A search for the best 5G phones essentially has become a search for the best phones overall. These days, any top phone is going to feature 5G connectivity. That not only means the latest flagships, but budget models as well.
Tom's Guide tests dozens of phones each year, and the ones that I don't review personally, I'm usually editing the reviews written by other people. So I'm very familiar with the latest trends in smartphones. Five years ago, as 5G networks were just getting their start, 5G-capable phones were hard to find; these days, it's harder to find a phone that doesn't connect to 5G.
That's largely because 5G coverage is farther reaching these days — another area I've covered for Tom's Guide in the last half-decade. T-Mobile has the largest network, with its 5G service reaching 330 million people — of those, more than 300 million can access the carrier's faster Ultra Capacity 5G service. Meanwhile, AT&T and Verizon have been expanding their coverage as well just as 5G speeds are increasing. In other words, it makes more sense than ever to make sure your phone can connect to a 5G network.
Our favorite 5G phones offer more than just speedier downloads. The best 5G phones also feature outstanding cameras, big displays and super-sized batteries that deliver all-day battery life. Here are the best 5G phones available right now to meet any budget.
By the way, you won't find many iPhones among the best 5G phones right now, because Apple just overhauled its lineup. You can read our iPhone 16 hands-on as well as our hands-on with both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max to get some initial impressions. We'll update this page once we complete our testing.
The quick list
The best 5G phone overall
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 powering the Galaxy S24 Ultra makes Samsung's priciest S24 model the one to beat both in terms of performance and battery life. New Galaxy AI features deliver practical, time-saving solutions to real-world tasks, and the cameras remain excellent.
Smartest 5G phone
The Google Pixel 9 Pro introduces a Tensor G4 processor that introduces a number of new AI-powered capabilities while also managing power consumption better than before. Top-performing cameras complete the package.
5G phone value
The Google Pixel 8a brings top-notch mobile photograph and some pretty impressive AI-features in an affordable package that costs less than $500. You also get brighter display and extensive software support.
Best alternative 5G phone
You can get a OnePlus 12 for a couple hundred less than comparable phones from Samsung and Google, and you won't have to compromise on performance and photos. These are the best-performing cameras ever on a OnePlus phone, and this handset beats Samsung and Google handsets when it comes to battery life.
Apple's lower-cost 5G phone
Last year's entry-level iPhone gets a $100 price cut now that there's a newer iPhone 16 in town. But the iPhone 15's 48MP main camera and Dynamic Island cutout keep it as a viable choice for Apple users who want a 5G bargain.
Samsung's affordable 5G flagship
The most affordable Samsung flagship has the same Galaxy AI features as the more expensive models, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered version of the Galaxy S24 lasts a long time on a charge. You get a telephoto lens, too.
Load the next 5 products...
Best foldable 5G phone
The first foldable phone from OnePlus is also the best foldable phone you can buy. An excellent thin-and-light design plus the best multitasking features of any foldable make this a great choice if you're considering a 5G foldable.
Big screen 5G iPhone
Like the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Plus now costs $100 less than it used to. The 6.7-inch screen is super bright, and the Plus turned in the best result of any iPhone on our battery test, pending our iPhone 16 test results.
Best 5G phone under $200
5G phones no longer cost big bucks, as evidenced by the $199 Moto G 5G. You're going to make some compromises, but you'll still get a long-lasting phone with a stylish design that can keep you connected to 5G networks for a fraction of what other phones cost.
Best low-cost foldable
Foldable phones don't need to cost big bucks as the Motorola Razr (2024) brings a long-lasting battery and elegant design for less than $700. It's the flip phone to get if you want a foldable that doesn't break the bank.
Long-lasting Google phone
Recent Google phones have struggled to deliver all-day battery life, but the Pixel 9 Pro XL posts the best battery life we've yet seen on a Pixel flagship. It also offers the same Google AI features and camera capabilities as the Pixel 9 Pro, but with a larger screen.
The best 5G phone
Android users who want the best 5G phone should turn to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which boasts impressive performance and very long battery life, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This silicon outperforms the A17 Pro chipset powering the iPhone 15 Pro models on some benchmarks, and unlike other S24 models, the Ultra features Qualcomm's chip no matter here you live in the world.
