Some years ago, there was no mobile phone that did not have FM radio. It was one of those virtually essential functions. However, over time and because of radio applications and new services, the radio has been in the background. Therefore there are more and more smartphones without the radio. Many of the smartphones we have met during this year have arrived without this application that one day was basic, but there are still a few left in the resistance. If you are an FM radio lover, we bring you a list of all the phones that have a radio. But first, let's talk a little about this function that seems doomed to disappear.
Is FM radio still used on mobile phones?
Although for many users (probably most), it is irrelevant that a mobile phone has FM radio or not, the truth is that there is a good part of them that makes it into account when buying a new one. It is clear that, with the Internet connection and the dozens of radio applications that exist, traditional radio is no longer essential, but that does not mean that the more "purists" still prefer to continue listening to their favorite stations as before. In addition to each one's personal preferences, it is also necessary to highlight that the radio of a lifetime does not need an Internet connection, and therefore, does not need mobile coverage or WiFi connection. Internet radio apps cannot work because there is no coverage. There may be an FM radio signal.
Why are there smartphones without FM radio?
Although we already talked long and hard in another article about why there are more and more smartphones without a radio, it is worth recalling how we got to this situation. Pilot experts prepared a study a few years ago, which said that the vast majority (97%) of smartphones sold in the United States did incorporate FM radio chips. So why in the vast majority the FM chips are not in use? According to the same study, in 34% of these smartphones, FM radio can work, but 66% had it covered. The phones did have the necessary chip to capture the FM, but the manufacturers had decided not to make it functional. Although there is no official data in this regard or enough information to confirm a conspiracy, few believe that manufacturers are at the mercy of operators, whose part of their business is that their customers connect as much as possible to the Internet. Thus, it is no secret that FM radio goes against the economic purposes of telephone companies.
What advantages does a mobile phone have if it does not have a FM radio?
Data saving and battery saving. These two are the main advantages of a mobile phone with FM radio. Although the data rates are getting wider - and more expensive -,, it never hurts to reduce consumption as much as possible so as not to spend them too early. More important is, if possible, the battery consumption, which is much higher with a streaming application that requires a constant Internet connection, than using the FM radio chip built into the phone. Although FM radio is free, listening to it through streaming apps is costing you money in some way - consumption of your data rate. Therefore, a few years ago, movements such as Free Radio on very phones emerged, which advocated that all users could enjoy free radio with their mobile. As a disadvantage of FM radio concerning applications, we must have headphones, since they act as an antenna to receive the radio signal. There are indeed mobiles with a built-in antenna, but this is not usual when we talk about smartphones. And now, let's go with the promised list.
Best cell phones with FM Radio [November 2023]
Samsung
- Samsung Galaxy A80
- Samsung Galaxy A70
- Samsung Galaxy A50
- Samsung Galaxy A40
- Samsung Galaxy A30
- Samsung Galaxy A20e
- Samsung Galaxy A10
- Samsung Galaxy M20
Nokia
- Nokia 4.2
- Nokia 3.2
- Nokia 3.1 Plus
- Nokia 1 Plus
LG
- LG G8 ThinQ
Sony
- Sony Xperia 10 Plus
- Sony Xperia 10
- Sony Xperia L3
Motorola
- Moto G7 Plus
- Moto G7
- Moto G7 Power
- Moto G7 Play
Xiaomi
- Redmi Note 7
- Redmi 7
- Redmi go
Signatures such as HTC, OnePlus, or Google do not appear on this list, and they stopped providing their FM radio terminals some time ago. However, and as you have seen, there is still a considerable list of smartphones with which you can enjoy the radio.
