The Nokia Lumia 720 that Amóvil was able to review thanks to the loan by Nokia Spain, is an affordable midrange Smartphone that includes accessibility features that make it suitable for users with hearing disabilities, partial blindness and limited comprehension skills. However, it is inaccessible to blind users.

The handset is lightweight (128 grams) and housed in a unibody polycarbonate casing that measures 127.9x67.5x9. It also sports an elegant design with includes a 4.3-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display. The display’s resolution is low (only 400x800 pixels), but enough to prevent tiles and blurs.

Running on Windows Phone 8, the phone includes GPS, NFC, Bluetooth and WiFi connection capabilities. In addition, it comes with a 1.6 MP front facing camera that makes videos and 6.1 MP a rear complete with autofocus, LED flash and Carl Zeiss optics.

Accessibility review

Vision

Blind users may have a hard time using this device because it lacks a screen reader and does not allow downloading an external one. Although it is equipped with a built-in speech feature that announces incoming calls and reads text messages out loud, it is not enough for these users because they are not able to use the device on their own.

However, partially blind users may be able to use this phone with some comfort. Besides including a built-in screen magnifier that is activated with a simple two finger tapping gesture, and an option to customize brightness and the font size, this handset comes with a basic high contrast theme feature that can be helpful to color blind users. This model also allows customizing background and icons color for easier reading.

Hearing

The Nokia Lumia 720 user guide available in Spain does not specify the device’s hearing aid compatibility rating. However, Amóvil has been able to attest this device is compatible with some hearing aids both in microphone and T-coil modes. In addition, those who wear Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids or cochlear implants will be able to connect to the device through this technology. These users will also be able to send text messages or use any chat apps available for Widows Phone devices. As previously mentioned, this handset is equipped with front-side camera, so deaf users who prefer communicating in sign language will be able to make video calls using applications such as Skype.

Dexterity

Some features included in the Lumia 720 can be helpful to users with dexterity disabilities. For example, the multilingual voice command, the hands-free feature and the option to link frequent contacts to the home screen for easier access. However, inserting the SIM card can be nearly impossible to do for some users with dexterity limitations because it requires inserting a special too into a small hole. People with tremors or shaking in the upper limbs may not be able to that on their own. In addition, the device offers no alternative to control the side button features from the display using a stylus.

Comprehension

The Nokia Lumia 720 includes standardized icons and symbols, thus suitable for users with certain limited comprehension skills or learning disabilities. The phone also allows customizing the home screen in order to simplify navigating through the menus available.

For a detailed description of the accessibility features available in this device, please consult the full accessibility report available in Amóvil.