Do you use VoiceOver on your iPhone? If not, I would recommend that you give it a try before throwing money at an iPad.
Depending upon your circumstances, you might find that you could simply use VoiceOver as an occasional helper for now, rather than switching completely to it. Yes, there's a learning curve, but it's definitely worth the time and effort. The Speak Screen feature of iOS might be helpful in some circumstances. There are lots of other options within the accessibility section of iOS settings which could enhance for your situation how content is displayed. Again, take a few moments - if you haven't already - to explore and test what's there.
Please just ask away if you have any questions, as many of us on here have taken a similar journey ☺️
The displays of all iPads are just excellent! Being myself a low vision user, I would prefer an iPad Air 4 or even better an iPad Pro. Both, iPad air and iPad Pro (also the predecessors) have a laminated display. The iPad eight doesn't have a laminated display. That means, there is more glaring on the screen. That could cause troubles for a Low vision user. As PadOS is the same on all devices, there are many settings to adjust the contents of your display: Color settings, Color changer, dark mode, size, zoom, etc. And, of course, there is the powerful screen reader VoiceOver. VoiceOver can be used with all settings for low vision users.
The iPad Pro works with 120 Hz. So the content displayed is very sharp, calm and stable. That's very comfortable for the eyes. But that does not mean, that the other iPads(working with 60 Hz) do not have sharp displays. The iPad air 3 and iPad Air 4 and the iPad Air Pro allow you to choose true tone color. That is not an option for the ordinary iPad iPad or predecessors.
The iPad Pro and the iPad air 4 weighs some grams less than the iPad 8. That may be just some grams, but when you have to hold it close to your eyes as a low vision user and having not very strong hands that can make a difference, when you use your iPad for longer periods.
I personally use on iPad Air 2 with a laminated display and an iPad 5, that doesn't have a laminated display. When I get a new one next year I will definitely go for an iPad with a laminated display, possibly with 120 Hz, an iPad Pro. Just my opinion. Of course I cannot speak for all low vision users, but that reflects the experiences I've made.
Please feel free to ask further questions.
Comments
VoiceOver?
Do you use VoiceOver on your iPhone? If not, I would recommend that you give it a try before throwing money at an iPad.
Depending upon your circumstances, you might find that you could simply use VoiceOver as an occasional helper for now, rather than switching completely to it. Yes, there's a learning curve, but it's definitely worth the time and effort. The Speak Screen feature of iOS might be helpful in some circumstances. There are lots of other options within the accessibility section of iOS settings which could enhance for your situation how content is displayed. Again, take a few moments - if you haven't already - to explore and test what's there.
Please just ask away if you have any questions, as many of us on here have taken a similar journey ☺️
Suitable iPad for low vision users
The displays of all iPads are just excellent! Being myself a low vision user, I would prefer an iPad Air 4 or even better an iPad Pro. Both, iPad air and iPad Pro (also the predecessors) have a laminated display. The iPad eight doesn't have a laminated display. That means, there is more glaring on the screen. That could cause troubles for a Low vision user. As PadOS is the same on all devices, there are many settings to adjust the contents of your display: Color settings, Color changer, dark mode, size, zoom, etc. And, of course, there is the powerful screen reader VoiceOver. VoiceOver can be used with all settings for low vision users.
The iPad Pro works with 120 Hz. So the content displayed is very sharp, calm and stable. That's very comfortable for the eyes. But that does not mean, that the other iPads(working with 60 Hz) do not have sharp displays. The iPad air 3 and iPad Air 4 and the iPad Air Pro allow you to choose true tone color. That is not an option for the ordinary iPad iPad or predecessors.
The iPad Pro and the iPad air 4 weighs some grams less than the iPad 8. That may be just some grams, but when you have to hold it close to your eyes as a low vision user and having not very strong hands that can make a difference, when you use your iPad for longer periods.
I personally use on iPad Air 2 with a laminated display and an iPad 5, that doesn't have a laminated display. When I get a new one next year I will definitely go for an iPad with a laminated display, possibly with 120 Hz, an iPad Pro. Just my opinion. Of course I cannot speak for all low vision users, but that reflects the experiences I've made.
Please feel free to ask further questions.