Best 5G Phones of 2023
Want the fastest data possible? Check out our picks for the best 5G phones out there.

Flagship phones from Apple, Samsung and Google like the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, Galaxy S23 and Pixel 7 lineup, are 5G-ready. That means they're equipped to deliver the fastest possible data speeds across your wireless network. And while they tend to be pricey, there are plenty of affordable 5G options like the Google Pixel 6A and Apple's cheapest, the 2022 iPhone SE. Rest assured, you should be able to find a good 5G-ready phone at a price you're comfortable with.
Though it won't replace 4G in its entirety, 5G is the next generation of mobile connectivity. 5G works fast, and many industries and products can benefit from the upgraded network, including drones, self-driving cars and internet-of-things devices. Its growth across the US, the UK and the wider world has been fast, but it's still not everywhere quite yet, so make sure 5G coverage is available -- or at least coming soon -- in your area before you spend your cash on a 5G-enabled handset.
Remember 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 S23 Ultra or iPhone 14 even if you aren't in a 5G network zone. 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.
With 5G handsets being offered by 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 a list of our top 5G-enabled phones that you can go and buy right now.
What is the best 5G phone right now?
In 2023, there isn't one specific phone that stands conspicuously head and shoulders above the others. If you're an iOS user the best phone you can buy is the iPhone 14 Pro. It has an A16 Bionic processor, a new main camera with a larger and higher megapixel sensor, and the Dynamic Island, a display cutout that shows system alerts and background activities.
If you're on Android, our favorite phone is the Google Pixel 7 Pro. We like it better than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra mainly because, at $899, the Pixel 7 Pro costs $300 less than the S23 Ultra. The Pixel has an upgraded camera, runs on Google's Tensor G2 chip and comes with exclusive goodies like Photo Unblur.
Best 5G phones of 2023
Best premium 5G iPhone
Apple iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max
Apple's iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max introduce a variety of changes, like the Dynamic Island instead of the old notch, a new 48-megapixel camera system that's seriously impressed us, and the new A16 Bionic processor. All these upgrades come together to make for an experience that feels fresh and fast compared with older generations.
It's the most expensive iPhone you can buy, especially if you opt for the larger Max version, but if you want the high performance and stellar camera quality of Apple's top phone, then the iPhone 14 Pro is for you. Read our iPhone 14 Pro review.
Pros:
- The Dynamic Island is delightful
- Main camera takes excellent photos
- A16 Bionic chip is blazing fast
Cons:
- Telephoto camera is only good in bright light
- Wish there was an easier way to simplify the always-on display
- Both phones are hefty
Best premium 5G Pixel phone
Google Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 7
Google's Pixel 7 range has seriously impressed us with the combination of a slick refreshed design, superb cameras and a smooth overall experience which makes both these phones a joy to use. At $599 the base Pixel 7 is an affordable option for those of you looking for a solid Android phone for all of your everyday needs.
The Pixel 7 Pro has a larger $899 price tag, for which you get a larger display and a more fully-featured camera system that includes a superb telephoto zoom lens. Otherwise its processor and interface is the same as the cheaper model, so it's worth considering how important the extra camera features are. Read our Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro reviews.
Pros:
- Stellar camera with awesome new features
- Design refinements look classy
Cons:
- Battery life is only OK
Best premium Samsung 5G phone
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Galaxy S23 is a lot, but in a good way. It's more than most people need in a phone, but that doesn't make it any less impressive. Samsung made improvements to the camera's resolution (200 megapixels compared to 108 megapixels), color tones and dynamic range, while retaining the same edgy design and massive 6.8-inch screen as its predecessor. There's also a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that's been optimized specifically for Samsung's phones, which brings faster performance compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
With a starting price of $1,200, it may be an understatement to call this phone expensive. But those willing to pay more for a giant screen and a high-quality, versatile camera won't be disappointed. Read our full review of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Pros:
- Fast performance
- Excellent main camera, especially in low light
- Bright screen
- Included stylus
- Double the storage in the base model
- Four years of Android OS updates
Cons:
- High price
- Photos don't always look natural, especially selfies
- No improvements to fast charging
Best 5G foldable phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the biggest leap forward Samsung's flip phone has seen in years. Samsung has significantly expanded the size of the cover screen located on the outside of the device, meaning you can look up directions, take photos and send messages without opening the phone. It's this combined with the Z Flip's solid battery life and sturdy design that makes it a top pick.
