5G phone networks have gone live, and we're seeing more and more devices with next-generation connectivity hitting stores. The future isn't coming anymore. It's here.
So what 5G phones can you buy now? And which ones are the best? We'll cover that and more in this guide.
In this guide:
- The best 5G phone for most
- The best 5G Android phone
- The best 5G phone for battery life
- The best budget 5G phone
- 5G phones on Telstra
- 5G phones on Optus
- 5G phones on Vodafone
- Should I buy a 5G phone?
- 5G coverage
The best 5G phone for most: iPhone 13
If you're looking for a new 5G phone and can't make up your mind, the iPhone 13 is the best choice for most.
While the iPhone 13 is one of the cheaper devices in the iPhone 13 family, it doesn't feel like too much of a compromise when compared to the "Pro" models.
The iPhone 13 features the same primary camera you got on last year's iPhone 12 Pro Max - which until now, was the best camera on any more smartphone. The iPhone 13 Pro offers a little bit of an upgrade, but unless you're a serious on the go photographer, the details may be to subtle to notice. All you really miss out on is a zoom lens, macro mode, and a smoother display.
Those may all be nice to have, but the iPhone 13 still delivers on every other front. The screen is still great, you still get 5G, performance is zippy, and the battery is reliable.
Considering the iPhone 13 starts at $1,349 outright while the iPhone 13 Pro starts at $1,699, the compromises you make aren't major. And all in all, the iPhone 13 is just an excellent all-round device that's easy to recommend.
When compared to the current stock of high-end 5G Android devices, we'd say the iPhone 13 is a better pick in the long run. Android flagships tend to only get a maximum of three years of software and security updates, while Apple offers much longer support for its handsets.
The iPhone 6s (released in 2015) will still be upgraded to iOS 15 later this year, for example. Even if you don't want to keep a phone that long, iPhones tend to have better resale value as a result.
Popular iPhone 13 128GB Plans
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The best Android 5G phone: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
If you're looking for a high-end 5G Android smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a safe bet.
While it's Samsung's most expensive non-foldable phone, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is also the Android flagship that makes the least compromises this year.
For example, the standard Galaxy S21 struggled to last an entire day unless we disabled functionality like the 120Hz refresh rate display, whereas that's not as much of an issue on the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
In addition, you get the best zoom on a smartphone right now, a great primary camera, a stunning display, and a lovely high-end build. If you're after a premium Android phone, the Galaxy S21 Ultra won't disappoint.
The best 5G phone for battery life: iPhone 13 Pro Max
5G can be pretty demanding on your phone battery, especially if you're constantly connected to the next-generation network. This means many 5G phones can struggle to last the full day, at least for heavier users.
If you're looking for a 5G device that won't have that issue, you should go be looking at the iPhone 13 Pro Max. In our testing, we found it could comfortably rack up between eight and ten hours of screen time per charge.
For comparison, many 5G phones only get between three and four hours of screen time per charge.
In addition, the iPhone 13 Pro Max also has the best camera setup of any iPhone 13 (along with the iPhone 13 Pro) thanks to a 3x zoom lens, a better primary sensor with a faster aperture (for better low light photography), an improved ultra-wide lens, and a new macro mode.
The best budget 5G phone: Motorola Edge 20 Fusion
If you're after a cheap 5G phone, the Motorola Edge 20 Fusion is the best pick at the lower end of town. Despite the $499 price tag, it has a plenty fast processor, a 90Hz display, and a reliable battery. While the camera can be a little bit slow, it's nonetheless pretty good for the price point.
Most importantly, the Motorola Edge 20 Fusion s isn't just a good, cheap 5G phone. It's an excellent value device regardless of whether you need next-generation connectivity right now.
5G phones on Telstra
These are the 5G smartphones you can buy on a plan from Telstra. Be aware that Telstra's cheapest plans do not include 5G connectivity. If you want to access Telstra's 5G network, you need to be on a Medium plan ($65 per plan fee) or better.
iPhone 16 128GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy S25 256GB
- 6.2 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 256GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Plus 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy S25 512GB
- 6.2 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy S25+ 256GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Plus 256GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Pro 128GB
- 6.3 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP, 48MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy Z Flip6 5G 256GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Android 14
- 5G Capable
Galaxy S25+ 512GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 512GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Pro 256GB
- 6.3 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP, 48MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy Z Flip6 5G 512GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Android 14
- 5G Capable
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB
- 6.9 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP, 48MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB
- 6.9 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 200MP, 10MP, 50MP, 50MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
5G phones on Optus
These are the 5G smartphones you can buy on a plan from Optus. 5G connectivity is included on all Optus plans. If you buy a 5G phone from Optus, you can pay an extra $10 per month to double your data. 12 months of free 5G double data is available on Optus' top two plans.
iPhone 16 128GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy S25 256GB
- 6.2 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 256GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Plus 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy S25 512GB
- 6.2 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy S25+ 256GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Plus 256GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Pro 128GB
- 6.3 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP, 48MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy Z Flip6 5G 256GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Android 14
- 5G Capable
Galaxy S25+ 512GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 512GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Pro 256GB
- 6.3 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP, 48MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy Z Flip6 5G 512GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Android 14
- 5G Capable
iPhone 16 Plus 512GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB
- 6.9 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP, 48MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
5G phones on Vodafone
These are the 5G smartphones you can buy on a plan from Vodafone. 5G connectivity is included on all Vodafone plans, but the Vodafone 5G network is currently much smaller than Telstra and Optus' networks. Right now, Parramatta, NSW is the only place Vodafone says it has 5G connectivity.
iPhone 16 128GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy S25 256GB
- 6.2 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy S25+ 256GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 256GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Plus 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy S25 512GB
- 6.2 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy S25+ 512GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Plus 256GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Pro 128GB
- 6.3 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP, 48MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy Z Flip6 5G 256GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Android 14
- 5G Capable
iPhone 16 512GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB
- 6.9 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 200MP, 10MP, 50MP, 50MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Pro 256GB
- 6.3 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP, 48MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy Z Flip6 5G 512GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Android 14
- 5G Capable
iPhone 16 Plus 512GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Should I buy a 5G phone?
At this stage of the rollout, 5G is far from essentially given the limited coverage and use cases. That being said, if you are planning on keeping a phone for three or four years, 5G could certainly be nice to have from a future-proofing perspective. It's hard to predict the future, but as it stands, we can't imagine you'll be missing out on much by not having a 5G phone - at least for the next year or two.
We'd say you don't have to go out of your way to buy a 5G phone right now, but if the phone you want happens to have 5G, that's certainly a nice bonus.
5G coverage
WhistleOut's coverage checker tool has been upgraded with 5G coverage maps, making it easy to see whether you can get 5G at your location. All you need to do is punch in your address when searching for a new phone plan. After you've done so and hit Search, you can jump straight to the coverage map by tapping See Coverage Map and then tapping Click To Activate Interactive Map.
This map will show you what kind of coverage you have in your area. 5G coverage is highlighted using the darkest shade of purple, but unticking 4G and 3G can help make it clearer. The drop down menu lets you choose between telcos.
At this stage, we don't have interactive maps for Vodafone due to the telco's limited 5G coverage. At this stage, Vodafone still seemingly only has 5G coverage in Parramatta, NSW. It had not updated its own coverage maps since March.
Coverage maps are only approximate, only show outdoor coverage, and may be impacted by local conditions such as buildings.
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