20 awesome accessible products Best Buy customers love
For any shopper, finding the perfect product to match one’s desires and budget is a thrilling prospect. For those with accessibility needs, however, discovering products with the correct calculated adjustments can be life changing. In its purest form, good accessibility unlocks new life experiences for those who’ve faced unique challenges. And, at Reviewed, we’ve spent the past year proving that assessing products based on their accessibility for persons with disabilities is a core tenant of our mission.
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While Best Buy is a brand most consumers know for its discounts on top-tier electronics, the company has also invested heavily in accessibility through the likes of blood pressure monitors, mobility devices, and smart technology capable of enriching the lives of others. With that noble spirit in mind, here are 20 accessible products with stellar reviews that Best Buy’s customers love.
1. A low-pressure blood pressure monitor from Withings
If you need to keep track of your blood pressure for diabetes or a kidney condition, the BPM Connect Smart Blood Pressure Monitor from Withings takes that process into the modern age. Buyers love this product for its FDA-cleared accurate readings and the ability to easily catalogue the results of each test via an intuitive smartphone application. With just a few taps users can also send results to their doctors too.
There’s no denying it can sometimes be disruptive to test regularly, but BPM Connect makes the process both seamless and correct.
2. Hear TV dialogue with these headphones
Watching TV is often the perfect way to unwind after a long day, but, if you’re hard of hearing, sometimes paying attention to your favorite shows can be more frustrating than it’s worth. These Sennheiser RS 175 wireless over-the-ear headphones block out the noise with surround sound clarity to ensure you never miss a word of the action during key moments. Capable of running up to 328 feet away from its receiver for up to 18 hours, this headset should suit most average living room scenarios. Customers love it for its excellent sound quality and comfortable fit.
3. A light and foldable wheelchair for quick trips
Millions of Americans fight through life with a mobility disability, but one’s access to the outside world shouldn’t be limited by the realities of a heavy wheelchair. This Lightweight Transport Chair from Medline supports up to 300 pounds with a seat that’s 20 inches wide, and it still manages to be about half the weight of a standard wheelchair. The fit likely won’t be as perfect as a personally tailored chair, but customers agree this extremely foldable product is a perfect alternative for quick trips for persons with moderate mobility needs. Some feel Medline’s chair could still be a bit lighter, but they appreciate its sturdy construction and simple assembly.
4. Walk with ease with this light walker
Those who use a walker may have similar need for a lightweight mobility aid as well. In that case, the Medline Mobility Lightweight Folding Aluminum Rollator Walker is a popular choice. It supports weights up to 250 pounds and heights up 6 feet 4 inches tall. Weighing at just 11 pounds, this walker should be easily transferrable to any car, and most customers say it does the job just fine. The fact that it’s easy to assemble is just an added bonus. For those capable of standing, Medline makes a solid walker at a decent price.
5. Have a warm, and independent, bath
Bathroom care can be one of the most difficult facets of life with a disability. Those with mobility issues often rely on special bathtub or shower chairs like this Bathtub Transfer Bench from Carex. This model is placed over a standard bathtub, and it allows the user to essentially sit in the enclosure while using a handheld shower head to rinse off. Its features include reversible grab bars to accommodate left or right-handed entry, and the bench can be adjusted up to 20 inches to support 300 pounds of weight. While some users have reported that you may not be able to fully close a shower curtain with this installed, it’s still a strong, sturdy bench.
6. A helping hand from a sturdy grab bar
If your bathroom mobility needs only require some light assistance for balance, then you may be able to function independently using this Ultra Grip suction grab bar from Carex. It extends to support a 16-inch area and should easily suction onto most shower tile surfaces. To assure you’re always getting the right amount of assistance, a green indicator on the bar turns red in the event the suction ever becomes loose. A suction grab bar isn’t recommended for those who need lots of weight support, but it should help for basic balancing tasks in the all-too-likely event a bathroom can’t be modified. Just make sure to keep your shower clean to facilitate the absolute tightest hold.
7. Tune in to every conversation with a personal amplifier
If you’re interested in our #2 product that makes it easier to hear every line of dialogue on TV, you might also like this Pocketalker Ultra PKT D1 Personal Amplifier from Williams Sound. Put on the included headphones or earbud, place the microphone in the direction of anything you’d like to hear, and adjust the volume to support up to 50 decibels of added sound. While the price for this device may seem high, it’s significantly less costly than hearing aids. And some users even believe the Pocketalker Ultra works as a valid substitute for those more intricate medical products. The daily necessity of face masks has made reading lips especially difficult, but this little amplifier may help.
8. Stay organized at all times with HomePod Mini
Even though a great sense of independence can be fostered through help from bespoke aids like walkers and wheelchairs, some of today's most accessible products leverage tech that able-bodied people use every single day. Such is the case with Apple’s HomePod Mini, which we previously tested as a possible companion for neurodivergence and ADHD. As an alternative to the Amazon Echo, HomePod is an Apple-specific personal speaker designed to help keep you organized and informed.
Whether you have trouble moving or just prefer to shout commands, the HomePod Mini can help keep track of your appointments, set timers to ensure you don’t spend too long on a single task, and offers instant answers to everyday questions on any given topic. When pulling out a phone is too cumbersome, a smart speaker serves as an awesome substitute.