The Z Flip 5 may be our favorite flip phone, but there are still some drawbacks to be aware of. At $1,000, it's still expensive for a phone without a telephoto camera. And not all apps work natively on the front screen as they do on the Motorola Razr Plus. Read our review of the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Pros:
- Big cover screen is fun to use
- New hinge eliminates the gap when closed
- Solid battery life
- More storage in base model
Cons:
- Expensive
- Not all apps work on the cover screen natively
- Apps don't transition from main screen to cover screen
- Minimal camera updates
A great, affordable Samsung Galaxy phone
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
Though it's one of the cheapest phones you can buy from Samsung, the Galaxy A54 still packs great features, like 5G connectivity, a decent multiple rear camera setup, solid battery life and power enough for your everyday essentials. It looks pretty, too, and it's one of the few remaining phones that lets you expand the built-in storage using microSD cards.
It's a great all-round budget phone, although generally we found that the Pixel 6A offers better camera and processor performance, and it costs less than the Samsung. Read our review of the Galaxy A54 5G.
Pros:
- Big, vibrant screen
- Expandable storage
- Affordable price
Cons:
- Processor and camera performance lags behind cheaper Pixel 6A
Best fast-charging 5G phone
Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola
The Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola has a lot going for it, from its palatable regular $700 price to its unique aesthetic, easy compatibility with PCs and smooth 6.6-inch screen. But it's the ThinkPhone's incredibly fast charging that truly makes it stand out. It supports 68-watt fast charging and notably comes with a compatible power adapter in the box, making it one of the fastest-charging phones you can buy in the US. In CNET's testing, the ThinkPhone's battery went from empty to 92% in 30 minutes.
Still, every phone has its drawbacks. The cameras on the ThinkPhone struggle in low light, which means it may not take the best photos in dim restaurants and bars. And even though it's a great value at $700, there are some cheaper alternatives that are also compelling, such as Google's Pixel 7A. Read our Lenovo ThinkPhone review.
Pros:
- Cohesive design
- Incredibly fast charging
- Cross functionality with PCs
- Incredible value for the price
Cons:
- The cameras are good, but struggle in low light
- The Google Pixel 7 is $100 less
Best budget OnePlus phone
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
The $300 OnePlus Nord N30 5G includes a lot of features for the money, but its 50W charging speed is a standout for this price range. The phone can charge from 0% to 100% in 45 minutes, and most other phones that cost $300 or less need 90 minutes to two hours to do the same thing. Its large 6.72-inch 1,080p display that runs at a 120Hz refresh rate also makes apps, games, websites and streaming video animate smoothly.
However it's worth calling out that the 108-megapixel main camera -- despite being an astounding megapixel number on a phone -- takes photos that are only marginally better than what I usually see from phones in this price range. While the OnePlus does face stiff competition from Google's Pixel 6A -- especially when the Pixel is discounted to $299 -- it does include a lot of functionality for its $300 price. Read our OnePlus Nord N30 5G review.
Pros:
- Truly fast charging
- Large 120Hz refresh rate screen
- NFC for contactless payments
Cons:
- Mixed photography
- Short software update timeline
Best budget 5G Pixel phone
Pixel 6A
The Pixel 6A may be more than a year old, but its new $349 price still makes it a tempting choice for Pixel fans on a budget. CNET's Lisa Eadicicco called it the "best Android phone under $500" in her initial Pixel 6A review in 2022, calling out how it keeps the same Tensor chip seen in the higher-end Pixel 6 and many of its features.
