ROUND 3

Accessibility

There are two meanings of the word “accessibility,” and one is a synonym of “availability.” That means there are two outcomes to this category, and two ways to judge our devices. Think about the phone, for example, that everpresent Internet-connected computer that’s always there when you need to look at cat pictures or dodge robocalls. Top of the tree, perhaps, but do a little experiment: Pull your phone out of your pocket, open your messaging app, close your eyes, and write a message. Attempting the same trick with the tactile keyboard of a Chromebook will likely net you far better results.

If you need the assistance of accessibility features, you’ll find them on just about every device worth its salt. These can vary a little depending on the exact hardware, but you’ll almost certainly find high-contrast graphics modes, magnifiers, screen readers or select-to-speak functions, and dictation functionality on any model of any of these devices. The scales, really, are wobbling between the phone and the Chromebook, and the latter has more weight—that keyboard scores it extra points, and adds a sprinkling of additional disability aids along with it.

Winner: Chromebook