High-End Phones Perfect for Music and Movie Streaming

Looking for a great high-end phone for music and movies in 2025? You have some awesome choices. These include iPhone 17, Xperia 1 VI, Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro. Good sound, bright screens, and easy-to-use apps are important for streaming.

• In 2025, 70% of digital media time in the U.S. is on smartphones.

• People in America listen to music for 75 minutes every day.

• More than 60% of users use streaming services on their phones.

Think about how you stream and which features you like most.

Key Takeaways

• Pick a smartphone that has great sound. This helps you enjoy music and movies more. Look for screens with high resolution, like OLED or 4K. These screens show bright colors and clear pictures. Think about battery life too. A phone with a strong battery lets you stream longer. You will not need to charge it often. Make sure the phone works with popular streaming apps. This helps you watch your favorite shows easily. You can also find cheaper phones. Some budget phones still have good sound and screens for music and movies.

Best Overall Smartphone for Music and Movies

iPhone 17 Highlights

If you want a great phone for music and movies, the iPhone 17 is a top choice in 2025. Many people and experts say it is the best for streaming. The phone works fast, looks nice, and sounds really good. The iPhone 17 has a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. This makes movies and shows look very clear. The battery lasts all day, so you can stream for hours. If you like taking photos or videos, the camera is better now and makes your pictures look great.

Here is a table that shows how the best phones compare for music and movie streaming:

The iPhone 17 is the best overall smartphone for music and movies. It has everything you need for top performance.

Display and Audio Features

The iPhone 17 gives you a great screen for watching videos. It has an oled display with ProMotion technology. The screen refreshes up to 120 times each second. This makes action scenes and scrolling look very smooth. The screen is sharp, with 2556 x 1179 pixels on the Pro and 2796 x 1290 pixels on the Pro Max. You can watch outside because the screen gets up to 2000 nits bright.

When you listen to music or watch movies, you want good sound. The iPhone 17 has Spatial Audio. This makes the sound feel like it is all around you. You can record videos with clear sound using Audio Mix options. If you make your own videos, you can shoot in 4K and use HDR for bright colors.

Here are the main display and audio features:

• ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz

• OLED display for deep blacks and vibrant colors

• High resolution for sharp images

• Peak brightness of 2000 nits for outdoor viewing

• 4K video recording with HDR and ProRes support

• Spatial Audio and advanced sound recording

You get 5G connectivity for fast streaming. The battery lasts a long time, so you can watch or listen without charging often. There is lots of storage for your favorite songs and movies.

Pros and Cons

You might want to know what is good and what is not so good about the iPhone 17. Here is a simple table to help you choose:

Tip: If you want a smooth screen and rich sound, the iPhone 17 is a great pick. If you want more advanced AI features or a better zoom camera, you may want to look at other phones.

The iPhone 17 has what you need for music and movie streaming. You get an oled display, strong sound, and a battery that lasts all day.

Best Android Smartphone for Music and Movies

Sony Xperia 1 VI Features

If you want an Android phone that shines for music and movies, you should check out the Sony Xperia 1 VI. This phone stands out because it cares about sound and video quality. You get high-fidelity playback, which means your music sounds clear and rich. You can listen for hours because the battery lasts a long time.

Do you love using wired headphones? The Xperia 1 VI gives you a classic 3.5 mm headphone jack. You can plug in your favorite headphones and enjoy music without delay or loss in quality. You also get a memory card slot. This means you can store lots of songs and movies without worrying about running out of space.

Sony keeps the screen shape close to what you see in movie theaters. The phone uses a conventional aspect ratio, so movies look more natural and less cropped. If you care about the best sound and a true movie experience, this phone is made for you.

Tip: If you want to listen to music with wired headphones or need extra storage for your media, the Xperia 1 VI is a smart pick.

4K Display and Audio

The display and audio system on the Xperia 1 VI are top-notch. You get a 6.5-inch FHD+ OLED screen. It refreshes at 120Hz, so everything looks smooth. Sony uses BRAVIA screen technology, which makes colors pop and details stand out. The screen supports HDR BT.2020, so you see bright highlights and deep shadows in movies.

The audio system is just as impressive. You get front-facing stereo speakers that fill the room with sound. The phone supports High-Resolution Audio and Dolby Atmos, so you hear every detail in your music and movies. You can use the 3.5 mm headphone jack for wired listening. The phone also supports many audio codecs like aptX and LDAC, so wireless sound stays strong.

Here’s a quick look at the main display and audio features:

You can watch movies in bright sunlight or a dark room. You can listen to music with the best sound, whether you use headphones or speakers.

