Speaker test
A short chime from the left, from the right and from both, then a sweep that rises from a low hum to a high whistle. A worn or water-damaged speaker buzzes, crackles or goes quiet somewhere on the way.
Open this page on the phone you want to test. Press Back or the close button to stop at any time.
How to do it
- Turn the volume all the way up.
- Tap Start, then Left, Right, Both and Sweep.
- Listen with the phone flat on a table and again in your hand. Hold it sideways for Left and Right.
What the result means
- Clear at every pitch: the speaker works.
- Buzzing or crackling at some pitches: a torn or dirty speaker, or one damaged by water.
- Left and Right sound the same: normal on phones with one speaker. Check the model: many cheaper phones have only one.
What a browser cannot see: whether the phone is really the model it claims (copies run on a different processor), how worn the battery is, whether the storage is as big as it says, and whether the system was modified. The free Knowfone app for Android checks all of that and every part above in about 7 minutes, then answers: good to buy, buy only at a lower price, or don't buy.
Questions
How do I test the earpiece speaker?
A web page plays through the main speaker. To test the earpiece, call someone or play a voice message with the phone held to your ear.
Why is one side quieter?
On phones with two speakers, the earpiece doubles as the second speaker and is often quieter. A big difference, or crackling from one side, points to a problem.
More phone tests
Buying a used phone? Read the 14-step checklist or look up the real specs of popular models.