Here are the handsets with the best phone speakers

Publish date: 2022-03-18

Gary Sims / Android Authority

Most phone speakers are not that great, mainly because of their size. However, a few handsets are available that pay more attention to audio than others, offering better quality sound and even front-facing speakers in some instances. Here are the smartphones with the best speakers.

See also: The best Android phones

Smartphones with the best speakers:

Editor’s note: We will regularly update this list of smartphones with the best speakers as new devices launch, but the latest isn’t always best! We’ll always focus on the best audio rather than the newest, but natural tech improvements may mean clear winners are newer devices. Read on!

1. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

Zarif Ali / Android Authority

Samsung’s latest foldable phone is the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The phone shows just how far Samsung has come with its experimental foldable in only a couple of years. The Z Fold 3 addresses one of the biggest concerns with previous generations: durability. It’s a good-looking, well-built phone that won’t be out of place as a daily driver. If you’re willing to splurge, that is.

It doesn’t mean an end to experimentation, though. With the Z Fold 3, Samsung introduced an under-display selfie camera tucked away below the 7.6-inch internal display. Before you get too excited, this isn’t a good camera by any means. But it’s great to see Samsung try something new. And for your selfie needs, the 10MP shooter with the external display is more than up to the task.

Our verdict: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review

If there’s one letdown, it’s the cameras. There are still three 12MP rear cameras and a 10MP front-facing camera on the external display, but the under-display camera is a 4MP shooter. It’s not the worst camera setup around by any stretch but doesn’t match the performance of its flagship siblings.

The phone’s speakers support Dolby Atmos and provide great clarity and balance. During our testing, highs, mids, and lows were all present in the mix, which was punchy without being overly bright. You can also crank the volume high enough to fill a standard room with plenty of sound without worrying about distortion.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 specs:

2. Google Pixel 6 series

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

As usual, Google’s latest flagship phone stands out thanks to its excellent photo quality, stock Android implementation, and brisk updates. But you’re also getting a phone with some of the best phone speakers, thanks to its dual-speaker setup.

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro mark a return to the flagship sphere for Google, following one year of the mid-range Pixel 5. Both models sport Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and back and down-firing speakers along the bottom edge. You’ll find a Google Tensor chip keeping the lights on, and the Pixel 6 Pro tops out at 12GB of RAM with 512GB of storage.

Learn more: Google Pixel 6 buyer’s guide

Google also brought back the more traditional ear speaker after testing out a screen vibration model on the Pixel 5. There’s still no headphone jack, though we don’t expect to see that return any time soon.

Google Pixel 6 specs:

Google Pixel 6 Pro specs:

3. Asus ROG Phone 5

Ryan-Thomas Shaw / Android Authority

One of our very top picks for the best phone speakers is a gaming phone: the Asus ROG Phone 5. Not only does it have excellent speakers, but the phone also has an old-fashioned 3.5mm headphone jack, unlike the previous ROG Phone 3. The ROG Phone 5 is still a beast of a phone in its other hardware specs. It has a 6.78-inch AMOLED display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. Depending on which version you buy, you could get up to 18GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. It still has one of the largest batteries on the market at 6,000mAh, like the ROG Phone 2 and 3 before it. It supports up to 65W wired charging for a fast charge experience.

Read More: Asus ROG Phone 5 review

Like previous iterations, the ROG Phone 5 will also have a variety of mobile gaming accessories that enhance the smartphone gaming experience, including an Aero Active cooler and a Kunai 3 gamepad that includes left and right modules that can be mix and matched. This year, the phone comes in two more enhanced versions with more RAM and storage. The Asus ROG 5 Pro has two touch sensors on the back and a small color PMOLED display. The ROG Phone 5 Ultimate edition will have a monochromatic small display on the back.

You can also check out the updated Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro, which offer the same basic setup with a Snapdragon 888 Plus under the hood. Otherwise, you still get heaps of RAM and a massive 6,000mAh battery to work with.

ROG Phone 5 specs:

4. OnePlus Nord 2

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

The OnePlus Nord 2 has one of the best phone speakers around, and it’s a rare midrange handset on our list. The Nord 2’s stereo speakers on the front and bottom are crisp and rattle-free even when cranked to full volume, and there’s plenty of depth to the sound. If there’s one drawback to the affordable Nord, it’s the lack of an IP rating. Although the speakers scream pool party, you won’t want it anywhere near the water.

