The best 5G phones deliver much faster downloads, lower latency and a lot more
The best 5G phones come in at all budgets now, thanks to technology innovations. This list almost always include the best phones from top phone makers, though. But the real story is that less expensive devices now routinely support 5G, too.
Does that mean this is now the time to make your next phone a 5G-ready device? In many ways, you don't have much of a choice — phones across all price ranges now include many 5G models. Buy a phone, and you'll almost certainly have a 5G model to choose from.
Best Android phones: Our top picks
The best phone battery life: Which handsets last longest?
The real question is what to expect from the best 5G phones once you've got one to call your own. You'll see faster speeds, certainly, if not as fast as what 5G proponents were touting back before 5G networks came online in 2019.C heck out our 5G guide to see when 5G is coming to you.
Then again, our favorite 5G phones offer more than just speedier downloads. The best 5G phones feature outstanding cameras, big displays and super-sized batteries.
More 5G phones are on their way in the coming months, including new flagships from Google and Apple, foldable phones from Samsung and budget phones from a whole host of device makers. Here are the best 5G phones you can get right now.
What are the best 5G phones?
Now that we've tested all of Apple's initial 5G phones as well as the latest Galaxy S21 models, we think the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the best 5G phone. Not only does it offer an immersive screen, it turned in the best battery life of any iPhone 12 model in our testing.
We also like the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12, which offers many of the Pro Max's great features including extensive 5G support while also costing less. We're also impressed that Apple managed to include 5G support with the compact iPhone 12 mini.
If you prefer Android to iOS devices, we'd recommend either the Galaxy S21 Ultra or the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Both phones work with every kind of 5G network and sport big OLED displays. The S21 Ultra fares a little better on our battery test, though. Other Samsung flagships, including the Galaxy S21 Plus, offer 5G compatibility for less than $1,000.
If you want one of the best performing cameras on a 5G phone, consider the Google Pixel 4a 5G, at least until the Pixel 5a appears. Budget shoppers will want to look at the Galaxy A32 5G, one of the cheapest 5G phones available. Both the Pixel 4a 5G and Galaxy A32 5G are great back to school options, providing 5G speeds without breaking the bank. In the Pixel's case, you also get one of the best camera phones available.
