Besides serving as calling and internet browsing devices, Smartphones are also great entertainment tools. While nearly all phones can play videos and stream movies online, it’s important to consider certain factors if you seek a smartphone for this purpose. So, what are the best smartphones to watch movies?
The market is saturated with options, ranging from high-end models to budget-friendly ones. However, to truly enjoy watching movies on a smartphone, you require an ideal combination of performance, display quality, and long-lasting battery.
This guide will explore some of the best smartphones you can buy to watch movies and TV shows.
Let’s get going.
10 Best Smartphones to Watch Movies in 2024:
Having tested the 25 most popular models of 2024, I’ve assembled this list of the best smartphones to watch movies and videos. The assessment is based on three primary requirements – Display quality, audio performance, and battery life.
1. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max:
Price – $1,199
- CPU – Apple A-17 Pro chip
- Display – 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 120Hz
- Screen Resolution – 1290 x 2796 pixels, 460 ppi
- Operating System – iOS 17
- RAM – 8GB
- Storage – 256GB
- Battery Life – (4441 mAh)
- Weight – Up to 14 hours
Let’s begin with the latest sensation, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, arguably the best smartphone in the market. Studded with a breathtaking display and lightning-fast processor, it can be your next entertainment companion.
It has a 6.7-inch Retina XDR display with a pixel density of over 450 ppi and a 120Hz refresh rate. Being an OLED panel, It’s a perfect screen to watch high-definition movies and videos, with high-contrast blacks, perfectly saturated colors, and natural color representation. The viewing angles are fantastic, the pictures are amazingly sharp, and the 1000 nits peak brightness will illuminate the display like no other device.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max carries a nearly identical set of stereo speakers from the 14 Pro, which is very impressive. You can hear the punchy bass, crystal clear vocals, and perfectly balanced treble on every volume level.
The battery life is not amazing, but decent enough to get you through the day. However, the battery might drain out faster if you stream high-definition content. On average, it will last nearly 12-13 hours.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Ultra-premium design and build | Lacks fast charging |
| Blazing-fast performance with A-17 | Very expensive |
| Stunning 120Hz display | No home screen grid |
| Decent battery life |
Our Rating – 9.3★
Verdict – Looking for a premium design, stunning display, and turbo performance? iPhone 15 Pro Max is the one for you.
2. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra:
Price – $999
- CPU – Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Octa-core
- Display – 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+, 120Hz
- Screen Resolution – 1440 x 3088 pixels, 500 ppi
- Operating System – Android 13
- RAM – 8GB
- Storage – 256GB
- Battery Life – Up to 13 hours (5000 mAh)
- Weight – 234 g
A powerful processor, industry-leading display, and supercharged audio performance make the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra one of the best and most popular smartphones to watch movies, play intense games, browse the web, and more.
The device packs a state-of-the-art 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED panel with HDR10+ and 120Hz refresh rate. This is the best display we’ve tested regarding sharpness and color accuracy. You can select between Vivid and Natural modes to tweak the color representation.
At 122 nits, it’s one of the brightest screens, with peak brightness reaching up to 1700. Whether you stream HDR content on Netflix or watch 4K videos on YouTube, you will be completely blown away by the picture quality.
The stereo speakers supported by Dolby Atmos do a fantastic job creating a surround sound experience. You can also adjust the output quality through different sound modes, such as movies, music, auto, and games. Overall, you get crystal-clear vocals, balanced bass, and sharp clarity.
Galaxy S23 Ultra has a durable battery, clocking 17-18 hours of usage. You can easily stream 6-7 movies on Netflix or watch over 20 hours of movies from your phone.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| All-day battery life | Not for single-handed use |
| Big and sharp AMOLED display | Extremely heavy for a smartphone |
| Snappy performance | Takes a while to charge |
| Crystal clear audio |
Our Rating – 9.5★
Verdict – If you have big hands and don’t mind a heavy smartphone, get a Samsung Galaxy S 23 Ultra and enjoy your movies.
3. Google Pixel 7 Pro
Price – 1,099
- CPU – Google Tensor G2 Octa-core
- Display – 6.7-inch AMOLED, HDR10+, 120Hz refresh rate
- Screen Resolution – 1440 x 3120 pixels, 512 ppi
- Operating System – Android 13
- RAM – 12GB
- Storage – 512GB
- Battery Life – Up to 9 hours (5000 mAh)
- Weight – 202 g
Google’s flagship Pixel 7 brings the goodness of clean stock Android along with a near-perfect display and power-packed performance. But does it do enough to quality among the best smartphones to watch movies?
