Jump to:
- At a glance
- Best overall
- Best budget
- Best compact option
- Best value flagship
- Best mid-ranger
- Best under $300
- Best flip-style
- Best foldable
- Best performance
- How to choose
Quick Menu
At a glance
1. Best overall
2. Best budget
3. Best compact option
4. Best value flagship
5. Best mid-ranger
6. Best under $300
7. Best flip-style
8. Best foldable
9. Best performance
How to choose
Unsurprisingly, a lot of the best T-Mobile phones also double up as some of the best phones in general, but that doesn't always mean it's easy to choose one. Whether you're a new customer or have been with the carrier for many years, there are quite a few great options worth checking out, and we've rounded up the best among them to help you out.
Perhaps the most important thing to consider while choosing a good Android phone is to ensure that it offers all the features you need, at a price you can afford. Our top vote goes to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra because it's the ultimate flagship that has just about every feature you could think of. Alternatively, you can go for the Google Pixel 9, which offers a wide variety of flagship perks at a fairly reasonable price. Then we have the budget options such as the OnePlus Nord N30 5G, which includes all the essentials and even has some features that you won't find on much more expensive devices.
At a glance
1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Best overall
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features a titanium frame, full S Pen support, fast wired and wireless charging, and more. It will also get seven years of OS and security updates.
Read more below.
2. Google Pixel 8a
Best budget
The Google Pixel 8a comes with a good spec bump over the 7a. It offers amazing camera quality, improved performance, Pixel-exclusive perks, and even wireless charging support, all at a great price.
Read more below.
3. Samsung Galaxy S24
Best compact option
Loaded with top-tier hardware, the Samsung Galaxy S24 offers incredible performance in a compact form factor. You also get solid cameras, modern connectivity features, AI-based goodies, and seven years of OS and security updates.
Read more below.
4. Google Pixel 9
Best value flagship
Having a new squared-off design, the Google Pixel 9 offers you a lot of bang for your buck(s). It also features a new custom SoC, a plethora of AI-based features, and years of software and security updates.
Read more below.
5. Samsung Galaxy A54
Best mid-ranger
From a big Super AMOLED display to years of software updates, the Samsung Galaxy A54 gives you many features usually found in much pricier phones, but at a lower price.
Read more below.
6. OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Best under $300
Despite its super affordable price tag, the OnePlus Nord N30 5G packs in a 120Hz display, stereo speakers, and charging speeds that can put flagship smartphones to shame.
Read more below.
Load the next 3 products↓
7. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Best flip-style
With its flat frame, improved design, and an IP48 certification, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is hands-down one of the best flip-style Android smartphones available in the market. It comes with top-of-the-line hardware, solid battery life, and will be supported for years to come.
Read more below.
8. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Best foldable
Thanks to its massive folding display and full S Pen support, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a dream come true for multitaskers. The flagship foldable has the latest in terms of hardware as well as software.
Read more below.
9. OnePlus 12
Best performance
If you want a phone that can handle even the most demanding of workflows, get the OnePlus 12. This thing has top-of-the-line hardware, a gorgeous display, blazing-fast charging (wired and wireless), and can go for up to two days on a full charge. It also comes with long software support.
Read more below.
Best overall
1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Best overall
Specifications
Display: 6.8-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED, 1440x3120 pixels resolution
Chipset / SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB
Cameras: 200MP + 10MP + 50MP + 12MP (rear), 12MP (front)
OS: Android 14 (preinstalled)
Battery & Charging: 5,000mAh, 45W wired and 15W wireless charging
Reasons to buy
+ Top-of-the-line hardware Versatile camera system Titanium frame is sturdier and lightweight Seven years of OS and security updates Full S Pen stylus support
Reasons to avoid
- Extremely expensive AI features require cloud-based processing
Packed with a laundry list of powerhouse features, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is hands down the best Android phone you can use with T-Mobile's network today. It sports a gorgeous 6.8-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED screen that now comes with an anti-reflective coating for an even better viewing experience. Of course, you also get full support for the integrated S Pen stylus.
The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, complete with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. It also features a quad-lens camera system that offers everything from pro-mode photography to 8K video recording. Other notable additions include an IP68 certification, NFC, and a 5,000mAh battery with fast wired and wireless charging support.
