The phones with best speakers in 2026
With you being here, I'm certain that you're fairly aware of what the best phones are, generally speaking. If I asked, you'd probably be able to give me some solid suggestions on the best wireless earbuds around too.
But do you know what phones have the best speakers? Yeah, right? Those are a thing too!
We all occasionally want to play that one special song for our friends to hear on our phone, or sometimes just take our phones to the bathroom to listen to some tunes while showering.
I get it! And there are good phones with great speakers out there. In fact, it's quite the selection. So how would you go about picking the one that's best for you? Well, we're here to help you make the right choice.
Best Phone Speaker — TL;DR:
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 — Samsung's foldable phones have great-sounding speakers, which pack a bit more punch than traditional phones.
- Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max — The latest iPhone 17 Pro Max offers a clean and balanced sound, with well-controlled lows and little distortion, even at maximum volume.
- Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro — This gaming behemoth is impressive in many ways and we're pleased to report that "sound quality" is certainly among them!
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — Samsung's best phone packs powerful speakers that outperform its cheaper offerings.
- OnePlus 15 — A punchy speaker with well-controlled lower frequencies.
- Google Pixel 10 Pro XL — Google has improved the loudspeaker on the Pixel 10 Pro XL, but it is still not quite as good as other flagships in this list, as the bass does not sound good on this phone.
What are the phones with the best speakers?
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Wide stereo sound with clean audio even at high volumes. | Image by PhoneArena
The speakers on the Z Fold 7 are largely unchanged from the previous generation. Some people even claim there’s been a slight downgrade, but in our experience they sound very similar overall.
Perhaps the Fold 7 has lost just a bit of punch compared to before, but the sound feels slightly tighter and more controlled. The stereo speakers still deliver a wide sound stage and plenty of loudness, which makes them enjoyable for music, videos, and gaming.
Even when pushed to higher volume levels, the sound remains clean and there is no obvious distortion, which is always good to hear on a device this thin.
Perhaps the Fold 7 has lost just a bit of punch compared to before, but the sound feels slightly tighter and more controlled. The stereo speakers still deliver a wide sound stage and plenty of loudness, which makes them enjoyable for music, videos, and gaming.
- Read more in our Galaxy Z Fold 7 review
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Wide, detailed speakers with impressive bass for a smartphone. | Image by PhoneArena
Apple’s Pro Max models have consistently delivered some of the best speakers on a smartphone, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max continues that tradition.
Compared to the previous generation, the speakers may sound just a little quieter. The iPhone 16 Pro Max had a slightly more balanced presentation, while the 17 Pro Max introduces a somewhat more pronounced upper-mid response that can sound a bit harsher in direct comparison.
That said, we are nitpicking here. The speakers are still wide, detailed, and capable of producing surprisingly solid bass for a phone. Overall, the sound remains clean and powerful enough to easily fill a small room.
Compared to the previous generation, the speakers may sound just a little quieter. The iPhone 16 Pro Max had a slightly more balanced presentation, while the 17 Pro Max introduces a somewhat more pronounced upper-mid response that can sound a bit harsher in direct comparison.
- Read more in our iPhone 17 Pro Max review
ROG Phone 9 Pro
Great sound with plenty of bass. | Image by PhoneArena
ROG phones used to have AMAZING loudspeakers with big, two-speaker designs back in the day, but in the last couple of generations the quality has dropped as the company goes for speakers that take up a bit less space.
Still, the ROG Phone 9 Pro sounds great. It gets loud and boomy, it's great for gaming but also for music listening and YouTube videos on the go. The speakers can be described as loud and spacious, but they have a very pronounced response somewhere in the lower mids, which makes them sound a bit too "dark".
- Read more in our ROG Phone 9 Pro review
Galaxy S26 Ultra
Loud stereo speakers with fuller bass than previous Galaxy models. | Image by PhoneArena
Samsung used to lag some competitors in terms of speaker quality, but its recent Ultra models have improved a lot.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra continues the same approach, offering loud stereo speakers with noticeably better bass and punch compared to older Galaxy models. The sound is fuller and more dynamic, which makes it more enjoyable for watching videos or playing games without headphones.
Overall, the speakers on the S26 Ultra provide a balanced and powerful sound that easily outperforms most of Samsung’s cheaper phones.
Overall, the speakers on the S26 Ultra provide a balanced and powerful sound that easily outperforms most of Samsung’s cheaper phones.
- Read more in our Galaxy S26 Ultra hands-on
OnePlus 15
Very loud stereo speakers, though clarity drops at higher volumes. | Image by PhoneArena
The OnePlus 15 comes with dual stereo speakers and they can get very loud.
That’s good news for gaming or watching videos, but at the highest volumes the sound starts to lose clarity and can feel relatively muffled.
There is some bass present — something many smartphones struggle with—but the separation between lows, mids and highs isn’t great. Because of that, music can sound a bit “noisy” and less refined compared to the best speakers on this list.
On the positive side, OnePlus continues to deliver excellent haptics. The vibration feedback is tight and precise whether you’re gaming, typing, or receiving notifications.
That’s good news for gaming or watching videos, but at the highest volumes the sound starts to lose clarity and can feel relatively muffled.
There is some bass present — something many smartphones struggle with—but the separation between lows, mids and highs isn’t great. Because of that, music can sound a bit “noisy” and less refined compared to the best speakers on this list.
- Read more in our OnePlus 15 review
Pixel 10 Pro XL
Loud, wide speakers with clear mids and detailed sound. | Image by PhoneArena
Google has offered strong speakers in its Pixel flagships for several generations now, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL continues that trend.
Compared to the previous model, the speakers sound slightly more mid-focused and a bit lighter in the low frequencies. The difference isn’t huge though, and overall the speakers remain loud, wide, and detailed.
In fact, the Pixel 10 Pro XL can easily double as a makeshift Bluetooth speaker if you need to play music for a group. It also works very well for watching YouTube or playing games thanks to the clear stereo separation.
Google’s haptics also remain excellent, delivering precise and satisfying feedback that enhances the overall experience.
Compared to the previous model, the speakers sound slightly more mid-focused and a bit lighter in the low frequencies. The difference isn’t huge though, and overall the speakers remain loud, wide, and detailed.
Google’s haptics also remain excellent, delivering precise and satisfying feedback that enhances the overall experience.
- Read more in our Pixel 10 Pro XL review
We asked and you told us – phone speaker quality matters!
A while back we asked you – does phone speaker quality matter? Nearly 80% of the voters said yes – "Speaker quality matters to me and I want better phone speakers in the future". Just over 15% of the voters said that they're happy with how phone speakers sound right now, while only about 5% said speaker quality isn't essential to them.
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