11 best smartphones with good sound

Not all modern smart phones sound good. Often they have one speaker, which adversely affects the volume of the music. Well, for the transfer of sound to the headphones most often meets the average processor. Do I have to say that this should not be his main task? A much higher-quality sound issue smartphones endowed with an audio processor - the so-called DAC. About such devices the speech in this article will go.

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Best cheap music smartphones	1	Xiaomi Mi Note 3 6 / 64Gb	16 980 ₽
	2	Meizu 15 4 / 64GB	18 780 ₽
	3	ASUS ZenFone 4 ZE554KL 4GB	15 490 ₽
The best smartphones with good sound in the middle price segment	1	Meizu 16th 6 / 64GB	29 660 ₽
	2	Xiaomi Mi8 6 / 128GB	24 540 ₽
	3	ASUS ZenFone 5Z ZS620KL 6 / 64GB	29 990 ₽
	4	Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact	22 990 ₽
The best smartphones with good sound in the premium segment	1	Samsung Galaxy S9 + 64GB	41 800 ₽
	2	Apple iPhone Xs Max 256GB	90 000 ₽
	3	LG G7 ThinQ 64GB	36 290 ₽
	4	Sony Xperia XZ Premium	28 650 ₽

Top smartphones with good sound

Best cheap music smartphones

Xiaomi Mi Note 3 6 / 64Gb

Rating: 4.8

Still, our rating should start with devices lacking an audio chip. Such smartphones cost relatively little money. In this case, for example, Xiaomi Mi Note 3 sounds very good. At its disposal there are loud stereo speakers, there are no special complaints about the sound in the headphones. Especially if you connect a headset that supports Bluetooth 5.0 technology. As for the wired connection, for this purpose you will have to use an adapter, since there is only one connector on the device case - USB Type-C.

Basically, the Snapdragon 660 processor is responsible for the sound here. This is an eight-core chipset, half of which cores operate at a clock frequency of 2.2 GHz. He is great given sound processing and games. Everything is in order with the smartphone and with the graphics accelerator - Adreno 512 is used in its quality. The gadget also includes 4 GB of operational memory and 64 GB of permanent memory. Slightly confused on this background, only the lack of a slot for a memory card. However, now a rare person keeps in mind a full-fledged music library, much more often various online services are used to listen to songs.

Autonomous operation of the device provides a battery with a capacity of 3500 mAh. In the MP3 player mode, the smartphone will definitely last for several days. The customer should also be supported by the Quick Charge 3.0 technology, which provides fast charging. Another product has a fingerprint scanner placed on the front panel.

The picture here is displayed on a 5.5-inch display, created by IPS technology and having a resolution of Full HD. The processing of what is happening deals with the operating system Android 7.1. Internet access is provided via LTE and Wi-Fi 802.11ac. You can also pay for purchases using this smartphone - an NFC chip is used for this.

Xiaomi Mi Note 3 received very decent cameras. "Frontalka" has a 16-megapixel resolution, which is enough for high-quality selfie shooting. As for the rear camera, it is double. The second lens has a shorter focal length, thanks to which a twofold optical zoom is realized.The main optics is able to boast a diaphragm opened up to f / 1.8. Both matrices have 12 megapixel resolution. It should be noted that this camera can shoot video in 4K-resolution, albeit only with a frequency of 30 frames / s.

Meizu 15 4 / 64GB

Rating: 4.7

Another smartphone in our rating that has 64 GB of internal memory at its disposal. And here, too, there is no memory card slot that someone might not like. If you buy such a device, then it is better to refuse to store music tracks in FLAC format in memory. The memory is useful for saving other files - in particular, videos obtained with the help of a double rear camera. They are written only in the resolution of Full HD, but using an optical stabilizer. By the way, the camera turned out to be very bright - the main lens can boast an f / 1.9 aperture. If we talk about the "front-facing", then it consists of only one optical module, but underneath it hides a 20-megapixel sensor.

