If you want a basic stand-alone hand-held hardware sound meter (not a phone app), the “Dr Meter MS10”, a device that appears to be sold in various brands and skins is currently on sale for $14 with coupon code UYZ98DYT offered by a marketplace seller with the order fulfilled by Amazon.
It averages 4.1 out of 5 based on 230 customer reviews, and has 29 questions answered. It promises to be +/- 1.5 dB and measures in 0.1 dBA steps. They are powered by a 9V battery. They take measurements every few seconds, it is not always measuring. It can also be mounted on tripod-type devices, perhaps a good use of selfie sticks 🙂
Let the price set expectations. I have a similar-looking one from a different brand but I can’t find it 🙂
PS: the page there has a handy “How Loud is Too Loud” picture in the gallery, picture #4 over there, showing examples of “real world sounds” from 10 dB to 145 dB. Sorry audiophiles, you only allowed to watch firework shows on a TV 🙂 Kids may use this to lobby their parents against doing the grass (“look ma/pa, the lawnmower is in the RED ZONE, no can do!”).
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