A new wave of accessibility features

Apple is lining up a range of accessibility updates across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro that the company says could change day-to-day life for millions of users. A new guide from the Motability Foundation brings together what is coming, including hands-free options for people with reduced mobility, richer tools for blind and partially sighted users, and new ways to add captions where videos have none.

According to the guide, the upgrades are expected to land later in 2026 through Apple's usual software updates. The Motability Foundation says the changes point to technology becoming more adaptable to the person using it, rather than the other way around.

Eye-tracking and wheelchair control

One of the headline additions is eye-tracking controls that could work with certain powered wheelchairs. Apple describes a Vision Pro feature that would allow compatible powered wheelchairs to be controlled using eye movements, initially launching with the Tolt and LUCI systems in the US.

Apple says the eye-tracking can function in different lighting conditions without the frequent recalibration some eye-tracking systems require.

Voice Control and natural language commands

Apple is also expanding Voice Control using Apple Intelligence. Instead of having to remember the exact name of a button or the “correct” command, users can speak more naturally and describe what they want on screen – for example, asking the device to tap a specific coloured folder or select an item they can see. This is aimed at people who find touchscreens, keyboards or a mouse difficult to use.

Apple says its Apple Intelligence-powered Voice Control will be available in English in the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

Subtitles, image descriptions and the Action button

For deaf and hard-of-hearing users, Apple is adding automatic subtitles for videos that don't already have captions. The company says this can cover personal videos recorded on an iPhone, clips shared by friends and family, and some streamed content. The subtitles are generated on-device, meaning speech recognition happens privately on the device.

Apple is also upgrading VoiceOver and Magnifier with AI-powered image descriptions, and on supported iPhones users will be able to use the Action button to ask questions about what the camera sees.

New hardware accessory

Alongside the software changes, Apple has worked with designer Bailey Hikawa and PopSockets on an adaptive MagSafe accessory called the Hikawa Grip & Stand for iPhone. It costs £44.95 in the UK.

Built into the operating system

Apple stresses that its accessibility software features are built into its operating systems rather than sold as a separate subscription. The company also warns that these tools are intended to provide extra information but should not be relied upon in situations where someone could be harmed or injured.