Best budget
2. Google Pixel 8a
Best budget
Specifications
Display: 6.1-inch OLED, 1080x2400 pixels resolution
Chipset / SoC: Google Tensor G3
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB
Cameras: 64MP + 13MP (rear), 13MP (front)
OS: Android 14 (preinstalled)
Battery & Charging: 4,492mAh, 18W wired and 7.5W wireless charging
Reasons to buy
+ Comfortable design Flagship-level camera 120Hz AMOLED display Seven years of Pixel updates Great AI features
Reasons to avoid
- Charging should be faster Display is awful for PWM-sensitive users
The Google Pixel 8a refines Google's budget formula even further with better features and upgraded hardware. It's a lot lighter than the 7a and coupled with the more rounded design, it feels more comfortable to hold. The 8a gets Google's 'Actua' display which is now brighter and supports a 120Hz refresh rate. We also finally get a 256GB storage option for the first time. The big upgrade of course is the Tensor G3 SoC, which is also found in the premium Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. The rear 64MP and 13MP cameras continue to deliver stellar performance, as expected.
Since this is a Pixel phone, you can also look forward to top-tier software support. It won't be an exaggeration to say that Google has gone out of its way to transform the Pixel 8a into a premium mid-range device. There are even premium features such as an IP67 certification and 7.5W wireless charging included in the mix.
Best compact option
3. Samsung Galaxy S24
Best compact option
Specifications
Display: 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED, 1080x2340 pixels resolution
Chipset / SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB
Cameras: 50MP + 10MP + 12MP (rear), 12MP (front)
OS: Android 14 (preinstalled)
Battery & Charging: 4,000mAh, 25W wired and 15W wireless charging
Reasons to buy
+ Refined, squared-off design Compact enough for one-handed use Seven years of OS and security updates Great camera performance Lots of color options to choose from
Reasons to avoid
- Still comes with 8GB of RAM Galaxy AI features won't be free forever
Comparing the Samsung Galaxy S24 vs. S23, you'll find that it's a (relatively) minor upgrade over the last-gen model. That said, the new smartphone has a lot of goodies and is an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a top-tier device that can be used with one hand. The Galaxy S24 has a refined design with flat edges that give it a squared-off look. You get a slightly bigger 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED panel, but due to even slimmer bezels, the phone's overall physical footprint has largely remained unchanged compared to the previous-gen model.
The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and comes with 8GB of RAM and up to 25GB of onboard storage. You get a triple-lens camera setup at the back that excels at capturing both photos and videos. Available in a range of funky colors, the phone sports a 4,000mAh battery with wired and wireless charging support.
Best value flagship
4. Google Pixel 9
Best value flagship
Specifications
Display: 6.3-inch OLED, 1080x2424 pixels resolution
Chipset / SoC: Google Tensor G4
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB
Cameras: 50MP + 48MP (rear), 10.5MP (front)
OS: Android 14 (preinstalled)
Battery & Charging: 4,700mAh, 27W wired and 15W wireless charging
Reasons to buy
+ Premium design and solid build quality Bright and vibrant 120Hz display Full of AI-powered features Seven years of OS and security updates IP68 rating for dust and water resistance
Reasons to avoid
- No telephoto sensor Gemini Live will cost extra
Although it does cost a $100 more than the previous-gen model, the Google Pixel 9 packs in quite a few improvements that make it an excellent value flagship. Featuring a squared-off design, the new smartphone is powered by Google's Tensor G4 SoC and comes with 12GB of RAM. The software experience continues to be top-tier, filled with a wide range of AI-based enhancements. You get Android 14 out of the box, and a promise of up to seven years of OS and security updates.
The Google Pixel 9 features a dual-lens primary camera system, comprising a 50MP wide-angle sensor and a 48MP ultrawide module. As noted by Android Central's Derrek Lee in his review, the setup is capable of producing some truly amazing photos, and there are a lot of AI-powered tools (e.g., Magic Editor) to play with. You get all the modern connectivity and I/O options, and the smartphone is backed by a 4,700mAh battery with both wired and wireless charging support.
Best mid-ranger
5. Samsung Galaxy A54
Best mid-ranger
Specifications
Display: 6.4-inch Super AMOLED, 1080x2340 pixels resolution
Chipset / SoC: Exynos 1380
RAM: 6GB/8GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB, with microSD expansion
Cameras: 50MP + 12MP + 5MP (rear), 32MP (front)
OS: Android 13 (preinstalled)
Battery & Charging: 5,000mAh, 25W wired charging
Reasons to buy
+ Vivid, 120Hz display Decent camera quality Great value for money Four years of OS and five years of security updates Full support for Galaxy ecosystem
Reasons to avoid
- Uninspiring gaming performance Plastic build feels a bit cheap
Picking up right where its predecessor left off, the Samsung Galaxy A54 delivers rock-solid everyday performance and a number of thoughtful features, all at a very reasonable price. The mid-range smartphone features a big 5,000mAh battery, a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, and will get four years of major OS updates as well as five years of security updates.
