Best Phone for Music Listening 2026: Top Picks for Audiophiles
Phones for music listening in 2026 prioritize three things: hi-res audio support (Apple Music Lossless, Tidal Hi-Fi), Bluetooth codec breadth (LDAC, aptX Lossless), and good DAC quality for wired listening — or a headphone jack on the rare phones still shipping one.
Updated · 4 picks · Rankings reflect MKBHD Smartphone Awards outcomes.
How we picked
Phones with Apple Music Lossless / Tidal Hi-Fi support, broad Bluetooth codec compatibility, and quality stereo speakers or DAC. Award context from MKBHD's awards.
- #1
Runner-up Best Camera at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards. Apple Music Lossless and Spatial Audio with head tracking via AirPods Pro 2/3. Best ecosystem integration with HomePod and CarPlay.
Pros
- Apple Music Lossless and Spatial Audio
- Head-tracked Spatial Audio with AirPods
- Best ecosystem (HomePod, CarPlay)
Cons
- No headphone jack
- Lossless requires wired or AirPlay
- #2
Best Android music phone — runner-up Phone of the Year
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung · 2025 · From $1299
Runner-up Phone of the Year at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards. Supports LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless. Tidal Hi-Fi and Spotify HiFi work natively.
Pros
- Broadest Bluetooth codec support
- Tidal Hi-Fi and Apple Music Lossless
- Quality stereo speakers
Cons
- No headphone jack
- $1,299 starting
- #3
Won Most Improved at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards. Now Playing identifies songs offline; Recorder can identify music in environments. YouTube Music integration is class-leading.
Pros
- Now Playing offline song ID
- Best YouTube Music integration
- Cleanest Android UI
Cons
- No headphone jack
- Tensor G4 trails Snapdragon
- #4
MKBHD's 2022 Best Small Phone winner — and one of the few flagships still shipping with a headphone jack in 2026. Good DAC for direct wired listening.
Pros
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Quality DAC for wired listening
- Genuinely small at 5.9 inches
Cons
- No more major Android updates
- Older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
_front.svg){kind=tracking}
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best phone for music in 2026?
iPhone 17 Pro for Apple Music Lossless and Spatial Audio (especially with AirPods Pro). Galaxy S25 Ultra for broadest Android codec support. Asus Zenfone 9 if you specifically want a headphone jack.
Are there any phones with headphone jacks in 2026?
Very few flagships. Asus Zenfone 9 (MKBHD's 2022 Best Small Phone) is the most credible remaining option. Most current flagships have removed the jack.
Does iPhone or Android sound better?
On Bluetooth: Android with LDAC or aptX Lossless. On wired: roughly equivalent on flagship phones. With AirPods specifically: iPhone wins on integration and Spatial Audio.
About this list
We index every phone that won or placed in MKBHD's annual Smartphone Awards (2014–2025) and surface the strongest matches for this category. Award badges link to the full award history. We earn a commission on purchases via our retailer links — at no extra cost to you.