Comments on: Sound level measuring with Android phone

By: toklookup

toklookup — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 08:35:35 +0000

I had no idea that most phone mics top out around 100dB for these measurements, that explains why my old phone struggled to read the volume at my local concert venue properly. I love that the basic Sound Meter app even has a built-in calibration option to line it up with a dedicated dB meter if you have one handy. I’ve been looking for a quick way to check if my new portable speaker is too loud for my small apartment, and these free apps sound perfect for that. Have you had a chance to test either of them on newer Android devices since you wrote this post?

By: kelly

kelly — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 15:54:01 +0000

Helpful article. Phone microphones vary, so calibration really matters. An online decibel meter is useful for quick reference checks, but certified equipment is still needed for accurate measurements.

By: kelly

kelly — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 15:45:59 +0000

Interesting article. One thing that has changed since this was originally published is that you don’t necessarily need to install an Android app anymore for a quick sound level check.

There are now browser-based tools such as https://www.decibelmeter.org/ that can use the device microphone directly and show the current, minimum, average and maximum sound level. It can be handy if you just want a quick reference measurement without installing another app.

Of course, the same limitation mentioned in the article still applies: the accuracy depends heavily on the phone or computer microphone and its calibration, so I wouldn’t use a browser or phone meter as a replacement for a calibrated SPL meter where accurate or professional measurements are required.

For casual testing and comparing relative noise levels, though, these tools are quite convenient.

By: kelly

kelly — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 15:45:56 +0000

Interesting article. One thing that has changed since this was originally published is that you don’t necessarily need to install an Android app anymore for a quick sound level check.

For casual testing and comparing relative noise levels, though, these tools are quite convenient.

By: palworldhub

palworldhub — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:03:28 +0000

Fantastic breakdown of Android decibel measurement apps! Your side-by-side testing and notes on microphone accuracy limitations are super helpful for quick home noise monitoring. Great resource

By: SkillSelect invitation data

SkillSelect invitation data — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:57:53 +0000

This is such a smart, practical approach! I love the idea of turning my everyday phone into a portable dB meter. Thanks for sharing this clever solution and testing those free apps!

By: easy tuner

easy tuner — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:37:42 +0000

Excellent article! Your real tests of Sound Meter and Sound Meter PRO on Samsung phones make it easy to pick a reliable free Android dB app. The notes on calibration and microphone limits are essential context I haven’t seen covered elsewhere. Really helpful for quick noise level checks on the go

By: pitch detector

pitch detector — Tue, 19 May 2026 15:05:01 +0000

This is such an insightful and practical article about using an Android phone to measure sound levels. I really appreciate the clear explanation and useful tips shared here. It’s incredibly helpful for anyone looking to do simple sound level measurements with just a smartphone. Great work!

By: max ray

max ray — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:04:52 +0000

Really insightful post. I especially like how you explained that a smartphone can act as a portable sound level meter with just a microphone, an app, and proper calibration. The point about built-in microphones being optimized for voice (and therefore having limitations at higher SPL or across frequencies) is particularly important and often overlooked.

I’ve been experimenting with browser-based sound measurement tools recently, and I’ve found similar challenges around calibration and device variability. It’s interesting to see how close some apps can get to real meters when calibrated properly.

Thanks for sharing such a practical breakdown!

By: Tomi Engdahl

Tomi Engdahl — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:41:14 +0000

Online meters

https://www.checkhearing.org/soundmeter.php

https://youlean.co/online-loudness-meter/