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The Best Smartphones for Streaming

Mobile

February 08, 2019

Smartphone screens are getting bigger and bigger, meaning it’s getting a whole lot easier to watch a movie on a cell phone on the go, in bed, or any other time when you’re not in front of a TV. Plus, data plans, like those offered by Xfinity Mobile, allow you to use data to stream content on your phone when you’re not connected to WiFi without worrying about overage charges.

Of course, not every phone is created equal. Some might have better performance under the hood, while others have better displays, and different features are more important to different people. With that in mind, here are some of the best smartphones for streaming and why each might be the right streaming phone for you.

Apple iPhone XS Max

If you’re an Apple user, there’s no denying that the iPhone XS Max is simply the best way to watch a movie on a cell phone. In this era of big-screen phones, the display on the iPhone XS Max is huge, coming in at a whopping 6.5 inches. That’s plenty of space to see even the smaller details of what’s going on in a movie or TV show. On top of that, the display on the phone is an OLED display, which means that it offers deeper blacks, better contrast, and more vibrant colors than phones with an LCD display.

Perhaps the biggest downside to the iPhone XS Max is the cost, starting around $1,099. Still, if you can afford it, you won’t regret it.

Samsung Galaxy Note9

If you’re an Android fan, you don’t have to miss out on the massive display. The Samsung Galaxy Note9 boasts excellent performance, a beautiful display, and great battery life. The display on the Samsung Galaxy Note9 comes in at a cool 6.4 inches, and like the iPhone XS Max, has an OLED display. The resolution on this device is perhaps one of the best things about it — it comes in at 1,440 x 2,960, meaning you can watch super high-resolution content and see all those beautiful details. Also notable on this phone is the 4,000 mAh battery. It’s big enough for you to stream for hours without any battery-related issues. The downside? It’s also a pretty expensive phone, typically starting at $999.99.

LG V40

LG has phones that are great for watching movies, too. For example, the LG V40 boasts a classy design, plus (like some of the other devices), it has an OLED display — all at a slightly lower cost. The LG V30, with its flagship specs and high-resolution display, comes in at $900.

OnePlus 6

Want something even more affordable than the LG V40? OnePlus has been building excellent-quality yet relatively affordable phones for some time now, and the OnePlus 6 is no exception to that rule. The device certainly has the nice big display that you might want in order to watch a movie on your cell phone. It also has the internal specs to handle anything else that you might throw at it. The only real downside to this phone is that it’s not as widely available in the U.S., so you may need to buy it unlocked then activate it through your carrier afterwards.

Moto Z3 Play

Finally, the Moto Z3 Play is one of the least expensive models on this list, but that does not make it a bad choice. In fact, it’s a great way to watch movies or TV shows on your cell phone, thanks to its 6-inch OLED display (which has an excellent resolution of 1,080 x 2,160). On top of that, it has excellent internal specs, a nice dual-sensor camera, and more. In other words, this device is a good option for both watching movies, and completing other day-to-day tasks.

It’s safe to say there are plenty of smartphones out there that are great for watching movies or TV shows, and they come in all different price ranges.

No matter how much you decide to spend or what other features you’re looking for, we’re certain you’ll find a big-display, high-resolution smartphone that fits your needs.

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