There are various purposes for a smartphone, but for us, the best content is music and video. The HDR compatibility, extremely high pixel counts, and next-generation panel technology can result in an outstanding display that makes you want to take a longer route to work on purpose. There are the best phones for playing music with the perfect list.
The top smartphones with excellent screens and audio circuitry are listed below. Equally significant is that certain phones sound better than others, and it’s necessary to know which ones they are so you can spend your hard-earned money on a phone that will make your experience with portable music as good as possible.
Best Phones For Playing Music
No matter if you’re an Android or iOS loyalist, whether you’re eyeing up a flagship phone such as the iPhone 13, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, or Sony Xperia 1 IV, or more affordable options such as the iPhone 12 Mini or OnePlus 10 Pro, we’ve got you covered with the very best smartphones on the market.
1. Sony Xperia 1
The Sony Xperia Mk IV carries on the company’s revitalized approach to smartphones by giving users the means to produce and consume content that is almost professional in quality. Has Sony done enough to maintain the momentum, given the challenging goal of outperforming its predecessors, both of which won five stars and a smartphone Product of the Year Award from us?
The Sony Xperia 1 IV significantly improves on the Sony Xperia 1 III despite having a similar appearance to earlier models. Internal and feature upgrades guarantee a smooth daily operation and, most importantly, a fantastic AV experience.
2. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has done away with the 3.5mm headphone jack, despite having significantly improved battery, camera, and power specifications. Therefore, if you require one, you might wish to save money by switching back to the Samsung Galaxy S20.
Samsung has successfully transitioned to wireless audio by supporting premium audio formats like DSD 64/128 and 32-bit PCM files. This phone also has Bluetooth Dual Audio, allowing you to send music simultaneously to two Bluetooth devices and share it with friends. The camera is also noteworthy with its quad arrangement and the primary camera’s 108MP resolution.
3. Razer Phone 2
As one of the best-performing smartphones on the market, this one doesn’t need any introduction. The Razer Phone 2 is undoubtedly one of the best smartphones on the market, despite having received relatively little attention from audiences worldwide. What makes this phone so unique, then?
This device has Dolby Atmos stereo speakers paired with THX-certified amplifiers for audiophiles. It is the best a speaker can accomplish. However, it might not mean much to everyone. Thanks to Razer’s customizations, users can now obtain many customization options for earbuds or headphones.
4. Apple iPhone 13
There is nothing particularly unexpected about yet another iPhone receiving a five-star review. The iPhone 13 resembles its predecessor greatly in both appearance and feel. Naturally, the build quality is excellent, and the only external alterations that stand out are a different button arrangement and a different back camera arrangement.
A15 Bionic, a new SOC, is located within. It purportedly has a GPU that is 30% quicker than competitors and a new six-core CPU. They also support the standard clean and fast user interface, enabling new iOS 15 capabilities like Live Text in Camera and a unique 3D Maps navigation tool.
5. LG G8S ThinQ
The LG G8S ThinQ distinguishes itself from the competition regarding the pure sound quality because it includes a powerful 32-bit HiFi Quad DAC onboard and DTS:X 3D Sound System for movies. Compared to the competition, this implies less distortion, less noise, and a more extensive dynamic range.
Because the LG G8S ThinQ has a headphone jack, you can use it with the best over-ear phones for playing music with the highest-quality audio possible while on the go.
The LG G8S ThinQ is a top-performing smartphone with all that audio prowess as well. It has a 6.1-inch QHD+ notch display, two cameras, a Snapdragon 855 CPU supported by 6GB of RAM, and an IP68 water-resistance rating.
How To Choose Phones For Playing Music?
Many of us also purchase our smartphones on contracts, which typically last 24 months, so you must make arrangements in advance. Does the phone you select have a processor and RAM that are strong enough to last two years? Also, you can get the best mobile accessories for phones.
- Does the phone have enough functions, such as a versatile camera or support for a micro SD card to expand the memory, to keep you occupied throughout that time?
- Which operating system do you prefer: Is it Google’s Android, used by manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, and OnePlus, or Apple’s iOS, which is only available on iPhones?
- But if you’re looking for the best AV performance (as we are), things start to get more precise.
- For deep blacks and brilliant colors, you’ll want an OLED screen with an aspect ratio of 18:9 or 21:9 and thin bezels, which is excellent for watching material uninterrupted and in the way the director intended.
- Many smartphones ship with a 1080p, 1440p, or occasionally a 4K display on the most expensive models as standard equipment.
- Don’t be offended if your handset doesn’t have the highest-spec screen because smartphone displays, much smaller than TVs and tablets, are frequently pixel-dense, meaning that the best resolution isn’t always necessary.
Final Talk
To further assure consistency and prevent individual subjectivity, all products are evaluated concerning competing products in the same category, and team consensus rather than a single reviewer determines all review verdicts. The What Hi-Fi? The team has been evaluating, testing, and writing about consumer electronics for over a century.
We select the products to appear in our Best Buys, like this one, from all of our reviews. Can you be sure you’re getting a What Hi-Fi?-approved product if you purchase one of the items suggested here or on any other Best Buy pages.