Pros and Cons

Every phone has good and bad sides. The Xperia 1 VI is no different. Here’s a table to help you see what’s great and what’s not:

People love the 4K screen. One user said, “The 4K screen makes editing videos so much easier.” Another said, “Sound quality through wired headphones is unmatched.”

Some users wish the phone had wireless charging. One person said, “No wireless charging feels outdated at this price.” Others noticed the battery drains faster when recording 4K video.

Note: If you want the best display and sound, and you don’t mind paying more, the Xperia 1 VI is a top Android choice for streaming music and movies.

High-End Phone Audio Leader

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro Audio Score

You might not expect a high-end phone like the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro to lead in audio, but it does. This phone has earned top marks for dynamic speaker performance. If you love music or movies, you will notice the difference right away. The stereo speakers on this device sound loud and clear. You can hear every beat and every word. Many experts say the Mi 10 Pro delivers excellent sound quality for a phone. You get rich bass and crisp highs. You do not need headphones to enjoy your favorite songs or shows.

Tip: Try playing your favorite track on the Mi 10 Pro. You will hear details you might miss on other phones.

Music and Movie Experience

When you stream music or movies, you want more than just good sound. You want a high-end phone that gives you detailed and impressive image quality too. The Mi 10 Pro does not disappoint. The video quality stands out with bright colors and sharp images. The AMOLED display makes everything look vibrant. You can watch movies in the dark or outside in the sun. The stereo speakers fill the room, so you can share the experience with friends. You will enjoy every moment, whether you are watching a blockbuster or listening to a podcast.

• Stereo speakers for a full sound

• AMOLED display for bright and clear video

• High-end phone design feels premium in your hand

Pros and Cons

Here is a quick look at what you get with the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro:

If you want a high-end phone that puts audio first, the Mi 10 Pro is a smart pick. You get stereo speakers, great video quality, and a design that feels special.

Other Top Phones for Music and Movies

iPhone 16 Pro Overview

You might wonder if the iPhone 16 Pro still stands out among the best phones for music and movies. It does. Apple designed this phone with streaming fans in mind. You get a device that feels premium and works smoothly. The iPhone 16 Pro gives you a strong battery, so you can watch movies or listen to music for hours without worrying about charging. You also get new audio features that make your favorite songs and shows sound better than ever.

Display and Sound

When you pick up the iPhone 16 Pro, you notice the bright OLED screen right away. Colors look bold, and details pop. Watching movies feels like sitting in a mini theater. The screen stays clear even outside, so you can stream anywhere. Apple added studio-quality microphones. You get four microphones that record sound with less noise. If you like making videos, your voice and background music sound true-to-life.

The phone also brings Spatial Audio capture. When you use AirPods, you feel like the sound comes from all around you. The Audio Mix feature lets you adjust sound after you record. You can make voices clearer or add a studio effect. Here’s a quick look at what makes the iPhone 16 Pro special for streaming:

Tip: If you want a phone that records great sound and lasts all day, the iPhone 16 Pro is a smart choice.

Pros and Cons

You want to know what works well and what could be better. Here’s what recent reviews say:

• You get excellent battery life. You can stream video for up to 22 hours.

• Some users notice speaker quality issues. At lower volumes, sound can feel flat.

If you care about long streaming sessions and clear recordings, the iPhone 16 Pro fits your needs. If you listen at low volumes, you might want to test the speakers first. Many people still call it one of the best phones for music and movies because of its strong battery and advanced audio tools.

Comparison of Best Smartphones for Music and Movies

Picking the best smartphone for music and movies is not easy. You want great av performance, but every phone has something cool. Let’s look at what each phone offers for streaming.

Here’s a simple comparison of top smartphones in 2025 for music and movie streaming:

Premium smartphones for music and movies have sharp screens and cool audio features. The iPhone 17 and Xperia 1 VI both have smooth 120Hz displays. Only the Xperia 1 VI lets you use wired headphones. If you want strong sound and video, the Mi 10 Pro is a good pick. It has deep bass and a wide sound stage. The Mi 10 Pro scored 77 for audio playback, which is better than many other phones.

Most top smartphones in 2025 have Dolby Atmos or Spatial Audio. This gives you surround sound when you watch movies or listen to music. Many phones also play lossless audio formats like FLAC. If you want to save music and movies, choose a phone with lots of storage or a microSD slot.

Tip: For the best av performance, pick a phone with a high-resolution screen and strong audio hardware. You will enjoy your streaming apps even more.

Phones for music and movies keep improving every year. Now you can get studio sound and movie-like pictures from your pocket.

How to Choose a Smartphone for Music and Movies

Picking a smartphone for music and movies can seem hard. But you can make it simple by thinking about a few important things. You want your phone to have great sound, a clear screen, and smooth streaming. Let’s look at what matters most.

