PHONES & MORE
Hearing Aid Compatibility
At U.S. Cellular® we understand that your phone is a lifeline to your friends and family. And if you utilize a hearing aid,
you need the most compatible device possible. So we offer numerous phones that meet your specific needs in addition to this site to help answer any of your questions. If you have any additional questions, please visit a U.S. Cellular store near you or call 1-888-944-9400.
Hearing aids operating in acoustic coupling mode receive and amplify all signals, such as a telephone audio signal, as well as unwanted ambient noise. Hearing aids operating in inductive coupling mode avoid amplifying unwanted ambient noise by turning off the microphone and using a telecoil to receive only audio signal based magnetic fields generated by telecoil compatible telephones.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has established technical standards to measure wireless phone handsets for "compatibility" with acoustic and inductive hearing aids and have been adopted by the FCC. These standards are known as Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) ratings.
An "M" rating measures compatibility with acoustic hearing aids while a "T" rating measures compatibility with induction hearing aids. So the higher the number (e.g., M3, M4 etc.) the more compatible the handset. Generally, handsets rated "M3" or "T3" by ANSI or better are considered compliant with FCC requirements.
Acoustic Hearing Aids
Induction Hearing Aids
Background
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has wireless handset hearing aid compatibility requirements. These requirements deal with handset operations near hearing aids which operate in either acoustic coupling or inductive coupling mode.Hearing aids operating in acoustic coupling mode receive and amplify all signals, such as a telephone audio signal, as well as unwanted ambient noise. Hearing aids operating in inductive coupling mode avoid amplifying unwanted ambient noise by turning off the microphone and using a telecoil to receive only audio signal based magnetic fields generated by telecoil compatible telephones.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has established technical standards to measure wireless phone handsets for "compatibility" with acoustic and inductive hearing aids and have been adopted by the FCC. These standards are known as Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) ratings.
An "M" rating measures compatibility with acoustic hearing aids while a "T" rating measures compatibility with induction hearing aids. So the higher the number (e.g., M3, M4 etc.) the more compatible the handset. Generally, handsets rated "M3" or "T3" by ANSI or better are considered compliant with FCC requirements.
Acoustic Hearing Aids
- M3-rating indicates the handset has satisfied the ANSI standard
- M4-rating indicates the handset has exceeded the ANSI standard
Induction Hearing Aids
- T3-rating indicates the handset has satisfied the ANSI standard
- T4-rating indicates the handset has exceeded the ANSI standard
U.S. Cellular-Compatible Phones and Devices
We strive to make the phone selection process for our customers with hearing aids as easy as possible. U.S. Cellular categorizes phones into four different categories based on their levels of functionality: Feature Phones, BlackBerry®, Windows Phone® and AndroidTM.Feature Phones
Feature phones are those that are primarily used for voice calls. These phones also provide access to additional services such as U.S. Cellular's application download service, easyedgeSM. Please refer to the phone page to see specific features and services supported by each device in this category.
BlackBerry®
These are voice and data-capable wireless devices (i.e. converged) that integrate voice calling, email access (corporate and personal), web browsing and PIM (calendar, contacts, tasks) all in one device. These devices use Research In Motions's BlackBerry® operating system.
Windows Phone®
These are voice and data-capable wireless devices (i.e. converged) that integrate voice calling, email access (corporate and personal), web browsing and PIM (calendar, contacts, tasks) all in one device. These devices use Microsoft's Windows Mobile® operating system.
AndroidTM
These are voice and data-capable wireless devices (i.e. converged) that integrate voice calling, email access (corporate and personal), web browsing and PIM (calendar, contacts, tasks) all in one device. These devices use Google's AndroidTM operating system.
Below is a list of U.S. Cellular devices and their hearing aid compatibility (HAC) rating:
