Overview
- Jump To Details
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Best iPhone for Power Users - Jump To Details
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Best for Artists and Note-Takers - Jump To Details
Google Pixel 8a
Best Midrange Android Phone - Jump To Details
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Best Folding Phone - Jump To Details
Google Pixel 8
Best Android for Most People - Jump To Details
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
Best Affordable Android Phone - Jump To Details
Apple iPhone 15
Best iPhone for Most People - Jump To Details
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Best for Photographers - Jump To Details
Samsung Galaxy S24
Best Small Android Flagship - Jump To Details
OnePlus 12
Best Alternative to Google and Samsung
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.
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Best iPhone for Power UsersWhy 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.
Pros
- Fast, smooth performance
- Excellent cameras
- Long battery life
- Useful Action button
- USB-C connectivity opens up new features
- Lighter than previous Pro Max
Cons
- Expensive
- Big
Learn MoreApple iPhone 15 Pro Max ReviewSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Best for Artists and Note-TakersWhy 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.
Pros
- Speedy performance
- Beautiful screen
- Terrific cameras
- Useful AI features
- Comes with S Pen stylus
- Long support commitment
Cons
- Big
- Expensive
Learn MoreSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultra ReviewGoogle Pixel 8a
Best Midrange Android PhoneWhy 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.
Pros
- Excellent cameras
- Powerful performance
- Useful AI features
- Long battery life
- Seven-year software support
Cons
- Older protective glass on the front
- Relatively slow charging
Learn MoreGoogle Pixel 8a ReviewSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Best Folding PhoneWhy 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.
Pros
- Incredibly versatile
- Excellent productivity software
- Beautiful screens
- Slimmer, lighter design than previous generation
Cons
- Pricey
- Odd speaker placement
Learn MoreSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 ReviewGoogle Pixel 8
Best Android for Most PeopleWhy 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.
Pros
- Competitively priced
- Advanced AI features
- Terrific cameras
- Compact
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- Unimpressive battery life
- No telephoto camera
- Storage capped at 256GB
Learn MoreGoogle Pixel 8 ReviewSamsung Galaxy A15 5G
Best Affordable Android PhoneWhy 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.
Pros
- Affordable
- Long battery life
- Competent cameras
- Excellent software upgrade policy
Cons
- No IP rating
- Plastic build
Learn MoreSamsung Galaxy A15 5G ReviewApple iPhone 15
Best iPhone for Most PeopleWhy 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.
Pros
- Good size and weight
- Solid performance
- Capable cameras
- USB-C port
- Dynamic Island
Cons
- No always-on display
- No telephoto camera
- Shorter battery life than other iPhones
Learn MoreApple iPhone 15 ReviewGoogle Pixel 8 Pro
Best for PhotographersWhy 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.
Pros
- Exclusive Assistant features
- AI-assisted photo and video editing
- Seven years of software support
- Super-bright display
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- Shorter battery life than predecessor
- Inconsistent Wi-Fi
Learn MoreGoogle Pixel 8 Pro ReviewSamsung Galaxy S24
Best Small Android FlagshipWhy 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.
Pros
- Compact, premium build
- Flagship performance
- Useful AI features
- Seven-year software support commitment
Cons
- Limited RAM and storage offerings
- Can get warm while gaming
Learn MoreSamsung Galaxy S24 ReviewOnePlus 12
Best Alternative to Google and SamsungWhy 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.
Pros
- Bright, crisp display
- Excellent battery life
- Rapid wired and wireless charging
- Powerful processor
Cons
- Lacks mmWave 5G
- Not as waterproof as competing phones
- No special AI features
Learn MoreOnePlus 12 Review
Buying Guide: The Best 5G Phones for 2024
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
