The best 5G phones for every budget rated and reviewed

As 5G tech becomes the norm across the cellular world, offering faster speeds and more reliable connections, choosing the very best 5G phone has become essential. Whether you’re streaming high-definition videos, gaming on the go, or want your next phone purchase to be future-proof, we’ve included options to fit every budget here.

Firstly, you need to be living somewhere with 5G coverage, which, as 5G has become more common, is increasingly widespread. If you live in the middle of nowhere and rarely venture into a large city, you won’t see the benefits of 5G. You’ll also need to sign up for a 5G cellular contract at the same time (if you don’t have one already). While most phone plans include 5G now, you’ll need to double-check, just to make sure.

It’s worth noting that pretty much every smartphone is 5G compatible nowadays, so check out our guides to the best phone, best mid-range phone and best budget phone for more options. If you still want to take the plunge, here’s our pick of the best 5G phones you can buy right now.

The best premium 5G phone

1. Apple iPhone 16

2024 is the first time in a long while that Stuff has recommended the vanilla iPhone over its Pro counterpart. The iPhone 16 may miss out on features you’ll find on the Pro and Pro Max (and which the Android world takes for granted) like a 120Hz display refresh rate or a dedicated telephoto camera – but otherwise makes very few compromises.

The Action button makes its way down from the Pro models, and is joined by the clever Camera Control touch surface that gives photographers more physical sway over their snapping. Dynamic Island is now a given, and the OLED display is very easy on the eyes. The A18 chipset is primed for Apple Intelligence (once it rolls out fully) and there’s no denying iOS remains about as a complete a package as it gets in the mobile world.

Consistently excellent battery life, a very capable pair of rear lenses (which can now take cropped 2x zoom shots) and a palm-friendly 6.1in screen size make it a fantastic choice for Apple fans.

The best mid-range smartphone

2. Google Pixel 8a

The Pixel 8a is part of Google’s affordable ‘A’ series, which promises a similar Pixel experience to its more expensive siblings for less money. We think this makes it a superb bang-for-buck option. And there’s lots to love here.

From its impeccable camera skills and punchy performance to a minimalist Pixel design and pure Android experience, this could be the ultimate choice for Google fans. Previous Pixel A phones had a few specs that lagged behind some of the competition, but the latest 8a has fixed that, making it unquestionably the best mid-range smartphone around.

Okay, the charging speeds remain slightly behind rivals, and not all AI features are available to buyers in the UK and Europe, but unless you’re willing to spend nearly double the money on a flagship with even more versatile cameras, the Pixel 8a is everything you’ll ever need.

The best budget 5G smartphone

3. Samsung Galaxy A55

Want the Samsung prestige without the high-end price tag? Then the A55 is a 5G contender worthy of your shortlist. With a price tag well below the lofty heights of the Galaxy S24 range, this is a super affordable 5G handset which sacrifices some flagship style and power, while still providing a solid smartphone experience.

One of its standout features during our review was its sharp, punchy screen, along with its capable multi-lens camera system, with a decent selfie camera to boot. And unlike previous A series phones (which massively disappointed on the power front), we’re pleased to report that the A55’s Exynos 1480 CPU and 8/12GB of RAM make for a far smoother experience.

Throw in reasonably fast (though far from groundbreaking) 25W charging, and you’ve got yourself a more affordable Samsung handset that provides the highly coveted Samsung-esque experience, at a far more palatable price.