The three national carriers—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon—all offer multiple varieties of 5G service around the US, and a 5G-capable phone is required to take advantage. Sorting out which phone is compatible with which 5G network can be a headache, but PCMag is here to make things easy. We’ve been covering and reviewing mobile phones for 30 years and know everything there is to know about 5G. Generally, most phones priced over $200 pack at least some form of 5G, whether it’s C-band or mmWave. Our top phone recommendations run from affordable handsets like the Editors’ Choice-winning Samsung Galaxy A15 5G to the top-of-the-line Google Pixel 8 Pro and Apple iPhone 15. Be sure to read the reviews of all our top picks and familiarize yourself with our 5G buying guide below so you can be a 5G expert, too.
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Best iPhone for Power Users
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Pros & Cons
Fast, smooth performance
Excellent cameras
Long battery life
Useful Action button
USB-C connectivity opens up new features
Lighter than previous Pro Max
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
iOS 17
CPU
Apple A17 Pro
Dimensions
6.29 by 3.02 by 0.32 inches
Screen Size
6.7 inches
Screen Resolution
2,796 by 1,290 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
48MP, 12MP, 12MP; 12MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
20 hours, 15 minutes
Why We Picked It
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is one of the most capable phones in the market from a wireless perspective. It includes C-band, sub-6GHz, and mmWave 5G spectrum, and it works well on all the major and minor US carriers, as well as wireless networks abroad. Moreover, it offers top LTE 4G coverage for areas where 5G isn’t available. It also has a fantastic screen, outstanding battery life, the best cameras on an iPhone, and slick software.
Who It’s For?
If you need the most capable 5G phone in the market—and an overall good phone—the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the device you need.
Learn More
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Review
Best for Artists and Note-Takers
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Pros & Cons
Speedy performance
Beautiful screen
Terrific cameras
Useful AI features
Comes with S Pen stylus
Long support commitment
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
Android 14
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
Dimensions
6.40 by 3.11 by 0.34 Inches
Screen Size
6.8 inches
Screen Resolution
3,120 by 1,440 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
200MP, 12MP, 10MP, 50MP; 12MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
14 hours, 10 minutes
Why We Picked It
The Galaxy S24 Ultra offers incredible 5G performance across all the major carriers’ most important bands. Other standout features include Galaxy AI tools, a 5x optical zoom camera, a built-in S Pen stylus, excellent battery life, and class-leading performance.
Who It’s For
If you need a powerful zoom camera and/or like the idea of a stylus for drawing or taking notes, the S24 Ultra is the phone to get from Samsung’s current lineup. Its excellent 5G performance means you can get a signal wherever you travel, while its large screen makes watching movies enjoyable.
Learn More
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review
Best Midrange Android Phone
Google Pixel 8a
Pros & Cons
Excellent cameras
Powerful performance
Useful AI features
Long battery life
Seven-year software support
Older protective glass on the front
Relatively slow charging
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
Android 14
CPU
Google Tensor G3
Dimensions
5.99 by 2.86 by 0.35 inches
Screen Size
6.1 inches
Screen Resolution
2,400 by 1,080 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
64MP, 13MP; 13MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
12 hours, 50 minutes
Why We Picked It
Google’s software is the choice of the techno-elite for its speed, elegance, and simplicity. The Pixel 8a brings you that software, along with years of Android updates before anyone else gets them, and an excellent camera stack, at an affordable price with solid 5G performance along for the ride.
Who It’s For
Google’s Pixel phones aren’t the best-selling Android models, but many still prefer them because of their clean software and capable cameras. The Pixel 8a is the best phone you can get for the price and it works on nearly every 5G network available.
