BlindShell Classic 3 Review

In this episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece are joined by Michael Babcock to review the BlindShell Classic 3, highlighting its new features and comparing it to the Classic 2. Michael explains, “The BlindShell Classic 3 is more of a smartphone than the Classic 2, with a touch screen available in third-party apps while retaining physical buttons for navigation.” He confirms that the Classic 3 has increased RAM, making it faster and more responsive, and now includes copy and paste functionality.

Michael highlights the new Tandem app, which allows remote control of the device, and Luna, an AI assistant integrated with ChatGPT. “Luna can set calendars, timers, and answer questions, though its accuracy varies,” he notes, sharing a humorous moment where Luna incorrectly identified Steven Scott as an author. The BlindShell Classic 3 supports popular apps like Seeing AI, Be My AI, Lookout, and Aira, though some apps, including certain banking apps, are incompatible due to the device’s lack of Google certification.

While the device’s physical design remains identical to the Classic 2, including a removable battery, USB-C charging, and a headphone jack, Steven criticizes the speaker quality: “It’s too tinny for audiobooks or podcasts—connect Bluetooth headphones instead.” Michael adds that the Classic 3 uses the Aurora app store for third-party apps, but app support is inconsistent. He expresses frustration over the lack of eSIM support, noting, “Getting the SIM card in is the biggest challenge for many users.”

Despite these drawbacks, Michael favors the BlindShell Classic 3 for its interface and navigation, while Steven prefers the Capsys Smart Vision 3 for its Google certification, despite its slower performance. Learn more at blindshell.com.