However, smartphones do not fall into this rating thanks to their camera. What about sound? To begin with, this model also does not have a separate audio processor. More precisely, the manufacturer claims its presence, but the name of the chip is not specified. However, the eight-core Snapdragon 660 already does a good job with sound processing. It's nice that the device received stereo speakers - many modern smartphones have only one speaker. As a result, the device sounds good, not only during music playback, but also when playing games. Adreno 512 is responsible for processing graphics, by the way. Another product has received 4 GB of RAM, which is quite enough for Android 7.1.

Some number of Meizu 15 buyers will want to use headphones. Nothing can stop it. Wireless connection is made using the standard Bluetooth 4.2. But the 3.5mm audio jack seems much more useful. USB Type-C port will be used by the owner of the smartphone only to connect the charger and synchronize with a PC.

It should be noted that the Chinese manufacturer made every effort to reduce the thickness of his creation. As a result, he opted for a battery whose capacity does not exceed 3000 mAh. We would call this parameter insufficient, but the LCD display changes our impressions. The fact is that it is made by technology AMOLED. This means that when displaying dark colors, the screen practically does not waste energy. In short, at first the full charge will be enough for a couple of days of battery life. The picture will change only after a very large number of applications have been installed on the smartphone. The display resolution is 1920x1080 pixels - this is quite normal with a 5.46-inch diagonal.

Perhaps the Chinese have turned out an excellent machine. It exists in four colors, and the minimum thickness of the side frames will facilitate easy use of the gadget with one hand. Separately, we can note the minimum weight - a rare modern smartphone weighs only 152 g.

ASUS ZenFone 4 ZE554KL 4GB

Rating: 4.6

This is already significantly less expensive smartphone in our ranking.The device is almost no different from those devices that were popular 3-4 years ago. That is, you are waiting for a fairly wide side frames, and to control the operating system will need to use subscreen keys. By the way, the “Home” button is physical, and in addition a fingerprint scanner is integrated into it. Previously, such solutions were found in Samsung smartphones.

Like all smartphones reviewed today, ASUS ZenFone 4 has stereo speakers. But in such an inexpensive device, they are almost never met! Also, the sound can be output to the headphones, using the usual 3.5-millimeter audio jack. When you connect those, you can activate the FM radio - this, by the way, is also a rare guest in modern smartphones. Of course, you can also output the sound to a wireless headset, which uses Bluetooth 5.0.

Perhaps, in terms of the sound of this unit is extremely difficult to find fault. Although it is felt that there is no DAC here, because of which, even when listening to FLAC music, you can hardly hear even the smallest details. However, the eight-core processor tries, squeezing everything out of itself. By the way, there are two versions of ASUS ZenFone 4: one got Snapdragon 660, and the other - Snapdragon 630. In terms of power, both chipsets are about equal, so you shouldn’t seriously think about it.

To recharge this smartphone uses a USB Type-C connector. Importantly, the battery capacity of 3300 mAh supports fast charging technology. The display consumes most of all energy, of course. It was created using IPS technology, and its resolution at a 5.5-inch diagonal is 1920x1080 pixels. The standard aspect ratio allows you to watch videos on YouTube with great pleasure. And do not forget about the stereo sound! It also contributes to increased comfort!

As mentioned above, this device has a relatively low price tag. In this regard, do not count on getting the perfect camera. However, its double module is unlikely to disappoint you. Of course, the camera is not able to write 4K video, but with a picture in Full HD resolution, it copes very well. It is important to note the presence of an optical stabilizer - it allows the system to make the shutter speed a little longer, which is useful in low light conditions. It remains to add that the main module has an aperture of f / 1.8. As for the "front camera", it looks less impressive with an 8-megapixel matrix.

The best smartphones with good sound in the middle price segment

Meizu 16th 6 / 64GB

Rating: 4.9

The Chinese company Meizu decided to become more original. She released a smartphone called "Meizu 16th". However, not only the name is special here. The user is waiting for the flagship with fingerprint scanner built into the screen! The device has a frameless design, but the areas above and below the display are saved. The screen has a 6-inch diagonal and a resolution of 2160x1080 pixels. The 18: 9 aspect ratio greatly simplifies the simultaneous use of two applications. Madly happy that the display was created by technology AMOLED. This means that the screen has a rich color reproduction and very low power consumption. There is no doubt that with a 3010 mAh battery, the device will work on a full charge for about two days.

