5G Phone Deals

In the early days of 5G network connectivity, buying a 5G-ready phone would come with a steep premium. Not anymore.

We're not just talking about flagship phones either. Mid-range and even affordable phones now come packing 5G.

That said, if you're shopping for a new phone, you might struggle to find a 5G-compatible smartphone that suits your needs.

Virtually every 5G phone will wear its next-generation network worthiness on its box, but that doesn't help with the choice of which phone you should buy. That's why we've compiled the following guide, which will offer some tips as to the best 5G phones on the market - whatever your budget.

Which 5G phone should I buy?

The best 5G phone for you might not be the best 5G phone for someone else. That’s why we’ve broken this down into three main budget-related categories: Best of the best, best mid-range, and best value.

We’ve also included a special category for the best 5G phone camera, as this is increasingly becoming a decisive factor in choosing a new phone, and a category for best foldable 5G phone, as this is an up-and-coming form factor.

All round best 5G phones

Note that our top picks aren’t necessarily the most expensive or feature-packed phones in their category. Rather, they offer the best all round flagship package for most people.

iPhone 14 Pro

• Screen Size: 6.1 inches
• Processor: A16 Bionic
• Size / weight: 147.5 x 71.5 x 7.9mm / 206g
• Battery: 3,200mAh
• Camera: 48MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto

The iPhone 14 Pro is one of Apple’s latest iPhones, and it’s a big upgrade on both the standard iPhone 14, and the iPhone 13 line.

Key improvements include a new 48MP main camera, for even more detailed photos, and a clever Dynamic Island at the top of the screen, instead of a notch. That both looks more modern than a notch, and gives you a new way of interacting with the phone.

The iPhone 14 Pro is also one of the most powerful phones on the planet thanks to its cutting-edge A16 Bionic chipset, while its screen, battery life, and design all impress too.

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Samsung Galaxy S23

• Screen Size: 6.1 inches
• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
• Size / weight: 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6mm / 168g
• Battery: 3,900mAh
• Camera: 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto

The Samsung Galaxy S23 is Samsung’s standard flagship for 2023, and it has a lot of things going for it, including a super powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.

That’s the best chipset available for Android phones at the time of writing, and Samsung’s version of it is tweaked to offer even better performance than it usually offers.

Plus, with the Samsung Galaxy S23 you get a crisp 6.1-inch screen, an excellent triple-lens camera, and a more compact design than most high-end phones.

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OnePlus 11

• Screen Size: 6.7 inches
• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
• Size / weight: 163.1 x 74.1 x 8.5mm / 205g
• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Camera: 50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, 32MP telephoto

The OnePlus 11 aims to offer a complete flagship experience at a slightly lower price than most comparable phones, and it succeeds in that goal.

With silky smooth performance, a crystal clear QHD+ screen, a 120Hz refresh rate, an eye-catching design, and capable cameras, the OnePlus 11 ticks just about every box.

It has a big battery too, plus extremely fast 100W charging, and loads of RAM and storage, along with slick, intuitive software, and the promise of years of updates.

So you’ll likely be happy with the OnePlus 11 now and for years to come.

Alternative pick

Sony Xperia 1 IV

• Screen Size: 6.5 inches
• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
• Size / weight: 165 x 71 x 8.2mm / 185g
• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Camera: 12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto, 0.3MP depth sensor
• 5G networks supported: Vodafone, O2

The Sony Xperia 1 IV is a cutting-edge phone with features you won’t find anywhere else, such as a telephoto camera that offers continuous optical zoom, so you’re not limited to just one optical zoom distance.

In fact, the Sony Xperia 1 IV is built for creativity, whether that’s taking photos, shooting videos (which can be done in up to 4K at 120fps), recording audio, or any number of other things.

It also has a sharp screen, loads of power, impressive battery life, and water resistance. It packs a premium price even among flagships, but it certainly stands out from the crowd.

Compare Sony Xperia 1 IV deals

Best foldable 5G phone

There's a new breed of ultra-premium smartphone in the form of the foldable phone, which Samsung is the current master of - first in terms of volume (no manufacturer has made more) and now also execution.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

• Screen Size: 7.6 inches / 6.2 inches
• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1
• Size: Unfolded: 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3mm / Folded: 155.1 x 67.1 x 14.2-15.8mm
• Weight: 263g
• Battery: 4,400mAh
• Camera: 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is Samsung’s ultimate foldable phone, packing more power than even the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and an enormous 7.6-inch screen than can be folded in half, leaving you with a normal smartphone form factor.

When the Z Fold 4 is folded shut you’ll have access to a 6.2-inch display, and both screens are top-quality, packing 120Hz refresh rates.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 also packs five cameras – three on the back and one built into each screen, and it supports Samsung’s S Pen stylus so you can take your productivity to the next level.

Other highlights include a durable, water-resistant build, plus plenty of storage and loads of RAM.

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Alternative pick

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

• Screen Size: 6.7 inches / 1.9 inches
• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1
• Size: 165.2 x 71.9 x 6.9mm unfolded / 84.9 x 71.9 x 15.9-17.1mm folded
• Weight: 187g
• Battery: 3,700mAh
• Camera: 12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a compact clamshell foldable phone with a large 6.7-inch screen, yet the ability to fold down into something much smaller. So this is just about the biggest screen you’ll find on a potentially compact phone.

