The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best 5G phone out there — here's why

5G networks are popping up all over the map, with many regions offering the next-generation cellular standard. Those looking for faster cellular speeds should consider getting a 5G phone. We’ve done the legwork and picked the very best 5G phone currently available. Additionally, we’ve rounded up a few other great 5G phones, just to give you a bit more options to choose from. Let’s dive in.

The best 5G phone: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was at the top of this list of the best 5G phones for most of 2022, and now it has a successor. We have yet to review the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, but we can already tell you it is the best 5G phone of 2023. The newer Samsung handset takes everything that was great about the S22 Ultra and improved upon it.

The phone supports both mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G. It also offers high-end specs and a bunch of extra bells and whistles that will keep power users happy. So not only is it the best 5G phone around, but it’s also one of the best Android phones overall.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is a huge device with its 6.8-inch display. It sports four rear cameras that will take fantastic images in just about any lighting condition. It’s one of the best phones for photography enthusiasts, alongside the Pixel 7 series. It’s also the market leader when it comes to software support, as it promises four years of OS and five years of security updates. This means it should get up to Android 17.

The handset comes with an S Pen, making it a great replacement for the discontinued Note series. It offers all the power you need, as it can handle just about any task you throw at it with ease. And the build quality is simply amazing, which makes the phone feel extremely good in the hand.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra specs:

Other 5G phones to consider

While the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best 5G phone to get in our opinion, we understand that it’s not for everyone. Some don’t want to spend that much money on a phone, don’t need all the features it offers, or simply think it’s too big. With that in mind, we’ve made a list of a few other great 5G phones available from different brands and at different price points, just to give you a bit more variety.

Editor’s note: We’ll regularly update this list of the best 5G phones as new devices launch or are announced.

Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus are quite similar phones to one another, but they offer less than the Ultra model listed above. You get mmWave and sub-6GHz support with both, and you’ll also find the same high-end chipset under the hood. And this time around Samsung has released no Exynos versions, so all S23 will have a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, globally.

More options: The best Samsung phones available

However, the cameras are a bit different compared to the Ultra model. The two Galaxies come with three rear sensors instead of four, and the main one offers a much lower resolution. Regardless, they are still among the best camera phones you can get. The handsets also come with a lower display resolution and smaller batteries, among other things.

They are still flagship devices and are suitable for all you power users out there. They offer the same specs and features for the most part, with the exception of the S23 having a smaller screen and a smaller battery with slower charging (45W vs 25W).

Samsung Galaxy S23 specs:

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus specs:

ASUS ROG Phone 6 series

There are two phones in the ROG Phone 6 series. The first is the ROG Phone 6 Pro, which is the best of the two. It has everything a gamer needs, including a large 6.78-inch display with a 165Hz refresh rate, a massive 6,000mAh battery with 65W charging, and great performance thanks to Snapdragon’s latest chipset paired with 18GB of RAM.

Read next: ASUS ROG Phone 6 Pro review

The device comes with ultrasonic Airtriggers that are fully customizable in terms of sensitivity and button mapping. To level up your gaming experience, you can also get various accessories like ASUS’ Aero Active Cooler 6 that does a great job cooling down the handset when playing games for a long time, or the Kunai 3 controller that makes the gaming experience more enjoyable for most people.

The second device in the series is the ROG Phone 6, which is more or less identical to the Pro model. The only two differences are that it tops out at 16GB of RAM instead of 18GB and that it lacks a secondary rear display, which is capable of displaying the time, text messages, logos, and other simple things.

Asus more recently released the ROG Phone 6D series, which come with MediaTek Dimensity 9000 Plus processors. These are great phones, but they support less 5G bands, which is why we’re sticking with the ROG Phone 6 series for now.

ROG Phone 6 specs:

ROG Phone 6 Pro specs:

Google Pixel 7 series

The Pixel 7 is one of the best value phones you can currently get. Starting at just $599, it offers terrific cameras, a great software experience, and a beautiful design. It also packs plenty of power under the hood thanks to Google’s Tensor G2 SoC. The handset supports mmWave and sub-6GHz networks in the US. European models only support sub-6GHz speeds.

Our take: Google Pixel 7 review | Google Pixel 7 Pro review

The Pixel 7 Pro is similar to its smaller brother in many ways, featuring the same design, chipset, software, and other features. However, it does have a larger display with a higher resolution, and bigger battery, an extra camera at the back, and more RAM. It’s definitely the better of the two, but it also costs more with its starting price of $899.

Google’s latest flagships are promised to get three years of OS support and will be among the first phones to get updated to the latest version of Android once it launches.

