Best 5G phone to buy in 2022: top 5G-ready smartphones from Samsung, Google, OnePlus and more

Here are the best 5G phones to buy in 2022, along with some advice on where to spend your money and additional features to consider.

Looking for more smartphone recommendations? Try our guides on the best Android phone, best iPhone and best camera phone. And, to keep in touch with older relatives, you might want to check out our guide to the best smartphone for older people.

Considering an Apple device? Make sure to read our iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12 guide to see if it's worth investing in the new flagship. Or if you prefer Android, find out our initial thoughts of the new Google Pixel series in our Google Pixel 6 Pro review.

Best 5G phones at a glance

Best 5G phones to buy in 2021

OnePlus 9 Pro

Best 5G phone

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Key features:

Beyond being 5G ready, the OnePlus 9 Pro is filled to the brim with top-notch features. At 6.7-inch in size, the phone's screen has a 120Hz refresh rate that matches other flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Fast charging is also available, and the smartphone is dust and water-resistant.

However, the star of the show is the quad-camera setup. Using Hasselblad tech, the smartphone has a 50MP ultra-wide sensor along with a huge 48MP front camera.

Read the full OnePlus 9 Pro review.

Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro SIM-free:

OnePlus 9 Pro (256GB) deals

Oppo Find X3 Pro

Best for features

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The Oppo Find X3 Pro is another Android smartphone that has a lot of features to offer. Along with 5G connectivity, this Oppo flagship also has fast and wireless charging capabilities, a quad-camera set-up and an incredibly crisp and responsive 6.7-inch AMOLED display. If you want a smartphone that offers a lot more than just 5G and you don't mind the premium price tag, the Oppo Find X3 Pro is the choice for you.

Read the full Oppo Find X3 Pro review.

Buy the Oppo Find X3 Pro SIM-free:

Oppo Find X3 Pro deals

Google Pixel 4a 5G

Best for Android fans

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The Google Pixel 4a 5G has one of the neatest and simplest interfaces to navigate. It makes it extremely pleasant to use, and this same streamlining carries on through the smartphone's features. It has a 6.2-inch OLED display, which is a decent size without being cumbersome, and the design is slender. Where Google has gone the extra mile is with the camera. The camera matches that in the more premium Google Pixel 5, and there's a 12MP primary camera and a 16MP ultra-wide that perform well even in low light.

Read the full Google Pixel 4a 5G review.

Buy the Google Pixel 4a 5G SIM-free:

Google Pixel 4a 5G deals

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

Best for design

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OK, so there's one clear selling point when it comes to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, and that's that it is 'foldable'. When closed, the smartphone is a compact size of 6.2 inches that can then be folded out into a 7.6-inch tablet. However, there's more to the Z Fold 2 than novelty. It has some decent specs, including fast and wireless charging, dual-SIM card support and split-screen multitasking that allows you to view multiple apps at once.

Read the full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 review.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 SIM-free:

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 deals

Motorola Moto G50

Best for battery life

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The Motorola Moto G50 has a battery life that easily lasts over 24 hours. And for a phone that's under £200, the Moto G50 offers some of the best value available. Features include a 6.5-inch display, a triple-camera set-up and a 90Hz refresh rate that makes scrolling feel pretty smooth. If you want 5G and brilliant battery life for a budget price, the Motorola Moto G50 is the best option by far.

Read the full Motorola Moto G50 review.

Buy the Motorola Moto G50 SIM-free:

Motorola Moto G50 deals

iPhone 12 Pro

Best for iPhone loyalists

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The release of the iPhone 12 series last year meant that Apple loyalists could finally get the benefit of 5G. The four iPhone 12 models are the only iPhones that are 5G-ready. If you're willing to spend a little extra, the iPhone 12 Pro offers a more comprehensive camera set-up than the standard iPhone 12, along with the key features including the A14 Bionic chip, IP68 water resistance and wireless charging.

Read the full Apple iPhone 12 Pro review.

Interested in the newest model? We're gearing up to review the iPhone 13, but in the meantime you can head to our iPhone 13 features guide for the full list of specs, or check out the latest iPhone 13 deals.

Buy the iPhone 12 Pro SIM-free:

iPhone 12 Pro deals

Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G

Best budget 5G option

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The Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro is one of the most affordable ways to access the benefits of 5G. The highlights of the Poco M3 Pro include a battery life that easily lasts two days of use and a 6.5-inch FHD+ LCD display that has a decent 90Hz refresh rate. It also has an old-school headphone jack for those of us who still prefer wired headphones.

Read the full Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G review.

Buy the Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro SIM-free:

Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G deals

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Best affordable Samsung

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If you're looking for a 5G Samsung phone that doesn't quite reach the dizzying heights of a grand and a half, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a great option. It's still a premium offering but just with a slightly more reasonable price of £999. Its best features include S Pen support, a camera that captures 8K video and a large 6.8-inch display.

Read the full Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra SIM-free:

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra deals

How to choose the best 5G phone

So, you've decided you want a 5G phone. Now, you need to establish a budget and choose which features are essential for you to have.

How we tested the best 5G phones

All the smartphones in this guide have been tried, tested and reviewed by our tech experts. Each smartphone was tested against the same criteria before being given a final rating out of five.

The categories we considered included the phone's design, camera, battery life, and features such as wireless charging and dual SIM support. These are, of course, weighed up against the phone's price to decide if it is good value for money. This is essential when the cost of 5G phones can vary from £200 to a huge £1600.

To determine the scores (out of 5), we carried out a series of tests. For example, we timed the whole set-up process, from opening the box, through various updates, to being signed into all our favourite apps.

All the smartphones to make it into our best 5G phones guide received an overall rating of 3.5 or higher.

Head to the Technology section for more product guides and reviews, including our round-up of the best smartphones and best SIM-only deals.