11 best smartphones with good sound

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Not all modern smartphones sound good. They often have one speaker, which negatively affects the volume of the music. Well, a mid-budget processor is most often responsible for transmitting sound to headphones. Needless to say that this should not be his main task? Smartphones equipped with an audio processor – the so-called DAC – produce much better sound. It is these devices that will be discussed in this article.

Rating of the best smartphones with good sound

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Best Low-Cost Music Smartphones	1	Xiaomi Mi Note 3 6 / 64Gb	RUB 16,980
	2	Meizu 15 4 / 64GB	RUB 18,780
	3	ASUS ZenFone 4 ZE554KL 4GB	RUB 15 490
The best smartphones with good sound in the mid-range price segment	1	Meizu 16th 6 / 64GB	RUB 29 660
	2	Xiaomi Mi 8 6 / 128GB	RUB 24,540
	3	ASUS ZenFone 5Z ZS620KL 6 / 64GB	RUB 29,990
	4	Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact	RUB 22,990
The best smartphones with good sound in the premium segment	1	Samsung Galaxy S9 + 64GB	RUB 41 800
	2	Apple iPhone Xs Max 256GB	RUB 90,000
	3	LG G7 ThinQ 64GB	RUB 36,290
	4	Sony Xperia XZ Premium	RUB 28 650

The ranking is based on RankQuality data.

The best low-cost music smartphones

Xiaomi Mi Note 3 6 / 64Gb

Rating: 4.8

All the same, our rating should start with devices without an audio chip. These smartphones cost relatively little money. At the same time, for example, Xiaomi Mi Note 3 sounds pretty good. He has loud stereo speakers at his disposal, and there are no special complaints about the sound in the headphones. Especially if you connect a headset that supports technology Bluetooth 5.0. As for the wired connection, you will have to use an adapter for this purpose, since there is only one connector on the device's case – USB Type-C.

Mainly responsible for the sound here is the Snapdragon 660 processor. This is an eight-core chipset, half of the cores of which are clocked at 2.2 GHz. He is great at sound processing and in games. Everything is in order with a smartphone and with a graphics accelerator – Adreno 512 is used as it. The gadget also includes 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of permanent memory. Slightly confusing against this background is the lack of a memory card slot. However, nowadays it is a rare person who keeps a full-fledged music library in his memory; more often, various online services are used to listen to songs.

Autonomous operation of the device is provided by a 3500 mAh battery. In MP3-player mode, the smartphone will definitely last for several days. The buyer should also be pleased with the support of Quick Charge 3.0 technology, which provides fast charging. The product also has a fingerprint scanner located on the front panel.

The picture is displayed here on a 5.5-inch display, created using IPS technology and having a resolution Full HD. The operating system is handling what is happening Android 7.1. Internet access is carried out 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 got some very decent cameras. The front camera has a 16-megapixel resolution, which is quite enough for high-quality selfies. As for the rear camera, it is double. The second lens has a shorter focal length, due to which a 2x optical zoom is realized. The main optics are capable of boasting aperture open to f / 1.8. Both matrices have a 12-megapixel resolution. It should also be noted that this camera can shoot video in 4K resolution, albeit only at 30 frames / s.

Advantages

• High speed internet available;
• Good front camera
• Capacious battery with fast charging support;
• Large amount of memory;
• Built-in powerful processor;
• Decent IPS display
• There is a fingerprint sensor;
• A USB Type-C connector is used;
• Built-in NFC chip;
• Excellent rear camera with optical zoom.

disadvantages

• There is no 3.5mm audio jack;
• No memory card slot;
• There is no audio processor.

Meizu 15 4 / 64GB

Rating: 4.7

Another smartphone in our ranking, which has at its disposal 64 GB of internal memory. And here, too, there is no slot for a memory card, which some may not like. If you buy such a device, then it is better to refuse storing music tracks in FLAC format in memory. The memory comes in handy for storing other files – in particular, videos captured using the dual rear camera. They are written only in resolution Full HD, but with the use of an optical stabilizer. By the way, the camera turned out to be very fast – the main lens is capable of boasting an aperture of f / 1.9. If we talk about the front camera, then it consists of only one optical module, but underneath it is a 20-megapixel sensor.

