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Best smartphones for audio





Your smartphone is your gateway to music, podcasts, and all things audio. It’s crucial to pick a device that brings out the best in your favorite sounds. Quality audio enhances every beat and word, turning a mundane listen into a dynamic experience. This article zeroes in on the smartphones that excel in audio performance. From stellar built-in speakers to robust audio features and compatibility with various headphones, the devices on our list ensure that you hear every sound as intended. We’ve rounded up the best audio phones, from having a headphone jack to stereo speakers, so you can find one that hits all the right notes for you.
What's new?
- This list was updated on November 3, 2023, to add new Top Picks and adjust formatting to our current style.
- Check out our list of the best music streaming apps to use on your phone and the best-wired headphones to maximize your listening experience. Or check out our list of the best wireless earbuds to make use of these smartphones' Bluetooth capabilities.
The best phone with a headphone jack is the Sony Xperia 1 V

Finding a phone with a headphone jack is already hard enough. Coming across a good high-end one is even more complicated. This is what makes the Sony Xperia 1 V such a special phone. The plethora of audio options ensures your playlists sing, whether you’re listening over speakers, one of the phone’s many high-end Bluetooth codecs, or the classic headphone jack.
To enhance the immersion, the device uses full-stage stereo speakers with high-resolution audio and Dolby Atmos. It also provides Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) and a dynamic vibration system. There are a host of audio software features, such as an audio equalizer and mixer, and an app called Music Pro, a paid service allowing you to record vocal and instrument audio and upload them to the cloud for processing.
Overall, the Xperia 1 V comes with all the great benefits of a modern high-end device. It has a durable construction with a minimalist design. You’ll also get premium performance, as it launched with some of the latest and greatest internals. It also has a great camera system, surpassed only by some of the flagships from Apple, Samsung, or Google. And if you order the phone from Sony in the US, you’ll even get a pair of Sony Linkbuds for free.

Xperia 1 V specs:
- Display: 6.5-inch, 4K
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 256/512GB
- Cameras: 48, 12, and 12MP
- Front camera: 12MP
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Software: Android 13
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has the best speakers

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers an impressive experience across the board. It has stunning performance, a gorgeous screen, S Pen support, great battery life, amazing cameras, and more. Unsurprisingly, this is also one of the best phones with the best smartphone speakers.
In our sister site, Android Authority’s review of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, we mention these speakers are “nothing short of remarkable.” We specifically praise the volume, mentioning it’s one of the loudest phones we’ve ever used. Not only that, but we didn’t notice much distortion coming from the earpiece or down-firing speaker. And while bass could be better, we were still impressed by the overall experience.
Sadly, there is still no headphone jack, but you get plenty of Bluetooth support, and you can still use dongles.

Galaxy S 23 Ultra specs:
- Display: 6.8-inch QHD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
- RAM: 8/12GB
- Storage: 256/512/1,024GB
- Cameras: 200, 12, 10, and 10MP
- Front cameras: 12MP
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Software: Android 13
ASUS ROG Phone 7 is best for wired listening while gaming

If you’re in the market for a gaming phone, there aren’t a ton of options. Even fewer feature a headphone jack. Luckily, the ASUS ROG Phone 7 is one of the best gaming phones on the market, and it still supports 3.5mm wired audio if you like to plug in for your music and audio.
This mammoth phone packs in a gorgeous screen, great gaming performance, and numerous hardware niceties like capacitive shoulder buttons and multiple USB-C ports (one on the side and one on the bottom). It’s pretty expensive, but most flagship phones are these days—and almost none of them support dongle-free wired audio.

ROG Phone 7 specs:
- Display: 6.78-inch, Full HD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- RAM: 12/16GB
- Storage: 256/512GB
- Cameras: 50, 13, and 5MP
- Front camera: 32MP
- Battery: 6,000mAh
- Software: Android 13
Apple fan? Get the iPhone SE for cheap, or splurge on the iPhone 14 Pro Max