| Feature Phones | |
|---|---|
| Device | Rating |
| LG Wine® 2 - Blue | M3/T4 |
| Samsung Galaxy Axiom™ | M4 |
| Samsung Galaxy Note™ 10.1 Wi-Fi | N/A |
| PCD Wrangler™ | M4/T4 |
| Alcatel ONE TOUCH Premiere™ | M3/T3 |
| LG Saber™ | M4/T4 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 | N/A |
| LG Wine® 2 - Gray | M3/T4 |
| Samsung Chrono™ | M4/T4 |
| LG Wine® 2 - Rose | M3/T4 |
| Motorola Hint™ QA30 | M4/T3 |
| LG Tritan™ UX840 | M4/T4 |
| Samsung Trill™ R520 | M4/T3 |
| LG Helix™ | M4/T4 |
| Samsung FreeformTM | M4/T4 |
| Motorola Grasp™ | M3/T3 |
| Samsung GlossTM SCH-U440 - Charcoal | M4/T4 |
| LG MystiqueTM UN610 | M4/T4 |
| LG Bliss™ - Black | M4/T3 |
| Motorola Quantico™ | M4/T3 |
| Samsung Two Step™ R470 - Red | M4 |
| Pantech Verse | M3/T3 |
| Samsung Two Step™ R470 - Purple | M4 |
| Motorola Quantico™ - Black | M4/T3 |
| Samsung Two Step™ R470 - Blue | M4 |
| Samsung Freeform™ | M4/T4 |
| Samsung Gloss™ SCH-U440 - Pink | M4/T4 |
| Motorola W385 - Plum | M4/T4 |
| Motorola W385 - Silver | M4/T4 |
| LG Wine™ UX280 - Silver | M3/T4 |
| LG Wine™ UX280 - Red | M3/T4 |
| Samsung Galaxy Note™ 10.1 4G LTE™ | N/A |
| LG Envoy™ II | M4 |
| LG Rhythm™ UX585 - Black | M3/T3 |
| LG Mystique™ | M4/T4 |
| LG Banter™ Touch | M4/T4 |
| Samsung SCH-LC11 Mobile Hotspot | N/A |
| Samsung Two Step™ R470 - Orange | M4 |
| LG Envoy™ II - Without Camera | M4 |
| Kyocera Neo™ E1100 | M3/T4 |
| Samsung Messager® Touch - Blue | M4/T3 |
| Samsung Messager® Touch - Black | M4/T3 |
| Samsung Gloss™ SCH-U440 - Charcoal | M4/T4 |
| Samsung Profile™ | M4/T3 |
| LG Rhythm™ UX585 - Pink | M3/T3 |
| Samsung Character™ - Gray | M4/T4 |
| Samsung Stride™ | M4/T4 |
| LG Banter™ UX265 | M3/T4 |
| Samsung Freeform® 4 | M4/T4 |
| LG Bliss™ - White | M4/T3 |
| Pantech CDM8635 | M4/T4 |
| LG Envoy™ | M4 |
| LG Freedom™ | M4/T4 |
| Samsung Axle™ R311 | M4 |
| Samsung Caliber™ | M4/T4 |
| Samsung Character™ - Blue | M4/T4 |
| Samsung Chrono™ 2 | M4/T4 |
| Motorola Crush™ | M4 / T3 |
| LG Attune™ | M4/T3 |
| Kyocera E1000 | M3/T4 |
| Kyocera DuraPro | M4/T4 |
| Samsung Messager® Touch R630 - Black | M4/T3 |
| ZTE Unite™ Mobile Hotspot | N/A |
| LG UX220 | M4 |
| BlackBerry®, Windows Phone® & AndroidTM | |
|---|---|
| Device | Rating |
| Defy™ XT | M4/T3 |
| Curve™ 8530 - Red | M4/T4 |
| Splendor™ | M4/T4 |
| Electrify™ 2 | M4/T3 |
| Electrify™ M | M4/T4 |
| MesmerizeTM | M4 |
| Galaxy S® II | M4/T3 |
| Exec™ | M4/T4 |
| Ascend II™ | M4/T3 |
| Torch™ 9850 | M3/T3 |
| Director™ | M4 |
| Genesis™ | M3 |
| Touch™ | M3 |
| Curve™ 8530 - Black | M4/T4 |
| Galaxy S® III - White 16GB | M4/T4 |
| BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630 | M3 |
| BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8230 | M4/T4 |
| Shockwave™ | M4/T3 |
| Mesmerize™ | M4 |
| Galaxy S® 4 - White Frost 16GB | M4 |
| Galaxy S® 4 - Black Mist 16GB | M4 |
| Acclaim™ | M4/T3 |
| Wildfire S™ - Gray | M4/T4 |
| Touch Pro 2™ | M3 |
| Desire™ | M4/T3 |
| Hero S™ | M4/T4 |
| Galaxy Metrix™ 4G | M4 |
| Galaxy S® II - White | M4/T3 |
| BlackBerry® Curve™ 8530 | M4/T4 |
| Curve™ 9330 | M4/T4 |
| Electrify™ | M4/T4 |
| Merge™ | M4/T4 |
| Bold™ 9650 | M4/T4 |
| Apex™ | M4/T4 |
| BlackBerry® 8830™ | M4/T4 |
| Touch Pro™ | M3 |
| Repp™ | M4 |
| Render™ | M4/T3 |
| Galaxy Note® II - Titanium 16GB | M4 |
| BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330 - Red | M4/T4 |
| BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330 - Titanium | M4/T4 |
| Galaxy S® Aviator™ | M4/T4 |
| Optimus U™ | M4/T4 |
| One™ V | M4/T4 |
| 7 Pro™ | M4/T4 |
| Snap™ | M3 |
| Galaxy S® III - Blue 16GB | M4/T4 |
| Galaxy S® III - White 32GB | M4/T4 |
| Gem™ | M4 |
| Curve™ 9350 | M4/T3 |
| Ascend® Y | M4/T3 |
| Wildfire S™-Purple | M4/T4 |
*This phone has been tested and rated for use with hearing aids for some of the wireless technologies that it uses. However, there may be some newer wireless technologies used in this phone that have not been tested yet for use with hearing aids. It is important to try the different features of this phone thoroughly and in different locations, using your hearing aid or cochlear implant, to determine if you hear any interfering noise. Consult your service provider or the manufacturer of this phone for information on hearing aid compatibility. If you have questions about return or exchange policies, consult your service provider or phone retailer.
Hearing loss and hearing aids are highly individualized, so if you use a hearing aid we invite you to try hearing aid compatible phones at any U.S. Cellular owned and operated stores.
Learn more about hearing aid compatibility and wireless