This smartphone can no longer be called a budget, in Russia its cost reaches 30 thousand rubles. In this regard, it is not surprising that there is a Qualcomm Aqstic central audio processor (WCD9341). Also included is the CS35L41 amplifier.In short, this representative of our rating can transmit sound in excellent quality even on overhead headphones! Connecting an accessory is offered through a 3.5 mm audio jack. There is also Bluetooth 5.0, which is needed to synchronize a smartphone with a smart watch and wireless audio broadcast. However, it is not necessary to output the sound to the headphones or the speaker, the built-in stereo speakers also do a good job with their task.

It is difficult to find fault with the rest of the characteristics of the gadget. For example, the buyer will surely please the rear camera. It is double, and under its lenses matrices with a resolution of 12 and 20 megapixels are hidden. With this module, you can take pictures with a beautifully blurred background. The camera is also capable of 4K video, albeit with a frequency of only 30 frames / s. The main lens has an aperture of f / 1.8, which indicates a high luminosity. And here there is an optical image stabilization.

As a processor, an eight-core Snapdragon 845 is built into the smartphone. Top chipset. Also under the body of the smartphone hiding 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of permanent memory. It remains to be regretted that it is impossible to increase this volume - there is no corresponding slot here.

Xiaomi Mi8 6 / 128GB

Rating: 4.8

Consider that 64 GB of internal memory is not enough? Are you looking for a device with a cut-out screen at the top? In this case, another representative of our rating, Xiaomi Mi8, should please you. This is the flagship of the Chinese manufacturer, running Android 8.1. To store files here are 128 GB of memory. There is no slot for a microSD card, but it is unlikely that device buyers will remember about it. Still it is impossible not to notice that as many as 6 color variants of the smartphone came on sale. What other flagship can provide such diversity?

On the front of this gadget is located AMOLED-display, the diagonal of which is 6.21 inches. The screen occupies 84% ​​of the front panel area, so using the device is still quite convenient. Although it must be admitted that the help of the second hand is required regularly. Display resolution is 2280x1080 pixels. You can see that the screen is elongated - this is done for more comfortable work with two open applications. Also present here, as mentioned above, is a shaped neckline. It houses sensors, a speaker and a 20-megapixel front camera.

If you turn the smartphone, you can see not only a fingerprint scanner, but also a dual camera. Under both lenses hide exactly the same 12-megapixel matrix. The design of the optical modules themselves is noticeably different - as a result, the user is available a double zoom. The main lens incorporates f / 1.8 aperture and optical stabilizer. As for the telephoto lens, it has f / 2.4 aperture. The quality of the shooting is excellent, the buyer is unlikely to complain about anything. I am glad that the camera is capable of 4K video (the frequency will not exceed 30 frames / s).

Of course, pleases the smartphone and many other components. For example, the manufacturer has built a 3400 mAh battery here. His full charge dries up for a half-two days of active work of the smartphone. In addition, it also charges very quickly, for which you should thank the support for the Quick Charge 4.0 technology. The top Snapdragon 845 is used as a processor here. This eight-core chipset allows you to run absolutely any games without reducing the level of graphics. Also here there are 6 GB of RAM - the operating system of this volume is enough with his head.To access the Internet using Wi-Fi 802.11ac. Not forgotten by the manufacturer and NFC-chip that allows you to pay for purchases at most Russian cashier.

Well, what about the sound? Not for nothing that the device fell into our rating? Of course, not in vain. The Chinese manufacturer does not tell whether a separate DAC is used here. However, this does not negate the fact that the device “pumps” any headphones in full. It's a shame only that they will have to be connected only via an adapter, since among the connectors on the case there is only USB Type-C. But no one forbids the use of wireless headsets. Importantly, Bluetooth 5.0 is complemented by aptX support. There are also stereo speakers, which play quite well for their size.