I’m just going to come out and say it: Apple is bad for the audio market. It’s even worse now that its phones no longer ship with a dongle. Not only is its Bluetooth compatibility limited to AAC, but its war against the 3.5mm jack also led to the most foolish smartphone design memes of the day. It’s frankly irritating that people look to it as some sort of market leader when it really only fits the description if you’re looking at how much tax it dodges in the US.
However, the iPhone SE is a special phone that is a credible contender for the value phone crown. So, as much as it pains us to praise it, this is the phone to get if you don’t need a headphone jack but do need to save some coin. There are some notable advantages, too—like Apple’s H2 chip allowing for much more stable connections with other Apple peripherals and Beats headphones. Additionally, if you want to get into the world of AirPods or AirPods Pro, this is the phone to get.
With a refreshed design in 2022, this $429 phone is in close contention with Google Pixel A-series phones (which we no longer include here after they dropped the headphone jack). The “not having a headphone jack” thing is a tough hurdle to overcome, but if you’re in the Apple ecosystem, no phone has one, so you may as well save the money for listening to music on the go.

iPhone SE (2022) specs:
- Display: 4.7-inch, 1,334 x 750
- SoC: Apple A15 Bionic
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64/128/256GB
- Cameras: 12MP
- Front cameras: 7MP
- Battery: 2,018mAh
- Software: iOS 15.4
We still aren’t fans of how Apple treats the audio industry, but if you have the money to splurge, the iPhone 14 series has some of the best speakers in mobile. All four devices come with dual speakers: one in the earpiece and one firing downwards. In our sister site, Android Authority’s iPhone 14 Pro review, we found that these are very well-tuned, and we had no issues raising the volume. As it goes with mobile phone speakers, the bass isn’t great, though.
Aside from the speakers, the iPhone 14 series comes with the latest audio features. These include Bluetooth 5.3, spatial audio when paired with Apple’s headphones, and Dolby Atmos.

iPhone 14 Pro Max specs:
- Display: 6.7-inch, 1,290 x 2,796
- SoC: Apple A16 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128/256/512/1,024GB
- Cameras: 48, 12, and 12MP + 3D LiDAR depth scanner
- Front cameras: 12MP + 3D depth sensor
- Battery: 4,323mAh
- Software: iOS 16
On a budget? Try the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

If the last budget phone you saw that made you jump for joy was the Google Pixel 4a, you’ve got a new budget wired audio contender (finally). The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is about as cheap as it comes these days, and yes, it has a headphone jack, making it the best bang-for-your-buck phone for music.
This phone starts at under $200, and it has a nice screen, a reliable camera, and good performance. Our colleagues over at Android Authority thought the external speakers were pretty lackluster, but this phone has a headphone jack, so that won’t matter most of the time!