However, smartphones are not included in this rating because of their camera. What about the sound? Let's start with the fact that this model does not have a separate audio processor either. More precisely, the manufacturer declares its presence, but the name of the chip is not specified. However, the eight-core Snapdragon 660 does a pretty good job of processing sound anyway. 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 when playing music, but also when starting games. Adreno 512 is responsible for graphics processing, by the way. The product also received 4 GB of RAM, which is quite enough for the operating system Android 7.1.

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

It should be noted that the Chinese manufacturer tried in every possible way to reduce the thickness of his creation. As a result, he opted for a battery with a capacity not exceeding 3000 mAh. We would call this parameter insufficient, but our impressions are changed by the LCD display. The fact is that it is made using technology AMOLED. This means that when displaying dark colors, the screen wastes little energy. In a word, at first, a 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 are installed on the smartphone. The display resolution is 1920×1080 pixels, which is quite normal with a 5.46-inch diagonal.

Perhaps the Chinese have got an excellent device. It is available in four color options, and the minimum thickness of the side frames will facilitate easy one-handed use. Separately, the minimum weight can be noted – a rare modern smartphone weighs only 152 g.

Advantages

• Several types of body colors;
• High-speed wireless modules are used;
• Decent amount of memory;
• Installed a powerful processor;
• USB Type-C and 3.5mm audio jack are present;
• Decent front camera
• Excellent dual camera with optical stabilization;
• Used AMOLED – display;
• Very light weight;
• Fingerprint scanner not forgotten.

disadvantages

• Not very capacious battery;
• There is no NFC.

ASUS ZenFone 4 ZE554KL 4GB

Rating: 4.6

This is already a 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, quite wide side frames are waiting for you, and to control the operating system you will need to use the subscreen keys. By the way, the Home button is physical, and additionally has a built-in fingerprint scanner. Previously, similar solutions were found in Samsung smartphones.

Like absolutely all smartphones reviewed today, ASUS ZenFone 4 has stereo speakers. But they are almost never found in such inexpensive devices! Also, the sound can be output to headphones using the usual 3.5 mm audio jack. When connected, you can activate the FM radio – this, by the way, is also a rare guest in modern smartphones. Of course, you can output sound to a wireless headset, for which Bluetooth 5.0 is used.

Perhaps, in terms of sound, it is extremely difficult to find fault with this device. Although it feels like there is no DAC here, which is why even when listening to FLAC music you will hardly hear even the smallest details. However, the eight-core processor is trying to squeeze the best out of itself. By the way, there are two versions of ASUS ZenFone 4: one received the Snapdragon 660, and the other – the Snapdragon 630. In terms of power, both chipsets are approximately equal, so you shouldn't seriously think about this.

A USB Type-C connector is used to charge this smartphone. Most importantly, the 3300 mAh battery supports fast charging technology. Of course, the display consumes the most energy here. It was created using IPS technology, and its resolution with a 5.5-inch diagonal is 1920×1080 pixels. The standard aspect ratio makes it a pleasure to watch YouTube videos. And don't forget about stereo sound! It also improves comfort!

As mentioned above, this device has a relatively low price tag. Therefore, don't expect to get the perfect camera. However, its dual module is unlikely to disappoint you. Of course, the camera is not capable of recording 4K video, but it copes very well with a picture in resolution Full HD. It is also important to note the presence of an optical stabilizer – it allows the system to make the shutter speed slightly slower, which is useful in low light conditions. It remains to add that the main module has an f / 1.8 aperture. As for the front camera, it looks less impressive with an 8-megapixel matrix.

Advantages

• There is an FM radio;
• There is a fingerprint sensor;
• Built-in USB Type-C connector;
• Decent IPS display
• Not forgotten 3.5mm audio jack;
• There is an NFC chip;
• High speed standards are supported;
• Nice rear camera complemented by optical stabilization;
• Decent amount of memory;
• A powerful processor is used;
• Not very high cost.

disadvantages

• Only two color options;
• Unpretentious front camera;
• The firmware has a lot of unnecessary applications.