There's more than just raw power on display here. The Galaxy S24 Ultra also offers top-performing cameras with sharper zooms than before (though in some respects, the decision to scale back the optic zoom on one lens to 5x from 10x feels like a step back). We're also impressed with the Galaxy AI features available on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, even if those capabilities also exist on cheaper S24 models and have shown up on older Galaxy S phones thanks to a software update.
The titanium frame adds to the sleek design of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and seven years of software and security updates extend the value of this pricey phone. Even at $1,299, this is the best phone Samsung has to offer.
The S24 Ultra's time as the best 5G phone overall may be short-lived, as we're in the process of seeing how Apple's new iPhone 16 models measure up. But even if one of those handsets knocks the S24 Ultra out of the top spot, it's still the Android phone to get if you want the best 5G experience.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 review.
The smartest 5G phone
Samsung's Galaxy AI features impress, but Google's still the best at packing smart software features into its phones. The new Tensor G4 chipset that powers the Pixel 9 Pro introduces more AI features, with the best ones like Pixel Screenshots and Call Notes boosting productivity.
AI features also extend to the cameras, with an Add Me tool letting you insert yourself into group photos that you're capturing. Our testing produced mixed results, though a lot of that comes down to the photographer's ability to position people in a shot. A Reimagine feature works much more smoothly by letting you use AI to enhance specific parts of a photo.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro cameras continue to perform well, with Google's phone producing consistently better photos than the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro in our head-to-head tests. That said, the cameras don't see significant hardware upgrades from the Pixel 8 series.
Google has made the Pixel 9 Pro more compact, with a 6.3-inch screen — to get a larger display, you'll need to pay up for the XL version. You're paying the same $999 that the larger Pixel 8 Pro cost. We also wish the Tensor G4 was a faster chip, but at least its power management features helped the Pixel 9 Pro last a long time on a charge — the first time in a long time that's happened with one of Google's phones.
Read our full Google Pixel 9 Pro review.
The best 5G phone value
Google's A series Pixel phones have always been known for offering top-performing cameras for less, and that continues with the Pixel 8a. But this lower-cost midrange phone also delivers the best AI capabilities in a sub-$500 devices, matching many of the features you'll find on the Pixel 8. That's because the Pixel 8a uses the same Tensor G3 chipset so it can do things like support Circle to Search and swap in faces as part of the Best Take tool for improving group shots.
Camera improvements are fairly modest, but that's OK since the Pixel 8a still performs well when it comes to taking photos. You'll see bigger improvements in display brightness and battery life, which both top what you got from the previous model. Best of all, Google hasn't raised prices, keeping the Pixel 8a at $499 while also expanding software and security support to seven years.
Read our full Google Pixel 8a review.
The best lower-cost 5G flagship
The OnePlus 12 proves its time to start talking about OnePlus in the same breath as Samsung and Google when it comes to Android flagships. OnePlus' latest device delivers everything you could ask for in those phones, but it does so for less, with a $799 price that drops to $699 with trade-in at OnePlus.
The same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset found in Samsung's latest flagships powers the OnePlus 12 meaning you get top performance, stellar 5G connectivity and a long-lasting device. (The OnePlus 12 actually beat the Galaxy S24 Ultra on our battery test.) Cameras — long a weak spot with OnePlus flagships — continue to improve to the point where the OnePlus 12 can produce photos that hold up well when compared to what the top camera phones can do.
The OnePlus 12 cameras still struggle in low light and you won't find the surplus of AI features introduced on other recent Android flagships. But this remains a good alternative for Android users who don't want to spend big on a high-quality phone.
Read our full OnePlus 12 review.
The best discounted 5G iPhone
The iPhone 16 has arrived and will likely knock the iPhone 15 out of contention for best 5G phone among Apple fans. But since Apple's keeping the older phone around, so are we — especially since you can get the iPhone 15 at a $100 discount now.
The iPhone 15 is the better choice over the iPhone 14 — another older model that's dropped in price, as the iPhone 15 features a 48MP main camera. The result is a much more flexible camera producing more detailed shots than what its predecessor can manage. The Dynamic Island feature moved over to the iPhone 15 as well, putting an end to a notch on the phone's display.