ASUS ZenFone 5Z ZS620KL 6 / 64GB

Rating: 4.7

Another frameless smartphone with a cutout at the top of the display. Its cost is very high, about 35 thousand rubles. In this regard, the user can count on top characteristics. The operating system here uses Android 8.0 - a more recent version of the “green robot” will become a mass only in the spring of 2019. The built-in display here was created using IPS technology, which indicates a soft color reproduction and maximum viewing angles. Screen size is 6.2 inches. Fortunately, this smartphone cannot be called huge, because its display is elongated, not wide. The resolution of 2246x1080 pixels is ideal for viewing photos. Well, the aspect ratio of 18.5: 9 allows you to comfortably work in two applications at the same time.

If we talk about the sound, then the buyer waiting for loud stereo speakers. You can output the sound to the headphones, if such a desire arises, it is possible through a 3.5-millimeter audio jack. By the way, if you connect them, you can activate the FM radio. The second socket present is USB Type-C. As you know, the wire is inserted into it exclusively from the first time. If you have a smart watch or a wireless speaker, then Bluetooth 5.0 will definitely come in handy. Equally useful is the NFC chip - with its help, you can use your smartphone in the manner of a bank card. Finally, there is also support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac - one of the most high-speed wireless standards.

The work of all this good is provided not only by the operating system, but also by the Snapdragon 845 top processor. Its clock frequency reaches an impressive 2.8 GHz. This and six gigabytes of RAM is enough to run any games at maximum graphics settings. There are also 64 GB of permanent memory. In this case, the manufacturer allows additional use of the microSD card. Not forgotten and a fingerprint scanner that works literally in a split second.

A very decent built-in camera here. It is double, and under its optical modules sensors with a resolution of 12 and 8 Mp are hidden. The main lens can boast a f / 1.8 aperture and an optical stabilizer. The possibilities of such a camera is quite enough for video in 4K-resolution. As for the front-end, it has an 8-megapixel matrix.

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact

Rating: 4.7

The Japanese company Sony began its history with the production of transistor radios. She became famous after the release of Walkman cassette players. Not surprisingly, the company still pays the most attention to sound. She has ensured that even the very miniature Xperia XZ1 Compact is able to play music in excellent quality. And this is one of the smallest smartphones among those equipped with stereo speakers!

The device lives up to its name. It has only a 4.6-inch display. This allows you to control the Android 8.0 operating system and all applications with just one hand. Also, such a smartphone exactly fit in any pocket. Some buyers will not like only the fact that due to the reduction in size, the manufacturer had to abandon the second SIM card slot. But on the other hand, he introduced full-fledged water protection - the device complies with the IP68 standard. Rare music smartphone is also waterproof!

The device exists in four colors. As a processor, it uses an eight-core Snapdragon 835. Recently, this chipset was considered the top. You can be sure that such a processor will cope with the launch of absolutely any game. Even under the case of a miniature gadget hiding 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory. The music lover of such built-in storage will be small, so he will use the microSD card. The work of all of the above components provides a battery with a capacity of 2700 mAh. Here, support for the Quick Charge 3.0 technology is implemented, so the battery is filled with energy very quickly.

To transmit sound to wireless devices via Bluetooth 5.0. Ordinary headphones also do not go overboard - the Japanese did not get rid of the 3.5-millimeter mini-jack. As for other wireless modules, among them Wi-Fi 802.11ac can be distinguished, LTE-A is one of the highest categories and, of course, the NFC-chip.

The screen of this smartphone is made using IPS technology, and its resolution is 1280x720 pixels - a bit, but with such a diagonal it is tolerable. This display looks great photos obtained using the built-in 19-megapixel camera. Although it is more focused on video - the manufacturer has endowed it with support for 4K resolution and high-speed shooting. “Front-end” is paid less attention - it has a modest 8-megapixel resolution by modern standards.