Read: OnePlus buyer’s guide

Under the hood, it offers up to 12GB of RAM, 128 or 256GB of storage, and the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 AI chipset, with a large 4,500mAh battery. Along with the 3.5mm jack is a microSD slot, and it’s IP68 water and dust resistant. It’s comprehensively good!

OnePlus Nord 2 specs:

5. Motorola Edge Plus (2022)

Eric Zeman / Android Authority

In our review, we noted that the stereo speakers of the phone are clear and loud. You won’t hear the most bass ever, but there’s enough to get the point across when things go boom in your favorite movies. The phone also supports Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound and Dolby Atmos.

The Motorola Edge Plus offers more than just a great set of speakers. You get a big display, great performance, and a high-res 60MP front-facing camera. The battery life is also excellent.

There are drawbacks as well, though. The water resistance is limited with its IP53 rating, the rear cameras are average at best, and the frame of the phone is plastic, which gives it a cheaper feel. 

Motorola Edge Plus (2022) specs:

6. Oppo Find X5 Pro

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

The Find X3 Pro offered a great design, and the newer Oppo Find X5 Pro takes a functional equation and improves upon it. It looks gorgeous, featuring a ceramic back that’s said to be twice stronger than glass. While there’s a camera bump, it blends in better than in most other handsets.

Specs are nothing to scoff at, offering a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 8/12GB of RAM, and a 5,000mAh battery. It also sports a gorgeous 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s IP68-rated, and the triple-camera setup is outstanding. There’s obviously also NFC on board.

Our thoughts: Oppo Find X5 Pro review

The phone comes with stereo speakers, which are boosted by Dolby’s Atmos technology. There’s a reasonable balance between the top and bottom speakers that’s better than most, and the sound can easily fill up a room.

Oppo Find X5 Pro specs:

7. Sony Xperia 1 III and 5 III

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Sony has offered smartphone speakers with great audio quality for a long time, including other original big brand ideas like being one of the first to commit to offering water-resistant Android phones. To the goods: the new flagship kept the stereo front-facing speakers, still offers a 3.5mm port, and brings IP68 water/dust resistance to the party.

Read: Sony Xperia 1 III review

Otherwise, Sony’s phone packs a Snapdragon 888 chipset with 5G support. It also carries 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a 4,500mAh battery (with wireless charging), and a fancy 4K OLED screen. The firm is also touting a triple rear camera setup, featuring three 12MP sensors (main, telephoto, ultrawide) and a 3D ToF sensor.

Sony launched the Xperia 5 III at the same time that also comes with stereo speakers that offer solid audio sound. There’s also a headphone jack onboard. The phone has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip, a 6.1-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It shares several specs with its more powerful sibling, though it’s lighter on RAM, and you won’t find wireless charging or a 3D ToF sensor. It’s also very pricey, but if you want solid audio from your smartphone speakers, it may be worth it.

Sony Xperia 1 III specs:

Sony Xperia 5 III specs:

8. Xiaomi 12 Pro

Eric Zeman / Android Authority

The Xiaomi 12 Pro gave us a good feel for what the OEM has in the cards for the year. The phone has plenty to offer, including great speakers. There are four of them on the phone that, which been tuned by Harmon Kardon and support Dolby Atmos. The sound is great, the dynamic range is solid, and the volume can get pretty loud.

Read next: Xiaomi 12 buyer’s guide

Xiaomi’s latest flagship followed its trend of reaching for the highest-end processor available. In this case, that means the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Other specs are equally impressive, including up to 12GB of RAM, a 6.73-inch WQHD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and more. Xiaomi also packed its 4,600mAh battery with blistering 120W turbo charging and 50W wireless charging.

As for the camera setup, you’re looking at a trio of 50MP lenses — a primary, an ultrawide, and a telephoto. Around the front, you get a 32MP selfie shooter for good measure.

Xiaomi Mi 12 Pro specs:

These are the best smartphone speakers, in our opinion. It’s rare that a phone doesn’t have some kind of loudspeaker, but this is all about those that do it better. We’ll also be keeping an eye on new models that fit the bill, so stay tuned for updates to this list of best phone speakers.

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