How do I make my Android sound like an iPhone?
There are many reasons why Android users may want their device’s audio to mimic that of an iPhone. iPhones are well known for having high quality speakers and audio components, producing clear and robust sound especially for music playback. The simple, minimalist iOS interface also lends itself to an uncluttered auditory experience. While Android offers more options for customization and tweaking, this can sometimes come at the expense of seamless audio integration and performance. Understanding the differences between Android and iPhone audio can help Android users make their device sound more iPhone-like.
The main appeal of the iPhone’s auditory profile is its balance between hardware and software integration. Apple designs both the iPhone hardware components like speakers, microphones and audio chips, as well as the iOS software controlling them. This tight integration allows for audio playback that is optimized across the entire system. Android devices, on the other hand, combine components from various hardware makers running different versions of Android OS. While this flexibility allows more room for customization, it can result in a less cohesive auditory experience compared to iPhones.
However, the open nature of Android does provide more options for users to tweak and configure their audio settings to mimic iPhone results. Changing notification sounds, ringtones, equalizer presets and volume steps can all help make an Android device sound more like an iPhone. Understanding the key differences between the two platforms is the first step in making customized changes.
Change Notification Sounds
One of the easiest ways to make your Android sound more like an iPhone is to change the default notification sounds. On Android, you can customize notification sounds for individual apps or set a global sound that will be used for all app notifications.
To change the default notification sound on Android, go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Default notification sound. Here you can select from the built-in notification sounds or add your own custom sound. Many apps like iPhone Sounds for Android allow you to download iPhone notification sounds that you can set as your default.
You can also go into the settings of individual apps and change the notification sound just for alerts from that app. This allows you to customize your notification sounds more granularly.
By setting the default notification sound or customizing app alerts, you can make your Android sound just like your iPhone alerts and notifications.
Change Ringtone
One of the most recognizable parts of the iPhone experience is the default ringtone. To get that iconic ringtone on your Android phone, you’ll need to download the iPhone ringtone file and set it as your custom ringtone.
You can find free downloads of the iPhone ringtone online. One option is to use an app like iRingtone from the Google Play Store, which gives you access to ringtones from various iPhone models.
Once you’ve downloaded the iPhone ringtone file, open your Android’s Settings app and go to Sounds & Vibration > Phone ringtone. Here you can browse to the downloaded ringtone file and select it as your phone’s default ringtone.
However, some Android models may not allow setting custom ringtones without extra steps. You may need to move the ringtone file to a specific folder on your phone’s internal storage first. Check your phone’s help guide for details.
Adjust Equalizer
One way to make your Android device sound more like an iPhone is to adjust the equalizer settings. iPhones tend to have a brighter, clearer sound profile optimized for vocals and clarity. You can achieve a similar effect on Android by downloading an equalizer app and optimizing the settings.
A popular equalizer app is Equalizer FX, which lets you customize the sound profile with different presets or manual frequency adjustments. According to audio experts, some key tips for optimizing equalizer settings for voice clarity include:
- Rolling off the lower bass frequencies below 100 Hz to reduce boominess
- Carefully reducing frequencies around 200-400 Hz to minimize muddiness
- Boosting frequencies around 2-4 kHz for better vocal clarity and articulation
- Gently boosting 10-12 kHz to add airiness and brightness
With some custom tuning in Equalizer FX focused on these ranges, you can achieve a brighter, crisper sound comparable to the iPhone’s signature profile.
Limit Volume Steps
By default, the volume on Android devices uses 15 steps. This can make volume adjustments seem coarse or abrupt. To enable smoother volume changes, you can reduce the number of volume steps to as few as 5.
This requires accessing internal Android settings that are not normally available to users. On some Android models, limiting the volume steps requires root access to make deep system modifications. For example, the app Precise Volume can adjust volume steps on rooted devices.
Without root, options are more limited. Some Samsung Galaxy phones allow adjusting volume steps using Sound Assistant in the Good Lock app. Otherwise, the standard 15 volume steps is all that’s available unless rooted.