Galaxy A14 5G specs:
- Display: 6.6-inch, Full HD+
- SoC: Exynos 1330
- RAM: 4/6/8GB
- Storage: 64/128GB
- Cameras: 50, 2, and 2MP
- Front camera: 13MP
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Software: Android 13
What you should know about smartphone audio
Smartphones have come a long way since the video below was released four years ago, but it still gives a good overview of the challenges faced by smartphones when striving to deliver a great audio experience.
While objectively collected data is all well and good, it doesn’t exactly tell you everything you need to know about a phone’s performance. If you bought a phone in the last five years, chances are it’s more than enough for you unless it lacks a specific feature you want. Now that digital media’s performance has started to sail beyond the limits of our hearing perception, test results matter less and less — while features matter more and more. It’s extremely rare that one phone will sound much worse than another when used with popular streaming services.
Headphone Jack? | Frequency response | Dynamic Range | Total Harmonic Distortion | Noise floor | Speaker volume | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apple iPhone XS Max | Headphone Jack? No | Frequency response +0.1 / -0 dB | Dynamic Range 98.9dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.0023% | Noise floor -99.5dBA | Speaker volume 76dB |
Asus Zenfone 6 | Headphone Jack? Yes | Frequency response +0.05 / -0.17 dB | Dynamic Range 83.2dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.001% | Noise floor -83dBA | Speaker volume 82.2dB |
Google Pixel 3 | Headphone Jack? No | Frequency response +0.1/ -0 dB | Dynamic Range 99.3dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.0026% | Noise floor -99.7dBA | Speaker volume 75.5dB |
Google Pixel 3a XL | Headphone Jack? Yes | Frequency response +0 / -0.34 dB | Dynamic Range 99.8dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.0023% | Noise floor -99.8dBA | Speaker volume 74.4dB |
Google Pixel 3 XL | Headphone Jack? No | Frequency response +0.1 / -0 dB | Dynamic Range 99.2dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.0026% | Noise floor -99.7dBA | Speaker volume 76.8dB |
Google Pixel 4 | Headphone Jack? No | Frequency response 0 / -0.1 dB | Dynamic Range 102.2dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.001% | Noise floor -102.2dBA | Speaker volume 84.2dB |
Google Pixel 4XL | Headphone Jack? No | Frequency response 0 / -0.11 dB | Dynamic Range 103.6dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.0013% | Noise floor -103.6dBA | Speaker volume 84.2dB |
LG G8 ThinQ | Headphone Jack? Yes | Frequency response +0.01 / -0.06 dB | Dynamic Range 98.6dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.0019% | Noise floor -98.6dBA | Speaker volume 82.1dB |
LG G8X | Headphone Jack? Yes | Frequency response +0.04 / -0.12 dB | Dynamic Range 99dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.0016% | Noise floor -99dBA | Speaker volume 88.5dB |
LG V60 | Headphone Jack? Yes | Frequency response +0.03 / -0.11 dB | Dynamic Range 100.1dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.00173% | Noise floor -100.1dBA | Speaker volume 87.9dB |
OnePlus 6T | Headphone Jack? No | Frequency response +0 / -0.1 dB | Dynamic Range 97.7dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.001% | Noise floor -97.6dBA | Speaker volume 72.9dB |
OnePlus 7 Pro | Headphone Jack? No | Frequency response +0 / -0.1 dB | Dynamic Range 97.7dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.0009% | Noise floor -97.7dBA | Speaker volume 72.9dB |
Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus | Headphone Jack? Yes | Frequency response +0.01 / -0.06 dB | Dynamic Range 96.9dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.0015% | Noise floor -96.9dBA | Speaker volume 76.5dB |
Samsung Galaxy S10e | Headphone Jack? Yes | Frequency response +0 / -0.39 dB | Dynamic Range 96.6dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.0025% | Noise floor -96.6dBA | Speaker volume 76.5dB |
Sony Xperia 1 II | Headphone Jack? Yes | Frequency response +0.26 / -0.17 dB | Dynamic Range 100.4dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.0024% | Noise floor -100.4dBA | Speaker volume 77.3dB |
Sony Xperia 1 | Headphone Jack? No | Frequency response +0.01 / -0.06 dB | Dynamic Range 100dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.013% | Noise floor -100dBA | Speaker volume 89.3dB |
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 | Headphone Jack? No | Frequency response +0 / -0.1 dB | Dynamic Range 101.4dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.0012% | Noise floor -101.3dBA | Speaker volume 73.8dB |
ZTE Axon 10 Pro | Headphone Jack? Yes | Frequency response +0 / -0.1 dB | Dynamic Range 98.4dBA | Total Harmonic Distortion 0.003% | Noise floor -101.3dBA | Speaker volume 76.1dB |
When it comes to wired listening, the lower the distortion and noise, the better the result. Similarly, the lower the deviation found in testing frequency response is, the less the sound will be altered. While some people like to artfully tune their music, any component that isn’t the headphones or the software playing back the music shouldn’t affect the signal at all. Only deviations + / – 3dB will be noticeable at all.
Our tests are overkill.
Few phones have issues here, but it’s not unheard of for a modern phone to have some weird issues here (*cough* the original Pixel *cough*). The frequency response test is more pass/fail than anything.
It’s going to sound trite, but every single one of the phones listed here is all that we’d categorize as “perceptually perfect,” given their performance meets or exceeds what your average human can hear. However, they’re not actually perfect, and users with more power-hungry headphones may run into issues.