Old Smartphones that have FM radio
Samsung
- Galaxy A8 and A8 +
- Galaxy J2 Pro (2018)
- Galaxy J7 Prime 2
- Galaxy J7 Duo
- Galaxy A6 and A6 + (2018)
- Galaxy J4
- Galaxy J6 and J6 +
- Galaxy J8
- Galaxy J3 (2018)
- Galaxy J7 (2018)
- Galaxy J2 Core
- Galaxy J4 +
- Galaxy A7 (2018)
- Galaxy A9 (2018)
Huawei
- Huawei Y3 (2018)
- Huawei Y5 (2018)
- Huawei Y6 (2018)
- Huawei Y7 , Y7 Prime and Y7 Pro (2018)
- Huawei Y9 (2018)
- Honor 7C
- Honor 7A
- Honor 7s
- Honor 9N
- Honor Note 10
- Honor 8X Max
- Huawei P20 Lite
- Huawei Mate RS Porsche Design
- Huawei P Smart +
- Huawei Mate 20
- Huawei Mate 20 Lite
Nokia
- Nokia 1
- Nokia 3310 4G
- Nokia 8110 4G
- Nokia 2.1
- Nokia 3.1 and 3.1 Plus
- Nokia 5.1 and 5.1 Plus
- Nokia 6.1 and 6.1 Plus
Sony
- Sony Xperia L2
- Sony Xperia XA2 and XA2 Plus
- Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra
LG
- LG K8 (2018)
- LG K10 (2018)
- LG K11 Plus
- LG V30S ThinQ
- LG G7 ThinQ
- LG G7 One
- LG G7 Fit
- LG Q7
- LG Q8
- LG Q Stylus
- LG V35 ThinQ
- LG V40 ThinQ
- LG Candy
Motorola
- Motorola Moto G6
- Motorola Moto G6 Plus
- Motorola Moto G6 Play
- Motorola P30
- Motorola Moto E5
- Motorola Moto E5 Plus
- Motorola Moto E5 Play
- Motorola Moto Z3
- Motorola Moto Z3 Play
- Motorola One and One Power
OPPO
- Oppo A71 (2018)
- Oppo A1
- Oppo A3 and A3s
- Oppo A5
- Oppo F7
- Oppo F7 Youth
- Oppo F9
- Oppo A7x
Meizu
- Meizu M6s
- Meizu M6T
- Meizu M8c
Xiaomi
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
- Xiaomi Redmi S2
- Xiaomi Redmi 6
- Xiaomi Redmi 6A
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro
- Pocophone F1
Will the FM radio return to the high end?
As you can see on the list, there is a great lack of high-end mobiles with FM radio, and that is that only LG, Huawei, and Motorola seem to be willing to activate the chip in their best phones. We do not know which line the manufacturers will follow, but the situation is unlikely to change in the short term. Thus, to enjoy a free FM radio smartphone that we talked about initially, there is no other than either choose the mid and low range phone or choose between the few high-end phones on which you can still use it.
Passionate about understanding and contributing to a world that does not stop changing. New forms of Work, Sustainability and Technology. For many years he has worked as a creative for large international companies. He has a Ph.D. in information technology and he has been doing quantitative research in the interdisciplinary areas of information systems, cyber security, data analytics and artificial intelligence. He continue to look for creative solutions through technology to help companies to be more humane and sustainable..
Comments
I have an LG G4 & it has no radio.
I would like to know the outcome of your session. NextRadio was functioning on my S10 until a forced OS update which may have been in 2020. It was disappointing that Samsung does not have a native app for FM tuner. It would be nice to have the option of live, local radio. When I replace this device it will be with one which supports FM tuner. Congress should mandate it via legislation so it is not left to the whims of unelected FCC commissioners.
I have the Tracfone Moto G Pure and the FM radio works fine for me. I'm listening to it right now.
I am interested to know the outcome of Samsung excuse for not enabling a FM radio. I have a Samsung A01 and expected a FM radio as one cellphone spec site said that it was included. I was very disappointed with no FM radio in my Tracfone cell phone and also Next radio not working in that model A01. My previous Tracfone Samsung J3 Orbit did not have a FM radio but the NextRadio app worked on that model. Planning to buy my next Tracfone Moto G Pure that per their user manual has the FM radio built in. Hopefully it has the FM radio enabled app. I also have had two previous Tracfone LG phones that have FM radio app enabled. Thank you for your feedback!
If T-Mobile is like AT&T, then I'd say that your carrier broke it, not Samsung. I used to have a Samsung Galaxy J3. For months it worked great with NextRadio. One day I mistakenly allowed an AT&T update to install and after that time the FM radio never worked.
Getting it to work is another matter. I have a Samsung Galaxy A20. My carrier, T-Mobile, tells me it is enabled but Next Radio can't find it. When queried further T-Mobile told me that Samsung updatne 10 and/or 11 broke it. No confirmation from Samsung. I have no idea why Samsung would go through the time and effort to engineer it in and not let us use it. I got involved in a chat session with Samsung. - First I was told the FM chip is not enabled in the phones in the USA - Then I was told I needed a non-Samsung app to use it, implying it was enabled in the US. I had already told them I was trying to use the recommended app "NextRadio " to use it. - Then I got a message saying "Thanks for your feedback. i'll make sure someone sees it." I immediately told the chatter that I intended to pursue this to the highest levels in Samsung possible and I'd make sure this chat log was part of my report. He became more cooperative. - He said I needed to contact Samsung tech support. I said "Fine. Could you give the the contact information of Samsung tech support. Then he said, I'm Samsung tech support." Grumble, grumble, grumble. - Finally, he decide to pass the buck and told me he'd get me a ticket to elevate the call. It would take 5 to 7 minutes. I fully expected to be disconnected. - I wasn't and he did come back with a ticket number and a phone #. - I copied and pasted into a text editor the chat session. Good thing to as, unlike others, there was no option to print it nor email me a copy. I'll call tomorrow and see what happens. If anyone wants acopy of the session. respond with an email address and ID'll send it. Dave out
LG V50 has it as well. Ever single LG phone has radio.
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