Reducing the volume steps results in more granular control over audio output levels. This can help make volume adjustments feel less jarring.
Disable Audio Enhancements
Android smartphones often apply audio enhancements by default to improve the listening experience. However, these effects may alter the natural sound compared to an iPhone. You can disable some of these enhancements to make your Android device sound more natural.
Go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Advanced. Here you will see options to toggle audio effects like Dolby Atmos, Sound alive, DTS:X, and other sound boosters. Turn these off to disable any audio processing effects.
You can also restrict apps from applying audio effects programmatically. Developers have options to disable audio effects globally or on a per-app basis (cite: source). Restricting audio effects can make your Android’s sound more pure and unmodified like an iPhone.
Use External Speaker
One way to make your Android device sound more like an iPhone is to connect it to a high-quality Bluetooth speaker that provides a neutral or “flat” frequency response. Frequency response refers to the speaker’s ability to accurately reproduce all frequencies within the audible human range. Many Bluetooth speakers emphasize bass or treble frequencies, resulting in a colored or distorted sound. Look for a speaker with a frequency response as close to 20 Hz to 20 kHz as possible (the full range of human hearing) like some options on Amazon.
According to experts at SoundGuys, a neutral frequency response is key for portable Bluetooth speakers if you want authentic, uncolored sound quality. Consider compact Bluetooth speakers that still provide a flat response across the frequency range, as recommended on forums like Reddit. Connecting your Android device to a high-fidelity Bluetooth speaker designed for accurate frequency response can help it sound more natural and closer to an iPhone’s speaker capabilities.
Check Hardware Limitations
One factor in audio quality differences between Android and iPhone is the hardware components. Android devices vary widely in terms of the audio hardware included.
For example, having a high-quality digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and amplifier can significantly improve audio output quality. Many Android devices omit a headphone jack entirely, relying solely on Bluetooth connectivity. According to this article, devices like the LG V60 ThinQ 5G and Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate have top-tier DACs and deliver excellent wired audio quality.
Consider upgrading to an Android device model known for superb audio hardware if sound quality is a priority. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G ranked at #1 in this list of best smartphones for audio given its stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos support, and lack of a headphone jack. With the right hardware, an Android can provide audio on par with or better than an iPhone.
Compare iPhone and Android
When comparing the audio quality between iPhones and Android phones, it’s important to do side-by-side testing to evaluate which platform sounds better. According to discussions on Head-Fi[1], iOS and Android both have strengths that impact audio performance.
For wired listening, iOS relies on the DAC (digital-to-analog converter) in the headphone adapter dongle to handle the conversion, while many newer Android phones like LG and Samsung models have a high-quality quad DAC built into the phone itself. This allows the Android phone to output a more robust analog signal.
However, the operating system and application development on iOS tends to prioritize consistent audio output and latency. The core audio system on iOS provides more consistent performance across apps. On Android, audio handling depends more on each app’s implementation.
When doing listening tests between an iPhone and a high-end Android phone optimized for audio, the hardware advantages of the Android DAC provide more detail and dynamic range. However, for casual listening, the average listener may find both provide excellent audio quality from streaming services and local music libraries.
[1] https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ios-vs-android-for-audio-2018.894864/
Conclusion
If you’ve completed some of the key steps in this guide like changing your notification sounds, ringtones, equalizer settings, and volume limit, you’ve likely noticed an improvement in how your Android device sounds, at least through headphones. The audio should sound fuller, crisper, and more balanced. However, due to hardware limitations, the external speaker on your Android device may never sound quite as robust as the iPhone.
Rather than trying to make your Android sound like an iPhone, consider embracing the unique audio profile of your device. Experiment with various settings to find a sound that you enjoy. Focus on customizing your notification tones, adjusting the equalizer to your preferences, and enabling any audio enhancements that improve clarity and volume. With some tweaking, you can make the most of your Android’s built-in speakers and audio capabilities.