The best smartphones with good sound in the mid-range 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 a flagship with a fingerprint scanner built into the screen! The device has a frameless design, but the areas above and below the display are preserved. The screen has a 6-inch diagonal and a resolution of 2160×1080 pixels. The 18: 9 aspect ratio makes it much easier to use two apps at the same time. It makes me really happy that the display was created using technology AMOLED. This means that the screen has rich colors 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 one, in Russia its cost reaches 30 thousand rubles. In this regard, it is not surprising that it has a central audio processor Qualcomm Aqstic (WCD9341). Also included in the device is the CS35L41 amplifier. In a word, this representative of our rating can transmit sound in excellent quality even to on-ear headphones! It is proposed to connect an accessory via a 3.5 mm audio jack. There is also Bluetooth 5.0, which is needed to synchronize a smartphone with a smartwatch and wirelessly broadcast sound. However, it is not necessary to output sound to headphones or a speaker, the built-in stereo speakers do their job well.

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

An eight-core Snapdragon 845 is built into the smartphone as a processor. Top chipset. Also, under the body of the smartphone, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of permanent memory are hidden. It remains to be regretted that this volume cannot be increased – there is no corresponding slot here.

Advantages

• Implemented Quick Charge 4.0 fast charging technology;
• High speed wireless communication;
• Excellent AMOLED – display;
• There is a fingerprint sensor;
• There are 3.5mm and USB Type-C connectors;
• Decent amount of memory;
• A top processor is used;
• The rear dual camera is complemented by an optical stabilizer;
• Excellent 20-megapixel front camera;
• Weight does not exceed 152 g;
• DAC and amplifier are built in.

disadvantages

• No memory card slot;
• High price.

Xiaomi Mi 8 6 / 128GB

Rating: 4.8

Think 64GB of internal storage is not enough? Looking for a device with a cutout screen at the top? In this case, another representative of our rating should please you – Xiaomi Mi 8. It is the flagship of the Chinese manufacturer operating under Android 8.1. For storing files, 128 GB of memory are intended here. There is no microSD card slot, but the buyers of the device will hardly remember it. It is also impossible not to notice that as many as 6 color variants of the smartphone have gone on sale. What other flagship is capable of providing such diversity?

The front panel of this gadget houses AMOLED – a display with a diagonal of 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. The display resolution is 2280×1080 pixels. You may notice that the screen is stretched in height – this is done for more comfortable work with two open applications. There is also, as mentioned above, a curly neckline. It houses sensors, an earpiece and a 20-megapixel front camera.

If you turn the smartphone over, you can see not only the fingerprint scanner, but also the dual camera. Both lenses have exactly the same 12-megapixel matrix. The design of the optical modules themselves is noticeably different – as a result, a double zoom becomes available to the user. The main lens has an f / 1.8 aperture and an optical stabilizer. As for the telephoto lens, it has an 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 recording (the frequency will not exceed 30 frames / s).

Of course, the smartphone is pleased with many other components. For example, the manufacturer has built a 3400 mAh battery here. Its full charge dries up in one and a half to two days of active smartphone operation. In addition to this, it also charges very quickly, for which the support of Quick Charge 4.0 technology should be thanked. The top-end Snapdragon 845 is used as a processor. This eight-core chipset allows you to run absolutely any games without reducing the level of graphics. Also, there are 6 GB of RAM – the operating system has enough of this volume. Wi-Fi 802.11ac is used to access the Internet. The manufacturer has not forgotten the NFC chip, which allows you to pay for purchases at most Russian cash desks.

But what about the sound? Is it not for nothing that the device got into our rating? Of course, not in vain. The Chinese manufacturer does not say if a separate DAC is used here. However, this does not negate the fact that the device 'pumps' any headphones in full. It's just a shame that they will have to be connected only through an adapter, since among the connectors on the case there is only USB Type-C. But nobody forbids the use of wireless headsets. Importantly, Bluetooth 5.0 has been updated with aptX support. There are also stereo speakers, which play quite well for their size.

Advantages

• Excellent AMOLED – display;
• There is a USB Type-C connector;
• A capacious battery with fast charging support is used;
• Large amount of memory;
• Built-in top processor;
• There is NFC support;
• There are high-speed wireless modules;
• Decent front camera
• Good rear camera with optical zoom;
• Lots of color options;
• There is a fingerprint sensor.

disadvantages

• Weight reaches an impressive 175 g;
• No 3.5mm audio jack.

