Best T-Mobile phones in 2023

When it comes to your choice of wireless carriers here in the U.S., the magenta-clad T-Mobile is a strong contender for many people, even though it’s a bit smaller than Verizon or AT&T. However, since merging with Sprint, T-Mobile has been doing a lot of work on expanding its 5G network, which is now the largest in the country.

If you’ve decided on T-Mobile as your wireless service provider, you may wonder what phones are best for the service. The good news is that T-Mobile works with many of the best Android phones available today, so you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.

Best phones to use with the Un-Carrier

When you think of everything most people want their smartphone to be, it’s hard

not

to suggest the Google Pixel 7 Pro as the top choice because it just gets so much right.

It’s powerful — packed with 12GB of RAM and the Tensor G2 chipset that does a bunch of new AI software tricks possible on the phone. It’s beautiful — featuring a large 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED display that’s brighter than ever, and its rear camera bar still makes it stand out in a crowd of smartphones that all look like big black bricks, even if it’s a bit of a controversial style.

Where the Google Pixel 7 Pro shines the brightest is the camera. Yes, it has the same 50MP primary sensor from last year’s Pixel, but it’s able to crop in at 2x this year with incredible results. The ultra-wide lens has been upgraded to a much wider field-of-view (which earns it the name of “ultra-wide”), which helps the Pixel 7 Pro exclusive Macro Mode. One of the biggest reasons smartphone camera enthusiasts want the Pro over the base Pixel 7 is the telephoto lens that can shoot with a 5x zoom and can go up to 30x digital zoom using Super Res Mode, allowing you to get closer to your subjects than ever before.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Premium pick

The ultimate powerhouse on T-Mobile

$1000

$1200

Save

$200

If you’re looking for the best of the best out of Android in 2023, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is it. It’s the only one in the S23 lineup to feature the company’s flagship 200MP ISOCELL HP2 camera sensor, the only one with a 5000mAh battery, and the only one to push the storage envelope up to 1TB. It is costly, but T-Mobile does offer the option to put $0 down on a 24-month plan.

Pros

• Amazing display
• Tons of horsepower for productivity

Are big phones, with big displays, lots of features, and all the power you can cram into a smartphone, your cup of tea? If so, we suggest the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra as your next daily driver.

Samsung’s premium flagship device features a huge 6.8-inch screen that is also the best display on a smartphone right now. With a variable refresh rate that can get up to 120Hz, content looks sharp and crisp, and animations look smoother than ever. Not to mention, the OLED panel is the best at showing contrast and

colors

, making it a superb phone for watching your favorite content.

While the four-camera array (200MP f/1.7 primary, 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, 10MP f/2.4 3x telephoto, 10MP f/4.9 10x telephoto) on the rear offers a ton of versatility for anyone who loves shooting pics, it may be even better for fans of taking videos. The S23 Ultra can shoot in 8K, which is just an incredible tool to have in your pocket at all times. Add in the fact you can take the training wheels off at any time and enter Pro shooting mode for more ultimate control over how your photos look, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra makes an impeccable camera phone.

Source: OnePlus

OnePlus Nord N30 5G

Best value

Get it free with a new line!

$150

$300

Save

$150

The OnePlus Nord N30 is a cheap phone with hardware that punches well above its weight class. The 6.72-inch display is sharp and quick with a 120Hz display, and the 50W charging speed for the 5000mAh battery is unmatched by most other phones, including some flagship models.

Pros

• Smooth 120Hz refresh rate
• Bright 6.72-inch display
• Fast charging up to 50W

Cons

• Subpar camera performance
• Build quality isn’t great

The OnePlus Nord N30 isn’t as exciting as its predecessor, the Nord N20, but it’s still great value for T-Mobile users at under $300 — and free if you sign up with a new line. This phone packs a solid Snapdragon 695 SoC paired with 8GB of RAM that has no trouble keeping up with the 120Hz refresh rate on the 6.72-inch IPS LCD. The display isn’t quite as impressive as the AMOLED unit used in the older model, but it’s still a good screen at this price with a 1080×2400 resolution.

This phone is upgraded with a 5000mAh battery compared to 4500mAh on the older model. Not only that, but you can charge it faster than many flagship phones, with 50W wired charging supported thanks to SuperVOOC. It supports 5G on T-Mobile, including its Ultra Capacity speeds, so you’re ready for the next few years of 5G expansion. It also comes with a healthy 128GB of storage for your photos and apps, and it can be expanded with a microSD card.

