The Best 5G phones for 2021. 5G is now “nationwide.” AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are all advertising 5G as faster, stronger, and better—and you need a 5G phone to get on board. The reality of US 5G networks isn’t as thrilling as the ads portray. AT&T’s and Verizon’s nationwide networks are slow, Verizon’s good network is hard to find, and while T-Mobile’s mid-band network is growing, it’s still very much a work in progress.
Though it won’t replace 4G in its entirety, 5G is the next generation of mobile connectivity. 5G works fast, and many industries will benefit from the new network, including drones, self-driving cars, and the Internet of Things. Its growth across the US, the UK and the wider world has been fast, but it’s still not everywhere, so make sure it’s available — or at least coming soon — in your area before you splash the cash on a 5G enabled handset.
Remember though that a 5G phone will still work as normal on a 4G network (albeit at lower speeds) so don’t be afraid of buying a 5G phone like the S21 Ultra even if you’re not in a 5G zone. In fact it’s good practice to future proof yourself; you may not be in a 5G zone right now, but it may well be that 5G will come to your area in the three years or so you have your phone, so at least you’ll be ready to take advantage of it when it arrives.
But with 5G handsets being offered by pretty much every major phone manufacturer now it can be difficult to work out which is best for you. We’ve done some of the hard work and put together our list of our top 5G-enabled phones that you can go and buy right now.
What is 5G?
A: 5G is the 5th generation mobile network. It is a new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices.
5G wireless technology is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience to more users. Higher performance and improved efficiency empower new user
Who invented 5G?
We are at the heart of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the industry organization that defines the global specifications for 3G UMTS (including HSPA), 4G LTE, and 5G technologies.
3GPP is driving many essential inventions across all aspects of 5G design, from the air interface to the service layer. Other 3GPP 5G members range from infrastructure vendors and component/device manufacturers to mobile network operators and vertical service providers.
What underlying technologies make up 5G?
A: 5G is based on OFDM (Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing), a method of modulating a digital signal across several different channels to reduce interference. 5G uses 5G NR air interface alongside OFDM principles. 5G also uses wider bandwidth technologies such as sub-6 GHz and mmWave.
Like 4G LTE, 5G OFDM operates based on the same mobile networking principles. However, the new 5G NR air interface can further enhance OFDM to deliver a much higher degree of flexibility and scalability. This could provide more 5G access to more people and things for a variety of different use cases.
5G will bring wider bandwidths by expanding the usage of spectrum resources, from sub-3 GHz used in 4G to 100 GHz and beyond. 5G can operate in both lower bands (e.g., sub-6 GHz) as well as mmWave (e.g., 24 GHz and up), which will bring extreme capacity, multi-Gbps throughput, and low latency.
5G is designed to not only deliver faster, better mobile broadband services compared to 4G LTE, but can also expand into new service areas such as mission-critical communications and connecting the massive IoT. This is enabled by many new 5G NR air interface design techniques, such as a new self-contained TDD subframe design.
What are the differences between the previous generations of mobile networks and 5G?
A: The previous generations of mobile networks are 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G.
First generation – 1G
1980s: 1G delivered analog voice.
Second generation – 2G
Early 1990s: 2G introduced digital voice (e.g. CDMA- Code Division Multiple Access).
Third generation – 3G
Early 2000s: 3G brought mobile data (e.g. CDMA2000).
Fourth generation – 4G LTE
2010s: 4G LTE ushered in the era of mobile broadband.
1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G all led to 5G, which is designed to provide more connectivity than was ever available before.
5G is a unified, more capable air interface. It has been designed with an extended capacity to enable next-generation user experiences, empower new deployment models and deliver new services.
With high speeds, superior reliability and negligible latency, 5G will expand the mobile ecosystem into new realms. 5G will impact every industry, making safer transportation, remote healthcare, precision agriculture, digitized logistics — and more — a reality.
How is 5G better than 4G?
• 5G is significantly faster than 4G
• 5G has more capacity than 4G
• 5G has significantly lower latency than 4G
• 5G is a unified platform that is more capable than 4G
• 5G uses spectrum better than 4G
5G is a unified platform that is more capable than 4G.
While 4G LTE focused on delivering much faster mobile broadband services than 3G, 5G is designed to be a unified, more capable platform that not only elevates mobile broadband experiences, but also supports new services such as mission-critical communications and the massive IoT. 5G can also natively support all spectrum types (licensed, shared, unlicensed) and bands (low, mid, high), a wide range of deployment models (from traditional macro-cells to hotspots), and new ways to interconnect (such as device-to-device and multi-hop mesh).
