I’ve seen the Android apps for dB meters, but wondered if anyone has had the opportunity to compare results from a phone app to that of a real noise meter. My work is going to give me the opportunity to use a real meter, once the warehouse manager can locate it. I was going to at least attempt to use a phone app to see what results I get, and compare.
Just wondering if anyone has tried this comparison themselves…
I haven’t but I have both sitting right here!!! 
built in mics have limited SPL capability. probably under 110dB. so under 110 dB they may or may not be accurate. but above that, definitely not accurate.
I pitted a Speer Scientific sound meter against a Moto Droid with Smart Sound (ver 1.2.2) and found the Droid was very accurate but I could not get the Droid to register over 100dB. Between 35 and 100 dB however the two meters were quite synonymous.
I tried today with one of the apps on my phone (Fascinate), and it registered 125dB…but I had to go from holding my phone to holding my ears, it hurt too bad. 
Really though, it was deafening…I figured I was 50ft away. Hopefully I’ll come across a real meter in the next week or two.