The best smartphones with good sound in the premium segment

Samsung Galaxy S9 + 64GB

Rating: 4.9

A modern flagship smartphone should be free from obvious flaws. Including people should not be dissatisfied with its sound. The engineers who created the Samsung Galaxy S9 + understood this. As a result, the device got into our rating is not unfair. Yes, there is no separate audio processor. But its tasks are successfully solved by the top chipset of its own production. Also, it should be noted that there are AKG stereo speakers here. They give a very deep sound. It is seen that the manufacturer squeezed out of a fairly small smartphone absolutely everything possible. You can also listen to music in headphones, including wired ones - the South Koreans did not follow the fashion, saving their flagship from the 3.5 mm jack. Well, for wireless sound transmission, Bluetooth 5.0 is used - a long-range and energy-efficient standard.

This smartphone can be called frameless. Its 6.2-inch display occupies most of the front panel. It was created using AMOLED technology, thanks to which a 3500 mAh battery lasts two to three days of battery life. Such a screen can also display the date and time in a constant mode, which not every smartphone is capable of.

The case, which can be painted in one of five colors, is waterproof. You can take photos in the pool or the sea - do not forget just after the salt water thoroughly wash the device. On the case there is a hole for a clip, after use of which access to the tray is provided. Here the traditional choice is given to the owner: either insert two SIM cards, or one SIM card and one external drive. The choice is difficult, because 64 GB of internal memory can end very quickly if you actively use the rear camera.

This smartphone can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second. Do I have to say that it takes up a lot of space? For shooting videos and photos using a dual camera with 12 megapixel matrices. The main lens can boast an incredible f / 1.5 aperture. The South Korean manufacturer did not forget about optical stabilization. It is difficult to complain about the front camera. Yes, its resolution is low - only 8 Mp. But wide-angle optics allows you to fit into the frame as much as possible space. There is no claim to the aperture, which has a value of f / 1.7.

Such a smartphone can easily cope with the launch of games at maximum graphics settings. Its 6 GB of RAM allows you to keep in the background a lot of applications. He could not do without high-speed wireless modules. By the way, you can replace your bank card with your smartphone using the Samsung Pay or Android Pay application. Also, the gadget understands signals from various sports sensors, as there is support for technology ANT +. In a word, you can talk about the South Korean flagship for a very long time. He even comes with headphones worthy of it - it’s unlikely you will be looking for a replacement for them. It is a pity that the device is indecently expensive, which is why it turns out to be affordable for only a minimal number of our readers.

Apple iPhone Xs Max 256GB

Rating: 4.8

This unit is in our rating, perhaps not because of the high-quality sound. Most of all we liked the amount of constant memory. 256 GB is enough for a huge music library, even if the ALAC format is used. Good sound stereo speakers are used here for sound output. If we talk about the technology of Apple, then only HomePod speaker and tablets from iPad Pro series sound better - that is, significantly larger devices. Another device supports proprietary wireless headphones AirPods. However, the sound in these "liners" - an amateur. Unfortunately, wired headphones can only be connected via an adapter — only Lightning is among the connectors on the case.

This model develops the ideas of the anniversary iPhone X. This means that the device has again received a waterproof case. On its front panel is now a 6.5-inch OLED-display. The screen resolution is 2688x1242 pixels, the aspect ratio of 19.5: 9 would allow you to conveniently work with two applications at the same time, if such a function was present in iOS. But who knows, it is possible that it will appear in future updates.

In the upper part of the display is a corporate cutout, inside which there is a place for the front camera and all sorts of sensors, including those responsible for face recognition. The resolution of the front-end is small, only 7 megapixels. Much more interesting is the rear camera, consisting of two lenses and the same number of 12-megapixel matrices. The main optical unit has a f / 1.8 aperture. With it, you can create great portraits. The second lens is designed for shooting with a double optical zoom.I am glad that the camera received optical stabilization, and the processor power was enough for 4K video recording with a frequency of 60 frames / s.

Apple's flagship device has support for a large number of high-speed wireless standards. There is also an NFC chip designed to pay for purchases through Apple Pay. As for the battery, its capacity is enough for several days of battery life. Of course, the smartphone supports fast and wireless charging.

