Help Listening to my phone's built-in FM radio

[Juliansdad]

One of the factors that will go into my choice of new phone (and carrier) will be the ability to use my new device to listen to FM radio without using data. I'm considering buying either a Samsung Galaxy S7 or a Google Pixel XL.

• Can I use the phone's FM radio chip if I get my Pixel XL from Google Fi?
• Can I use the phone's FM radio chip if I get my S7 from Verizon?
• Can I use the phone's FM radio chip if I get my S7 from Sprint?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Hadron]

I'm pretty sure none of those phones have a FM radio receiver. Samsung stopped including it years ago, and it's not in the Pixel's spec sheet either.

 

[Velkata]

Try rooting and install Spirit fm radio, this app ia built in fm radio, if it works - ur phone HAS fm chip.

 

[chanchan05]

Samsung chips with SnapDragon have FM, but it needs to be enabled on firmware and you need to download an app for it. You're better off buying a phone with it enabled by default like Oppo phones. Maybe LG.

 

[lvt]

FM is a nice feature, maybe the need for an external antenna forced them to withdraw it from new phones.

 

[mikedt]

FWIW, I know the very short lived Galaxy Note7 definitely had an FM radio in it. If FM radio is nice or not, could depend on where you live IMO.

 

[dwitm01]

I have an Samsung Galaxy S5 on boost mobile and i can listen to fm

 

[tommo47]

HTC M9 has FM radio, as does the M7 and according to at least one review, so does the M10.

 

[lvt]

It seems that my LG G4 doesn't have FM anymore, fortunately my K3 Note has it.

 

[Juliansdad]

Thanks guys and gals for your responses. I know for fact that the Samsung Galaxy S7 has the capability. The question is, which carriers block the capability from working. I learned since I posted my question, that none of the Google phones have this capability.

 

[Velkata]

Thanks guys and gals for your responses. I know for fact that the Samsung Galaxy S7 has the capability. The question is, which carriers block the capability from working. I learned since I posted my question, that none of the Google phones have this capability.

At&t blocks some functionality from phones I heard, but don't know anymore. Try root and Spirit FM radio, hope it works.. And my opinion about blocking fm radio is the money - manufacturers block fm radio because they want you to use streaming radio app just for data traffic. So stupid world...

 

[Bg260]

If you want to listen to local radio stations, you can do that. It needs a wifi or data connection, though.
I use MyTuner Pro.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

Your wired headphones have to be connected. That's the antenna.

 

[lvt]

If you want to listen to local radio stations, you can do that. It needs a wifi or data connection, though.
I use MyTuner Pro.

It's an alternative method but it drains more battery than the native FM circuit.

 

[makaiguy]

GS7 on Verizon. Update several months ago enabled use of the FM chip. No native app for it - using NextRadio app, don't know if there are others. As others have said, uses plugged-in earphone wires as antenna.

 

[the lucky William]

Oh,I don't realize that FM is a indispensable feature.sorry,but I haven't listened to fm for many years.

 

[mikedt]

Oh,I don't realize that FM is a indispensable feature.sorry,but I haven't listened to fm for many years.

All depends if you want or need to listen to FM stations or not. NFC is another feature that some phones have, I've never used it myself. [emoji14]

 

[psionandy]

Or you could solve the problem in a different way... The Sony sbh52 (and I think the sbh54) Bluetooth earbuds have a built-in fm radio...

 

[the lucky William]

Neither do I.

 

[KR Leitch]

I'm pretty sure none of those phones have a FM radio receiver. Samsung stopped including it years ago, and it's not in the Pixel's spec sheet either.

This is incorrect. Most recent and current Android smartphones have FM Radio tuners. My Samsung Galaxy S7 and LG V20 both have it. See nextradioapp.com for more information.

 

[bcrichster]

This is incorrect. Most recent and current Android smartphones have FM Radio tuners. My Samsung Galaxy S7 and LG V20 both have it. See nextradioapp.com for more information.

Or Spirit Radio 2 if you are running a custom ROM

 

[athegn]

I often use a pub in the middle of nowhere that has reasonable FM in its garden but no wifi; no wifi inside either, which I do like. I could sit in the garden and get BBC Radio 3 on my phone. But my last 2 phones have no FM; shame as we have such a good station on FM, which is great for the car as well

 

[KR Leitch]

Or Spirit Radio 2 if you are running a custom ROM

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nextradioapp.nextradio