5G uses spectrum better than 4G.
5G is also designed to get the most out of every bit of spectrum across a wide array of available spectrum regulatory paradigms and bands—from low bands below 1 GHz, to mid bands from 1 GHz to 6 GHz, to high bands known as millimeter wave (mmWave).
5G is faster than 4G.
5G can be significantly faster than 4G, delivering up to 20 Gigabits-per-second (Gbps) peak data rates and 100+ Megabits-per-second (Mbps) average data rates.
5G has more capacity than 4G.
5G is designed to support a 100x increase in traffic capacity and network efficiency.1
5G has lower latency than 4G.
5G has significantly lower latency to deliver more instantaneous, real-time access: a 10x decrease in end-to-end latency down to 1ms.1
How and when will 5G affect the global economy?
A: 5G is driving global growth.
• $13.1 Trillion dollars of global economic output
• $22.8 Million new jobs created
• $265B global 5G CAPEX and R&D annually over the next 15 years
Through a landmark 5G Economy study, we found that 5G’s full economic effect will likely be realized across the globe by 2035—supporting a wide range of industries and potentially enabling up to $13.1 trillion worth of goods and services.
This impact is much greater than previous network generations. The development requirements of the new 5G network are also expanding beyond the traditional mobile networking players to industries such as the automotive industry.
The study also revealed that the 5G value chain (including OEMs, operators, content creators, app developers, and consumers) could alone support up to 22.8 million jobs, or more than one job for every person in Beijing, China. And there are many emerging and new applications that will still be defined in the future. Only time will tell what the full “5G effect” on the economy is going to be.
How will 5G affect me?
A: 5G is designed to do a variety of things that can transform our lives, including giving us faster download speeds, low latency, and more capacity and connectivity for billions of devices—especially in the areas of virtual reality (VR), the IoT, and artificial intelligence (AI).
For example, with 5G, you can access new and improved experiences including near-instant access to cloud services, multiplayer cloud gaming, shopping with augmented reality, and real-time video translation and collaboration, and more.
How fast is 5G?
A: 5G is designed to deliver peak data rates up to 20 Gbps based on IMT-2020 requirements. Qualcomm Technologies’ flagship 5G solutions, the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ X65 is designed to achieve up to 10 Gbps in downlink peak data rates.
But 5G is about more than just how fast it is. In addition to higher peak data rates, 5G is designed to provide much more network capacity by expanding into new spectrum, such as mmWave.
5G can also deliver much lower latency for a more immediate response and can provide an overall more uniform user experience so that the data rates stay consistently high—even when users are moving around. And the new 5G NR mobile network is backed up by a Gigabit LTE coverage foundation, which can provide ubiquitous Gigabit-class connectivity.
How does 5G work?
A: Like 4G LTE, 5G is also OFDM-based (Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing) and will operate based on the same mobile networking principles. However, the new 5G NR (New Radio) air interface will further enhance OFDM to deliver a much higher degree of flexibility and scalability.
5G will not only deliver faster, better mobile broadband services compared to 4G LTE, but it will also expand into new service areas, such as mission-critical communications and connecting the massive IoT. This is enabled by many new 5G NR air interface design techniques, such as a new self-contained TDD subframe design.
The Best 5G phones for 2021
OPPO Find X3 Pro
A great alternative to the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the sleek OPPO Find X3 Pro. It’s no doubt one of the best flagships right now:
- The OPPO Find X3 Pro is the first phone in the world with 1 billion colour display.
- It packs a dual 50MP lenses on its rear.
- It houses the impressive Snapdragon 888 chipset.
ROG Phone 5
Well, hello gamers. If you’re looking for a powerful 5G gaming phone, the ROG Phone 5 is a worthy pick. Like the Find X3 Pro, it is powered by the Snapdragon 888 chip with the addition of various gaming features.
A gaming-worthy display
Apart from sporting a 144Hz display, the ROG Phone 5 boasts a 300Hz touch sampling rate, meaning that it’s more responsive to touch inputs. The phone also features two AirTrigger buttons that feel almost as good as shoulder triggers on a controller.