When it comes to software, this phone launched with Android 13 with the familiar OxygenOS running on top. OnePlus has promised only one major Android update with three years of security

updates

, which isn’t great compared to budget phones from Samsung and Google. That being said, this phone still punches above its weight in terms of hardware, so it should have no trouble keeping up with the everyday needs of most shoppers.

Source: Google

Google Pixel 7

A more affordable Google

Nearly as good as the Pro

$500

$600

Save

$100

Available from T-Mobile with $0 down on a 24-month plan, the Pixel 7 offers a lot of what the Pro model provides, like improved cameras, the next-gen Tensor G2 chipset, and Google’s wonderfully feature-filled software that makes the Pixel series run so smoothly.

Pros

• Excellent software experience
• Fantastic camera performance

Cons

• Can struggle in low-service areas

The Google Pixel 7 offers a good amount of performance to make just

about

anyone happy. The 8GB of RAM inside can be paired with either 128 or 256GB of storage, and the new Google Tensor G2 provides a solid amount of power to the Pixel 7, making it suitable for gaming and productivity. The battery life isn’t too shabby either, even with a modest 4355mAh capacity.

Since launch, users’ issues connecting to networks properly — particularly in less populated areas — have plagued the device. If you plan on using it on T-Mobile, ensuring you’re in a good service area may be better.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

Excellent midrange Android

Great features and price

With a 120Hz AMOLED display, a 50MP camera that promises to be capable even in low-light situations, and a faster processor, the A54 looks to be one of the more impressive phones in its price range. Plus, T-Mobile has some incredible deals on the device that can even help you snag one for only $99.

Pros

• Fantastic display
• Excellent software support

Don’t feel like spending flagship prices, but want a phone that has quite a few flagship features? That’s where the Samsung Galaxy A54 comes in. Equipped with a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display that looks absolutely amazing and a very good battery life, it’s a phone that’s just hard to say no to.

Sure, its Exynos 1380 won’t be as powerful as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 you’ll find in the S23 series, but it’s a very capable

chip

that can handle all your day-to-day tasks just fine. Not to mention, the battery life can let you coast for about 48 hours, which is good because the charging speed is a bit slow, and there’s no wireless charging option.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a midrange phone with this much software support and this many premium features under $500, and given that T-Mobile has some incredible deals on the device, it really is a steal.

Moto G Stylus 5G (2023)

For stylus lovers

Precision input with a budget price

$300

$400

Save

$100

The Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) is significant upgrade over last year’s model with a solid Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 and an ultrawide camera instead of macro. This phone supports the majority of T-Mobile’s 5G coverage with low-band and mid-band including C-band. The stylus is stored inside the phone so you don’t lose track of it too.

Pros

• Excellent stylus features
• Smooth 120Hz IPS display
• Strong battery life with 20W charging

Cons

• No wireless charging
• Screen is a bit too dim outdoors

It’s easy to be impressed by the Moto G Stylus line of phones with their big batteries, solid performance, and low prices and the latest 5G model is no different. As we saw in our Moto G Stylus 5G review, this year’s model comes with the impressive Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, offering performance improvements in both everyday usage and gaming compared to the 2022 version. It comes with 6GB of RAM which should be plenty for typical usage.

The stylus is basic, but Motorola’s software makes the most of it with a sidebar that pops out when you take the stylus out of the phone. You can also take notes without needing to find an app by simply removing the stylus when the phone is locked. Paired with a 120Hz IPS display and a few sound effects, writing on this phone feels great.

While a 4G-only Moto G Stylus is available, to make the most of T-Mobile, you really want the 5G model. Luckily, this phone supports all of T-Mobile’s most important bands including n25, n41, n66, and C-band. If you’re looking for phone that’s a little easier to use with gloves or just want a bit more precision in your input, the Moto G Stylus is an excellent affordable option that’s even free with a new line.

Source: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Best foldable

T-Mobile has some great deals on the best foldable phone

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 continues to refine Samsung’s foldable design with the elimination of the hinge gap when folded. While its other improvements are minor, it’s still one of the best large foldable phones you can buy with full 5G support in the U.S. It also offers four Android version updates with five years of security updates.

Pros

• Reduced thickness compared to the Fold 4
• Strong battery life
• OneUI foldable enhancements are strong

Cons

• Very expensive
• Slow charging at 25W

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is one of the best large folding phones you can get in the U.S., with a refined design and excellent software to make the most of the screen real estate. On the outside of this phone, you get a tall 6.2-inch AMOLED display with a 904×2316 resolution at 120Hz. On this outer screen, you can access all of your apps just like on any other Galaxy smartphone. But if you want a little more

space

, the internal 7.6-inch display offers a lot more space with a 1812×2176 resolution.

