Best smartphone for audio enthusiasts in our 2026 reviews
In recent years, smartphone speakers have evolved from a minor feature to a true indicator of quality. A high-quality speaker system with clear stereo sound is now a key factor in purchasing decisions, as smartphones have increasingly become all-in-one devices for videos, gaming, and music playback.
In our 2026 reviews, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra delivered the best speaker system in the smartphone category, though the gap to the Galaxy S26 Ultra is extremely small.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is more consistent than the Galaxy S26 Ultra when it comes to speaker performance
In our review, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has a very good speaker system with good bass and well-balanced mids and highs. Almost no other smartphone in our pink-noise measurement is more consistent than the Xiaomi flagship. Unlike the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra doesn’t overemphasize the highs and mids and offers a bit more depth. However, in our review, the Samsung flagship is significantly louder than the Xiaomi phone.
In our audio ranking, the differences between the two top phones aren’t significant. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra scores 84 percent, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra scores 83.8 percent, which is the better deal in the US (starts at $1,200 on amazon.us)
In addition to powerful speakers, both Android phones stand out with a wide selection of Bluetooth codecs, enabling high-quality wireless sound with low latency. However, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has a bit more to offer here as well, with aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and the high-res LHDC codec.
A top alternative from 2025 is the Poco F8 Ultra, which can deliver noticeably more bass thanks to its rear-mounted subwoofer.
Source(s)
Review of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra
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