It’s a good screen too, with a 1080 x 2640 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, and there’s also a 1.9-inch cover display that you can view notifications on when the main screen is folded shut.

That secondary screen can also be used as a viewfinder, so you can use the excellent main camera for selfies – though there is also a dedicated selfie camera attached to the foldable screen.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 also has masses of power, a battery life boost compared to its predecessor, and a surprisingly affordable price by foldable phone standards.

Compare Galaxy Z Flip 4 deals

Best mid-range 5G phone

iPhone SE (2022)

• Screen Size: 4.7 inches
• Processor: A15 Bionic
• Size / weight: 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm / 144g
• Battery: 2018 mAh
• Camera: 12MP wide

The iPhone SE (2022) is the first mid-range 5G iPhone, and this is a big deal for Apple fans, as previously they had to pay a fortune for a 5G iPhone.

Not anymore though. Retailing from £419 or affordable on contract, the iPhone SE (2022) is a genuinely great value 5G iPhone, especially as it has more than just 5G going for it.

This phone also packs a powerful A15 Bionic chipset, just like the iPhone 13 range. That means it’s more powerful than Android phones that cost twice as much.

The iPhone SE (2022) also has a compact 4.7-inch screen, so it’s great for fans of small phones too, and with a capable camera it will also keep mobile photographers happy. Yes, the design is a bit dated, but the specs are anything but.

Compare iPhone SE (2022) deals

Alternative pick

Google Pixel 7

• Screen Size: 6.3 inches
• Processor: Google Tensor G2
• Size / weight: 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm / 197g
• Battery: 4,355mAh
• Camera: 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide

The Google Pixel 7 is somewhere between a mid-range phone and a high-end one, but Google undercuts most comparable handsets, so it’s great value.

This includes a bespoke Tensor G2 chipset that you won’t find in any non-Pixel phone, and which aids with AI and machine learning tasks, benefitting photos among other things.

Speaking of photos, the Google Pixel 7 is great for photography, with a pair of superb cameras and class-leading photo processing.

It also has incredibly intuitive and bloat-free software, a good screen, and the promise of years of software updates.

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Best value 5G phone

If you want to spend the least money possible on your 5G phone, it’s possible to go down into the £200 to £300 range. Our picks will sometimes cost just a little more, but the payoff is that they provide a great all-round experience that really capitalises on those superfast network speeds.

OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite

• Screen Size: 6.59 inches
• Processor: Snapdragon 695
• Size / weight: 164.3 x 75.6 x 8.5mm / 195g
• Battery: 5,000 mAh
• Camera: 64MP wide, 2MP depth, 2MP macro

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite is one of the company’s most affordable phones, but it still gives you a lot for your money, including a big 5,000mAh battery and an FHD+ screen with a 120Hz refresh rate.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite also has a pixel-packed 64MP main camera, 5G of course, 128GB of storage, and a fingerprint sensor.

Its Snapdragon 695 chipset delivers smooth performance, and it has a modern design too.

Best 5G camera phones

There’s a new category of super-elite phone at the very top of the market costing upwards of £1,000. Fundamentally similar to our best of the best picks, they mainly benefit those who demand the most comprehensive camera set-up possible.

iPhone 14 Pro Max

• Screen Size: 6.7 inches
• Processor: A16 Bionic
• Size / weight: 160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9mm / 240g
• Battery: 4,323mAh
• Camera: 48MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto

The iPhone 14 Pro Max is Apple’s ultimate phone, taking everything great about the iPhone 14 Pro, and adding a bigger screen and a bigger battery (capable of delivering two days of life).

The camera is actually the same as on the Pro, but we’ve highlighted the iPhone 14 Pro above, so we’ll talk about the Pro Max here.

Its camera includes a new 48MP main sensor, in place of the 12MP one found on the previous models. That’s joined by a 12MP ultrawide and a 12MP telephoto (offering 3x optical zoom).

As ever with Apple phones, this excels for the point and shoot experience – you can get consistently great shots without adjusting settings or editing, though there are plenty of tools and modes if you want to dig deeper.

Compare iPhone 14 Pro Max deals

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

• Screen Size: 6.8 inches
• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
• Size / weight: 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm / 234g
• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Camera: 200MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto, 10MP periscope

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has an almost unreasonable number of features and high-end specs, including an S Pen stylus, a massive and super-sharp screen, a top-tier chipset, and a big battery.

It also has a quad-lens camera, which is more lenses than most high-end phones have, and none of these are filler.

The main lens is a new 200MP one, so this has more megapixels than almost any other phone, allowing for incredibly detailed photos. But it also has most rivals beat for telephoto shots, as it offers both 3x and 10x optical zoom. With great ultrawide and selfie cameras too, this is just about the most versatile camera phone you can buy.

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Alternative Pick

Pixel 7 Pro

• Screen Size: 6.7 inches
• Processor: Google Tensor G2
• Size / weight: 162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9mm / 212g
• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Camera: 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is Google’s top smartphone currently, and also the company’s top camera phone.

It has the same 50MP main and 12MP ultrawide cameras as the standard Pixel 7, but the 7 Pro also has a 48MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, and this is one of the best telephoto cameras not found on a Galaxy S Ultra phone.

Add in Google’s superlative photo processing, and this is a clear pick as one of the best camera phones.

Of course, with a big screen, great software, and all-round impressive specs, the Pixel 7 Pro doesn’t disappoint in other areas either.

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