In the previous installments of this series, I reviewed six different braille displays for their usability on iOS. This article will wrap up the series and provide direct comparisons of each display covered. Listed for each display will be:
- Battery life
- Comments on the display
- Format of user documentation
- Full price in the US
- Internal functions
- Number of simultaneous Bluetooth connections
- Price per cell
- Turnaround time for support requests
Prices and information were accurate as of early January 2018. For the support requests, a random name and email address were provided to avoid any lack of objectivity. All displays are capable of one USB connection except the Braille Pen 12 Touch. Battery life may vary, depending on device usage.
Braille Pen 12 Touch and Focus 14 4th Generation
Display: Braille Pen 12 Touch
Cost: $895.00
Number of cells: 12
Cost per cell: $74.59
Number of simultaneous Bluetooth connections: 1
Internal functions: clipboard and menu
Format of user documentation: PDF
Battery life: approximately 10 hours
Turnaround time for support requests: less than 1 business day
Final comments: This is the least expensive display of those reviewed. The cost-per-cell is not the lowest (that would be the Focus 14 or the Smart Beetle when it goes on sale). This is the only display reviewed that charges using a proprietary cable and does not offer the ability to connect to a device via USB.
Display: Focus 14 4th Generation
Cost: $995.00
Number of cells: 14
Price per cell: $71.07
Number of simultaneous Bluetooth connections: 1
Internal functions: menu
Format of user documentation: HTML and PDF
Battery life: approximately 20 hours
Turnaround time for support requests: less than 1 business day
Final comments: The manual was clearly written, well organized, and complete. The 5th generation of the Focus 14 was released December 2017, retails for $1,295.00, and features a sturdier build, the ability to connect to five Bluetooth devices at one time, and a basic internal notetaker which is forthcoming.
Smart Beetle and Actilino
Display: Smart Beetle
Cost: $1,345.00
Number of cells: 14
Cost per cell: $96.07
Number of simultaneous Bluetooth connections: 5
Internal functions: Terminal Clipboard and menu
Format of user documentation: DOCX
Battery life: approximately 18 hours
Turnaround time for support requests: 2 business days
Final comments: As of January 2018, this display was on sale for $995.00 making it the same price as the Focus 14 4th generation. For this price, you get the Terminal Clipboard functionality discussed in part I of this series, the ability to connect up to five Bluetooth devices, and a keyboard emulation feature. I was unable to add the Smart Beetle to my cart to verify pricing. A new customer may have more success calling HIMS or ordering the display from a reseller. Take note that the Smart Beetle has not received an update in quite a long time. The user manual is clear and complete with the exception of the section pertaining to the keyboard emulation feature, which is incomplete and contains typographical errors. If you are more interested in one-button functionality, timely responses to support requests, and are a JAWS and iOS user, the Focus may be your best choice.
Display: Actilino
Cost: $2,495.00
Number of cells: 16
Price per cell: $155.93
Number of simultaneous Bluetooth connections: 3
Internal functions: Active Tactile Control, audio player, basic word processor, Bluetooth audio, Braille Music, calculator, clock, calendar, file manager, Hangman, Micro SD card slot, and a microphone
Format of user documentation: PDF
Battery life: approximately 25 hours
Turnaround time for support requests: less than 1 business day
Final comments: Active Tactile Control is the most unique feature of this display. While others support automatic scrolling for some screen readers, this is the only device that does so on iOS as well as within its internal word processor. The internal notetaker is basic, supporting only plain text and digital braille files. There are several unique audio-related features that were discussed in detail in Part III of my series. The English manual is incomplete, as commands such as how to turn on Active Tactile Control when using an iOS device and information such as how to perform updates are not included. It is unfortunate that this information has not been included since there have been two updates since September 2017.
Refreshabraille and VarioUltra
Display: Refreshabraille
Cost: $1,695.00
Number of cells: 18
Price per cell: $94.17
Format of user documentation: HTML
Internal functions: menu
Number of simultaneous Bluetooth connections: 1
Battery life: approximately 22 hours
Turnaround time for support requests: 1 business day
Final comments: If you are looking for a display with more cells than the Focus 14 and excellent battery life, the Refreshabraille 18 may be for you. The orientation of the braille display can be reversed if you prefer. The Refreshabraille is the only display reviewed that does not come with a case, but one can be purchased from Executive Products for $60.14.
Display: VarioUltra
Cost: $2,395.00
Number of cells: 20
Cost per cell: $119.75
Format of user documentation: HTML
Number of simultaneous Bluetooth connections: 4
Battery life: approximately 10 hours
Turnaround time for support requests: less than 1 business day
Internal functions: Clock that supports the use of timers and alarms, facilities to transfer data from the VarioUltra to external devices, file manager, PDF viewer, PowerPoint viewer, robust Word Processor, scheduler, scientific calculator, spreadsheet viewer, and updater
Final comments: As of this writing, the VarioUltra is out of stock. This may change by the time you read this, so I recommend contacting Baum directly before considering the purchase of this display. Of the devices covered in this series, this is the only one that supports the reading of DOCX, PDF, PPT, and RTF files. It has internal memory and can be updated internally after transferring the update file using a PC or Mac. All other reviewed devices require Windows to update. The above features make the VarioUltra worth consideration, but battery life equal to that of the Braille Pen 12 Touch means this would most certainly not suit the daily needs of most power users who do not wish to carry an external battery pack or cables with them.
Conclusion
No matter why you are seeking a portable braille display, I hope this series of articles has assisted you in making your choice. A reader asked me why I didn't discuss the feel of the dots on the braille displays. This is subjective, and while I hope the provided information is useful, nothing can ever match the opportunity to experience these devices firsthand. As this is not possible for most, it is hoped that this content has been helpful in simplifying the decision-making process.
Related articles:
- Live on the Edge, or Have an Ultra Lifestyle?: An In-depth Review of HIMS and BAUM Braille Displays by Scott Davert
- A Big Compromise in Price With a Small Compromise in Features: a Review of the Orbit Reader 20 by Scott Davert
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