In our testing, we noticed that the phones with dongles (Apple iPhones, Google Pixel devices) refused to output sound at the specified sample rate. We have no idea why this happened, but we were able to reproduce our results almost exactly between several different copies of each device with three testers. The upshot is that these phones should have an easier time dispelling IM distortion, but the tradeoff is that it technically isn’t performing as well.
While you shouldn’t really be able to tell when you stream music, ultra-hardcore wired-listening-only audiophiles might be unimpressed with this. It’s just as well—that crowd should avoid dongles if they’re using power-hungry headphones anyway.
Those who want to use Bluetooth audio must ensure that their phones and headphones speak the same language or codec. If they don’t, it’s highly likely you won’t be able to enjoy your music as much as you could. All phones are not created equal with Bluetooth support, and it’s worth knowing what codecs you can use on your mobile.
A2DP | AAC | aptX | aptX HD | LDAC | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Pixel 3 | A2DP ✓ | AAC ✓ | aptX ✓ | aptX HD ✓ | LDAC ✓ |
LG V60 ThinQ | A2DP ✓ | AAC ✓ | aptX ✓ | aptX HD ✓ | LDAC ✓ |
Samsung Galaxy S9+ | A2DP ✓ | AAC ✓ | aptX ✓ | aptX HD ✓ | LDAC ✓ |
Nokia 8 | A2DP ✓ | AAC ✓ | aptX ✓ | aptX HD ✓ | LDAC |
Apple iPhone XS Max | A2DP ✓ | AAC ✓ | aptX | aptX HD | LDAC |
OnePlus 6T | A2DP ✓ | AAC ✓ | aptX ✓ | aptX HD ✓ | LDAC ✓ |
Razer Phone 2 | A2DP ✓ | AAC ✓ | aptX ✓ | aptX HD ✓ | LDAC ✓ |
Huawei Mate 20 Pro | A2DP ✓ | AAC ✓ | aptX ✓ | aptX HD ✓ | LDAC ✓ |
Sony Xperia XZ3 | A2DP ✓ | AAC ✓ | aptX ✓ | aptX HD ✓ | LDAC ✓ |
Sony XPERIA 1 II | A2DP ✓ | AAC ✓ | aptX ✓ | aptX HD ✓ | LDAC ✓ |
However, software updates can change the checkmarks on this list, so prepare for it to change over time. Many of these phones will end up supporting aptX and LDAC through updates to Android over time, while Apple’s support remains beholden to a tough-to-predict update schedule.
How do we test phones?
Using a dedicated audio interface, we measure the output of each phone. Using a software called Room EQ Wizard, we can measure things like dynamic range, distortion, noise, frequency response, and more. By logging these results, we can compare each phone against each other under the same test conditions with the same test files and the same equipment.
We can get a lot of information from a simple 96kHz/24-bit test file. We load the file onto the phones, play it back, and record the results. We did not use a higher-bitrate/higher-sample rate file, CD quality sound is “only” 44.1kHz/16-bit, and that’s more than sufficient to satisfy the perceptual limits of the vast majority of humans on Earth. We go with roughly double the highest common settings that most people will use. In this case, something that would meet or exceed CD quality because no streaming service can do that currently.

Speaker testing is fairly rudimentary. By playing a pink noise sample at full volume, we can measure the output with a microphone pointed directly at the phone. The front-facing units, on the whole, perform better than those on the bottom of the phone, given the sound is actually directed at the user.
Obviously, the existence of extra features and other concerns like Bluetooth have to factor into our decisions. However, these are generally present on the flagship phones and few others. While our testing pool was artificially limited, companies have to shell out big bucks for licensing Bluetooth profiles and codecs. Generally, less expensive smartphones will also only include a few codecs, whereas the flagships will cover nearly all of them.
Frequently asked questions
For the majority of people, Spotify is the best music app, including Android users. See our list of the best music streaming apps to find out why and check out other options.
If you prefer wired listening, the best phone with a headphone jack is the Sony Xperia 1 V. If you can forgo the headphone jack, the phone with the best speakers is the Samsung Galaxy Fold 4.
In 2023, the smartphone with the best sound quality is the Sony Xperia 1 V. It offers a range of features that contribute to excellent sound quality including a high-quality DAC, stereo speakers, and native support for high-resolution audio.
We recommend the iPhone SE as the best deal among iPhones. Despite Apple’s controversial stance on the audio market and lack of a headphone jack, the iPhone SE stands out, thanks to its H2 chip and compatibility with AirPods or AirPods Pro. Its $429 USD price tag makes it a value pick, especially for those already in the Apple ecosystem.
To get the highest audio quality for music, you’ve got to turn to lossless audio formats. These formats, like FLAC, ALAC, and DSD, deliver sound can match the original studio recordings. Be ready for a big bite out of your storage, though. These tracks are weighty, but it’s the price you pay for audio perfection. Remember, you’ll need a good pair of headphones to get the full benefit.
Craving the best audio experience from your mobile device? You’ll need more than just a smartphone. A high-quality pair of wired headphones can make a world of difference, giving you an audio quality that Bluetooth can’t compete with. Make sure your music files are in high-resolution formats like FLAC or ALAC. Also, don’t sleep on streaming services. For instance, services like TIDAL offer Hi-Fi audio streaming, so you can enjoy lossless audio wherever you are. But beware, high-resolution audio can eat up your data allowance fast.