The ROG Phone 5’s clincher are the additional gaming accessories that can be paired with this phone:
-
- An attachable rear fan that prevents overheating
- Offers more control mapping options with 2 shoulder buttons
-
- Near zero-latency
- Features analog triggers and rear control keys
- ALPS joysticks for precise control
Motorola Razr 5G (2020)
At the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020, Motorola announced two flexible Razr phones within months of each other. The 2020 version is the better one of the two. Available for $1,400 (£1,399, which is about AU$2,470) this model has 5G support, a 48-megapixel camera, more memory and a faster Snapdragon 765G processor.
Samsung Galaxy S21
There’s a lot to like about the Galaxy S21, but the best thing about it has got to be the price. Samsung’s next-gen flagship lineup starts at $800, and you can find it on Amazon right now for an extra $100 off. Samsung made some trade-offs to get to that price: The phone has 4GB of RAM less than its predecessor, the wall charger and headphones don’t come in the box and it doesn’t have a microSD card slot for expanded storage. But even with those sacrifices, you’re getting a lot for your money, including a striking design, the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip and 5G connectivity.
LG Velvet 5G
The LG Velvet is a polished, midrange 5G smartphone, available in the US on AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. The device costs $588 to $700, depending on the carrier — Verizon’s more expensive model can access a faster version of 5G. The Velvet has a high-end look, a headphone jack and a sizable 6.8-inch display.
Google Pixel 5 and 4a 5G
The Google Pixel 5 joins the 5G party as well, but it isn’t taking the $1,000 flagship path. The company is using upper mid-range silicon instead of the pricier Snapdragon 865 chipset, coming in at $700 in the US and €629 in Europe. So what do you get for $100 less than the Pixel 4?
Aside from the mid-tier 5G processor, the Pixel 5 also sports a 90Hz OLED screen, a secondary ultra-wide rear camera instead of the Pixel 4’s secondary telephoto shooter, and premium extras like wireless charging and IP68 water/dust resistance. The firm is also bringing several camera-related features to the table, such as Night Sight in Portrait Mode and Cinematic Pan for smooth videos.
Google Pixel 5 specs:
- Display: 6-inch, Full HD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 765G
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Cameras: 12.2 and 16MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 4,080mAh
- Software: Android 11
Google Pixel 4a 5G specs:
- Display: 6.2-inch, Full HD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 765G
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Cameras: 12.2 and 16MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 3,885mAh
- Software: Android 11
Realme X50 Pro 5G
Realme is renowned for delivering competitively priced smartphones, and its first 5G flagship is no different. The Realme X50 Pro 5G starts at Rs. 37,999 (~$505) in India, while Europeans will be paying a €599 (~$660) starting price. Either way, it’s cheaper than 5G flagships from LG and Samsung.
You’re getting a Snapdragon 865 processor, 6GB to 12GB of RAM, 128GB to 256GB of expandable storage, and a 4,200mAh battery with ultra-fast 65W charging. Other highlights include a 64MP quad-camera setup, a dual selfie camera (including an ultra-wide sensor), and a 90Hz refresh rate for the OLED panel.
Realme X50 Pro 5G specs:
- Display: 6.44-inch, Full HD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 865
- RAM: 6/8/12GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Cameras: 64, 12, 8, and 2MP
- Front cameras: 32 and 8MP
- Battery: 4,200mAh
- Software: Android 10
OnePlus 8T and 8 Pro
The biggest upgrades over the vanilla OnePlus 8 come in the display and battery/charging categories. Instead of a 90Hz screen, 4,300mAh battery, and 30W wired charging, the OnePlus 8T sports a 120Hz display, 4,500mAh battery, and 65W wired charging. Otherwise, there are mild upgrades to the secondary cameras but little else worth noting.
Want a OnePlus 5G phone with a ton of bells and whistles? Then you’ll want to get the OnePlus 8 Pro, as it offers 30W wireless charging, water resistance for locked and unlocked variants alike, a telephoto camera, higher quality main and ultra-wide sensors, and a QHD+ panel. In saying so, you’ll be missing out on 65W charging, as the Pro tops out at 30W.
OnePlus 8T specs:
- Display: 6.55-inch, Full HD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 865
- RAM: 8/12GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Cameras: 48, 16, 5, and 2MP
- Front camera: 16MP
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Software: Android 11
OnePlus 8 Pro specs:
- Display: 6.78-inch, QHD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 865
- RAM: 8/12GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Cameras: 48, 48, and 8MP + color filter camera
- Front camera: 16MP
- Battery: 4,510mAh
- Software: Android 11
LG V60 ThinQ
LG was an early 5G adopter in 2019 with the V50 ThinQ, and it’s now delivered a sequel in the V60 ThinQ — and there are quite a few upgrades and tweaks here. The obvious improvements include a Snapdragon 865 processor, a 5,000mAh battery (compared to the V50’s 4,000mAh cell), and an in-display fingerprint sensor. You’re also getting a higher-resolution main camera (64MP) and 8K recording here.