You could also look into the Google Pixel 6a if you want a more affordable device from Google. The USA version does support both mmWave and sub-6GHz.

Google Pixel 7 specs:

Google Pixel 7 Pro specs:

Xiaomi 12 series

First launched in China, we didn’t recommend the Xiaomi 12 series for some time. However, the duo of 5G phones made its way to other countries.

The Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12 Pro are outstanding 5G phones, featuring premium designs, high-end specs, and overall great experiences. While Xiaomi is known for its affordable prices, these are not cheap, with prices starting at €999 for the Xiaomi 12 and €1,099 for the Pro variant.

Both come with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 8/12GB of RAM, 128/256GB of storage, and AMOLED screens with a 120Hz refresh rate. The differences between both phones aren’t too significant. The Pro has a slightly larger 6.73-inch display with a QHD+ resolution. The Xiaomi 12 has a 6.28-inch Full HD+ panel. The larger device also has a slightly bigger 4,600mAh battery instead of 4,500mAh.

The Xiaomi 13 series is already out, so you might want to wait for those devices. That said, they’re suffering from the same slow-downs the predecessors had to endure. The phones are still exclusive to China, and so the current iterations still limit 5G support to the Chinese market in terms of supported bands. This might change once these devices start making it to other countries, though.

Xiaomi Mi 12 specs:

Xiaomi Mi 12 Pro specs:

OnePlus 11

Another phone first launched in China is the OnePlus 11. It has since been launched globally, including in North America, and it’s definitely among the best 5G phones around.

The OnePlus 11 offers a premium design and build quality. Sporting a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and as much as 16GB of RAM, performance is also high-end. The screen is large at 6.7 inches, and it looks incredible thanks to the LTPO3 Fluid AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.

You also get an IP64 rating, a large 5,000mAh battery, and 100W fast charging (80W in the USA).

OnePlus 11 specs:

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4

Those looking for a foldable 5G phone have a couple of great options from Samsung. While the other Samsung flagships might have an edge in certain respects, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4‘s lure is that it can be folded in half, much like a classic flip phone. Unfolding the device will showcase a sharp 6.7-inch 2,640 x 1,080 AMOLED display.

It finally packs near-flagship-level internals, but the Z Flip 4 is still a little light in the battery department. Features include a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor, up to 512GB of internal storage, and a 3,700mAh battery.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 may be the best foldable smartphone made to date and certainly the most affordable. Even if the clamshell-style form factor isn’t as beneficial as something like the Galaxy Z Fold 4, the quality of the hinge and improved display outweigh the negatives.

If you’re into foldable phones and don’t mind paying much more for a smartphone/tablet hybrid, you should also look at the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. It’s a beast of a device and also supports 5G speeds. The main difference is that, while the Z Flip 4 folds in, the Z Fold 4 is more like a regular-sized smartphone that folds out into a tablet form factor. Specs are also high-end, and the experience is nothing short of what you can expect from a premium handset device.

Both devices support mmWave 5G technology.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 specs:

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 specs:

Apple iPhone 14 series

The latest flagship series from Apple includes the iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max, making it easy for everyone to find a phone they like.

All the phones deliver OLED screens, water resistance, wireless charging, mmWave support, and Apple’s blazing-fast processor. However, only the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max sport the latest A16 Bionic SoC, while the other two models come with last year’s A15 Bionic under the hood. The Pro models also sport three rear cameras and the new Dynamic Island features, while the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus still have a classic notch up top and two cameras at the back.

Other options: The best iPhone 14 alternatives

The Pro and Pro Max are basically the same phones with the biggest differences between them being the size of the display and battery. The story is the same with the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. All four are great devices regardless of which one you go for, you can be sure you’ll get your hands on one of the best 5G phones available.

If you’re looking for an iPhone experience on a budget, take a closer look at the 2022 iPhone SE. It offers a fantastic experience at a much lower price point. This lower-end device has no mmWave support, though. You’ll have to settle with sub-6GHz.

Apple iPhone 14 specs:

Apple iPhone 14 Plus specs:

Apple iPhone 14 Pro specs:

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max specs:

POCO X5 Pro

All the options on this list of the best 5G phones are amazing, but most are also pretty expensive. The good news is that 5G technology is becoming more widespread and even affordable devices are getting faster data speeds. One of our favorites is the POCO X5 Pro, and you can often find it at around $400, imported.

The device has a lot to offer for its low price. Aside from sub-6GHz data speeds, you get a Snapdragon 778G processor, a large 6.67-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, as much as 8GB of RAM, and 128-256GB of storage. And you’ll get plenty of life out of the 5,000mAh battery.

