comprehensive, so you can find a TV that has everything you need.
Most TVs have some accessibility features, but unless you're willing to delve into the manual before making a purchase, it's not always clear what features a TV has and how well they work.
To find out which TVs are easiest to use and watch for people with sight issues, we developed an accessibility test in partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
The new test looks at everything from how efficiently the screen reader tells you important information on different menus, to whether you can choose which part of the screen gets magnified – and everything in between.
In this guide we'll explain the different features available to people who are blind or partially sighted and showcase the TVs that use these features best.
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How we rate accessibility on TVs
Regardless of any extra requirements you might have for your TV, some things are fundamental to our test: picture quality, sound quality and how simple a TV is to use.
To get a Best Buy score from us, a TV needs to get those three things right, but it doesn't need to have a wealth of effective accessibility features.
Each test we perform on a TV will account for a portion of its score. More important features, such as picture and sound quality, account for a greater portion of the overall score than something less important, such as how good the PVR is at recording.
Rather than try and determine which accessibility features are more important than others, we decided not to factor them into the score at all. However, we still test these features. Functions such as the screen reader, menu contrast and how easy it is to use the remote with touch alone have star ratings, just like picture and sound quality do, but they don't impact the score.
Instead, you can use the accessibility filters on our reviews to select the features you need from your TV and narrow your search to only include TVs with at least four-star ratings for the features that are important to you.
If you don't need screen magnification, but an excellent screen reader is vital for you to use your TV easily, then the filters will enable you to find the TV that best suits your needs.
The reviews go into more detail, too. The tech spec and test result section explain more about what accessibility features each model has and how well they're implemented. There's also a whole accessibility section in the written portion of each review under the heading 'How are the accessibility features?'
Use the accessibility filters in our TV reviews to see the TVs that will work best for you
The best TVs for people who are blind or partially sighted
What accessibility features are vital will be different for everyone. So, when choosing the best overall TVs for people who are blind or partially sighted, we selected models that had the most features and the highest ratings across the many accessibility tests we perform.
To put it simply, they tick the most boxes and they tick them emphatically.
Of the TVs we've tested in 2024, Samsung is the gold standard when it comes to accessibility features and there's really no reason to choose another brand.
LG and Sony have decent accessibility features but both have room for improvement and are missing some options, such as screen magnification and advanced colour options, that you find on all 4K Samsung TVs.
Other brands, such as Philips and Hisense are often lacking, with some models not having any accessibility features at all, so they are best avoided.
Samsung QE55Q60D
- Price: £549
- Screen type: QLED
- Screen size: 55 inches
Samsung goes further than any other brand when it comes to accessibility. Only LG and Sony come close, but Samsung has more features and implements them better.
The screen reader provides plenty of information, and delivers it in an order than makes sense and doesn't waste your time. There are plenty of options to adjust speed and volume.
It's the best brand when it comes to screen magnification, too, and you can change the size of text in some menus.
There are also plenty of colour options to help you read and see things clearly on the screen. Our only real issue is with the remote, which is tricky to use by touch alone. Samsung TVs also have technology that can make objects on screen look more precise and sharp for people with limited vision, something no other brand does.
The QE55Q60D is one of Samsung's cheapest QLED TVs, but it has the same accessibility features as its most high-end models.
You can read about all our accessibility tests, and get more detail on the using the TV and its picture quality in our Samsung QE55Q60D review.
If you're after a bigger screen then try the 65-inch Samsung QE65Q60D instead.
Samsung QE48S90D
- Price: £1,169
- Screen type: OLED
- Screen size: 48 inches
We were really impressed with the accessibility features on all 4K Samsung TVs released in 2024.
The QE48S90D's screen reader is detailed and accurate without being overwhelming, and there are plenty of options to customise it.
It's the most well-rounded suite of accessibility options we've seen particularly when it comes to screen magnification and there are plenty of colour options, too such as inverted colours and greyscale. You'll also find relumino tech, which adjusts the shapes and outlines of objects on screen to make the clearer for people with limited vision.
In addition to its brilliant accessibility features, the QE48S90D an excellent TV. It uses an OLED screen and it's one of Samsung's most high-end models. It's a good choice if you want something smaller and more high-end.
The only thing to watch out for is the remote. It's not the easiest to use with touch alone, but otherwise this is one of the best TVs for people with sight problems.
To see the full list of accessibility features and read about them in more detail, head to our Samsung QE48S90D review.
If you'd like a bigger TV you could also consider the 65-inch version. It's every bit as good and has the same accessibility features. Read our Samsung QE65S90D review for more information.
What accessibility features are available on TVs and how do we test them?
Screen reader
The screen reader is vital for explaining what's on each screen, including during setup. It can also explain the settings menus, the smart home screen and the electronic program guide (EPG).
Our test notes whether you can change volume, speed and what menus the screen reader is available on.
We also test to see how logically information is read out. For example, if a TV reads out the entire synopsis of a film before explaining if audio description is available then we'll mark it down.
Screen magnification
We check to see if the entire screen can be magnified and if a fixed area can be magnified to enlarge a portion of the screen while scrolling.
We also look at whether the user can choose a part of the screen to be magnified.
As well as noting the presence of a screen magnifier, we check whether text can be enlarged.
Menu contrast
We rate the contrast on the different menus of the TV, such as the EPG, settings and smart menu.
If our experts feel it's too difficult to read text or see parts of the page because the contrast is too high or too low, and they're unable to adjust it, then we won't rate it very highly.
Using the remote
This test rates how well the remote can be used with touch alone. We also determine how easy the iconography and button labelling is to read and whether there are tactile markings on the buttons.
How to hear your TV better – tips and technology to help you hear the most hushed dialogue
Additional checks
As well as testing certain features, we also note any others that are included and check to see if additional options are available, such as:
- Greyscale
- Inverted colour options
- Light text on a dark background option
- Dark text on a light background option
- Turn on audio description by default
- Turn on subtitles by default
- Change location of subtitles panel
- Change size of sign language window
- Accessible TV manual with screen reader available
- Accessible remote manual with screen reader available
- Shortcut to control subtitles on the remote
- Voice control option to access accessibility features