Last updated: August 20, 2026
Clarity is a specialist rather than a general phone brand. Where most manufacturers offer one accessible model in a wide catalog, Clarity publishes a whole range organized around a single specification: how many decibels of amplification the handset applies to an incoming call.
This guide covers how the range is structured, what those amplification figures on the listings mean as device specifications, and how to work out which configuration fits a household. It does not cover what any phone will do for a person’s hearing, because that is not a question a product page can answer.
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Quick Answer
What is Clarity known for?
- Amplified home phones in both corded and cordless form, with the amplification figure stated in decibels on each listing.
- The Alto corded family and the XLC cordless family, including a model that pairs Bluetooth devices so a mobile call runs through the amplified handset.
- Supporting features that matter as much as volume: extra loud ringers, talking caller identification, talking keypads, and visual ring indicators.
Bottom line: pick corded or cordless first, then compare the stated amplification figure and the ringer features.
Who Clarity Is in This Category
Clarity makes amplified telephones and related communication equipment for home use. The published range covers corded desk phones, cordless handsets, and accessories, organized around amplification levels stated in decibels, with additional models aimed at low vision use through talking caller identification and talking keypads.
The range is sold through specialist accessibility retailers as well as general online sellers, and the specifications published for each model are unusually specific about audio, which is what you are paying for with this brand.
What the Decibel Figures Are and Are Not
The amplification figure on a Clarity listing is a device specification describing how much the handset can boost an incoming call. It is a useful way to rank models against each other. It is not a measure of what someone will hear, and it is not a substitute for a hearing assessment. If hearing has changed, that is a conversation for an audiologist, who can test properly rather than estimate from a catalog.
The Families You Are Most Likely to Meet
| Family | What it is | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Alto | Corded desk phones with high stated amplification | Landline phones |
| XLC | Cordless amplified handsets and bases | Cordless phones |
| Bluetooth model | Cordless base that pairs a mobile phone | Cell phones |
| Low vision features | Talking caller ID and talking keypad | Big button phones |
| Amplified generally | The category rather than one model | Amplified phones |
Where Clarity Sits in the Market
Clarity sits at the specialist end of the accessible phone market, above general retail brands on published amplification and below nothing much, because few companies compete directly in this space. That specialization shows in the details: the ringers are loud, the visual indicators are standard rather than optional, and the model naming is organized around the specification that defines the category.
The trade is that these phones look and cost like specialist equipment. For a household where the real issue is button size or display legibility rather than volume, a mainstream range such as VTech CareLine covers that need at general retail.
Corded or Cordless
Corded models tend to publish the higher amplification figures and keep working during a power cut on a traditional landline, which makes them a sensible main phone. Cordless handsets travel around the house, which is the whole point of them. A great many households end up with a corded phone in one room and a cordless handset in another rather than choosing between them.
Clarity Phones by Situation
The Main Phone in the House
A corded amplified desk phone stays in one place, keeps working when the power does not, and generally carries the highest stated amplification in the range along with a loud ringer. Check the stated amplification figure, whether the boost has to be switched on for each call or stays set, and whether the keypad and display suit the person.
A Handset That Moves Around
The XLC cordless family covers the same ground with a base and one or more handsets, so the phone can be answered in the kitchen or carried to a chair. Compare the stated amplification, the number of handsets supported, whether the base has an answering system, and whether the handset has a visual indicator for incoming calls.
Running Mobile Calls Through the House Phone
One model in the cordless range pairs Bluetooth devices, which means a mobile phone left charging in the hall can be answered on the amplified handset with the amplification applied. That is a genuinely clever arrangement for someone who has a mobile but finds it hard to use, and it avoids a second phone bill.
Reading the Display Is the Problem
Talking caller identification announces who is calling, and a talking keypad speaks each digit as it is pressed, which addresses a display problem rather than a volume one. If that is the actual difficulty, compare models on those features rather than on the amplification figure, since the two are separate specifications.
How to Compare Within the Range
Rank on four fields. The stated amplification figure, which is the reason to buy this brand. The ringer volume and whether there is a visual indicator, since a call that is not noticed cannot be answered. The corded or cordless question, including power cut behavior. And the talking features, which solve a completely different problem from amplification.
Then check the practical details a specification table can hide: whether the amplification setting persists between calls or resets, whether the handset is compatible with the assistive devices someone already uses, and whether the base supports the number of handsets the house needs.
A Note on Hearing
Amplified phones are equipment, not care. If someone is having more difficulty on the phone than they used to, the useful step is an appointment with an audiologist, who can test hearing and advise on what actually helps. A phone with more amplification may well be part of the answer, and it is a reasonable thing to buy in the meantime, but it is not a diagnosis and not a treatment.
Over the counter hearing devices are a separate, regulated category with their own rules, and we do not cover them here or make comparisons between a phone and a hearing device. Those are different things entirely, and a professional is the right person to explain the difference for a particular situation.
Alternatives Worth Comparing
VTech CareLine covers big buttons, large displays, and loud ringers at general retail with lower published amplification; see our VTech guide. For the category as a whole rather than one brand, our amplified phones guide sets out what to compare.
If a landline is not the requirement at all, our phones for seniors hub covers the mobile and simplified handset routes alongside the landline options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Clarity make? Amplified home telephones in corded and cordless form, including the Alto corded family and the XLC cordless family, plus models with talking caller identification and talking keypads for low vision use.
What do the decibel figures mean? They are device specifications describing how much the handset boosts an incoming call, useful for ranking models against each other. They do not describe what a particular person will hear, and hearing questions belong with an audiologist.
Is a corded or cordless Clarity phone better? Corded models generally publish higher amplification and keep working during a power cut on a traditional landline. Cordless handsets can be carried around the house. Many households use one of each.
What is the Bluetooth model for? It pairs a mobile phone to the cordless base, so mobile calls can be answered on the amplified handset with the amplification applied. It suits someone who has a mobile but struggles to use it directly.
What is talking caller identification? The phone announces the name or number of the caller out loud instead of only showing it on the display. It addresses a vision difficulty rather than a hearing one, and it is a separate feature from amplification.
Does the amplification stay on between calls? That differs by model. Some keep the boost set and others require it to be switched on for each call, which is worth checking on the listing because it changes daily use considerably.
Are Clarity phones compatible with hearing devices? Compatibility is stated per model, and it is a question worth confirming with the listing and with the audiologist who fitted the device rather than assuming.
Should I buy an amplified phone or see a professional first? Both, in that order of importance. Book the appointment, and buy the phone in the meantime if calls are difficult today. One does not replace the other.
The Bottom Line
Clarity is the brand to look at when volume on a call is the specific problem, because the whole range is organized around published amplification figures rather than around one accessible model in a general catalog. Decide corded or cordless, compare the stated amplification and the ringer features, and treat the talking caller identification models as answering a different question. Start at our phones for seniors hub, and read VTech if button size is the real issue.