All these changes, which include a switch from Lightning to USB-C connectivity, can now be yours for $699 — $100 less than the new iPhone 16. You will miss out on Apple Intelligence features coming to Apple's new phones, and the A18 chipset powering the latest model should handily beat the iPhone 15 and its A16 Bionic silicon.
Read our full iPhone 15 review.
The most affordable Samsung 5G flagship
All of the Galaxy AI features included on the Galaxy S24 Ultra can also be found on the Galaxy S24, which costs $500 less than its pricier counterpart. That means tools like Circle to Search, Chat Assist and generative photo editing can be yours at a much lower cost.
You'll also get a top-performing device, especially in North America, where the Galaxy S24 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 system-on-chip. (In other parts of the world, the S24 features an Exynos 2400 chipset, which is a step slower according to our Galaxy S24 benchmarks.) In addition to benchmark numbers that are better than the iPhone 15's results in some areas, the Galaxy S24 also lasts nearly 13.5 hours on a charge according to our battery test
The S24 retains the compact design of previous entry-level Samsung flagships, and it's also one of the rare $799 phones to include a telephoto lens. It's a great choice if you don't want to spend a lot of money on a top 5G flagship phone.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 review.
Best 5G foldable
Even with Samsung releasing an impressive Galaxy Z Fold 6 this summer, the OnePlus Open remains the best foldable phone overall and a great 5G option if you want a super-sized display. This phone opens up to reveal a larger 7.82 internal display, but a thin design makes this a lot skinnier than rival foldables.
We're particularly impressed with Open Canvas, OnePlus' approach to multitasking on your foldable. It lets you run three apps at once, and you can dynamically shift your view as you switch from one app to the other. You can also save up to nine multi-app presents to really kickstart your multitasking.
At $1,699, the OnePlus Open cost less than similar foldable phones, especially after a price hike brings the Z Fold 6's cost to $1,899.
Read our full OnePlus Open review.
Big screen 5G iPhone for now
The iPhone 15 Plus is another older model sticking around Apple's lineup after the iPhone 16 release. Its price drops to $799 — $100 less than the iPhone 16 Plus but the same amount as the iPhone 16, which has a faster chipset and Apple Intelligence support.
So why consider the older Plus? Because the iPhone 15 Plus femains the all-time battery life champ among iPhones, just edging out the iPhone 15 Pro Max on our battery test. If you want a long-lasting phone with a big-screen, this model also costs less than the since-discontinued iPhone 15 Pro Max.
You won't have a telephoto lens at your disposal on Apple's Plus phone, but you do have a pretty powerful main camera now that Apple was adopted a 48MP sensor for all of its phones. The iPhone 15 Plus even has more screen real estate to work with, now that the notch is gone in favor of the Dynamic Island cutout. And like other iPhone 15 models, the Plus switches from Lightning to USB-C connectivity.
Read our full iPhone 15 Plus review.
The best low-cost 5G phone
You'll find more capable phones than the Moto G 5G, but it's impossible to find a better phone for less than $200. It also goes to show how affordable 5G devices have become.
You'll get stripped-back features with the Moto G 5G — just a main camera and a dedicated macro lens, plus one of Qualcomm's less powerful chipsets. But even with those compromises, the Moto G 5G takes decent photos for a phone this price and it lasts longer than more expensive handsets on our battery test. It also has a stylish design that helps hide its budget phone origins.
Read our full Moto G 5G (2024) review.
Best foldable 5G phone value
We were fans of the 2023 edition of the Motorola Razr, though that foldable phone made some compromises to deliver a low price tag. The Motorola Razr (2024) keeps the price at $699, while also making considerable improvements to Motorola's budget flip phone.
The outer display, once just a notification strip, is now a helpful 3.6-inch panel that lets you do more without having to flip open the phone. When you do use the main 6.9-inch screen, you'll notice that it's much brigher than its predecessor. And while some foldables struggle with battery, the Razr has power management down, lasting a little more than 14.5 hours in our battery testing.
