The Best 5G Phones in 2025: Speed, Performance and Value

With 5G networks expanding across the UK, upgrading to a 5G-compatible phone ensures faster downloads, smoother streaming, and better connectivity. Whether you're looking for a flagship powerhouse or a budget-friendly option, here’s a breakdown of the best 5G phones available in 2025.

Why Buy a 5G Phone?

Before diving into the best models, here’s why 5G is worth it:

Top 5G Phones in 2025

iPhone 16 Pro Max

✅  Pros

  1. 5G Bands

    • Sub-6GHz & mmWave

  2. Display & Design

    • 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR (Largest iPhone display ever)
    • ProMotion 120Hz LTPO (1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate)
    • Thinner bezels (Higher screen-to-body ratio)
    • Titanium frame (Stronger & lighter than stainless steel)

  3. Performance

    • A18 Pro chip (3nm+, 20% faster CPU/GPU)
    • 8GB RAM (Up from 6GB in 15 Pro Max)
    • Enhanced cooling system (Better sustained performance)

  4. Camera System

    • 48MP main sensor (Larger pixels for better low-light)
    • 5x Tetraprism zoom (Improved stabilization)
    • New ultra-wide sensor (Better night mode)
    • Spatial Video recording (For Apple Vision Pro)

  5. Battery & Charging

    • Largest battery ever in iPhone (~4,900mAh)
    • 40W wired charging (Up from 27W)
    • 20W MagSafe wireless (Up from 15W)

  6. Exclusive Features

    • Capture Button (Dedicated camera control)
    • Advanced AI features (On-device LLM)
    • Wi-Fi 7 support (Faster wireless speeds)

  7. Software

    • iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence
    • 7+ years of updates
    • Exclusive AI features

❌ Cons

  1. Price

    • Expected £1,199+ starting price (Most expensive iPhone ever)
    • 1TB model could reach £1,600+

  2. Size & Weight

    • Larger and heavier than 15 Pro Max (Potential over 240g)
    • Harder for one-handed use

  3. Limited Ports

    • Still Lightning or USB-C 2.0 (While competitors use USB 3.2+)
    • No multi-port functionality

  4. Thermal Issues

    • Potential overheating with sustained A18 Pro performance
    • Throttling during intensive tasks

  5. Camera Bump

    • Even larger camera array (May wobble on tables)
    • Cases will be bulkier

  6. Slow Charging

    • Still behind Android flagships (Many offer 65-120W charging)
    • No true fast wireless charging

  7. Regional Differences

    • Some 5G/mmWave limitations by region
    • Potential modem differences (Qualcomm vs Apple modem)

📊   Verdict - iPhone 16 Pro Max

👍 Best for: Users who want the ultimate iPhone experience regardless of cost

👎 Avoid if: On a budget!

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

✅  Pros

  1. 5G Bands

    • Sub-6GHz & mmWave

  2. Revolutionary Display

    • 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 3X (New generation panel)
    • 1-144Hz LTPO 4.0 (Smoother adaptive refresh)
    • 3000 nits peak brightness (Best in class)
    • Under-display camera (True full-screen design)

  3. Next-Gen Performance

    • Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 / Exynos 2500 (3nm+ process)
    • 16GB LPDDR5T RAM (Fastest mobile memory)
    • Adreno 750 GPU (Ray tracing support)

  4. Camera Innovations

    • 200MP ISOCELL HP3S (1-inch sensor rumored)
    • 10x periscope zoom (Improved stabilization)
    • Dual-pixel Pro autofocus (All lenses)
    • 8K/120fps video (With HDR10+)

  5. Battery & Charging

    • 5500mAh silicon-carbon battery (New tech)
    • 65W wired + 25W wireless charging
    • Smart heat dissipation system

  6. AI & Software

    • Galaxy AI 2.0 (On-device LLM)
    • 7 OS updates (Up to Android 21)
    • Real-time language translation (Offline)

  7. Build & Durability

    • Titanium 2.0 frame (Lighter & stronger)
    • Armor Aluminum 3.0
    • IP69 rating (Dust/water/high-pressure resistant)

