Best phones for playing music

What should I look for?

If audio playback is the most important feature for you, you should be on the lookout for a few things when browsing phones for playing music:

Which high-performing audio phone is right for you? Browse our list or use the navigation below to jump between handsets:

• LG G8S ThinQ
• Sony Xperia 1 III
• Samsung ZFold 4
• Samsung S22 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 12 Pro
• LG V60 ThinQ
• Google Pixel 7
• Google Pixel 4a

LG G8S ThinQ

Price: £300 - £500

Audio features

✔ 32-bit HiFi Quad DAC

✔ 3D Sound System

✔ Headphone jack

✔ Bluetooth

✔ Air Motion allows you to control the volume with hand gestures, rather than having to touch the screen

Specifications

Summary

A solid and reliable choice, the LG G8S ThinQ supports both wired and wireless audio playback and comes with a hands-free option for controlling music. 

Sony Xperia 1 III

Price: £1,100

Audio features

✔ Headphone jack

✔ Wind filter on recorded audio

✔ Hi-Res audio

✔ 24-bit audio

✔ Dynamic vibration system

✔ Stereo speakers

✔ Bluetooth 5.2

Specifications

Summary

The Sony Xperia 1 III is an expensive but feature-packed device. It has a large 4K display, perfect for displaying the most vivid detail. Its 5G compatibility makes for a speedy and buffer-free experience, and the addition of the 3.5mm headphone jack (missing from previous Sony modes) makes it an ideal choice for music lovers. 

Samsung ZFold 4

Price: £1,642.99

Audio features

✔ Two speakers (top and bottom left)

✔ Audio zoom (very good at blocking out unwanted noise from all sides)

✔ Dolby Atmos technology

Specifications

Summary

Part of an exciting new generation of foldable smartphones, the Samsung Z Fold4 gives you an immersive listening experience as well as being conveniently compact. A combination of noughties’ nostalgia and modern technology means you can enjoy all your favourite media in comfort wherever you are.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

Price: £1,144.99

Audio features

✔ Two speakers (one playing from the top front, the other from the bottom side)

✔ Dolby Atmos tuning

✔ Enhanced Bluetooth feature

Specifications

Summary

A flagship handset from Samsung’s superb Galaxy range, the S22 Ultra is built to give users the audio they deserve. Whether you like listening to music, playing video games or streaming tonnes of movies and TV shows, this handset will ensure you never miss your favourite sounds again!

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Price: £1,144.99

Audio features

✔ Stereo speakers

✔ 32-bit audio

✔ Tuned by AKG headphones

✔ Bluetooth 5.2

✔ Bluetooth Dual Audio (play through two devices simultaneously)

✔ 32-bit PCM

Specifications

Summary

With huge storage capacities for all your downloaded music, and fast 5G for streaming, this phone is perfect for wireless audio lovers - and offers quite a lot for the avid photographer too!

Not sure on the Galaxy S21 Ultra? Check out more Samsung smartphones to find the right one for you.

iPhone 13

Price: £747.99

Audio features

✔ Two speakers (one playing from the front, the other from the bottom side)

✔ Audio zoom

✔ Dolby Atmos

✔ Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum mic modes (perfect for taking calls in noisy environments)

✔ User-configurable max volume

Specifications

Summary

Still a veritable powerhouse in Apple’s tech arsenal, the iPhone 13 comes equipped with a wide range of audio features to enhance your listening experience. By giving you more control of your max volume and sound isolation capabilities, you’ll be hearing a lot more clearly with this device.

iPhone 12 Pro

Price: £997.99

Audio features

✔ Dolby Atmos technology provides powerful bass and vibrations for a concert-like experience

✔ Two speakers for inclusive 3D sound

✔ Bluetooth

Specifications

Summary

For any iPhone lovers out there, the 12 Pro is one of the best options from Apple right now. The 3.5mm headphone jack was removed from iPhones 7 and above, but you can still plug in wired headphones with a Lightning port adapter. Its built-in H1 chipset makes for a speedy experience.

If you’re interested in other iPhone models, check out our top recommendations. 

LG V60 ThinQ

Price: £350

Audio features

✔ Stereo speakers

✔ 32-bit audio

✔ 24-bit audio recording

✔ Headphone jack

✔ Bluetooth 5.1

✔ Quad DAC mode

Specifications

Summary

The LG V60 ThinQ has a huge (almost tablet-size) 6.8 inch display as well as a big battery capacity. With 5G data, multiple storage options, and wired or wireless audio capabilities, this phone is an ideal choice for someone on the hunt for a more affordable model. 

Google Pixel 7

Price: £599

Audio features

✔ Two speakers (top front, bottom side)

✔ Three built-in mics (provides a much higher volume level)

✔ Audio zoom to help keep background noise at bay

✔ Wind-sound reduction technology

Specifications

Summary

The latest release from Google puts the listener first! As well as having an exceptionally clear camera to display your favourite visuals, the Pixel 7 limits outside noise so you can keep focusing on the sounds you love.

Google Pixel 4a

Price: £600 - £700

Audio features

✔ Headphone jack

✔ Bluetooth 5.0

✔ Compatible with hearing aids

✔ Stereo speakers

Specifications

Summary

The great middleman of the Pixel 4 range, the 4a has both the sought-after headphone jack and Bluetooth 5.0 support. Better yet, this model is compatible with hearing aids so no one is excluded.

Best headphones

Now you’ve got your phone, but what about your headphones?

Check out some of our suggestions for wired and wireless compatibility. 

Some other “Best of…” lists you may be interested in are:

• Best phones for under £200
• Best budget phones for internet browsing
• Best phones for vlogging   
• Best phones for gamers and film fanatics
• Best phones for teens
• Best waterproof phones
• Best phone on the market

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