Learn More
Google Pixel 8a Review
Best Folding Phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Pros & Cons
Incredibly versatile
Excellent productivity software
Beautiful screens
Slimmer, lighter design than previous generation
Pricey
Odd speaker placement
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
Android 13
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
Dimensions
6.10 by 5.11 by 0.24 inches
Screen Size
7.6 inches
Screen Resolution
2,176 by 1,812 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
50MP, 12MP, 10MP; 10MP; 4MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
11 hours, 20 minutes
Why We Picked It
The Samsung Galazy Z Fold 5 may be a pricey smartphone but it is one of the most capable on the market. It’s book-style folding form factor gives you a large 7.8-inch interior screen for multitasking with up to three apps at a time. It also supports the S Pen stylus and Samsung’s DeX software for desktop-like productivity. Moreover, it’s a great 5G smartphone.
Who It’s For
The Z Fold 5 is for power users who need a device that can work as hard as they do and connect to the world’s fastest networks.
Learn More
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Review
Best Android for Most People
Google Pixel 8
Pros & Cons
Competitively priced
Advanced AI features
Terrific cameras
Compact
Excellent build quality
Unimpressive battery life
No telephoto camera
Storage capped at 256GB
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
Android 14
CPU
Google Tensor G3
Dimensions
5.93 by 2.79 by 0.35 inches
Screen Size
6.2 inches
Screen Resolution
2,400 by 1,080 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
50MP, 12MP; 10.5MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
10 hours, 20 minutes
Why We Picked It
The $699 Google Pixel 8 is an exciting and affordable option thanks to its AI-driven feature set, excellent battery life, highly capable cameras, and long-term support committment from Google. The phone covers all the major 5G bands for US buyers and is available unlocked and via carriers. It’s a strong contender for those looking to save a couple hundred bucks.
Who It’s For
The Pixel 8 may not have all the features of its larger sibling, the 8 Pro, but it has all the feaures that matter for a much lower price and top performance across the board.
Learn More
Google Pixel 8 Review
Best Affordable Android Phone
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
Pros & Cons
Affordable
Long battery life
Competent cameras
Excellent software upgrade policy
No IP rating
Plastic build
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
Android 14
CPU
Mediatek 6835
Dimensions
6.30 by 3.02 by 0.33 inches
Screen Size
6.5 inches
Screen Resolution
2,340 by 1,080 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
50MP, 5MP, 2MP; 13MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
14 hours, 3 minutes
Why We Picked It
The Samsung Galaxy A15 5G is one of the cheapest ways to access 5G networks. It supports the right 5G bands for the US and turns in solid performance as an affordable, everyday device. We particularly like the large screen, long battery life, and capable cameras.
Who It’s For
The A15 5G is for people who want the latest in connectivity but need to stick to a budget.
Learn More
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G Review
Best iPhone for Most People
Apple iPhone 15
Pros & Cons
Good size and weight
Solid performance
Capable cameras
USB-C port
Dynamic Island
No always-on display
No telephoto camera
Shorter battery life than other iPhones
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
iOS 17
CPU
Apple A16 Bionic
Dimensions
5.81 by 2.81 by 0.31 inches
Screen Size
6.1 inches
Screen Resolution
2,556 by 1,179 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
48MP, 12MP; 12MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
16 hours, 15 minutes
Why We Picked It
The Apple iPhone 15 includes a great blend of features that should make most people happy. It’s got a refined design, a brighter display, a quicker processor, improved cameras, and solid battery life all wrapped up in a piece of hardware that’s easy to hold and use. And, critically, Apple didn’t skimp on the 5G. It’s just as 5G-capable as the more expensive Pro line, including mmWave support.
Who It’s For
This is the iPhone for everyone. It strikes a good balance of capabilities, usability, connectivity, and price.
Learn More
Apple iPhone 15 Review
Best for Photographers
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Pros & Cons
Exclusive Assistant features
AI-assisted photo and video editing
Seven years of software support
Super-bright display
Excellent build quality
Shorter battery life than predecessor
Inconsistent Wi-Fi
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
Android 14
CPU
Google Tensor G3
Dimensions
6.40 by 3.01 by 0.35 inches
Screen Size
6.7 inches
Screen Resolution
2,992 by 1,344 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
50MP, 48MP, 48MP; 10.5MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
9 hours, 5 minutes
Why We Picked It
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is a lot like the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. It has a full range of support for 5G and 4G networks, advanced Wi-Fi and GPS, and excellent Bluetooth. It also has fantastic software, the best mobile cameras, decent battery life, and delightful AI-assisted extras.