The Pixel 7 Pro features a 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display with high contrast and punchy colors. The pixel density is 512 ppi and supports an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, ensuring all your video content appears sharp and flowing. It also supports HDR10 and HDR10+ but not Dolby Vision, but it will seamlessly run all your high-definition streaming apps.
The peak brightness is nearly 1500 nits, which is impressive, and you can watch your favorite content regardless of the lighting conditions around you.
The phone has a couple of bottom-firing speakers, while the earpiece works as a second channel. However, the experience in the landscape mode is remarkable. The vocals are sharp with just enough bass, making it a great audio device.
Compared to other flagship models, the battery performance is good but not great. With standard usage, it will last for up to 12 hours (voice calling, web browsing, apps, etc.). However, you can watch 4-5 movies on a trot in Adaptive refresh rate (60Hz) mode.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Clean stock Android experience | Slow charging |
| Extremely sharp display | Average battery life |
| Power-packed performance | Lacks microSD card slot |
| IP68 dust and water resistant |
Our Rating – 8.8★
Verdict – Get the Pixel 7 Pro for flagship performance, stunning display, and a stock Android experience.
4. OnePlus 11
Price – $649
- CPU – Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Octa-core
- Display – 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED, Dolby Vision, HDR+, 120Hz refresh rate
- Screen Resolution – 1440 x 3216 pixels, 525 ppi
- Operating System – Android 13
- RAM – 16GB
- Storage – 256GB
- Battery Life – Up to 16 hours (5000 mAh)
- Weight – 205 g
The next one is my favorite flagship smartphone – the Oneplus 11. At just $649, it offers some top-tier features, almost competing with the top dogs in the market.
The 6.7-inch AMOLED display maintains a pixel density of 525 ppi, which is a joy. The images are razor-sharp, and the color representation is remarkable, with extra dark blacks and a high contrast ratio. At 500 nits, it’s not the brightest screen on the market, but Dolby Atmos, HDR, and 10-bit color depth support ensure punchy yet natural colors while watching high-definition content.
The audio output of Oneplus 11 is perfect for movies, as it generates crystal-clear vocals and high-pitch tunes. The bass is not completely absent but only noticeable at the higher volume level. Overall, the sound quality will impress the audiophiles.
The battery performance is somewhat respectable. On a single charge, the phone lasts up to 15 hours on standard usage. The battery dropped significantly in our test as we switched to HDR content on Netflix. However, we could squeeze in 4 movies and still managed to have 20% in the end.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Gorgeous AMOLED display | Lacks wireless charging |
| 100W fast charging | Issues with HDR and refresh rate |
| Excellent battery life | OS looks outdated |
| Affordable price tag |
Our Rating – 8.5★
Verdict – If you can live with the cartoonish Oxygen OS 13 without wireless charging, the Oneplus 11 is ideal.
5. Xiaomi 13 Pro
Price – $1,119
- CPU – Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Octa-core
- Display – 6.73-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
- Screen Resolution – 1440 x 3200 pixels, 522 ppi
- Operating System – Android 13
- RAM – 8GB
- Storage – 256GB
- Battery Life – Up to 18 hours (4820 mAh)
- Weight – 210 g
Xiaomi 13 Pro is a flagship powerhouse that offers the most balanced movie-watching experience regarding display quality, audio performance, and battery life.
The display on Xiaomi 13 Pro is a beautiful 6.7-inch AMOLED with a pixel density of 522. Not only it’s the sharpest in the market, but has a ridiculously high peak brightness of nearly 1900nits. It also has a 10-bit color depth (over 1 Billion colors) along with DCI-P3 color gamut support, ensuring remarkable color accuracy. You will get at least one of the best, if not the best, viewing experience on a smartphone.
Xiaomi 13 Pro packs a couple of stereo speakers on each end. While the upper speaker seems weaker than the lower speaker, the output is well-adjusted in landscape mode to create an immersive experience. The output is loud, with heavy bass and extremely clear vocals. The speakers also support Dolby Atmos, which slightly enhances the bass.
Xiaomi 13 Pro has an average battery life of up to 15 hours and lasts longer than any of its competitors. As far as binge-watching is concerned, you can watch 6-7 movies in a row.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Beautiful ceramic design | Poor grip due to glossy build |
| Marvellous OLED with 1B colors | Clunky MIUI software |
| 120W fast charging | Expensive |
| Superb battery performance |
Our Rating – 8.8★
Verdict – If you can get used to a messy MIUI operating system, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is the perfect smartphone for Netflix, Social media, and heavy multitasking.
