New technology works best when everyone commits to it — 2020 is the year everyone is committing to 5G connectivity. A ton of support from carriers and smartphone companies is going to flood the market with 5G-capable phones this year. 5G isn’t everywhere (yet), but if you live in a place with a 5G network, these are the best 5G phones you can buy — starting with our top pick, the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G.
Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G
The biggest thing the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G has a lot going for it is that it’s built on the exact same platform as the excellent Galaxy Note 10+. The Note 10+ 5G is the same in terms of size, specs and capabilities — meaning it has the same amazing screen quality, high-end internals, consistently great cameras, and Samsung software that’s filled with features. Plus, it still has the S Pen.
But Samsung is charging $200-300 more than the current going price for the 4G version of the Note 10+, and that’s tough to swallow.
Pros:
- Huge, high-quality screen
- Big battery
- Complete Galaxy Note 10+ experience
- Models for Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile
Cons:
- Extremely expensive compared to standard Note 10+
- Will be effectively replaced by Galaxy S20 Ultra
Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G
$1,300 at Samsung
The future is now … with a few caveats
The Note 10+ 5G has access to the future of networking, but you spend extra to get it. 5G aside, it’s effectively a Note 10+.
Cheaper on Verizon: LG V50 ThinQ 5G
The Galaxy Note 10+ 5G is a great phone, but it’s also incredibly expensive. If you’re shopping for a 5G device with a more modest budget on Verizon, you can get the LG V50 for about $300 less. It’s feeling a bit old now as it’s a year old, but its hardware and specs are still solid considering its price. You don’t get the excellent display and S Pen of the Note 10+ 5G, but you’re getting a capable phone nonetheless.
Pros:
- Hundreds cheaper than Note 10+ 5G
- Big display
- Solid 4000mAh battery
- High-quality speaker and headphone DAC
Cons:
- Older hardware starting to feel outdated
Cheaper on Verizon
LG V50 ThinQ 5G
$1,000 at Verizon
Save a few hundred dollars
The V50 5G is arguably not as capable as the Note 10+ 5G, but it’s also hundreds of dollars less and is very capable with the same 5G access.
Best for T-Mobile: OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren Edition
The OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition is a bit of a superfluous upsell over the standard 7 Pro or 7T Pro, but on T-Mobile it’s a much cheaper alternative when it comes to getting 5G. The 7T Pro 5G McLaren Edition has really nice hardware with incredible specs inside, a smooth 90Hz display and exceptional software and performance. Its cameras are a downside compared to the flagship competition, but once again this is a really solid price for a 5G phone today.
Pros:
- Affordable 5G connectivity
- Incredible performance
- Smooth 90Hz display
- Simple and fast software
Cons:
- Weaker cameras than other flagships
- No water resistance rating
- No wireless charging
Best for T-Mobile
OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren Edition
$900 at T-Mobile
A great phone, but one that has questionable value at this price
OnePlus software continues to be excellent, and the hardware and specs you get are top-notch. And for some extra money, you get 5G.
Best for Sprint: OnePlus 7 Pro 5G
Sprint’s 5G options are limited, but thankfully one of the 5G phones it has offers solid value: the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G. Once again you’re getting solid hardware, with incredible specs and software performance for hundreds less than the top-tier 5G phones. The cameras aren’t going to blow you away, and it’s missing bonuses like water resistance and wireless charging, but in this case it feels worth it for the money.
Pros:
- Great price for a 5G phone
- Strong battery life
- Super-smooth 90Hz display
- Simple and fast software
Cons:
- Weaker cameras than other flagships
- No water resistance rating
- No wireless charging
Best for Sprint
OnePlus 7 Pro 5G
$840 at Sprint
The best of limited options — but with a great price
The OnePlus 7 Pro is a great phone in its own right, and it also happens to be the best choice for getting 5G on Sprint.
These are premium phones for enthusiasts
5G coverage is growing, but it isn’t yet to the point where we can unequivocally recommend that you have to get a 5G phone. At the same time, 5G phones are noticeably more expensive than their 4G counterparts — and there aren’t any “affordable” mid-range 5G phones yet. That means we’re still at the lower point in the adoption curve where these 5G phones are for enthusiasts who want to have the latest and greatest — and are willing to spend extra for it.
For those who want to get to the biggest speeds before anyone else, the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G is a clear winner — but it’s also incredibly expensive. And at this point, the new Galaxy S20 lineup is expected to come to the market in 5G-only flavors. The Note 10+ 5G will of course still have its own unique S Pen, but it will be a half-generation old (if you look at it that way), and will be ea bit outdated in some respects. Even if you don’t want an S20, so you can keep your S Pen, the Note 10+ 5G stands to have a price reduction soon.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Samuel Contreras is a writer covering networking and 5G at Mobile Nations. He spends most of his time researching computer components and obsessing over what CPU goes into the ultimate Windows 98 computer. It’s the Pentium 3.
Andrew Martonik is the Executive Editor, U.S. at Android Central. He has been a mobile enthusiast since the Windows Mobile days, and covering all things Android-related with a unique perspective at AC since 2012. For suggestions and updates, you can reach him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @andrewmartonik.