Who It’s For
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is for people who want the best possible Android phone with 5G on board at a fair price.
Learn More
Google Pixel 8 Pro Review
Best Small Android Flagship
Samsung Galaxy S24
Pros & Cons
Compact, premium build
Flagship performance
Useful AI features
Seven-year software support commitment
Limited RAM and storage offerings
Can get warm while gaming
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
Android 14
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
Dimensions
5.79 by 2.78 by 0.30 inches
Screen Size
6.2 inches
Screen Resolution
2,340 by 1,080 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
50MP, 12MP, 10MP; 12MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
13 hours, 5 minutes
Why We Picked It
You don’t have many choices for small, premium Android phones. The Galaxy S24 isn’t actually a small phone, but it’s as small as you can get and still enjoy class-leading performance. Its excellent 5G reception is similar to its larger stablemates and it has all the same Galaxy AI features as well.
Who It’s For
If you want a smaller Android phone but don’t want to compromise on speed or the quality of your 5G reception, get the Galaxy S24.
Learn More
Samsung Galaxy S24 Review
Best Alternative to Google and Samsung
OnePlus 12
Pros & Cons
Bright, crisp display
Excellent battery life
Rapid wired and wireless charging
Powerful processor
Lacks mmWave 5G
Not as waterproof as competing phones
No special AI features
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
Android 14
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Dimensions
6.47 by 2.98 by 0.36 inches
Screen Size
6.82 inches
Screen Resolution
3,168 by 1,440 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
64MP, 50MP, 48MP; 32MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
18 hours, 10 minutes
Why We Picked It
OnePlus’ Android phones take a different tack than those from Google, Motorola, and Samsung. The company has a distinct design language and genuinely helpful software that differentiates itself from run-of-the-mill Android. Its latest flagship, the OnePlus 12, has killer specs, including a top screen, a leading processor, long battery life, and capable cameras.
Who It’s For
If phones from Google and Samsung aren’t your thing, the OnePlus 12 is a worthwhile alternative and covers all the 5G bands you need for reliable service.
Learn More
OnePlus 12 Review
Buying Guide: The Best 5G Phones for 2024
The Best Phones of the Year
Do You Need a 5G Phone in 2024?For 5G to be appreciably faster than 4G, it needs to run on wider channels. Think of those channels as broader lanes on the information superhighway. Even without those channels, 5G still helps carriers by increasing their capacity to serve more users with bigger service plans. But if you want performance, you need those wider channels.
Google Pixel 8 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Right now, of the heavily promoted forms of US 5G, T-Mobile’s mid-band “UC” network, Verizon’s “UW” mid- and high-band network, and AT&T’s “5G+” network offer those wider channels. The other forms of 5G in the US reuse 4G channels, which gives them 4G-like performance.In general, if you see just “5G” on your phone in the US, it’s going to feel like 4G. If you see “5G UC,” “5G UW” or “5G+,” you should experience better speeds.
Apple iPhone 15 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
At this point, the three carriers have done a solid job deploying both types of 5G. For example, AT&T and Verizon cover much of the country with 3.45GHz and C-band, respectively. Of course, your phone also needs to support C-band for you to see a benefit, a spec we cover in all our in-depth reviews.
What Is 5G?
All the phones Verizon sells support its high-band mmWave network, but not all unlocked 5G phones do. If you’re looking for an unlocked 5G phone that supports all the bands, consider the Google Pixel line, the latest iPhone, or the Samsung Galaxy S and Z families. If you’re with T-Mobile, almost any current phone supports its quicker 5G service.
Recommended by Our Editors
Between T-Mobile’s 5G expansion and the rollout of C-band coverage on AT&T and Verizon, the situation is always changing. Make sure to check back often for all the details on the phones that can take advantage of these advancements.Sascha Segan and Dave LeClair contributed to this story.