We also see a few more welcome LG staples, such as a 3.5mm port, quad DAC audio, microSD, wireless charging, and an IP68 rating.
LG V60 ThinQ 5G specs:
- Display: 6.8-inch, Full HD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 865
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Cameras: 64 and 13MP + 3D ToF
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Software: Android 10
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Want a 5G phone but like the S-Pen? Then Samsung’s latest Note device is for you. More specifically, we’d advise people to get the Note 20 Ultra over the regular Note 20, although that $1,300 price tag is really excessive.
The Ultra model offers a 120Hz QHD+ screen, microSD expansion, a glass back, a 108MP main camera, and a 12MP 5x periscope zoom shooter. Meanwhile, the regular Note 20 packs a 60Hz FHD+ screen, no storage expansion, a “glasstic” plastic back, a 12MP main camera, and a 64MP camera for 3x hybrid zoom.
Samsung’s Ultra model also serves up an Exynos 990 or Snapdragon 865 processor, 12GB of RAM, and a 4,500mAh battery. Otherwise, typical 2020 Samsung features like wireless charging, water resistance, and 8K recording are present across both phones. The Note 20 Ultra also offers both mmWave and sub-6Ghz 5G in one device.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra specs:
- Display: 6.9-inch, QHD+
- Chipset: SD 865 / Exynos 990
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 128/256/512GB
- Cameras: 108, 12, and 12MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Software: Android 10
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Want a 5G phone but like the S-Pen? Then Samsung’s latest Note device is for you. More specifically, we’d advise people to get the Note 20 Ultra over the regular Note 20, although that $1,300 price tag is really excessive.
The Ultra model offers a 120Hz QHD+ screen, microSD expansion, a glass back, a 108MP main camera, and a 12MP 5x periscope zoom shooter. Meanwhile, the regular Note 20 packs a 60Hz FHD+ screen, no storage expansion, a “glasstic” plastic back, a 12MP main camera, and a 64MP camera for 3x hybrid zoom.
Samsung’s Ultra model also serves up an Exynos 990 or Snapdragon 865 processor, 12GB of RAM, and a 4,500mAh battery. Otherwise, typical 2020 Samsung features like wireless charging, water resistance, and 8K recording are present across both phones. The Note 20 Ultra also offers both mmWave and sub-6Ghz 5G in one device
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra specs:
- Display: 6.9-inch, QHD+
- Chipset: SD 865 / Exynos 990
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 128/256/512GB
- Cameras: 108, 12, and 12MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Software: Android 10
OnePlus Nord
The OnePlus Nord gained a ton of hype thanks to the brand’s excessive marketing campaign, but the phone is actually pretty great in our book. Some of the standout features include a 90Hz OLED screen, a 4,115mAh battery with 30W fast charging, and two selfie cameras (32MP+8MP ultra-wide).
The phone isn’t perfect though, as we thought its camera experience was clearly a case of quantity over quality. We’ve previously documented the issues with selfie quality, and our own Ryan-Thomas Shaw also felt the extra rear cameras were disappointing. So you might want to hold off on this if you’re a frequent photographer (or wait for a Google Camera port).
OnePlus also delivered a Snapdragon 765G processor with 5G connectivity, although there isn’t mmWave support here. Nevertheless, a 5G phone for under €500 is a pretty decent deal.
OnePlus Nord specs:
- Display: 6.44-inch, Full HD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 765G
- RAM: 6/8/12GB
- Storage: 64/128/256GB
- Cameras: 48, 8, 2, and 5MP
- Front cameras: 32 and 8MP
- Battery: 4,115mAh
- Software: Android 10
Samsung Galaxy S20 series
The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G was the brand’s first major 5G flagship, but the S20 series marks the first time that the entire lineup is 5G-enabled (Well, save for 4G variants in a few regions where 5G isn’t available yet).
Samsung’s new phones pack great cameras, featuring 8K video recording, the ability to extract 33MP still photos from 8K videos, and ultra-high resolution cameras. In fact, the S20 Ultra packs a 108MP main camera as well as a 4x periscope camera.
