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:
Feature |
What is it? |
DAC |
This stands for ‘Digital-to-analog converter’. It allows the phone’s audio files to be sent to your headphones and converted into sound. A 32-bit DAC is better than a 16-bit DAC, as it provides higher quality audio playback, so look out for a high DAC on the spec list. |
PCM |
This stands for ‘pulse-code modulation’ and is used to refer to the most standard type of audio file. |
Headphone Amp |
With a more powerful amplifier, louder output volumes can be pushed to your headphones. The better the amplifier, the louder and clearer the sound. |
Hi-Fi Playback |
Hi-Fi stands for ‘High Fidelity’. The higher the bits and frequency in the DAC, the higher the quality of music that’s being pushed through to your headphones. |
Headphone Jack |
The headphone jack allows you to plug in a 3.5mm cable to listen to music through wired earphones. It has been removed from iPhones (7 and beyond), but can still be found on a number of Android models. |
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
Display |
6.21 inches |
Camera |
Rear 12MP 12MP 13MP Front 8MP |
Battery life |
3,550mAh |
Storage |
64GB or 128GB |
5G compatibility |
No |
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
Display |
6.5 inches |
Camera |
Rear 12MP 12MP 12MP 0.3MP Front 8MP |
Battery life |
4,500mAh |
Storage |
256GB or 512GB |
5G compatibility |
Yes |
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
Display |
7.6 inches |
Camera |
Rear 12MP 50MP 10MP
Front 10MP 4MP |
Battery life |
4,400mAh |
Storage |
256GB |
5G compatibility |
Yes |
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
Display |
6.8 inches |
Camera |
Rear 108MP 12MP 10MP 10MP Front 40MP |
Battery life |
5,000mAh |
Storage |
128GB, 256GB, or 512GB |
5G compatibility |
Yes |
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
Display |
6.8 inches |
Camera |
Rear 108MP 12MP 10MP 10MP Front 40MP |
Battery life |
5,000mAh |
Storage |
128GB, 256GB, or 512GB |
5G compatibility |
Yes |
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
Display |
6.1 inches |
Camera |
Rear 12MP 12MP 12MP Front 12MP |
Battery life |
3,095mAh |
Storage |
128GB |
5G compatibility |
Yes |
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
Display |
6.1 inches |
Camera |
Rear 12MP 12MP 12MP Front 12MP |
Battery life |
2,815mAh |
Storage |
128GB, 256GB, or 512GB |
5G compatibility |
Yes |
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
Display |
6.8 inches |
Camera |
Rear 64MP 13MP 0.3MP Front 10MP |
Battery life |
5,000mAh |
Storage |
128GB or 256GB |
5G compatibility |
Yes |
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
Display |
6.3 inches |
Camera |
Rear 50MP 12MP Front 10MP |
Battery life |
4,270mAh |
Storage |
128GB or 256GB |
5G compatibility |
Yes |
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
Display |
5.8 inches |
Camera |
Rear 12.2MP Front 8MP |
Battery life |
3,140mAh |
Storage |
128GB |
5G compatibility |
No |
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:
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- Best phones for vlogging
- Best phones for gamers and film fanatics
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- Best phone on the market
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