Audio Quality Criteria

When you choose a smartphone for music and movies, you want sound that feels real and fun. Good audio makes songs and movies more exciting. Here’s what you should check:

• Adaptive bitrate helps your music and movies play smoothly, even if your internet gets slow.

• Audio-video synchronization means the sound matches the picture. This helps you feel like you are part of the action.

• Platform compatibility lets your phone sound good on any app or service.

• Audio attributes like timbre, dynamics, spatial quality, and volume make everything sound clear and full. You don’t want strange sounds or static.

Phones today have better speakers and cool features like spatial audio. You can hear music all around you, not just from one place. If you like listening to music and watching movies while you travel, these features are important.

Display Features

A smartphone for music and movies needs a screen that looks great. You want to see every detail, whether you watch a movie or a music video. Here’s what to look for:

• Display resolution should be high. This gives you sharp and clear pictures.

• OLED technology makes colors bright and blacks deep. Movies look more real.

• Color accuracy means the colors you see match what the director wanted.

Phones with these features make every show or concert look better. You can watch outside or in a dark room and still see everything clearly.

Streaming Compatibility

You want your smartphone for music and movies to work with all your favorite streaming services. Some phones work better with certain apps. Here’s a quick look at what works best:

Most people use HLS because it works almost everywhere. If you want to stream without problems, pick a smartphone for music and movies that supports lots of formats. Phones now use 5G, so you get fast streaming with no waiting.

Tip: Try to find a smartphone for music and movies that has AI-powered music suggestions and voice controls. These features make listening and watching easier.

You can find a smartphone for music and movies that fits your style. Focus on sound, screen, and streaming. You’ll enjoy every moment, whether you’re at home or out with friends.

Alternatives and Special Cases

Audiophile Phones

Some phones are made for people who love music. These high-end phones focus on sound. They make your favorite songs sound better. You can hear small details in every track. The picture looks clear when you watch movies. Here is a table that shows some top choices for audio fans:

These phones have stereo speakers. They give you great sound and video. You will enjoy listening to music and watching movies. If you want the best audio, these phones are a good choice.

Tip: Put on your headphones and play your favorite song. You will hear better stereo sound and see a clearer picture.

Foldables for Movies

Foldable phones make watching movies more fun. You can open the screen wide. This gives you a bigger picture. The image looks real and bright. Foldables have stereo speakers. You get sound from both sides. It feels like holding a tiny movie theater. The picture fills the screen. The stereo sound makes movies exciting. If you want cool av performance, foldables are a great pick.

Note: Foldable phones cost more money. But you get awesome entertainment features and better sound and video.

Budget-Friendly High-End Phones

You do not need to spend a lot for good sound and picture. Some phones give you a big screen and stereo sound for less money. Here are some budget-friendly high-end phones for streaming music and movies:

• Sony Xperia 10 VI

  • Display Size: 6.1 inches

  • Display Technology: OLED

  • Memory Options: 128GB

  • Weight: 164 g

  • Operating System: Android 14

  • Pros:

    • 21:9 aspect ratio is great for movies

    • Sharp and three-dimensional picture

    • Fun sound with headphones

  • Cons:

    • Phone shakes when using speakers

    • Some dark parts lose detail

You get a clear picture and stereo sound without spending too much. The Xperia 10 VI has a wide screen and full sound. If you want high-end phones for less money, this phone is a smart choice.

Callout: You can get great sound, a sharp picture, and stereo speakers even if you buy a budget phone.

You can find lots of good smartphones for music and movies. Each phone has something cool about it. Look at this table to see what makes each one different:

These phones have bright screens and good sound. Think about what matters most to you. Do you want better sound, a nice screen, or a long battery? Pick the phone that works best for how you stream. You will have more fun if you choose a phone that fits what you like.

FAQ

What makes a phone great for streaming music and movies?

You want a phone with a sharp display, strong speakers, and long battery life. The best smartphones for music and movies also support popular streaming apps and offer lots of storage for your favorite content.

Do I need a 4K display for the best experience?

You do not need 4K, but it helps. The best smartphones for music and movies often have high-resolution screens. These displays make movies and music videos look crisp and colorful, even outside.

Can I use wired headphones with these phones?

Some of the best smartphones for music and movies, like the Xperia 1 VI, have a headphone jack. Others need an adapter or wireless headphones. Always check the specs before you buy.

Which phone is best for both music and movies?

You have many choices. The best smartphones for music and movies include the iPhone 17, Xperia 1 VI, and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro. Each one gives you great sound and a bright screen for streaming.

Do budget phones work well for streaming?

Yes! Some budget-friendly models still offer good sound and clear displays. You might not get every feature, but you can still enjoy music and movies on the go.