Unfortunately, when it comes to enjoying your favourite tunes on the go, not all smartphones are built the same. Especially if you care about the quality of sound, some Android phones reign over others in the music department. From advanced audio technology to traditional headphone jack support, there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a phone for listening to music. It’s also important to think about the battery life so you can listen for longer, as well as the quality of the built-in speakers.
Android Phones That Are Best For Playing Music
Whether you’re a music lover or an audiophile, your love for listening to songs probably extends to when you use your phone. If you’re looking to get the best possible Android phone available for playing music, we’ve listed our top 3 favourites.
Samsung Galaxy S24
Despite the absence of a traditional headphone jack, the Samsung Galaxy S24 delivers one of the best audio experiences available on the latest generation of Android devices. IEM listening is still possible through a USB-C connection, with the optimal set-up being a USB-C to headphone jack connector.
The Galaxy S24 also offers the latest Bluetooth technology, making wireless headphones or earphones viable. You can listen to your music without the quality dropping or the sound cutting out.
For users who want to use the S24 as a speaker, the sound quality is hard to beat. The S24 also supports Dolby Atmos, which offers cinema-quality surround sound—perfect for an immersive listening experience.
Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
Although it’s a gaming-first phone model, Asus’s ROG Phone 7 Ultimate also provides fantastic hi-res-audio experiences along with being the number one choice for gaming due to its high-performance processors.
The Phone 7 Ultimate features twin front-firing 12 x 16 mm speakers with 50% more effective volume and results in 20% stronger bass performance. Aided by a five-magnet subwoofer, this phone is perfect if you want a device that can deliver a strong bass performance and a gorgeous 2.1 sound for music or gaming.
Sony Xperia 10 V
Sony’s Xperia 10 V, first released in 2023, is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option with great audio. Unlike most modern Android phones, the device still has a 3.5mm jack, perfect for IEM listening.
The Xperia 10 V also supports 5.1 Bluetooth connectivity, allowing wireless headphones or earphones to be used without quality loss and uninterrupted sound. The phone’s built-in speakers also allow for surround sound, providing immersive listening.
How To Add Music To An Android Phone
When it comes to adding music to your Android phone, there are a few options available; you can stream music to your phone or download and transfer it to your device the old-school way.
Below, we’ve listed the most common methods. Keep in mind that the process may differ slightly depending on the phone model you have—for instance, a Samsung Galaxy vs. a Google Pixel.
Transferring from PC
By connecting your phone to your computer through a USB cable, you can transfer any downloaded and purchased songs to your mobile device.
- Connect your Android phone to your computer using a USB cable. On your phone, you may need to select ‘Transfer Files’ (MTP) in the USB options in settings.
- On your computer, open File Explorer and locate all the music files you want to transfer.
- Open another file explorer tab, and find where you want to store all the music on your Android device (commonly called ‘Music’).
- Drag and drop the music files from your computer into the folder on your phone. Afterwards, safely eject your phone from the computer and disconnect the USB cable.
Now, the music files will be available on your device, playable through your device’s built-in audio player or a music app.
Using a MicroSD Card
If your phone has a MicroSD card option for expandable storage, like most Samsung Galaxy devices, it’s possible to load music on your device using it.
- Use a card reader and plug a MicroSD card into your computer.
- Transfer music files onto the MicroSD card, then insert them back into your phone.
After inserting the MicroSD card into your phone, you should be able to locate the files and play them using an audio player or dedicated music app.
Using Cloud Services
If you use cloud-based storage services, like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, you can upload music files from your computer and then redownload them onto your mobile phone using the corresponding application.
Music Streaming Apps
Apps like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, or Amazon Music allow users to stream music instead of downloading the files and transferring them to their mobile devices. Streaming requires an online connection; however, most of these services, if you subscribe, allow you to download the music for offline play.
Purchasing Music Online
It’s possible to purchase music online through Google Play Music (now YouTube Music) or any other digital storefront and download the songs directly to your phone through the associated app. However, purchasing music online isn’t as common as it used to be, as users have moved towards streaming.
Music Playing Apps Available on Android Phones
Several music-playing apps are available for Android devices, each offering different features and capabilities. We’ve listed the most popular options below, along with their key features and pricing options.
Spotify
The most popular streaming service for music, along with podcasts and now audiobooks. While there is a free version (ad-supported), it has premium options with different plans available for students, families, couples, and individuals. Users can also download songs to play offline.
Apple Music
Despite popular belief, Apple’s music streaming application is also available for Android devices. If you’re an audiophile, Apple Music offers lossless and high-resolution audio, which is better for a more immersive experience.
Amazon Music
Amazon’s music app features both music and podcasts similar to Spotify and can also be accessed via the web. If you already subscribe to any of Amazon’s other services, like Twitch or Prime Video, you can use Amazon Music ad-free and access the 100+ million songs & podcasts.
Pandora
This music app is designed for people who want high-resolution audio with near-to-no quality loss. It features on-demand music streaming and personalised radio settings. The quality is incredible; however, it doesn’t have as many artists as other platforms like Spotify.
YouTube Music
YouTube Music makes it easy to create playlists and listen to songs, albums, and music videos with user-generated content. There is a free, ad-supported version and subscription service tier available. The major draw is that compared to Spotify and Apple Music, you can add any YouTube video, fan-made or official, to a playlist.
Music-playing apps for Android phones are primarily streaming-based—meaning they connect to the internet and stream the audio to your phone. Although some apps, like Spotify, allow you to download music for offline play, it isn’t common.
It’s possible to download music online (like an MP3 file) and listen to it on your Android phone with in-built audio players in most models, including Samsung Galaxy devices, Google, and Huawei, without downloading a third-party app.
Hear Music You Want on a Refurbished Android Phone From OzMobiles
For the best Android phone for music, you’ll want a device powered by the latest speaker and audio technology with strong connection capabilities for uninterrupted streaming. Buying refurbished is a great way to save money while experiencing the latest in audio technology on mobile.
Here at OzMobiles, we stock a large range of refurbished Android devices, including the latest Samsung Galaxy devices, Google’s Pixel range, Huawei phones and OPPO phones. These devices are well-renowned for their music capabilities, whether you’re streaming music from an app like Spotify or downloading songs and storing them on the system.
At OzMobiles, you can rest assured that all the phones we sell will come with clear, high-quality speakers that are free from any defects or faults. All the devices we sell go through an extensive 72-point quality check as part of the refurbishment process, which includes checking the audio capabilities and ensuring it’s functional and running optimally.
Our devices all come with a 12-month free warranty and a 30-day risk-free return policy. So, if you have any concerns or a change of mind, we’d be happy to assist. They also come with a battery life guarantee, so you have peace of mind that you’ll be able to listen to music on the device for years to come.
For any questions about the best Android phone for music or our refurbishment process, reach out and contact us. Our team would love to answer any queries you may have and connect you with the perfect device.