The phone is slightly smaller than the Pixel 6, featuring an 6.1-inch OLED display and a refresh rate of 60Hz. And it has a similar camera to the Pixel 5A, including a 12.2-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. But by including the Tensor chip, photos can benefit from its Real Tone skin tone feature, Face Unblur, Night Sight for darker photography and the Magic Eraser for removing unwanted elements from a photo. Read our Pixel 6A review.
Pros:
- Great camera
- Affordable price
- Premium design for a middle-tier phone
- Among the first to get new Android updates
Cons:
- Somewhat dim display
- Not as many years of guaranteed Android updates as Samsung
- Video quality isn't as good as still photos
Best budget 5G iPhone
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
The iPhone SE may be the cheapest phone Apple produces, but it still comes with superfast 5G. While it lacks the camera prowess of the much more expensive iPhone 13 Pro, it runs the latest iOS 15 software and uses the same processor found in the higher-end models, making it a great phone for everyday use and light gaming. Read our iPhone SE (2022) review.
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Home button and Touch ID FTW
- Good battery life so far
- Camera takes good photos and videos
Cons:
- Lacks night mode for photos
- Screen could be brighter
- Bezels above and below screen look dated
- Selfie camera not on par with rear camera
- 20-watt USB-C charger not included
Best premium OnePlus 5G phone
OnePlus 11
The $700 OnePlus 11 is a powerful phone that's well equipped to handle gaming, video streaming and other common tasks. In typical OnePlus fashion, this phone is also cheaper than the Galaxy S23 and Pixel 7 Pro. The cameras aren't the best, but they're fine for casual photographers that just want to capture their next vacation or a night out.
What sets the OnePlus 11 apart from many of its rivals is its blazing fast 100-watt fast charging, which can replenish the battery in just 25 minutes. (The US version only supports 80-watt charging, but that's still an improvement over the Galaxy S23 Ultra's 45-watt charging). Overall, the OnePlus 11 is ideal for those who want a powerful phone that charges quickly and won't break the bank. Read our full review of the OnePlus 11.
Pros:
- Incredible performance for gaming
- Slick, refreshed design
- Hyper-fast charging
- Five years of security support
Cons:
- Cameras are good but not great
- Better waterproofing on rivals
Best small 5G iPhone
Apple iPhone 13 Mini
Although Apple's new iPhone 14 range didn't bring with it a new iPhone Mini, it has resulted in last year's iPhone 13 Mini being offered at a lower $599 starting price. If you're someone who prefers smaller, pocket-friendly devices, this is a good option to consider.
The 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Mini is easy to use with one hand and even fits into tight jean pockets. While battery life isn't as strong as others in the range, this petite Apple iPhone doesn't sacrifice on camera capabilities or processing power. Read our iPhone 13 Mini review.
Pros:
- Cameras are lovely
- Longer battery life compared to previous generation
- Cinematic mode is fun
Cons:
- Still want a smaller notch
- Cinematic mode is more of a novelty than a pro feature
- Selfie camera could be better
How we test phones
Every phone on this list has been thoroughly tested by CNET's expert reviews team. We actually use the phone, test the features, play games and take photos. We assess any marketing promises that a company makes about its phones. And if we find something we don't like, be it battery life or build quality, we tell you all about it.
We examine every aspect of a phone during testing:
- Display
- Design and feel
- Processor performance
- Battery life
- Camera quality
- Features
We test all of a phone's cameras (both front and back) in a variety of conditions: from outdoors under sunlight to dimmer indoor locales and night time scenes (for any available night modes). We also compare our findings against similarly priced models. We have a series of real world battery tests to see how long a phone lasts under everyday use.
We take into account additional phone features like 5G, fingerprint and face readers, styluses, fast charging, foldable displays and other useful extras. And we, of course, weigh all of our experiences and testing against the price so you know whether a phone represents good value or not.
Read more: How we test phones
5G phone FAQs
Are 5G phones more expensive?
Is a 5G phone better than a 4G phone?
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