How do we measure sound?
All levels and types of sound, whether it’s from a smartphone or not, is measured in decibels.
The higher the decibel level, the louder the sound, and the more likely it could cause hearing damage when you’re exposed to it.
The CDC has broken down how loud certain sounds we encounter in a day actually are, and how long we can withstand them before we risk hearing damage or total loss.
The sound |
Decibel level |
Likelihood of hearing damage |
Softest sound that can be heard |
0 |
Sounds at these decibel (dB) levels typically don’t cause any hearing damage |
Normal breathing |
10 |
Same as above |
Ticking watch |
20 |
Same as above |
Soft whisper |
30 |
Same as above |
Refrigerator hum |
40 |
Same as above |
Normal conversation / air conditioner |
60 |
Same as above |
Washing machine / dishwasher |
70 |
You may feel annoyed by the noise |
City traffic heard inside a car |
80 - 85 |
Same as above |
Gas-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers |
80 - 85 |
Hearing damage possible after two hours of exposure |
Motorcycle |
95 |
Hearing damage possible after 50 minutes of exposure |
Approaching subway train / car horn at 16 feet / sporting events |
100 |
Hearing loss possible after 15 minutes |
The maximum volume level for personal listening devices; a very loud radio, stereo, or television / loud entertain venues |
105 - 110 |
Hearing loss possible in less than five minutes |
Shouting or barking in the ear |
110 |
Hearing loss possible in less than two minutes |
Standing beside or near sirens |
120 |
Pain and ear injury |
Firecrackers |
140 - 150 |
Pain and ear injury |
Source: CDC website. Data correct as of 17/12/2021
These figures are helpful in understanding exactly how loud the ringtones on the following phones are (and how damaging these could be if you’re not careful).
Best mobile phones with loud ringtones
The following seven models have some of the loudest ringtones on the market. In order from loudest to quietest, we’ll take you through how loud their ringtones can go, what it’s comparable too, and what else the phone has to offer.
Google Pixel 3a XL
Loudest decibel level: 91.1
Compared sound: Between a gas-powered lawn mower and a motorcycle
Loudspeaker? |
Yes |
3.5mm headphone jack? |
Yes |
Display |
6 inches |
Cameras |
Rear 12.2MP Wide
Front 8MP Wide
4K video recording |
Storage |
64GB |
Battery |
3,700mAh |
Connectivity |
Google’s Pixel phones can be more affordable than other Android smartphones and still have the desirable modern features like 5G. The trade-off is that they may not always beat the likes of Samsung in their camera quality.
Whether you want to learn more about the 3a, or you’re interested in looking at the specs on Google’s other Pixel ranges, you can check them all out in our top Google phone recommendations.
Samsung Galaxy S10
Loudest decibel level: 85.5
Compared sound: Gas-powered lawn mower or leaf blower
Loudspeaker? |
Yes |
3.5mm headphone jack? |
Yes |
Display |
6.1 inches |
Cameras |
Rear 12MP Wide 12MP Telephoto 16MP Ultra wide
Front 10MP Wide
4K video recording |
Storage |
128GB or 512GB |
Battery |
3,400mAh with wireless charging |
Connectivity |
5G |
The much-loved and respected Samsung have offered customers cutting-edge features, functionality, and style for years. We have three of their older models on this list, if you’re looking for a Samsung smartphone that’s more affordable than the newer, expensive releases.
Check out all of the great-value Samsung smartphones in our online shop.
Samsung Galaxy S9
Loudest decibel level: 81.1
Compared sound: City traffic or gas-powered lawn mower or leaf blower
Loudspeaker? |
Yes |
3.5mm headphone jack? |
Yes |
Display |
5.8 inches |
Cameras |
Rear 12MP Wide
Front 8MP Wide 2MP scanner
4K video recording |
Storage |
64GB, 128GB, or 256GB |
Battery |
3,000mAh |
Connectivity |
4G |
If you’re a fan of Samsung, check out our top recommendations to find the right model for you based on your style, budget, and smartphone priorities.
Motorola Moto G5
Loudest decibel level: 81
Compared sound: City traffic or gas-powered lawn mower or leaf blower
Loudspeaker? |
Yes |
3.5mm headphone jack? |
Yes |
Display |
5 inches |
Cameras |
Rear 13MP
Front 5MP
1080p video recording |
Storage |
16GB or 32GB |
Battery |
|
Connectivity |
4G |
Having manufactured the first ever (commercially available) mobile phone, Motorola are well respected in the telecommunications market.
ZTE Axon M
Loudest decibel level: 80.6
Compared sound: City traffic heard inside a car
Loudspeaker? |
Yes |
3.5mm headphone jack? |
Yes |
Display |
5.2 inches |
Cameras |
Rear 20MP
Front N/A
4 video recording |
Storage |
64GB |
Battery |
3,180mAh with fast charging 18W |
Connectivity |
4G |
ZTE tends to offer more affordable smartphones compared to their competitors. If you’re not particularly concerned about having the fastest and most up-to-date technology on your phone, you might want to consider this lesser-known brand.
Apple iPhone 8
Loudest decibel level: 80.3
Compared sound: City traffic heard inside a car
Loudspeaker? |
Yes |
3.5mm headphone jack? |
No - requires adaptor |
Display |
4.7 inches |
Cameras |
Rear 12MP Wide
Front 7MP
4K video recording |
Storage |
64GB, 128GB, or 256GB |
Battery |
1,821mAh with wireless charging |
Connectivity |
4G |
It’s no secret that Apple iPhones have been dominating the market for years. If you’re not a fan of their trend towards massive screens, you might appreciate this miniature iPhone from 2017, which is not only loud but extremely portable.
If you’d like to explore some of the newer Apple models too, you can check them out in our online shop.
Samsung Galaxy S8+
Loudest decibel level: 80
Compared sound: City traffic heard inside a car
Loudspeaker? |
Yes |
3.5mm headphone jack? |
Yes |
Display |
|
Cameras |
Rear 12MP Wide
Front 8MP Wide 2MP scanner
4K video recording |
Storage |
64GB or 128GB |
Battery |
3,500mAh with fast charging 15W |
Connectivity |
5G |
And our final entry is another Samsung model, boasting a large screen, decent battery size, and speedy 5G connectivity.
Why are these phones older?
Most of these recommendations are older phones. Modern smartphones are advancing more each year, with the focus constantly shifting from improving camera quality, audio output, screen sizes and refresh rates, speediness and more.
Most of these phones are also more affordable because they’re older. The newest iPhone and Android releases, while still boasting incredible sound quality, are usually way more expensive, without necessarily having the decibels to account for. For example, the iPhone 13’s decibel level is around 70db, a whole 10db quieter than the iPhone 8. It simply depends on what you value the most in your phone.
Discover more
If you don’t feel like any of these smartphones are right for you, we still have a number of other phones you can browse online and in store.
If you were interested in this blog, you might also like to view some of our top recommendations for:
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