In our review we mention the phone has poor secondary cameras, plenty of bloatware, and comes with an already outdated Android 12 version. That said, we don’t think those are big sacrifices to make for what you’re paying.

POCO X5 Pro specs

Samsung Galaxy A53

Not a fan of POCO? Maybe you want to go with a more renown brand. Samsung has some great mid-tier devices that don’t cost an arm and a leg. One of the ones we recommend most often is the Samsung Galaxy A53. It’s definitely one of the best 5G phones to get on a budget. It has mmWave and sub-6GHz support, as well as an overall great experience.

Packed inside, you’ll find an Exynos 1280 processor, 4-8GB of RAM, and as much as 256GB of storage. In good Samsung fashion, it comes with a nice 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, and it also has a 120Hz refresh rate. The battery is large at 5,000mAh, and you even get a quad-camera system.

Samsung Galaxy A53 specs:

Sony Xperia 1 IV

This is the best phone from Sony you can currently get. The Xperia 1 IV was announced in May and offers high-end specs as well as loads of bells and whistles power users will enjoy. This 5G handset supports both sub-6GHz as well as mmWave technology.

You get a large 4K display with a 120Hz refresh rate, the fastest chipset currently available, a headphone jack, and even a microSD card slot. The battery comes in at 5,000mAh and supports 30W charging, getting it up to 50% in 30 minutes, according to Sony. It’s a great phone for creators, offering super camera autofocus, stellar video capture, and a few unique content-creator apps. The speakers are great as well.

Sony’s flagship also features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, wireless charging, and a 21:9 aspect ratio that makes it quite tall and slim. The biggest drawback of the device is its price, which comes in at $1,600. You can save some cash if you get the Sony Xperia 5 IV, which is also an amazing phone. It’s still not a cheap device, by any means, though.

Sony Xperia 1 IV specs:

What is 5G, anyway?

5G is the next step in cellular connectivity, in the same way that 4G followed 3G. This mobile connectivity standard delivers faster downloads than 4G LTE, although top speeds vary with the specific 5G technology used — more on this later.

5G also enables lower latency, which is ideal for VoIP calls, video conferencing, and online gaming. Essentially any real-time activity where lag can be of concern.

Finally, 5G networks bring reduced congestion compared to 4G. This means you shouldn’t have as much trouble holding a connection at concert venues, stadiums, busy cities, and other places with a ton of people.

Many carriers in Africa, China, Europe, Korea, the Middle East, and the US offer 5G. India is one of the biggest markets without 5G right now, but hopefully, the standard will launch soon.

This is just a brief overview of what 5G is. To learn more about the technology, check out the dedicated post using the link below.

Here: What is 5G, and what can we expect from it?

Are 5G phones safe?

We’ve seen several alleged 5G dangers in recent years, with one persistent claim being that 5G causes cancer. These claims have been doing the rounds with 2G, 3G, and 4G. Nevertheless, the evidence generally points to this not being the case.

Another popular conspiracy theory is that 5G is somehow responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Simply put, cellular radio waves don’t create viruses or weaken the immune system. So, please don’t burn down towers.

The 5G/coronavirus conspiracy theory also doesn’t hold water when the likes of India and Iran — two nations with loads of COVID-19 cases — don’t have 5G networks right now.

All signs point to 5G being safe or just as safe as 4G and other technologies. The internet is full of nonsense myths about 5G tech, a lot of which our very own Gary Sims debunked in a video you can check out above.

mmWave versus sub-6Ghz 5G phones: What’s the difference?

5G is divided into two standards, much like HSPA+ and LTE are two 4G standards. These two 5G standards are mmWave and sub-6GHz.

mmWave 5G is the faster of the two standards right now, with a 2021 OpenSignal survey noting that Verizon’s mmWave 5G network offers average download speeds of almost 700Mbps. But this standard is more unreliable than sub-6Ghz and legacy 4G, making it suitable for much smaller pockets of coverage.

Meanwhile, sub-6Ghz 5G isn’t much faster than gigabit LTE. In fact, the survey above showed speeds varying from 238Mbps by Korea’s LG U+ down to 47Mbps for T-Mobile in the US. Nevertheless, sub-6Ghz 5G offers blanket coverage much like legacy 4G tech, and you’re still benefiting from reduced network congestion and lower latency.

These are our picks for the best 5G phones you can buy now or will be able to soon, but plenty of other suitable devices didn’t make the cut. We’ll update this list with new models as soon as they launch. In the meantime, you should check out our list of the best cellphone plans to find the right 5G provider for your needs.