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 performance. The operating system used here is Android 8.0 – the more recent version of the 'green robot' will become mass only in the spring of 2019. The built-in display here was created using IPS technology, which indicates soft color reproduction and maximum viewing angles. The diagonal of the screen is 6.2 inches. Fortunately, this smartphone cannot be called huge, since its display is elongated in height, not in width. The 2246 x 1080 pixels resolution 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 sound, then the buyer is waiting for loud stereo speakers. You can output sound to headphones, if such a desire arises, through a 3.5 mm audio jack. By the way, if you connect them, you can activate the FM radio. The second socket present here is USB Type-C. As you know, the wire is inserted into it exclusively the first time. If you have a smart watch or a wireless speaker, then Bluetooth 5.0 will definitely come in handy. No less useful is the NFC chip – it can be used to use a smartphone in the manner of a bank card. Finally, there is also support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac – one of the highest-speed wireless standards.

The work of all this goodness is provided not only by the operating system, but also by the top-end Snapdragon 845 processor. Its clock speed reaches an impressive 2.8 GHz. This and six gigabytes of RAM is enough to run any games at maximum graphics settings. There is also 64 GB of permanent memory. At the same time, the manufacturer allows you to additionally use a microSD card. Not forgotten, and the fingerprint scanner, which works literally in a split second.

A very decent camera is built in here. It is double, and under its optical modules are sensors with a resolution of 12 and 8 megapixels. The main lens is capable of boasting f / 1.8 aperture and optical stabilization. The capabilities of such a camera are quite enough for video recording in 4K resolution. As for the front camera, it has an 8-megapixel matrix.

Advantages

• Weight does not exceed 155 g;
• A USB Type-C port is used;
• Decent amount of memory;
• Built-in powerful processor;
• There is an NFC chip;
• There is support for high-speed wireless networks;
• There is an FM radio;
• Excellent rear camera with OIS
• Good IPS display
• A fresh version of the operating system is installed;
• Fingerprint scanner not forgotten.

disadvantages

• Few color options for the case;
• No 3.5mm audio jack;
• Not everyone will like the cost.

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 tiny Xperia XZ1 Compact is able to reproduce 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. He has only a 4.6-inch display at his disposal. This allows you to operate the operating system Android 8.0 and all applications with just one hand. Also, such a smartphone will definitely fit into any pocket. Some buyers will not like the only 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 meets the IP68 standard. A rare music smartphone is also waterproof!

The device is available in four colors. It uses an eight-core Snapdragon 835 as a processor. Recently, this chipset was considered a top-end. You can be sure that such a processor will cope with the launch of absolutely any game. Even under the body of a miniature gadget, 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory are hidden. This built-in storage will not be enough for a music lover, so he will use a microSD card. The work of all of the above components is provided by a 2700 mAh battery. It supports Quick Charge 3.0 technology, so the battery is filled with energy very quickly.

To transmit sound to wireless devices, it is carried out via Bluetooth 5.0. Ordinary headphones also do not go overboard – the Japanese did not get rid of the 3.5 mm 'mini-jack'. As for other wireless modules, among them are Wi-Fi 802.11ac, LTE-A from 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 1280×720 pixels – not much, but with such a diagonal it is tolerable. Photos taken with the built-in 19-megapixel camera look great on this display. Although it is more focused on video, the manufacturer has endowed it with support for 4K resolution and high-speed shooting. The front-facing camera has received less attention – it has a modest 8-megapixel resolution by modern standards.

Advantages

• Extremely compact size;
• There is support for high-speed wireless networks;
• NFC chip is not forgotten;
• There is a fingerprint scanner;
• Very powerful processor;
• A large battery for such a compact device;
• There is water protection;
• The latest version is used Android;
• Several color options;
• A USB Type-C connector is used.

disadvantages

• Not very high resolution LCD;
• Little memory;
• Only one SIM card slot.