The internal screen not only lets you view your apps on a larger display, but it also enables multi-tasking with multiple apps. If that’s not enough multi-tasking for you, the DeX feature enables desktop-like usage with an external monitor, mouse, and keyboard. This flexibility means that for some people, the Z Fold 5 can really do the job of a phone, tablet, and laptop. However, you’ll need to keep a charger handy with a 4400mAh battery and relatively slow 25W charging. At least wireless charging is included at up to 15W.

One of Samsung’s biggest advantages when it comes to folding phones isn’t its hardware — it’s the software. Samsung’s OneUI 5.1 will feel very familiar to someone coming from another Samsung foldable, but it’s still one of the best for navigating the OS and using multiple apps simultaneously. Of course, with the lightning-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU, the phone can handle any task you throw at it.

Source: Apple

Apple iPhone 14 Pro

Apple’s best

Best option for Apple fans

T-Mobile isn’t going to leave Apple users out in the cold, and if you like the iPhone, we’d suggest the iPhone 14 Pro. Even though it would cost you $1,000 to buy outright, the magenta carrier offers the ability to put $0 down if you opt to make monthly payments for two years.

Pros

• Powerful and fast
• Excellent software support

Cons

• Better if you’re invested in the Apple ecosystem

When it comes to using the phone, the iPhone 14 Pro is a delight. Apple’s A16 Bionic chipset is just as speedy as any other top-end chip in the game, meaning you don’t have to worry about your favorite apps and games not running smoothly. While there’s no doubt Apple’s iOS is way more locked down and a tad blander than all the different versions of Android, iOS 16 is probably the most customizable iPhone software ever.

The screen is absolutely gorgeous and has a viable refresh rate that reaches up to 120Hz making all content look great whether you’re watching YouTube or scrolling the latest news. I know it seems like a gimmick (and it is a little bit), but Dynamic Island has been a bright spot on the iPhone 14 Pro, and as more developers include support for it in their apps, it’s only going to get better.

Source: Motorola

Moto Razr+ (2023)

Best compact foldable

Motorola’s best folding phone yet

$900

$1000

Save

$100

Motorola might have taken some time off from launching its foldables in the US, but it’s back with a bang with the Moto Razr+. This year, the focus is all on the 3.6-inch outer display, which promises to let you do virtually anything without opening the phone – and even wraps right around the cameras. And when you need a larger screen, the 6.9-inch display inside feels just like the company’s other smartphones.

Pros

• Large exterior screen improves closed usability
• Solid battery life with quick 30W charging
• Small and thin (15.1mm folded)

Cons

• Mediocre camera performance

While Moto Razr helped kick off the folding phone market, buyers in the U.S. have had to look for Samsung for the past couple of years. That changed with the Moto Razr+, a clamshell folding phone with a large outer display, and a lovely design. There’s even a striking Viva Magenta color that’s the perfect vibe for T-Mobile.

The outer display is the real showstopper with a 3.6-inch OLED panel running at 120Hz. It feels great to use and is more useful than ever with a selection of shortcuts and apps, so you don’t need to flip it open for every notification. The inner screen is large and vibrant with a 6.9-inch OLED panel at 120Hz and performance is excellent with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 under the hood.

The 3,800mAh battery isn’t winning any awards for longevity, but it’s solid for a folding phone, and it can be quickly topped up with 30W fast charging support. Network support is strong with all of T-Mobile’s low and mid-band 5G bands supported and Wi-Fi 6E for home. It ships with Android 13 and is set to receive three OS updates and four years of security updates.

Excellent phones work well on T-Mobile

With T-Mobile being one of the big three carriers in the U.S., it’s not hard to find a great phone that works on its network. Plus, with an extra focus on building out its 5G network, it’s bound to get even better for the best 5G phones now and in the future.

It’s hard to beat the entire package that comes with the Google Pixel 7 Pro; it’s just a great phone. With all the power and performance you expect from a flagship, plus a superb camera system that continues to impress with each tweak Google makes, it’s hard not to view the Pixel 7 Pro as the best T-Mobile smartphone for most people.

Source: Google

Google Pixel 7 Pro

Best overall

Google’s best on T-Mobile

If you’re going with T-Mobile as your provider for your Pixel 7 Pro, you’ll be happy to know that the phone supports 5G, both sub6 and mmWave. So, in theory, it should be able to take advantage of T-Mobile’s vast 5G network. In addition, advanced calling features like Call Screening, Hold for Me, and Direct My Call — all powered by Google’s AI — make it one of the best devices to make or take your calls on. It’s available from T-Mobile for $0 down on a 24-month plan (conditions may apply) if you don’t want to buy it outright.