9. A smart watch to substitute for sight
Smart watches have become an essential piece of tech in the blind-and-low-vision community, as they offer constant access to voice commands that can help persons with visual difficulties lead their daily lives. Managing text messages, checking the time, and making appointments can be accomplished without sight even while you’re away from home. For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, having push notifications and alarms tied to vibrations on your wrist can be equally helpful.
The Apple Watch Series 7 is one of our favorite smart watches, and its use of Apple’s accessible VoiceOver voice command technology makes it a smart purchase for an outgoing person who doesn’t let their disability define them.
10. A massager for when you just need to relax
Regardless of the condition that ails you, it goes without saying that life with any disability can be physically taxing. For those times when you just want to relax, this Theragunmini Handheld Percussive Massager from Therabody is an extremely popular pick among Best Buy customers. It’s beloved for its effectiveness and compact size, the latter of which should be of service to those with dexterity constraints. Bigger size options exist if more power is necessary, but the Theragun mini is often touted as the best intersection between affordability and function.
11. A gentle nudge to sit up straight
Chronic back pain can be made worse by bad posture, but, with such a huge number of people working desk jobs these days, it can be difficult to remember to keep your posture in check. That's where tech like the Upright Go 2 comes in. The Upright Go 2 is a slim gadget that sticks to your upper back and notifies you if you are slouching or sitting in an otherwise harmful way. It serves as a much more pleasant reminder than an increasingly achy back.
12. A weighted blanket to calm anxiety
Weighted blankets are super popular for good reason. They are known to help calm and comfort in moments of anxiety. They can also provide physical pressure, almost like a full-body hug, for folks with sensory-processing disorders and autism. The Casper Weighted Blanket comes in three different weights. At Best Buy you can get them in 10, 15, and 20-pound varieties in blue or white coloring.
13. A smart light and white noise machine to fight insomnia
The Hatch Baby Rest+ is one of our favorite parenting products. But did you know Hatch also makes a white noise machine geared toward all ages? The Hatch Restore Sound Machine has a built-in smart light, a speaker for white noise, and a digital clock. This handy little gadget can wake you to a sunrise simulation and play sounds that soothe an anxious mind. If you have trouble falling asleep, the light automatically changes color and brightness as you approach bedtime, thereby signaling to your brain that it’s time to wind down for sleep.
14. A glucose monitor that attaches to your phone
A diagnosis of diabetes often means lots of finger pricking to check your glucose levels. The Pops Rebel Glucose Monitor is a compact gadget that has everything you need for monitoring blood sugar throughout the day, and it attaches to the back of your phone. It has a built-in lancet and test strip storage, and there’s even a companion smartphone app. There are various subscription levels that provide you with test strips and access to a virtual health assistant. Many diabetics have to keep their supplies on hand, but if you can remember your phone, you can remember this glucose meter. It’s one less thing to grab on the way out the door.
15. A smart thermometer to keep illness at bay
Keeping healthy and checking your temperature when you aren't feeling well is vital, especially in this era of constant COVID waves. We all need to be careful, but this fact is especially true for the immunocompromised. The Withings Thermo Temporal Smart Thermometer allows you to track your temperature over time, make notes of when you've taken medication, and it doesn't even need to contact the skin to read your temperature. You can even track multiple people in one app. Also, it's really cool looking.
16. A medical alert to keep loved ones safe
Seniors and folks with disabilities who live independently often find peace of mind with a wearable medical alert device. The Lively Mobile Plus medical alert offers 24-hour urgent response access. It can detect falls, alert loved ones of events, allow caregivers two-way communication with the wearer, provide nationwide mobile coverage… Let's just say it's loaded with features. This water-resistant device can even be worn on a lanyard. Priced at just $50, it's a great deal too.
17. A smart weight system for at-home recovery
Weight training is often an essential part of recovering from an accident or strengthening underutilized muscles. The Tempo Move has sensors that offer feedback on your form as you lift weights, and it even recommends specific weights based on your performance. The smart system tracks your progress, coaches you, and gives you access to a supportive community. It's almost like having a physical trainer right in your home.
18. A wedge pillow for reclining in bed
Many medical conditions require people to sleep at an elevated angle, but a recliner isn’t the only option. Anyone who needs to be propped up or spends a lot of time in bed could benefit from a good wedge pillow to provide improved upright comfort. Best Buy carries a Gel Memory Foam Wedge Pillow by Sealy that offers multiple support angles, a machine-washable cover, and gel-infused memory foam. If you have to be stuck in bed, this wedge could make that unfortunate situation much more comfortable.
19. A light therapy lamp to combat SAD
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects about 7% of adults in the U.S. Instead of just waiting for summer to return, some have experienced positive results using light therapy to help ease the depressive effects of SAD. The Lumos Light Therapy Lamp by Circadian Optics is an attractive light therapy lamp that can travel just about anywhere thanks to its slim, folding design. It provides the recommended 10,000 LUX of brightness needed to make a difference, it's intuitive to use, and it offers three different brightness levels.
20. An oximeter to monitor your breathing
Pulse oximeters have become very popular in the last few years, and there are myriad brands and styles to choose from. The Bluetooth Digital Pulse Oximeter by Aluratek is more than just a basic oximeter. Not only is it an FDA-class device, it also can send your vital sign data to an associated phone app to easily track your levels via a Bluetooth connection. Reviewers specifically like this unit for its accuracy and good battery life.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
This article originally appeared on Reviewed: 20 Best Buy accessibility deals from walkers to smart watches