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 unhappy with its sound. The engineers who created the Samsung Galaxy S9 + understood this. As a result, the device got into our rating by no means undeservedly. Yes, there is no separate audio processor here. But its tasks are successfully solved by the top-end chipset of its own production. Also it should be noted the presence of AKG stereo speakers here. They give out a very deep sound. It can be seen that the manufacturer squeezed absolutely everything possible from a fairly small smartphone. You can also listen to music with headphones, including wired ones – the South Koreans did not follow the fashion, ridding their flagship of 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 takes up most of the bezel. It was created using technology AMOLED, thanks to which a 3500 mAh battery is enough for two to three days of battery life. Also, such a screen can display the date and time in a constant mode, which not every smartphone is capable of.

The housing, which can be painted in one of five colors, is waterproof. You can take photos in the pool or the sea – do not forget to thoroughly rinse the device only after the salt water. The body has a hole for a paper clip, after using which you can access the tray. Here, the owner is presented with the traditional choice: either insert two SIM cards, or one SIM card and one external storage. The choice is difficult, because 64GB of internal storage can run out very quickly if you actively use the rear camera.

This smartphone can shoot 4K video at 60 frames / s. Do I need to say that it takes up a lot of space? A dual camera with 12-megapixel matrices is used to shoot videos and photos. The main lens boasts an incredible f / 1.5 aperture. The South Korean manufacturer did not forget about optical stabilization. It's hard to complain about the front camera either. Yes, its resolution is small – only 8 megapixels. But wide-angle optics allow you to fit as much space into the frame as possible. There are no complaints about the f / 1.7 aperture.

Such a smartphone can easily cope with running games at maximum graphics settings. Its 6GB of RAM allows you to keep many applications in the background. He could not do without high-speed wireless modules. By the way, a smartphone can replace a bank card using the Samsung Pay application or Android Pay. Also, the gadget understands signals from different sports sensors, since there is support for ANT + technology. In short, you can talk about the South Korean flagship for a very long time. He even comes with very decent headphones – you are unlikely to look for a replacement. It is a pity that the device is obscenely expensive, which makes it affordable for only a minimal number of our readers.

Advantages

• Display resolution is 2960×1440 pixels;
• Fingerprint scanner is not forgotten;
• Long battery life;
• Decent front-end;
• Great rear camera
• There are USB Type-C and 3.5mm connectors;
• Decent amount of memory;
• Excellent AKG stereo speakers;
• A fresh version of the OS is installed;
• Full water protection has been implemented;
• There is an NFC chip and ANT + support;
• Bluetooth added support for aptX;
• The screen was created using technology AMOLED;
• A very powerful processor is built in.

disadvantages

• Very high cost;
• Many will find it too heavy.

Apple iPhone Xs Max 256GB

Rating: 4.8

This device got into our rating, perhaps, not due to its high-quality sound. Most of all we liked the amount of permanent memory. 256 GB is enough for a huge music library, even if the ALAC format is used. Good stereo speakers are used to output sound. If we talk about technology Apple, then only the HomePod speaker and tablets from the iPad Pro series sound better – that is, significantly larger devices. The device also supports branded wireless AirPods headphones. However, the sound in these 'earbuds' is not for everybody. Unfortunately, wired headphones can only be connected using an adapter – there is only Lightning among the connectors on the case.

This model develops the ideas of the jubilee iPhone X. This means that the device has again received a waterproof case. Its faceplate now houses a 6.5-inch OLED display. The screen resolution is 2688×1242 pixels, the aspect ratio of 19.5: 9 would make it convenient to work with two applications simultaneously, if such a function was present in iOS. But who knows, it is possible that it will appear in future updates.

At the top of the display there is a proprietary cutout, inside which there is a place for the front camera and all kinds of sensors, including those responsible for face recognition. The resolution of the front camera is small, only 7 megapixels. The rear camera looks much more interesting, consisting of two lenses and the same number of 12-megapixel matrices. The main optical unit has an f / 1.8 aperture. It can be used to create great portrait shots. The second lens is designed for shooting with 2x optical zoom. I am glad that the camera received optical stabilization, and the processor power was enough for 4K video shooting at 60 frames / s.

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

Advantages

• High speed data transmission available;
• Large amount of memory;
• A very powerful processor is used;
• A wonderful camera with optical zoom;
• Chic AMOLED – display;
• Excellent stereo speakers;
• Long battery life.

disadvantages

• Still not the best sound transmission quality over Bluetooth;
• No 3.5mm audio jack;
• Large sizes will not suit everyone;
• Weight is 208g;
• Scary high cost.

