We live in a world where smartphones exist that can store all our favorite tracks, as well as connect to the internet and stream millions more.
Gone are the clunky CD Walkmans and MP3 players that hold just 10 tracks. With tools such as Spotify and Last.fm there's now a world of music at your fingertips, but which are the best handsets to listen on?
Thankfully we are on hand to answer that question for you - check out our rundown of the best mobile phones for listening to your music on.
Samsung Galaxy S2Price: Free-£499
Processor: 1.2GHz Dual Core
Memory: 16GB internal, microSD card up to 32GB
The Samsung Galaxy S2 is a powerhouse of media playback capabilities. From ample internal memory and great memory expandability to a top-notch playback interface, this mobile phone really does pack a musical punch.
The Samsung Galaxy S2 offers virtual 5.1 surround sound, making it easy to improve the audio quality of the tracks you are listening to. A nifty equaliser enables tracks to be tweaked where necessary, and a menu bar widget gives you control of your audio whenever you need it.
If music is your bag, this Android smartphone will satisfy on many levels.
Read the full Samsung Galaxy S2 review
Apple iPhone 4S
Price: Free-£699
Processor: 1GHz Apple A5 Processor (Underclocked to 800MHz)
Memory:16GB-64GB internal, No expandable memory
You would expect the Apple iPhone 4S to be the best music player around, considering its iPod heritage. And your expectation would be pretty much correct.
The list of reasons why it's great could fill this article, but up to 64GB of storage, wireless iTunes syncing, brilliant quality sound and a raft of audio enhancing settings mean that this phone is everything you could want from a music player.
With the App Store you're also opened up to a world of audio streaming, from internet radio stations and podcasts to the fantastic Spotify. Your iPhone can be a portal to millions of tracks.
Read the full Apple iPhone 4S review
HTC Sensation XL
Price: Free-£499.95
Processor: 1.5GHz Single Core
Memory: 16GB internal, no external expansion slot
HTC's Sensation XL is a large screened, dual core, mass storage media device. This is the first handset to be twinned with Monster's fantastic Beats Audio headphones, meaning that you get brilliant audio out of the box.
When we reviewed the handset, we found that pretty much every humble MP3 and AAC song we tried on it had more kick and detail than we're used to on a mobile phone. Obviously, the Beats Audio headphones are a big help, but if you turn the Beats processing off the music instantly becomes flatter.
This is a phone for those looking to consume media with quality, but if you like to hoard MP3s like they are going out of fashion, then the lack of expandability (no microSD card and only 16GB of internal memory) may be an issue.
Read the full HTC Sensation XL review
Nokia Lumia 800
Price: Free-£449.95
Processor: 1.4GHz MSM8255 Snapdragon
Memory: 16GB internal, microSD card up to 32GB
In a market filled with quality phones, Nokia has often let us down with its offerings. However, the Lumia 800 is a strong step in the right direction. The phone comes bundled with Nokia's fairly sub-par headphones, so the first thing you will want to do is buy a shiny new pair.
With that out the way, the Lumia 800 is a joy to use for music. Featuring the latest Windows Phone mobile operating system, there are loads of features to get into.
A swipe to the left from the main Nokia Music screen provides access to the Mix Radio, offering a wide and targeted choice of streaming audio. Playlists are refreshed each week, there's a choice of genres to pick from and you can also download music from the service to your device to listen to offline.
The Nokia Lumia 800 is great if you're into discovering new music, since the radio gives you a heap of new tunes each week, from many genres.
Read the full Nokia Lumia 800 review
Motorola Razr
Price: Free-£449.95
Processor: Dual Core 1.2GHz
Memory: 16GB internal, microSD card up to 32GB
One of the finest points of the Motorola Razr is its media playback ability. It offers an innovative music player twinned with high-quality video playback. The Razr really does offer a great PMP solution.
Audio quality is pretty good on the whole, but seems to change markedly depending on the headphones you use. Lower-end headphones sounded dreadful (more so than we're used to) but decent options made everything sound rosy again, so we suggest you invest in a decent pair.
Where the music player really shines is that it bundles many feeds into one great app - you can choose internet radio, DNLA streaming or standard MP3 playback from one menu. Overall, the Razr offers a great music browsing interface, and as long as you have decent headphones, good audio quality too.
Read the full Motorola Razr review
Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman
Price: Free-£89.95
Processor: 800MHz
Memory: 100MB internal, microSD card up to 32GB
The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman is the brand's music-focused budget phone. Honestly, it underwhelms with most of its features, but music playback is one area where the handset really shines.
The device only comes with 100MB of internal storage, but with expandability up to 32GB, there is plenty of room to grow your collection. The music playback app is simple but effective, giving you control over standard playback and selection options.
Sound quality is great, and that's why it made the list. Bass is thumpy and top end is clearly defined. We were pleasantly surprised by the quality, considering the other features aren't the best. For just under £90 it's not going to break the bank, so if you're looking for a cheap, decent music experience, the Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman could be the handset for you.
Read the full Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman review
BlackBerry Curve 9360
Price: Free-£299.95
Processor: 800MHz
Memory: 512MB internal, microSD card up to 32GB
Everyone knows BlackBerry phones are the go to option for email-focused handsets, but they are also pretty damn hot when it comes to media playback too. The BlackBerry Curve 9360 offers expansion up to 32GB, direct access to the Amazon MP3 store and a great music player with access to podcasts, TuneIn Radio stations and YouTube.
As well as solid music functionality, the handset also comes with RIM's recently announced BB Music service, which enables you to share music between friends and listen to your friends' tracks - think of it as BlackBerry Messenger, but with tunes.
Overall, if you are in the corporate world and rely on your BlackBerry smartphone, this upgrade will open you up to a decent selection of music.
Read the full BlackBerry Curve 9360 review
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