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iPhone User Volume...Eh?

T

Tom R

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 13, 2009
48
0
Hi All...I am looking at either a Blackberry Storm or an iPhone...my first venture into "smart" phone world.

One of my criteria is "volume" in normal use (not speakerphone volume). Yes, I must admit to being a bit older than the average user on this site...
60+...and my hearing no doubt reflect my age. Don't get me wrong...I ear but just "not like I used to" :)

A couple of "younger"friends have iPhones and have said volume is not great. My current ancient flip phone has volume that can be set quite loud if needed. Even though it preceds speaker phones...you can almost use as a speaker phone on high volume setting.

Question...are my friends correct? Is the volume less than "some" may want/need?

Is there an application that can ramp up volume...again...not talking speaker phone volume????

Also, I have not looked into Blackberry yet...anyone familiar with BB Storm (and other BBs) volume?

Sorry if this is a boring question...but it is important to me inorder to have a great functioning phone.

Thanks You...Tom R...1st Post
 
Tom R said:
Hi All...I am looking at either a Blackberry Storm or an iPhone...my first venture into "smart" phone world.

One of my criteria is "volume" in normal use (not speakerphone volume). Yes, I must admit to being a bit older than the average user on this site...
60+...and my hearing no doubt reflect my age. Don't get me wrong...I ear but just "not like I used to" :)

A couple of "younger"friends have iPhones and have said volume is not great. My current ancient flip phone has volume that can be set quite loud if needed. Even though it preceds speaker phones...you can almost use as a speaker phone on high volume setting.

Question...are my friends correct? Is the volume less than "some" may want/need?

Is there an application that can ramp up volume...again...not talking speaker phone volume????

Also, I have not looked into Blackberry yet...anyone familiar with BB Storm (and other BBs) volume?

Sorry if this is a boring question...but it is important to me inorder to have a great functioning phone.

Thanks You...Tom R...1st Post
Click to expand...

Why don't you try making a phone call on one of your younger friend's iPhones and see if you can hear well enough or not?
 
Try retail stores for the phones with working models and make a few calls. I can say from personal experience I feel as though the iPhone speaker leaves something to be wanted. You may need to try yourself.

Welcome to the forums!
 
Do your friends have 3G iPhones or the newer 3GS? I find the 3G to be very quiet but the 3GS to be MUCH louder.

Then, as Unspoken Demise suggested, if you have an Apple store near you just go in and call a friend on one of the demo phones. Turn on the speaker phone and turn up the volume using the buttons on the side of the phone.

If you can hear it in a busy Apple store you should be fine anywhere!
 
I have a pretty big hearing loss, and the iPhone does it for me. Most of my friends are annoyed when they have to use my phone since it's so loud...
 
I also don't have the best of hearing and I have the 3G S and keep the earpiece volume at 3 notches below full and find that it works great. Only in a crowded bar or other similar area do I have to put it all the way up and press it against my ear. The speakerphone though is useless unless you are in a quiet room. Even in a moving car with the windows up and radio off its just barely useable.
 
I was sitting next to a friend who was talking on her 3GS the other day and I could hear every single word that was coming through it (it wasn't set to max volume or speaker phone either).

I'd say it's pretty damn loud...
 
Thanks...it appears that the 3GS has better volume??

Is there a logical reason for that?...Sorry I am an accountant and there MUST be logic for every truth :)

Thanks...Tom R
 
Not to flame, but the BB Storm has pretty good volume IMO. I thought it better than my friends 2G iPhone. But, maybe parts have changed by then....
 
I think the 3G and 3GS have the same volume honestly. I am hard of hearing and can't tell a difference.
 
I have found volume for both regular ear speaker and speakerphone quite a bit softer than my old free low-end verizon flip phone. I usually have volume close to max for it to be just about right. I'd say it is equal volume as my old flip phone was when it was at 50%.
 
AbSoluTc said:
I think the 3G and 3GS have the same volume honestly. I am hard of hearing and can't tell a difference.
Click to expand...

Thanks...do you find it "Not OK" "Just OK" or "Really Good"?

Sure is tough to get old(er) :) Tom R
 
I have pretty pronounced hearing loss from all those years on the flightline listening to jets go After Burner and even worse the generator dash 60's.

I find the GS volume fairly low. You could raise the volume by using a bluetooth headset of some sort. Some of those can get big loud.

I may do that myself.:apple:
 
The volume is fine. It can be set very loud. Read the replies and you'll see many have ignored the question and are referring to the speakerphone or just speaker. Your question is about the earpiece. It is plenty loud. :)
 
Yeah, it's fine.


Also the speaker, everyone tells me they can hear me more clearly now. One person could even hear the parrot that was on Aladdin that my kids were watching. The volume in both areas is great. I'm talking about the 3GS, I couldn't comment on the 3G or previous models.
 
speakerphone could be louder, but the speaker on the phone itself when speaking on the phone normally is fine. i mean if they want to increase that too im ok with it!
 
I had the 3G and have had the 3GS since the first day, and on both phones I have had to turn the volume all the way up, and it is still not enough. and I have good hearing. coworkers 3gS phones are the same. very poor earpiece. if there is any noise in the area (even slightly), it is almost impossible to hear.
 
Tom R said:
Thanks...do you find it "Not OK" "Just OK" or "Really Good"?

Sure is tough to get old(er) :) Tom R
Click to expand...

Earpiece is "Good"
Speakerphone is "Ok"

Both could be better. There is a fine line between loud and distorted. Lots of phones can get LOUD, but when they do, they distort. So it's useless. Anyways, I am happy with the phone. I can hear everything 99% of the time. Sometimes I miss a call but it's because I have a custom ring tone and it can be hard to hear in noisy environments.


capt601 said:
I had the 3G and have had the 3GS since the first day, and on both phones I have had to turn the volume all the way up, and it is still not enough. and I have good hearing. coworkers 3gS phones are the same. very poor earpiece. if there is any noise in the area (even slightly), it is almost impossible to hear.
Click to expand...


Yeah, same here. I had my 3G maxed out and did that with my 3GS. However I have taken my 3GS down a 3 notches and I can still hear everything just fine. If it gets noisy, I have to crank it up. It could be a bit louder for sure.

Also, custom ring tones can also cause issues. They themselves might be too low in volume. The type of ring tone you have can make it not as loud as well. It's all in what you hear better. Certain sounds will be louder to you than others.
 
Good info.

Anyone had a Balcberry Storm? How would you compare volume...not speaker phone??? Tom R
 
3Gs volume is just about fine. 3G volume is less loud. I've got no problems with it and I can always hear the people.
 
I'm similar age to you, I did think the 2G phone was too quiet, but the 3GS that I got recently is the best phone for volume that I've ever had. Good loud ringtones and good clear earpiece too.
 
I had a first generation iphone and now a 3gs.....and my biggest complaint about these phones would be the earpiece volume....speakerphone is almost unusable in a car as somelese mentioned. the earpiece is not the greatest either...but this is my opinion. other than that...its an awesome phone
 
no idea what these ppl are taking about but ok

I have both the storm (work) and the iphone 3GS (personal) and let me tell u the ear piece and the speakerphone on the BB Storm is ALOT better/clearer and loader then the 3GS its not even a comparison, if u want something load the BB will definitely do the trick
 
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