LG G7 ThinQ 64GB

Rating: 4.8

Another frameless smartphone in our ranking. And it also has a notch at the top of the display. Unlike most of the models discussed above, the device is available in only two color options. The musicality of a smartphone is expressed in the presence of stereo speakers, the sound for which is processed by a separate audio processor. Also, music can be output to a wireless headset using the Bluetooth 5.0 standard. If the accessory supports the aptX digital codec, then you will hear deep and spacious sound, especially if you are playing a track in FLAC format. You can also connect wireless headphones to a smartphone – the 3.5 mm audio jack is located in its rightful place.

A USB Type-C port is used to recharge the gadget. Unfortunately, you will have to connect the charger quite often. This is due not only to the battery capacity, which does not exceed 3000 mAh, but also to the high power consumption of the IPS-display installed here. However, the process does not last long, so there is no need to worry.

The diagonal of the screen used here has been brought to 6.1 inches. The resolution is incredibly high, it is 3120×1440 pixels. The surface is covered with Gorilla Glass 5. The device is not afraid not only of falling onto a hard surface, but also of short-term immersion under water.

To unlock, a fingerprint scan is used here. Responsible for the operation of all applications Android 8.0. 64 GB are intended 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 are the top-end eight-core Snapdragon 845 processor and 4 GB of RAM.

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

Advantages

• Implemented water protection according to the IP68 standard;
• Decent amount of memory;
• Built-in powerful processor;
• There is an NFC chip;
• High speed wireless standards are supported;
• There is a separate DAC;
• Great rear camera
• High resolution display;
• The latest version of the operating system is used;
• There are 3.5 mm and USB Type-C connectors;
• There is an FM radio;
• There is a fingerprint scanner.

disadvantages

• Very high cost;
• Very large size;
• The screen is made using IPS technology;
• Not the most capacious battery.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium

Rating: 4.7

Our rating ends with another product of the Japanese company Sony, which is far from being so miniature. This device has a metal case, under which a special adhesive mass is hidden. Such a device can be safely dropped into the water, nothing will happen to it. This is proved by the IP68 certification, which is mentioned on the box with the smartphone. As for the sound, it is not for nothing that the smartphone got into our rating. Yes, there is no separate DAC, or the Japanese manufacturer simply does not talk about it. But this does not mean that the device sounds bad. Sufficiently loud stereo speakers do their job quite well. If you want to output sound to headphones, then a 3.5 mm audio jack will come to the rescue. You can also use Bluetooth 5.0. Of course, there is also support for aptX – a digital codec, thanks to which the sound is transmitted almost in CD quality. But do not forget that support for such a codec must be present on the headset side as well.

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

The picture is displayed here on a 5.5-inch display. Its resolution is, you will not believe, 3840×2160 pixels. This means you have a full 4K display in your pocket! There are 801 pixels for every inch of this screen.

Traditionally, we should also mention cameras. Oddly enough, the Japanese manufacturer rarely endows its smartphones with a dual module. So the Sony Xperia XZ Premium received a regular camera. Under its lens is an f / 2 aperture and a 19-megapixel sensor. Perhaps the camera is the only serious drawback of the device. However, even she is capable of 4K video shooting. And there is also a 13-megapixel front camera.

Advantages

• Four color options;
• Capacious battery with fast charging support;
• High speed wireless standards are supported;
• There are USB Type-C and 3.5 mm connectors;
• There is a fingerprint scanner;
• The screen has 4K resolution;
• Good front camera
• Full water protection has been implemented;
• The NFC chip is not forgotten.

disadvantages

• High price;
• Weight reaches 195 g;
• Not the best rear camera;
• The display is created using IPS technology.

Conclusion

Smartphone makers rarely think about how their creations will sound. They must be thinking that what is most often used to play music is not a mobile phone, but a car radio, a home speaker system, or something like that. If you are still used to using a smartphone for this purpose, then we recommend buying one of the devices considered in this material. Any of them will certainly delight you with their sound, especially if you also have high-quality headphones.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.