6. Google Pixel 7a
Price – $499
- CPU – Google Tensor G2 Octa-core
- Display – 6.1-inch OLED with HDR, 90Hz refresh rate
- Screen Resolution – 1080 x 2400 pixels, 429 ppi
- Operating System – Android 13
- RAM – 8GB
- Storage – 128GB
- Battery Life – Up to 10 hours (4385 mAh)
- Weight – 193.5 g
While Pixel 7a maintains the same performance as its flagship counterpart, 7 Pro, the company made significant cuts in the display department. However, at just $499, it emerges as one of the best smartphones to watch movies, YouTube, and other media content.
It features a 6.1-inch OLED with HDR support, meaning all your High-definition content will run seamlessly on it. Although the 90Hz refresh rate is a letdown, that would not affect your movie-watching experience entirely. On the bright side, the HDR content looks visually stunning, with great color and contrast representation.
The dual-stereo speakers on the Pixel 7a are not the best, but one of the best at this price point. While it doesn’t score remarkably in any specific area, the overall audio experience in the landscape is pleasant, with rich details and just enough bass and clarity.
The 4385 mAh battery doesn’t show amazing results. While it lasts a respectable 12-13 hours with usual voice calling and web browsing, the performance takes a dip while streaming HDR content. You can switch to a 60Hz refresh rate, but the difference in battery performance remains negligible.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Flagship performance at a low price | Low refresh rate screen |
| Water and dust resistance | Lacks microSD and 3.5mm slots |
| Clean Android experience | Slow charging |
| Decent audio performance |
Our Rating – 8.3★
Verdict – If you want to experience a vivid OLED panel on an affordable smartphone with a clean Google interface, Pixel 7a is for you.
7. Motorola Edge+
Price – $699
- CPU – Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Display – 6.67-inch OLED, 165Hz, and HDR10+ support
- Screen Resolution – 1080 x 2400 pixels, 395 ppi
- Operating System – Android 13
- RAM – 8GB
- Storage – 512GB
- Battery Life – Up to 16 hours (5100 mAh)
- Weight – 203 g
At just $699, Motorola Edge+ offers a huge OLED screen, the latest Gen 2 processor, and a powerful battery – this is one of the best smartphones to watch movies and play games.
It has a large 6.67-inch OLED display with HDR10+ support and an impressive 165Hz refresh rate. You will get an unmatched viewing experience, especially while watching high-definition content on YouTube and Netflix. With nearly 400ppi, the display is also very sharp, supporting Dolby Vision to produce remarkable clarity and color representation. The 1300 nits peak brightness ensures the viewing experience is not hindered regardless of your lighting conditions.
There is no audio jack, but the stereo speakers are loud enough to compensate for that. The audio output is clear, with decent bass and vocals, giving you a balanced audio experience that surpasses your expectations.
The 5100 mAh battery lasts for nearly 18 hours on a single charge, giving you enough juice to watch at least 6 movies in one go. The big plus is the 65W charger, which will refill your device in less than 1 hour.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Super smooth 165Hz OLED panel | Only 1080p display |
| Top-notch performance | Below-par audio performance |
| Up to 2 days of battery life | Limited storage options |
| Solid build with curved screen |
Our Rating – 8.1★
Verdict – If you can look beyond the brand value, Motorols Edge + is definitely among the best smartphones to watch movies.
8. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Price – $1,799
- CPU – Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Octa-core
- Display – 7.6-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR+
- Screen Resolution – 1812 x 2176 pixels 373 ppi
- Operating System – Android 12
- RAM – 12GB
- Storage – 256GB
- Battery Life – Up to 14 hours (4400 mAh)
- Weight – 263 g
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 can be a good entertainment device, offering ample screen space and power-packed performance. Foldable phones are not for everyone but can replace tablets for watching movies and TV shows.
The cover screen is a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED with a 120Hz refresh rate. Just like all Galaxy devices, the display is extremely sharp and vibrant. The 23.1:9 aspect ratio is not ideal, but it is good enough to enjoy videos and movies.
The inner display is a 7.6-inch foldable Dynamic AMOLED with the same refresh rate and HDR10+ support. You can choose between Natural and Vivid modes to adjust the color schemes, producing punchy colors and deep blacks.
The dual speakers on the phone’s left side do a decent job. The bass is not thumpy, but the treble and vocals are extraordinarily sharp. Also, you can feel a near surround sound effect while watching content in tablet mode.