In terms of the all-important 5G capabilities, the smaller, lower-cost Galaxy S20 is the only model that lacks mmWave 5G support. In saying so, Verizon is launching a mmWave-enabled S20, but it lacks microSD support and has less RAM than the standard S20. The larger, pricier S20 Plus and S20 Ultra support both mmWave and sub-6GHz flavors of 5G.
The S20 series originally launched at $999, but the Galaxy S20 FE has also joined the party recently. This delivers the core Galaxy S20 experience (120Hz, 5G, wireless charging, water resistance) for just $700.
Samsung Galaxy S20 specs:
- Display: 6.2-inch, Quad HD+
- Chipset: SD 865 / Exynos 990
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Cameras: 12, 64, and 12MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 4,000mAh
- Software: Android 10
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus specs:
- Display: 6.7-inch, Quad HD+
- Chipset: SD 865 / Exynos 990
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 128/256/512GB
- Cameras: 12, 64, and 12MP + 3D ToF
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Software: Android 10
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra specs:
- Display: 6.9-inch, Quad HD+
- Chipset: SD 865 / Exynos 990
- RAM: 12/16GB
- Storage: 128/256/512GB
- Cameras: 108, 12, and 48MP+ 3D ToF
- Front camera: 40MP
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Software: Android 10
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE specs:
- Display: 6.5-inch, Full HD+
- Chipset: SD 865 / Exynos 990
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Cameras: 12, 12, and 8MP
- Front camera: 32MP
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Software: Android 10
Motorola Edge Plus
Despite its high price tag and being a Verizon exclusive in the US, the Edge Plus is still a premium 5G smartphone worth looking into. It features a Snapdragon 865 chipset, a giant battery, an OLED screen with a high refresh rate and multiple rear cameras with heavy-duty specs. As CNET’s Patrick Holland declared, it’s “one of the most wonderful Android phones I’ve tried in a long time.”
| Brand | Motorola |
| Model | Edge+ |
| Price in India | ₹64,999 |
| Release date | 22nd April 2020 |
| Launched in India | Yes |
| Form factor | Touchscreen |
| Dimensions (mm) | 161.10 x 71.40 x 9.60 |
| Weight (g) | 203.00 |
| IP rating | IP54 |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 5000 |
| Removable battery | No |
| Fast charging | Proprietary |
| Wireless charging | Yes |
| Colours | Smoky Sangria, Thunder Grey |
OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro
The OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro impressed with their excellent performance, their slick designs and their generally decent cameras. While both are 5G-enabled, it was the base OnePlus 9 that particularly wowed us, with its much better battery life and its more affordable price tag. It’s the phone to go for if you want a flagship experience but don’t want to empty your bank account to get it.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G
Right before it unveiled the Note 20, Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Flip 5G, a 5G variant of the Galaxy Z Flip that went on sale earlier this year in February. The foldable clamshell phone costs $1,450, though it’s currently on sale for $600, and is sold through Samsung, AT&T and T-Mobile.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the most innovative and arguably the best smartphone available. The design has been perfected by Samsung, and there is very little missing in this new smartphone. It is expensive at $2,000, but it is built with the best specifications, delivers superb performance, and provides you with a 5G phone and small tablet in a single device.
With 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, 256GB internal storage, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus processor, and stunning display technology, the Z Fold 2 is tough to beat.
Motorola One 5G
The $445 One 5G is one of the best, most affordable 5G phones available. This cheap phone has a total of six, yes six, cameras, a 90Hz high-refresh rate display and fast-charging technology. It’s available now in the US on AT&T and Verizon’s mobile networks
Samsung Galaxy A71 5G
The $600 Galaxy A71 5G features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display, four rear cameras and a robust 4,500-mAh battery. In the US you can nab it on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G
Launched in 2019, the high-priced Galaxy Note 10 Plus is the predecessor to the Note 20 Ultra and has a 6.8-inch screen, all-day battery life and excellent camera tools. Its 5G variant, the Note 10 Plus 5G, was one of the most popular 5G phones when it first launched. It’s still available on Verizon for $1,300.
vivo X60 Pro
The vivo X60 Pro is powered by a new chipset that came out this year – the Snapdragon 870. It’s a step up from the Snapdragon 865 processor that was already very powerful. However, unlike the ROG Phone 5, the vivo X60 Pro isn’t made for gamers.
Motorola One Ace 5G
Motorola also has a $399 entry in the budget 5G segment. Not that surprising, considering Motorola has been making some of the best budget phones for the last few years, and our review of the Motorola One Ace 5G found out it’s no exception.
