The best 5G phones in 2024

Searching for the best 5G phones? These days, that just means you're looking for one of the best phones, as any device worth its salt is going to come with 5G connectivity.

That's not only true of flagship devices, but midrange and budget models as well. And that's good news for consumers, as it means a wider variety of pricing among the best 5G phones, so that you're not forced to overpay for a device that's not in your budget.

There's a reason so many phones offer 5G connectivity these days — it's easier than ever to find 5G coverage from the best phone carriers. 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. Here are the best 5G phones available right now to meet any budget.

The quick list

The best 5G phone

For the best 5G phone, turn to the best phone overall — Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max. This 6.7-inch phone features the best performing mobile chipset that we've tested, the A17 Bionic. Not only can it handle app and task you throw at it, it also delivers top power management, helping the Pro Max last more than 14 hours on our battery test.

It's the improved telephoto lens that really makes the iPhone 15 Pro Max a great choice. Apple replaced the old camera with one featuring a tetraprism design that now supports a longer 5x zoom. (Previous Pro Max models topped out at 3x.) That simply adds the photo capabilities of what was already a great camera phone, and Apple has made improvements to night photos and portrait mode to boot.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max now costs $100 more than previous models, but you get more storage in the base model than before. And other changes, like a new shortcut-triggering Action button, make sure that you're getting plenty of features for your money when you opt for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Read our full iPhone 15 Pro Max review.

The best 5G phone for Android users

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 Apple's A17 Pro chipset 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.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 review.

The smartest 5G phone

The Google Pixel 8 Pro shows you what AI can bring to a mobile device. The new Tensor G3 chip that powers this phone offers an improved neural engine that delivers AI-driven features to simplify tasks on your phone. Not only can the Google Assistant screen incoming calls, it can also tell you what the call is about so you can pick up if it's an urgent matter. On-device translation and web page summaries are also part of Tensor's bag of tricks.

But the AI really shines when you edit photos on the Pixel 8 Pro. A new Magic Editor feature lets you easily tweak photos to your liking, and Best Take guarantees that everyone in a group shot will be looking at the camera. A Magic Audio Editor that removes unwanted sound from videos you capture also impresses.

There's more to the Pixel 8 Pro's camera setup than just great AI. The ultrawide camera now has a 48MP sensor and the aperture on the main camera is wider for improved low-light photos. Google's reputation for creating excellent camera phones continues with the Pixel 8 Pro.

Read our full Google Pixel 8 Pro 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 5G value

While the OnePlus 12 impresses, the OnePlus 12R offers even more for bargain hunters. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset powering this midrange phone isn't Qualcomm's latest silicon, but it still delivers impressive performance for a sub-$500 phone. And power management features on the chipset help the OnePlus 12R last an hour longer than the more expensive OnePlus 12 on our battery test.

You won't get the best camera phone with the OnePlus 12R, and forget about features like wireless charging. But with prices starting at $499, if you want a lot of power packed into a more affordable 5G phone, the OnePlus 12R should top your list.

Read our full OnePlus 12R review.

Still a good 5G value

Normally we wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Pixel 7a, which comes with the same Tensor G2 chipset found in the Pixel 7. That means the same features found in 2022's flagships, only for hundreds of dollars less.

You're not sacrificing much to get the lower priced Pixel 7a. Like the Pixel 7 before it, the Pixel 7a offers a display with a 90Hz refresh rate and wireless charging suport. The cameras have gotten an upgrade, too, led by a 64MP main shooter. And best of all, the Pixel 7a features above-average battery life, at least when its display refresh rate is set to the default 60Hz. This is a very strong budget option if you're looking for a 5G phone.

So what's the problem? The Pixel 8a is likely to arrive this month, with an even more capable flagship. That could mean a price drop for the Pixel 7a if Google keeps this phone in its lineup.

Read our full Google Pixel 7a review.

The best 5G iPhone for most people

If you were underwhelmed by the lack of changes for the iPhone 14, the iPhone 15 will have you rethinking your opinion about Apple's entry-level flagship phone. Yes, the Pro models continue to get the more extensive updates, but there are plenty of changes introduced to the iPhone 15.

Start with the camera setup, where the iPhone 15 has adopted the 48MP main camera previously introduced to the iPhone 14 Pro phones. The result is a much more flexible camera producing more detailed shots. The Dynamic Island feature moves 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, occur without any change to the iPhone's $799 starting price. People who's been holding onto older Apple phones waiting for big changes will be pleased with what the iPhone delivers.

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

This has been a great year for foldable phones, and none has made a better impression than the OnePlus Open. 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, and a deal through OnePlus essentially drops the price to $1,499. While not cheap, that's the best value we've seen yet on a foldable phone.

Read our full OnePlus Open review.

A lower-cost 5G iPhone Pro

Now that the iPhone 15 Pro Max costs more, the iPhone 15 Pro is your best bet for getting Apple's Pro phone features at a more reasonable cost. Like the Pro Max, the iPhone 15 Pro uses titanium instead of stanless steel for a more durable design that's lighter than before. There's a new Action button, too, for triggering shortcuts with a press.

Perhaps the most important addition is the A17 Pro chip that powers the iPhone 15 Pro. You get the best performance we've seen from a mobile chip, plus more efficient power management that helps this phone last longer on a charge than its predecessor.

By opting for the iPhone 15 Pro, you lose out on the iPhone 15 Pro Max's more powerful telephoto lens. But for $200 less, you're still getting a very powerful phone that's easier to tote around.

Read our full iPhone 15 Pro review.

Big screen 5G iPhone

The iPhone 15 Plus is 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 costs $300 less than the Pro Max.

You won't have a telephoto lens at your disposal, 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.

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 January 2024 report on mobile performance in the U.S., OpenSignal ranked T-Mobile the fastest for download speed, adding that other carriers had closed the gap somewhat. T-Mobile had OpenSignal's top score for overall 5G experience, with AT&T in second place. Rootmetrics' latest report, which covers the second half of 2023, awards T-Mobile for offering the best overall 5G experience and fastest 5G speeds; Verizon gets credit for 5G reliability. Meanwhile a report from Ookla covering performance at the end of 2023 has T-Mobile with a significant lead over second-place Verizon. 

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 5 continuing to cost $1,799 — a price that has more to do with its foldable design than its 5G support — 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.