The battery will last for up to 12 hours on a single charge. However, if you are watching high-definition videos on the inner display, it will drain much quicker.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Huhe AMOLED screen with 120Hz | Ridiculously expensive |
| Feature-packed software | The crease interrupts the viewing |
| Impressive battery life | Slow charging speed |
| IPX8 water resistant |
Our Rating – 7.8★
Verdict – Go to it if you carry a chunky device that costs over $1700. Also, the crease can ruin your movie-watching experience.
9. Sony Xperia 5 IV
Price – $998
- CPU – Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Octa-core
- Display – 6.1-inch OLED, 120Hz refresh rate
- Screen Resolution – 1080 x 2520 pixels, 449 ppi
- Operating System – Android 12
- RAM – 8GB
- Storage – 128GB
- Battery Life – Up to 15 hours (5000 mAh)
- Weight – 172 g
After a disappointing run, Sony has returned to the market with new Xperia series phones. Featuring a compact design and long-lasting battery, it’s one of the best smartphones to watch movies on the go.
The phone has a gorgeous 6.1-inch OLED panel with a refresh rate of 120Hz. The company has gone with the 16:9 aspect ratio, which makes it a perfect phone for watching full-screen movies. Capable of displaying over 1 Billion colors, the screen completely outperforms the competition and produces stunning picture quality at an unbelievable brightness level. What’s more, there is a real-time HDR video drive, which can elevate your SDR content HDR.
The top and bottom-firing speakers generate excellent sound. The bass, vocals, and high-pitch tones are well-adjusted to create an immersive surround sound experience.
The smartphone also shines in the battery department, clocking up to 15 hours on standard usage. In our test, we could watch five consecutive movies and still had 15% of the battery capacity. The device weighs just 172 grams, which means you won’t feel discomfort holding it for long periods.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Lightweight and compact design | Price for 128GB storage |
| Remarkable 120Hz OLED display | Usually overheats while multitasking |
| Powerful speakers | Pricy for 128GB storage |
| 3.5mm jack, microSD card slot |
Our Rating – 8.3★
Verdict – A complete smartphone for watching movies except for overheating and average charging speed. Also, you’ll have to buy a charger and cable.
10. Samsung Galaxy A51
Price – $243
- CPU – Exynos 961 Octa-core
- Display – 6.5 inch super AMOLED
- Screen Resolution – 1080 x 2400 pixels, 405 PPI
- Operating System – Android 10
- RAM – 4GB
- Storage – 128GB
- Battery Life – 8-9 hours (4000 mAh)
- Weight – 172 g
The Samsung Galaxy A51 is the best smartphone under $500 to enjoy your movies, TV shows, and YouTube videos. The smartphone is not meant to compete with the flagship models; it packs enough features to get you by.
Considering the price point, it’s surprising to see the 6.5-inch, punch-hole style AMOLED display, which is extremely sharp and bright. The colors are vibrant and carry a natural tone regardless of the content you see. Overall, you won’t have any complaints while watching movies on this display. The viewing angles are also decent, and there is just enough brightness to make the phone usable in natural lighting conditions.
The audio is not great, but it will do your job. Thankfully, the 3.5mm headphone jack returns, so you can connect your favorite earphones and enjoy the enhanced audio experience. There is also a dedicated microSD card slot for those who like to carry their movie library on their phones.
Unfortunately, the 4000 mAh battery is only good for 8-9 hours if you binge-watch, mainly due to the not-so-power-efficient Exynos CPU. Overall, under $250, it’s not a bad deal at all.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Super sharp AMOLED display | Average performance |
| MicroSD card slot and 3.5mm jack | Disappointing battery life |
| Affordable price tag | Slow charging speed |
| Compact design, lightweight |
Our Rating – 8.0★
Verdict – If you need a phone solely for watching Netflix or YouTube, get this phone without a second thought.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Samsung Galaxy S 23 Ultra and Xiaomi 13 Pro are the best smartphones to watch movies.
Nokia phones excel in productivity tasks and everyday use, but their displays and speakers are not optimized for delivering an immersive movie-watching experience.
Undoubtedly, the recently released iPhone 15 Pro Max is the ultimate choice for enjoying high-definition movies streaming Netflix and other OTT apps.
Considering its performance and price, the OnePlus 11 is the best smartphone for streaming Netflix or any other OTT platform.
Final Word
These are the best smartphones to watch movies, videos, and podcasts. Each model is handpicked based on its price segment, viewing experience, battery endurance, and overall performance.
Additionally, we’ve considered user feedback from well-known e-commerce platforms like Amazon and eBay. Before you decide, compare prices across various online platforms and your local retailers to find the best deal available.
I am an engineer by education, tech writer by profession, and a motor sport fan by heart.
