The best phones for the deaf and hard of hearing 

If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, then you’ll have special considerations when it comes to choosing a new smartphone. Which mobile phone will give you the best support? Which phones are good for accessibility and communication?

Well, the good news is that there are many smartphones on the market which now offer specialised features for users with additional auditory needs, such as hearing aid compatibility, live captioning, and haptic feedback.

Let’s explore the key qualities to look for in a mobile phone for a hard of hearing or deaf user, so you can easily see your best options.

• Hearing aid compatibility (HAC)
  The ideal phone for a user with hearing loss will comply with the M3/T3 rating standard to ensure seamless connectivity with hearing aids.
• Device pairing
  Your phone must support Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids or cochlear implants for an optimised listening experience.
• Live Caption
  Accessible phones have Live Caption, which provides automatic transcriptions of video calls, media playback, and voice notes for hard of hearing and deaf users.
• Clear and loud audio
  High-quality speakers with volume amplification are essential for hard of hearing users when it comes to phone calls, alarms and other notifications.
• Haptic feedback
  Vibrations or visual cues can provide tactile notifications for messages, calls and alarms for deaf users.
• Customisation options
  Many devices will allow personalised settings for your audio profiles, vibrations and notification cues.
  
• Video calling and messaging apps
  Support for video-based communication apps like Zoom and WhatsApp is great for sign language users.
• Battery life
  Extended battery performance ensures long usage of accessibility features.

The iPhone 15 offers exceptional M3/T4 hearing aid compatibility as well as Live Listen, which is a feature that transforms the phone into a remote microphone when paired with compatible hearing aids.

Apple’s FaceTime offers seamless video communication options to deaf users, with the option to turn on live captions for calls and media playback. You’ll also get loud and clear audio with stereo speakers which enhances the experience for users with hearing loss.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is another great phone that comes equipped with Live Caption, providing real-time subtitles for videos and audio calls. 

The S24 is also compatible with most modern hearing aids and includes powerful stereo speakers for crystal-clear sound. Its long battery life and intuitive accessibility settings make it a reliable option for daily use.

The Pixel 8 features Google’s Live Caption and Sound Amplifier apps, providing customisable audio enhancements and real-time subtitles. Its AI-driven interface supports advanced video calling apps like Google Meet, making it a strong choice for sign language users.

The HONOR Magic6 Lite is an ideal choice for many hard of hearing or deaf users. It’s affordable, yet equipped with robust audio amplification and a high-quality speaker system. 

It features both visual and haptic alerts for incoming calls and notifications, making it user-friendly for those with severe hearing loss. Also, the phone’s large battery capacity provides uninterrupted access to critical apps.

Here at Three, we provide a range of mobile options tailored to different needs. Choosing the right phone is a big decision and it’s important to get a device that offers an excellent user experience for deaf and hard of hearing users.

And to help further, we offer a range of specific accessibility support through our customer service team, as well as a range of detailed guides to help you make more informed decisions. Check out our audio support hub for more.