The Best Phones for Music: 7 Top Picks

There’s no shortage of articles rating the best smartphones based on factors such as screen size and camera setup. But for music lovers, what also matters is speaker quality, headphone jack availability, battery life, and storage capacity. In this article, we break down the best phones for music and audio based on these factors and more. 

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Our Criteria

When you’re in the market for a new phone that doubles as a high-quality music player, certain buzzwords should be music to your ears. Whether you’re an Apple lover, an Android enthusiast, or somewhere in between, here are the criteria we used to arrive at our list of the best phones for audiophiles:

• High-End Storage Capacity: With apps like Spotify and Amazon Music, your phone needs ample storage for hi-res playback of your favorite tunes. Among flagship phones, we looked for generous built-in storage or options for expandable memory.
• Headphone Jack and Connectivity Options: For audiophiles who prefer the nuances of wired headphones, a phone with a traditional headphone jack is vital. Additionally, we considered the Bluetooth codec support for high-quality wireless earbuds and AirPods connectivity. Note that many of the most popular modern smartphones don’t come with headphone jacks in which case you’ll need wireless earbuds or headphones that can connect to your phone via Bluetooth.
• Strong Battery Life: Look for a phone to keep the music playing all day. Phones with long battery life and efficient processors like the Snapdragon or Apple Bionic ensure your playlists keep rolling without interruption.
• Advanced Processors and Crisp Displays: A powerful processor like the Snapdragon or Apple Bionic is key for smooth audio playback and efficient operation of music apps. An OLED or AMOLED display enhances the visual experience, especially for apps like Spotify and YouTube.
• Support for High-Quality Formats and Codecs: For the ultimate audio experience, ensure your new phone supports various formats like LDAC, aptX, and lossless codecs. Whether you’re streaming from Spotify or listening to downloaded hi-fi tracks, this feature is crucial.
• Brand-Specific Features: Every brand should strive to bring their own unique features to the table. We considered the specific audio enhancements and specs offered by each, like the Xperia 1’s Hi-Res audio or the Pro Max models in the iPhone series.
• Best Phone for Recording Audio: Having strong audio systems on your phone offers up a lot of possibilities. With a good microphone, you can record crisp voice lines and distinct instrumental tracks without hooking everything up to a computer.
• Best Phone for Musicians: With the right phone, musicians can use their phone as their primary device for setting up and reviewing recordings.

Top 7 Picks for Best Phones for Music

1. iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max

The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are a great fit for any music lovers. Both models feature advanced stereo speakers with Spatial Audio, Dolby Atmos support, and lossless playback, providing great sound that makes the most of compatible tracks.

With built-in support for Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos, Apple Music subscribers can also take advantage of higher-quality streaming. And, for those who connect a pair of AirPods or AirPods Max, head-tracking Spatial Audio can create a more immersive listening experience. Also, playlist syncing and offline downloads make it easy to manage your library across devices.

The Pro Max, with its larger 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display and up to 39 hours of video playback (even longer for audio), is great for extended listening or watching music videos.

Meanwhile, the more compact 6.3-inch iPhone 17 Pro offers the same audio features in a smaller package. Both models are powered by the A19 Pro chip and support MagSafe and Qi wireless charging, so you can keep your music playing without worrying about any wires.

However, neither model includes a headphone jack, so you’ll need to use Bluetooth headphones or connect through USB-C with compatible headphones or an adapter. Also, a wired connection is required for the best audio quality.

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2. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is another great choice for music lovers — it brings together powerful hardware with a ton of audio customization options.

You get Dolby Atmos support, whether you’re listening through the built-in speakers or with headphones. It also works with popular music apps like Spotify, YouTube Music, and even Apple Music, giving you flexible ways to listen to your library.

But what really stands out is Samsung’s Sound Assistant app, which adds more control, with tools like an equalizer, per-app volume settings, and scheduled sound profiles. For wireless listening, support for high-quality Bluetooth codecs like LDAC means you can get better audio when paired with compatible headphones.

The large 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate makes music videos and live concerts look great, while the 5,000 mAh battery gives you extra power for long listening sessions. Wireless and reverse wireless charging also let you recharge earbuds by placing them on the back of the phone.

