The best phone for music

Maybe you love blasting your favourite tunes in crystal clear quality. Perhaps you’re even into making music. Whatever your priorities, from podcasts to social media reels, you’ll want high-quality audio from your handset.

These days, most devices have excellent audio quality projected through high-definition speakers. But which is the best phone for music?

Today, we’re taking a look at the qualities a phone needs for good audio quality and then highlighting some of the best phones for playing music. Then you can start that workout or light up that party with all your favourite hits.

When choosing a smartphone for playing music, look for the following features:

Audio hardware
Look for phones with stereo speakers, DACs, and high-resolution audio certification. This ensures a more detailed and clear listening experience than standard audio.

Bluetooth codec support
Ensure your new phone supports codecs like LDAC or aptX to provide higher quality and more energy-efficient wireless streaming without interruption

Storage options
You’ll also need ample storage on the device, which is crucial for offline libraries which allow you to enjoy your favourite songs without using up your data allowance.

Sound customisation
Having a phone with features like equalization settings and audio tuning tools adds a range of benefits, allowing you find the perfect audio mix for you.

Streaming service integration
Phones that are optimised for services like Apple Music or Spotify can often deliver an even better audio experience as well as huge music libraries.

Here are four of the best phones for audio quality and playing music.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is the top-tier model of the current generation of iPhones, and with that comes the very best of all of the iPhone’s audio features. With Apple's focus on lossless and high-quality streaming, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is an outstanding choice for music aficionados.

Spatial audio with Dolby Atmos
Spatial audio is an immersive 3D sound experience that allows sounds to feel like they’re coming from different directions and distances, all in crystal-clear quality.

Lossless audio support
Available via Apple Music, lossless audio means that the compressed file maintains the quality of the original recording, so you hear studio-quality tracks.

Storage space
The 16 Pro Max offers up to 1TB for massive offline music collections, which is great if you want to play music without using up your data allowance.

Custom audio settings
These settings enable you to personalise your sound preferences, with a range of sound balance tools allowing you to find the perfect audio blend.

Ecosystem synergy
This innovative feature allows AirPlay compatibility and seamless integration with Apple's ecosystem to enhance music playback.

Another of the leading Android phones for audio quality, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL pairs smart audio features with clean software, ensuring a top-tier listening experience. It also stands out for its AI-driven features that enhance sound quality and adapt to different environments.

Dual stereo speakers
These provide for loud and crisp sound output, perfect for enjoying an immersive music, podcast or audiobook experience.

Bluetooth 5.3
The Pixel 9 Pro XL also enjoys this technology, and the high-quality, reliable and energy-efficient audio streaming that comes with it.

Adaptive sound
This innovative feature uses AI to adjust speaker settings based on ambient noise to ensure optimal audio clarity wherever you’re listening.

Storage and backup
This device comes with up to 512GB of storage, as well as additional capacity for cloud music backups, so you can store all your favourite songs.

The Magic6 Pro is another option well worth considering, offering a suite of premium audio features at a competitive price. It combines affordability with high-quality audio, making it a strong contender for music fans on a budget.

Stereo speakers with DTS:X Ultra
DTS:X Ultra is another high-quality speaker feature, creating an immersive and three-dimensional audio experience for all your favourite songs.

High-resolution audio certification
This certification ensures accurate and detailed audio quality, resulting in a clearer music playback experience than standard audio.

Customisable sound settings
The Magic6 Pro also includes a built-in equalizer and a range of audio enhancement modes to ensure you find your ideal audio balance.

Bluetooth 5.3
Another phone which enjoys the high-quality, reliable and energy-efficient audio streaming that comes with this technology.

These are four of the very best phones on the market right now when it comes to playing audio. They each offer an exciting range of audio enhancements and music storage capabilities alongside great speakers that will enhance your enjoyment of your favourite songs, playlists and albums.

If you want to look even further and consider a few more options, you can take a look at our full phones range here. Or if you’re in the mood for a music experience on a grander scale, you can find out about the range of live music benefits that come with being a Three customer.