  8. Exclusive Features

    • S-Pen with 2ms latency
    • Satellite connectivity
    • Ultrasonic fingerprint v3

❌ Cons

  1. Prohibitive Pricing

    • Expected £1,499+ starting price
    • 1TB model could reach £1,899

  2. Size & Weight

    • Largest Galaxy S ever (May exceed 6.9")
    • Potential 250g+ weight

  3. Thermal Challenges

    • New chipset may throttle under heavy loads
    • 8K video overheating concerns

  4. Camera Bulk

    • Massive camera bump (4cm+ thickness)
    • Case compatibility issues

  5. Fast Charging Lag

    • Still behind Chinese brands (Many offer 120W+)
    • No multi-port charging

  6. Regional Disparities

    • Exynos vs Snapdragon performance gap
    • mmWave limitations in some markets

  7. First-Gen Tech Risks

    • Under-display camera quality unknowns
    • New battery tech long-term durability

📊   Verdict - Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

👍 Best for: Tech enthusiasts wanting the ultimate Android experience

👎 Avoid if: You prefer compact phones or budget devices

Google Pixel 9 Pro

✅  Pros

  1. 5G Bands

    • Sub-6GHz & mmWave

  2. Design & Build

    • New premium design (Flat metal frame, matte glass back)
    • Smaller size options (6.1" and 6.7" variants)
    • IP68 water/dust resistance

  3. Display

    • LTPO OLED (1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate)
    • Higher peak brightness (~2,400 nits)
    • Thinner bezels (More screen real estate)

  4. Performance

    • Google Tensor G4 chip (Improved efficiency/performance)
    • 12GB/16GB RAM options (Better multitasking)
    • Enhanced cooling system

  5. Camera System

    • New 50MP main sensor (Larger pixels for better low-light)
    • Upgraded telephoto lens (5x optical zoom expected)
    • Advanced computational photography (New AI features)
    • Better video stabilization

  6. AI & Software

    • Exclusive Gemini AI features
    • Android 15 out-of-the-box
    • 7 years of OS updates (Matching Samsung)
    • Circle to Search and other Pixel-exclusive tools

  7. Battery & Charging

    • Larger battery capacity (~5,000mAh)
    • Faster wired charging (30W+ expected)
    • Improved wireless charging

❌ Cons

  1. Chipset Limitations

    • Tensor G4 still lags behind Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
    • Potential thermal throttling under heavy loads

  2. Price Increase

    • Expected £999+ starting price (Up from Pixel 8 Pro)
    • May undercut value proposition

  3. Slow Charging

    • Still behind Chinese flagships (Many offer 65-120W)
    • No true fast wireless charging

  4. Limited Availability

    • Not available in all markets
    • 5G band support varies by region

  5. Hardware Compromises

    • No periscope zoom (Rumored for Ultra model only)
    • Single eSIM slot in some regions

  6. First-Gen Features

    • New AI tools may have bugs initially
    • Some exclusive features may require internet

  7. Accessory Ecosystem

    • Fewer case/accessory options vs Samsung/Apple
    • No stylus support

📊   Verdict - Google Pixel 9 Pro

👍 Best for: Users who prioritize camera quality and AI features

👎 Avoid if: You need full 5G band support in all regions

OnePlus Nord 4

✅  Pros

  1. 5G Bands

    • Sub-6GHz & mmWave

  2. Next-Gen Performance

    • Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 (50% faster GPU than Nord 3)
    • 16GB LPDDR5X RAM options
    • Adreno 732 GPU (Excellent for mid-range gaming)

  3. Premium Display

    • 6.74" 1.5K AMOLED (Upgraded brightness to 1600 nits)
    • LTPO 4.0 120Hz (1-120Hz adaptive refresh)
    • 10-bit color depth (1B colors)

  4. Blazing Charging

    • 100W SuperVOOC (0-100% in ~25 mins)
    • 5500mAh battery (Larger than Nord 3)
    • Battery Health Engine (Longer lifespan)

