TOP 5 PHONES

The best 5G phones on the market right now, from budget-friendly beauties to feature-packed flagships

ONEPLUS 7 PRO 5G

From £49 a month over 24 months and £50 up front, ee.co.uk

Having initially set up shop as a brand offering top-level specs at mid-range prices, OnePlus continues to go from strength to strength some six years after unveiling its first handset, and the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G is testament to that – look at that gorgeous, high-resolution 6.67-inch screen, or the very capable triple-lens rear camera, or the beautiful gradient effect around the back of the handset. The front display has no notch and very little in the way of bezels, and that’s thanks to an automated pop-up selfie camera that’s much more than a gimmick – once you get used to it, you’ll find it makes a lot of sense (especially if you don’t take many selfies anyway). There are some missing features, such as waterproofing and wireless charging, but that means a lower price of admission, and all the essential features are present and correct (including an excellent Android software experience).

SAMSUNG NOTE 10+ 5G

From £1,099, samsung.com

There’s no doubt that the Samsung Note 10+ 5G is one of the most powerful and premium Android handsets you can get your hands on at this moment in time – the spacious 6.3-inch screen, the top- of-the-line internal specs, the stylish modern looks, full waterproofing, wireless charging, and of course the integrated stylus (that’s going to raise eyebrows everywhere you pull it out). If you want the very best Google-powered phone at the moment, this is probably it… as long as you have deep enough pockets. Besides the 5G capabilities that get it into this list of smartphones in the first place, the Samsung Note 10+ 5G also offers a very capable triple-lens rear camera, with ultrawide capabilities and 2x optical zoom too. The Samsung Android UI continues to get better and better too, so the software experience is a very slick and intuitive one as well.

SAMSUNG A90 5G £579, samsung.com/uk

If you don’t want to splash out on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G, then the A90 is a very capable alternative for nearly half the price. It cuts a few corners compared to the more expensive Samsung device (no wireless charging, no waterproofing, a lower resolution screen), but at the same time it’s still a premium-level handset that’s going to whizz through any sort of task you set it, and take stellar photos and videos as well. The bright and vibrant screen is a very generous 6.7 inches, while the camera on the back of the phone is a triple-lens model (there is an ultrawide lens, but no optical zoom). The recently launched One UI take on Android that Samsung has been working on puts the Galaxy software closer than ever to stock Android in terms of quality and polish too, so this is a fantastic all-round package. See our full review on p87.

HUAWEI MATE 20 X 5G £699, consumer.huawei.com

The Huawei Mate 20 X 5G offers plenty of power, some very appealing looks, and of course that sweet 5G connectivity without which we wouldn’t even be talking about it. Besides those connectivity speeds, you get an absolutely huge 7.2-inch screen and some very capable internal specs, as well as a triple-lens rear camera around the back – Huawei has always excelled when it comes to mobile cameras, and the one on board the

Mate 20 X 5G is no exception. The Chinese tech giant has a less impressive reputation when it comes to its take on Android, but if you can put up with an operating system that has a few quirks, then this is a fine and relatively affordable 5G option to weigh up. What you don’t get with the Huawei Mate 20 X 5G is full waterproofing or wireless charging, so you’ll need to look elsewhere for those features.

XIAOMI MI MIX 3 5G £399, mi.com

If you haven’t heard of Xiaomi before, the Chinese electronics giant has made a big name for itself in Asia, and is now making strides in Europe and the rest of the world too – its phones are powerful, well designed and reliable, and leave you wondering why you would pay extra for something with a more recognisable brand name. When it comes to the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G, the most unusual feature is the slide-up selfie camera that appears with a flick of the wrist – it takes some getting used to, but it means you don’t have to put up with a notch or much in the way of bezels on the 6.39-inch front display. Aside from that, you get premium internal specs and a dual-lens rear camera that can take some genuinely impressive photos, though there’s no wireless charging or waterproofing. A budget 5G phone choice that doesn’t cut many corners.