LG G7 ThinQ 64GB

Rating: 4.8

Another frameless smartphone in our ranking. And it also has a cutout at the top of the display. Unlike most of the models discussed above, the device exists in only two colors. The musicality of the smartphone is expressed in the presence of stereo speakers, the sound for which is processed by a separate audio processor. You can also bring music to a wireless headset using the Bluetooth 5.0 standard. If the accessory supports the aptX digital codec, then you will hear a deep and surround sound, especially if you play the track in FLAC format. Wireless headphones can also be connected to the smartphone - the 3.5 mm audio jack is located in its rightful place.

To recharge the gadget used USB Type-C port. Unfortunately, the charger will have to connect quite often. This is due not only to the battery capacity not exceeding 3000 mAh, but also to the high power consumption of the IPS display installed here. However, the process does not last long, so do not need to worry.

The diagonal of the screen used here is brought to 6.1 inches. The resolution is incredibly high, it is 3120x1440 pixels. The surface is covered with a protective glass Gorilla Glass 5. The device is not afraid not only of falling on a hard surface, but also of short-term immersion under water.

Fingerprint scanning is applied here to unlock. Android 8.0 is responsible for the operation of all applications. 64 GB are used for data storage. If this does not seem enough, then it is proposed to abandon the second SIM card, replacing it with a microSD card. Also under the body of the smartphone hides the top eight-core Snapdragon processor 845 and 4 GB of RAM.

To finish our story about this model should be cameras. The South Korean company LG has traditionally introduced a wide-angle front-end here. Its resolution is 8 megapixels, and the f / 1.9 aperture should contribute to a good quality of shooting in low light conditions. The rear camera is dual; it can shoot 4K video at 30 frames per second. Both matrices used have a resolution of 16 megapixels. The aperture of the optical modules is different - it has the value of f / 1.6 and f / 1.9. I did not forget the manufacturer about optical stabilization, which even better improves the picture.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium

Rating: 4.7

Our rating ends up another product of the Japanese company Sony, which is already far from being so miniature. This unit has a metal case, under which lies a special adhesive mass. Such a device can be safely dropped into the water, nothing will happen to it. This proves the certificate IP68, the mention of which is contained on the box with a smartphone. As for the sound, the smartphone is not in vain in our rating.Yes, there is no separate DAC, or the Japanese manufacturer simply does not tell about it. But this does not mean that the device sounds bad. Quite loud stereo speakers adequately cope with their task. If you want to output the sound to the headphones, then a 3.5 mm audio jack will come to the rescue. You can use Bluetooth 5.0. Of course, there is also support for aptX - a digital codec, thanks to which sound is transmitted almost in CD quality. But do not forget that support for such a codec should be present on the side of the headset.

As you might have guessed, the Japanese have built in a top processor here. Eight-core Snapdragon 835 is more than enough to run any applications and games, even the most difficult. Another product received 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of permanent memory. I did not forget the manufacturer about the slot for the microSD card. However, it is not necessary to store the music library on an external drive. The user can easily listen to it online. And not only music - LTE-A support of category 16 allows you to download any data arrays. There is also an NFC chip, which is needed first of all in order to replace a bank card with a smartphone.

The picture here is displayed on a 5.5-inch display. Its resolution is, you will not believe, 3840x2160 pixels. That is, you will find a full 4K-display in a pocket format! For every inch of this screen there are 801 pixels.

Traditionally, you need to mention the cameras. Oddly enough, the Japanese manufacturer rarely endows their smartphones with a dual module. So Sony Xperia XZ Premium got a regular camera. Under its lens f / 2 aperture and a 19-megapixel matrix are hidden. Perhaps it is the camera is the only serious drawback of the device. However, even she is capable of 4K video. And here there is a 13-megapixel "frontalka".

Conclusion

Smartphone makers rarely think about how their creations will sound. They must think that most of the time they use music for playing music, not a mobile phone, but a car stereo, a home speaker system or something like that. If you are still used to using a smartphone for this purpose, we recommend buying one of the devices reviewed in this material. Any of them will surely please with its sound, especially if you also have high-quality headphones.

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Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.