Unleashing the Power: Smartphones vs Laptop Speakers - A Battle for Audio Supremacy

Key Takeaways

Many smartphones and tablets have amazing stereo speakers that provide wide soundstage and good audio separation, making media consumption enjoyable.

In contrast, PC laptops often have subpar audio quality characterized by thin sound, lack of stereo separation, and insufficient mids and bass, even in higher-priced models.

Apple MacBooks, on the other hand, excel in laptop sound quality, providing rich audio, a wide soundstage, and exceptional audio separation. This sets them apart and raises the question as to why PC laptop manufacturers do not prioritize the quality of their audio.

If you have a mid-tier to high-end smartphone, you probably have no complaints regarding the sound quality while watching videos or listening to music. However, even high-end laptops seem to possess extremely poor audio capabilities. The perplexing question arises – why are phones able to deliver excellent audio while laptops lag behind?

Mobile Device Speakers Sound Amazing Now

I frequently indulge in consuming general content on smartphones and tablets. Currently, I have in my possession an iPhone 14 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, an M2 12.9" iPad Pro, and recently, for the purpose of reviewing, a ROG Ally handheld PC. What all these devices share in common is the exceptional quality of their stereo speakers. Although they may not match the depth and breadth of larger speakers, the thought of "this sounds terrible" never crosses my mind. In fact, as I immerse myself in yet another episode of my favorite YouTube series, the sound is hardly a factor to be considered.

Sydney Butler ASUS ROG Ally

The ASUS ROG Ally stands as the most formidable portable gaming PC currently available, delivering an exceptional gaming experience and granting access to an expansive PC gaming collection. However, it suffers from disappointing battery life and notable drawbacks concerning its thermal design and hardware reliability.

Pricing: $700 on ASUS's website and Best Buy.

Even High-End PC Laptops Have Terrible Sound

Moreover, these devices utilize an unfathomable blend of advanced technology and futuristic wizardry to achieve remarkable stereo separation, creating an expansive soundscape. With the ROG Ally, you can even experience pseudo surround sound, allowing you to distinctly hear audio emanating from the sides during gaming sessions. On the other hand, the iPad Pro's quad-speaker setup effortlessly surpasses the feeble sound produced by contemporary ultra-thin TVs. Admittedly, not all phones or tablets can deliver the same audio quality as these devices. However, the underlying principle remains that these compact speakers, ingeniously squeezed into the tiniest and most space-constrained devices, are capable of producing exceptional sound.

Why do laptops produce such poor sound, you may wonder. It's important to note that not all laptops fall into this category. Exceptional models like the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 exist. However, after encountering numerous PC laptops with subpar sound quality, it becomes evident that those with decent sound are rare. This issue is not limited to low-end back-to-school laptops either. In my personal experience, even my high-end MSI GS66 Stealth and 17" workstation laptop, both worth several thousand dollars, have dreadful speakers. The sound they produce is thin, lacking stereo separation, and devoid of midrange and bass. Even a simple YouTube video with only a person speaking will have you scrambling for headphones. It's puzzling why these large and expensive machines are outperformed by the average iPhone when it comes to sound quality.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5

8 / 10See at amazon

Apple MacBooks Hit It Out of the Park

Continuing with Apple as the focal point, let's consider an exemplary implementation of laptop sound. Personally, I possess both the entry-level M1 MacBook Air (which I deem as a nearly flawless computer) and the M1 Pro, both of which lack an additional subwoofer. The sound emanating from the speakers of my M1 Air suffices to render portable Bluetooth speakers for music extraneous. Furthermore, when it comes to watching movies or YouTube, the audio quality is exceptional. It encompasses a rich sound profile, an expansive soundstage, and remarkable audio separation. Once again, I never find a necessity to rely on my AirPods.

Why Do Windows Laptops Have Bad Speakers?

I struggle to understand the reason behind the poor audio quality of PC laptops in general. While I can comprehend this in low-budget laptops where audio may not be a top priority, there is no excuse for high-end laptops like a $3,000 gaming laptop or a workstation computer to have weak audio. It is understandable that gaming laptop manufacturers may assume that their customers will use headsets while gaming (and they would be correct), but laptops are used for various media consumption purposes. This becomes a significant issue when it comes to business or general-purpose laptops, where multiple individuals may need to listen to audio output from the laptop.

On the other hand, handheld gaming PCs prioritize audio quality, and the results are usually excellent. Even the latest OLED Nintendo Switch offers superior audio output compared to the average PC laptop. If only I could transfer the speaker system from the ROG Ally into my laptop, it would completely transform the audio experience.

We Deserve Better Sound

Reimagining the concept of delivering exceptional audio on laptops presents a perplexing challenge. Undoubtedly, advancements in speaker and audio component technology have enabled mobile devices, even the tiniest ones, to produce satisfactory sound quality. However, it is puzzling that not enough customers express dissatisfaction with the lackluster, high-pitched, and practically impractical audio on laptops, which evidently possess both the physical capacity and financial resources to incorporate far superior audio systems.

Maybe when it comes to choosing a laptop worth our investment, the quality of the speakers is not a top priority. However, once we experience the exceptional audio performance of a high-quality laptop, it becomes difficult to justify spending a substantial sum of money on a computer that produces audio reminiscent of Woody's pull-string voice box from Toy Story.