The cameras underwhelm a little, and we wish Motorola promised longer software support. But this is a still a fine phone, with color options that will appeal to fashion-forward users.
Read our full Motorola Razr (2024) review.
A long-lasting Google 5G phone
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is one of the two Pro models that Google now offers, and it matches the feature set of the Pixel 9 Pro to the letter. But there are two reasons to get this model instead of the cheaper, more compact 9 Pro — its larger screen and epic battery life.
With the Pixel 9 Pro XL, you get a 6.8-inch display. The phone's bigger body leaves more room for a battery, and the XL rides its 5,060 mAh power pack to a battery test result that tops 14.5 hours. That's the longest time we've ever recorded for a Google phone on our battery test.
Since you'll find the same Tensor G4 chipset used by other Pixel 9 phones, the AI-powered features are the same, too. The Pixel 9 Prol XL also matches the Pixel 9 Pro's camera performance, which is a very good thing, indeed. The $1,099 Google charges for its XL model is a lot to pay for a phone, but big-screen phone fans who value long-lasting devices and excellent photos will get their money's worth.
Read our full Google Pixel 9 Pro review.
How to choose the best 5G phone for you
When looking for a 5G phone, you'll want to consider which wireless carrier will be providing your cell phone service. Different service providers are taking different approaches to their 5G rollouts.
Verizon, for example, placed an initial emphasis on mmWave-based technology, so if you wanted phone service from Big Red, you had to make sure that your 5G phone could connect to mmWave towers; Verizon is in the process of expanding that coverage through C-Band 5G, which most phones support. Likewise, while T-Mobile and AT&T have a few mmWave deployments, the vast majority of their network relies on sub-6GHz technology for initial coverage. That's not as fast as mmWave, but it covers a wider area. (AT&T is expanding its mmWave-based coverage, though, for faster performance.)
In its July 2024 report on mobile performance in the U.S., OpenSignal gives T-Mobile top marks for 5G download speed while saying that the carrier remains "untouchable" for 5G availability; Verizon has the faster 5G upload speeds. A Rootmetrics report covering the first half of 2024 ranks Verizon as the best for 5G experience, including speeds and reliability, while T-Mobile is tops for availability.
Apart from what 5G networks a phone supports, the criteria for picking a 5G phone is about the same as it would be for any handset. Consider the processor, screen size, cameras and other features. Battery is especially important — 5G can draw some serious power, and you'll want a phone that's able to handle the added demands on its battery.
Price remains an important distinguishing factor, and it's going to get more so as lower-cost 5G phones roll out later this year. In 2019, you had to pay anywhere from $700 to $1,200 for a flagship 5G phone. Even with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 starting at $1,899, the price range for 5G phones has begun to fall with a rapidly increasing number 5G models available for $500 or less, with at least one device in our best 5G phone rankings costing less than $200.
How we test 5G phones
We test 5G phones the same way we test any phone we review. At this point in 5G's evolution, we merely confirm that a 5G phone can connect to a carrier's 5G network. We don't run performance testing for 5G speeds, as those say more about a carrier's network than the phone itself. Also, 5G performance can vary widely depending on your location.
As for other tests, we rely on such synthetic benchmarks as Geekbench 5 and 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited to measure graphics performance. These tests allow us to compare performance across iPhones and Android devices. We also run a real-world video transcoding test on each phone using the Adobe Premiere Rush app and time the result.
To measure the quality of a phone's display, we perform lab tests to determine the brightness of the panel (in nits), as well as how colorful each screen is (DCI-P3 and sRGB color gamut). In these cases, higher numbers are better. We also measure color accuracy of each panel with a Delta-E rating, where lower numbers are better and score of 0 is perfect.
One of the most important tests we run is the Tom's Guide battery test, which has become especially important for 5G phones given how power-hungry they are. We run a web surfing test over 5G at 150 nits of screen brightness until the battery gives out. In general, a phone that lasts 10 hours or more is good, and anything above 11 hours makes our list of the best phone battery life.
We also perform camera testing, comparing shots taken by each phone we test with similar phones. This part of our testing is less relevant to our 5G phone evaluations, though.
For more information on phone testing, check out our how we test page for Tom's Guide.
