If you’re in the market for a new device that excels in the audio department, keep reading. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the best smartphones for music lovers you can currently purchase.
HTC U11
The first device that made it to the list is the HTC U11, which was announced back in May and currently retails for $650. Just like the company’s previous smartphones including the HTC 10, One M9, and others, the U11 offers a rich audio experience — making it one of the best phones for music you can currently get your hands on.
The U11 features the same woofer and tweeter combo that we first saw with the HTC 10, which has has been improved significantly this time around. It is much louder and offers better clarity than the previous generation handset. The U11 doesn’t have a headphone jack but does ship with a pair of USonic earbuds included in the box that are a joy to use. The included earbuds are able to analyze and tune the audio specifically for your ear structure and also feature active noise cancellation. In his review, our very own Lanh Nguyen described them as one of the best sounding pair of earphones he has ever listened to.
Specs
- 5.5-inch Super LCD 5 display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534 ppi
- 2.45 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
- 4/6 GB of RAM (depending on the market)
- 64/128 GB of on-board storage (depending on the market), microSD expansion up to 256 GB
- 12 MP rear camera, 16 MP front camera
- Non-removable 3,000 mAh battery
- Android 7.1 Nougat
- 153.9 x 75.9 x 7.9 mm, 169 g
LG G6
The LG G6 is equipped with a single bottom-firing speaker that can get pretty loud and also features a Quad DAC for a great audio experience. The only problem is that the DAC version of the smartphone is only available in South Korea and a few other Asian markets. Well, at least officially. There are a few retailers in the US that are selling the device on Amazon, which will set you back around $450. Unlike the U11 described above, LG’s flagship does have the 3.5 mm headphone jack that is located on the top of the device.
Specs
- 5.7-inch FullVision IPS LCD display with 2880 x 1440 resolution, 564 ppi
- 2.35 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
- 4 GB of RAM
- 32/64 GB of on-board storage (depending on the market), microSD expansion up to 256 GB
- Dual 13 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
- Non-removable 3,300 mAh battery
- Android 7.0 Nougat
- 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9mm, 163 g
LG V20
The second LG device on the list is the V20. What makes the phablet a great option for audiophiles is that it has a built-in quad DAC, just like the LG G6. What this basically means is that you are going to get much higher quality audio with less distortion and noise, and much better dynamic range. The smartphone does offer a great audio experience, as long as you use a decent pair of headphones.
Because of the built-in DAC, the device is able to power much higher impedance headphones. It makes a pretty significant difference even with streaming audio, and you also have support for lossless audio like FLAC files, and 75 stage volume control with left and right balance controls, that let you really fine tune the audio to your ears.
Specs
- 5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 513 ppi
- 2.15 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
- 4 GB of RAM
- 64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
- Dual 16 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
- Removable 3,200 mAh battery
- Android 7.0 Nougat
- 159.7 x 78.1 x 7.6mm, 174 g
ZTE Axon 7
The ZTE Axon 7 was one of the best budget flagships of 2016. Despite its affordable price tag, the smartphone really does excel in the audio department.
The Axon features dual independent Hi-Fi audio chips — the AKM AK4961 and AKM AK4490 — that provide a great listening experience. Even if you use a slightly cheaper pair of headphones, the sound is still full, while the volume isn’t quite as limited as it is on a lot of other devices. The ZTE Axon 7 sports dual front-facing stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos surround sound technology. It provides an impressively clear, loud, and full sound with little distortion, even at full volume.
Specs
- 5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 538 ppi
- 2.15 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
- 4 GB of RAM
- 64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
- 20 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
- Non-removable 3,250 mAh battery
- Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
- 151.7 x 75 x 7.9 mm, 175 g
LG V10
The last smartphone on the list is the LG V10, which was revealed way back in October 2015. Even though it’s close to two years old, it’s still one of the best phones for music on the market.
The smartphone is equipped with a bottom-mounted speaker that does get quite loud, but won’t really blow your socks off. What will impress you is the audio quality when using the device with headphones, as the LG V10 packs a 32-bit Hi-Fi digital to analog converter. As long as you have a decent pair of headphones, you’ll find that the audio experience on the device is excellent.
Specs
- 5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 515 ppi
- 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808
- 4 GB of RAM
- 64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
- 16 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
- Removable 3,000 mAh battery
- Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
- 159.6 x 79.3 x 8.6mm, 192 g
These are the five phones for music that we think are most suitable for all you music lovers out there. Which one would you consider buying? Let us know by posting a comment down below.
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