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3. Google Pixel 10 Pro

The Google Pixel 10 Pro is a strong choice for music fans who want an Android phone that provides high-quality audio. It has stereo speakers and spatial audio support, and works seamlessly with apps like Spotify, YouTube Music, and Apple Music. Additionally, Google’s Gemini AI can help with tasks like organizing playlists or transcribing lyrics.

The 6.3-inch QHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate makes music videos look sharp and smooth, and its peak brightness of 3,000 nits keeps everything clear even outdoors. A 4,870 mAh battery provides enough power for long listening sessions.

The Pixel 10 Pro also benefits from Google’s long-term software support — up to seven years of updates — so you can expect consistent performance for music apps well into the future.

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4. iPhone 17

The third iPhone on this list, the standard iPhone 17 is a solid option for music lovers who want Apple’s audio features in a more affordable package than the Pro models. It includes Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio support, along with lossless playback through Apple Music when using wired connections or a USB-C DAC. Bluetooth listening works seamlessly with AirPods and Beats, though it doesn’t support true lossless quality.

Its 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display makes music videos look crisp and colorful, and the A19 chip provides great performance for streaming apps.

With up to 29 hours of video playback (longer for audio), the iPhone 17's battery is built for long listening sessions. As with other iPhones, there’s no headphone jack, so you’ll need Bluetooth headphones or a USB-C adapter for wired use.

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5. Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25+

The Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ both deliver a great music experience with stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos support, and wide compatibility with apps like Spotify, YouTube Music, and Tidal.

Samsung’s Sound Assistant app adds extra control with features like an equalizer, per-app volume settings, and scheduled audio profiles, while Bluetooth support includes high-quality codecs such as LDAC for better wireless sound with compatible headphones.

The difference here comes down to size and battery. The Galaxy S25 has a 6.2-inch AMOLED display and a 4,000 mAh battery, while the larger S25+ offers a 6.7-inch AMOLED display and a 4,900 mAh battery for longer playback. Both support fast wired charging (the S25 charges at 30W, while the S25+ charges faster at 45W), wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging, making them versatile picks for streaming and on-the-go listening.

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6. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7

The Galaxy Z Fold7 isn’t just a productivity machine — it’s also great for music.

It comes with stereo speakers tuned for Dolby Atmos, delivering clear and immersive sound whether you’re listening to playlists or streaming concerts. Like other Galaxy flagships phones listed here, it supports Samsung’s Sound Assistant app for fine-tuning audio, along with LDAC for high-quality Bluetooth playback.

The big draw here is the 7.6-inch foldable AMOLED display, perfect for watching music videos or live streams, with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 2,600 nits of brightness for HDR content.

The 6.3-inch outer display offers the same refresh rate, so you can jump into music apps without unfolding the phone. A 4,400 mAh battery with fast wired charging, wireless charging, and even reverse wireless charging for powering headphones and other devices.

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7. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7

Our final addition to this list, the Galaxy Z Flip7 combines its compact, foldable design with strong audio features for music lovers. It supports Dolby Atmos through its stereo speakers and Bluetooth, with LDAC available for high-quality wireless playback on compatible headphones. Samsung’s Sound Assistant app is included here as well, giving you an equalizer and more ways to customize your listening experience.

The 6.9-inch foldable AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate makes music videos smooth and vibrant, while the larger 4.1-inch outer display makes it easy to control playback or check notifications without unfolding the phone. It has a 4,300 mAh battery and supports fast wireless, wired, and reverse wireless charging — helpful if you want to power your headphones on the go.

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The Bottom Line

Any of the above smartphones might be just what you’re looking for in terms of a media playback device. But if you’re still stuck reading through phone specs or comparing prices, Navi’s free, unbiased Phone Deal Finder can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What phone is good for music?

Our favorite phone for music is the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It boasts one of the best sound systems available in a smartphone—nearing audiophile levels of sound reproduction.

Which phone has the highest audio quality?

We believe the iPhone 17 Pro Max offers the highest quality audio in a smartphone. That includes spatial audio and studio quality mics—truly an achievement for a smartphone.

Which phone is best for volume?

The phones with the best volume tend to offer loud, clear sound quality both for media playback and call audio. Top performers include the iPhone 17 series, the Samsung S25 series, and the Google Pixel 10 series.