  5. Design Upgrades

    • Aluminum unibody (First in Nord series)
    • IP65 rating (Dust/water resistance)
    • 2.8D curved glass back

  6. Camera Improvements

    • New 50MP Sony IMX890 (OIS + EIS)
    • Upgraded 16MP ultrawide
    • 4K60fps video recording

  7. Software & Updates

    • OxygenOS 14 (Android 14-based)
    • 3 OS updates (Up to Android 17)
    • 4 years security patches

  8. Enhanced Features

    • Alert slider return
    • Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos
    • Wi-Fi 6E support

❌ Cons

  1. Price Increase

    • Expected £400+ (£50 more than Nord 3)
    • No charger in box (Some regions)

  2. Camera Limitations

    • No periscope zoom
    • No 8K video recording
    • Average macro camera

  3. Missing Flagship Features

    • No wireless charging
    • No Always-On Display
    • Plastic frame (Despite aluminum claims)

  4. Software Constraints

    • Still behind Samsung (4 OS updates)
    • Delayed security patches

  5. Size & Ergonomics

    • 8.3mm thickness
    • 196g weight (Heavier than Nord 3)

  6. Regional Variations

    • Different RAM configurations
    • No mmWave support

  7. Early Adopter Risks

    • First-gen 100W charging (Potential heating)
    • New chipset optimization

📊   Verdict - OnePlus Nord 4

👍 Best for: Power users wanting near-flagship specs at mid-range price

👎 Avoid if: You need wireless charging or best cameras

Samsung Galaxy A55

✅  Pros

  1. 5G Bands

    • Sub-6GHz & mmWave

  2. Design & Build

    • Glass back + aluminum frame (premium for mid-range)
    • IP67 water/dust resistance (rare in this price range)

  3. Display

    • 6.6-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate
    • FHD+ resolution (vibrant colors, smooth scrolling)

  4. Performance

    • Exynos 1480 (improved efficiency over A54)
    • 8GB RAM (solid for multitasking)

  5. Software

    • One UI 6 (based on Android 14)
    • 4 major OS updates + 5 years of security patches

  6. Battery Life

    • 5,000mAh battery (all-day endurance)
    • 25W fast charging (decent for mid-range)

  7. Camera

    • 50MP OIS main camera (good daylight photos)
    • 12MP ultrawide + 5MP macro (versatile setup)

  8. Storage

    • Expandable via microSD (up to 1TB)

❌ Cons

  1. Performance Limitations

    • Exynos 1480 lags behind Snapdragon 7-series chips (e.g., 7 Gen 3)

  2. Charging Speed

    • Only 25W (competitors offer 30W–65W)
    • No wireless charging

  3. Low-Light Photography

    • Average night mode (no dedicated telephoto)

  4. Bluetooth & Audio

    • Bluetooth 5.3 (not 5.4)
    • No 3.5mm headphone jack

  5. Weight & Thickness

    • 213g (heavier than some rivals)

  6. No High-End Features

    • No Wi-Fi 6E, no UWB, no telephoto lens

  7. Regional Variations

    • Some markets get weaker Exynos variants

📊   Verdict - Samsung Galaxy A55

👍 Best for: Budget-conscious users who want a premium build, AMOLED display, and long software support.

👎 Avoid if: You need flagship performance, fast charging, or advanced cameras.

5G Phone Buying Guide

What to Look for in a 5G Phone?

Do You Need mmWave?

Final Verdict: Which 5G Phone Should You Buy?

CategoryBest Pick
Best OveralliPhone 16 Pro Max
Best AndroidSamsung S25 Ultra
Best CameraGoogle Pixel 9 Pro
Best Mid-RangeOnePlus Nord 4
Best BudgetSamsung A55 5G

For most users, the Google Pixel 9 Pro offers the best balance of price, performance, and AI features. If you're on a tight budget, the OnePlus Nord 4 or Samsung A55 5G are excellent choices.

Where to Buy?

Ready to upgrade? Check coverage in your area with Ofcom’s 5G map before buying!