On top of that, the Samsung Galaxy A54 doesn't miss out on support for the Galaxy ecosystem either. You get an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, an in-display fingerprint sensor, 25W wired charging, and much more. Despite being a little old at this point, it remains an outstanding choice.
Best under $300
6. OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Best under $300
Specifications
Display: 6.72-inch IPS LCD, 1080x2400 pixels resolution
Chipset / SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB, with microSD expansion
Cameras: 108MP + 2MP + 2MP (rear), 16MP (front)
OS: Android 13 (preinstalled)
Battery & Charging: 5,000mAh, 67W wired charging
Reasons to buy
+ Extremely affordable Full 5G connectivity 3.5mm audio port Stereo speakers Super-fast charging
Reasons to avoid
- Useless depth and macro sensors No OS updates beyond Android 14
Although the OnePlus Nord N30 5G can be purchased unlocked, you can save even more money by buying the T-Mobile version through the carrier. Sporting a 6.72-inch IPS LCD display, it's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC and works quite well for everyday tasks like web browsing and even some gaming. It supports sub-6 5G coverage including T-Mobile's fast mid-band, so it's a good option for T-Mobile users.
There's a lot to love about the sub-$300 Android phone from OnePlus. You get a generous 5,000mAh battery with 67W fast charging support, stereo speakers, and even a 3.5mm audio port.
Best flip-style
7. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Best flip-style
Specifications
Display: 6.7-inch Foldable LTPO Dynamic AMOLED, 1080x2640 pixels resolution; 3.4-inch Cover, 720x748 pixels resolution
Chipset / SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB/512GB
Cameras: 50MP + 12MP (rear), 10MP (front)
OS: Android 14 (preinstalled)
Battery & Charging: 4,000mAh, 25W wired and 15W wireless charging
Reasons to buy
+ Compact and refined design Top-tier hardware for amazing performance Fun and useful AI-based features Seven years of OS and security updates Good battery life
Reasons to avoid
- Cover screen has limited functionality Relatively slower charging
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 includes a bunch of enhancements that make it more than just an incremental upgrade over its predecessor. The smartphone's flat frame gives it a more refined look, and it's now backed by an IP48 rating for better ingress protection. Driven by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and 12GB of RAM, the flip-style phone can handle just about anything you throw at it with little to no issues, and there's also 256GB or 512GB of onboard storage.
The dual-lens rear camera setup of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 includes a 50MP wide-angle unit and a 12MP ultrawide sensor. As you'd expect, both photos and videos are great, and everything from 4K video recording to AI-based editing tools is thrown into the mix. The overall software experience is quite feature-laden, although the cover display functionality continues to be a bit limited. Other features include a 4,000mAh battery, seven years of OS and security updates, and more.
Best foldable
8. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Best foldable
Specifications
Display: 7.6-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED, 1856x2160 pixels resolution; 6.3-inch Cover, 968x2376 pixels resolution
Chipset / SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB
Cameras: 50MP + 10MP + 12MP (rear), 10MP (front), 4MP (inside)
OS: Android 14 (preinstalled)
Battery & Charging: 4,400mAh, 25W wired and 15W wireless charging
Reasons to buy
+ Ideal for split-screen multitasking Full support for Samsung's S Pen stylus Top-of-the-line hardware specifications Seven years of OS and security updates IP48 rating for improved ingress protection
Reasons to avoid
- Camera hardware isn't anything new Extremely expensive
Easily one of the best foldable phones available out there, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is an ultra-premium smartphone that can do it all. It sports a 7.6-inch folding Dynamic AMOLED display that makes split-screen multitasking a delight. It's complemented by an outer 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel that's just as great. The smartphone is backed by an IP48 rating for better ingress protection and is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and 12GB of RAM.
Being a full-featured flagship, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 comes with a triple-lens primary camera system having a 50MP wide-angle unit, a 10MP telephoto module (with 3x optical zoom), and a 12MP ultrawide sensor. It runs One UI 6.1.1 (based on Android 14) out of the box and like all of Samsung's other high-end smartphones, will receive up to seven years of OS and security updates. The smartphone is backed by a 4,400mAh battery with both wired and wireless charging support.
Best performance
9. OnePlus 12
Best performance
Specifications
Display: 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED, 1440x3168 pixels resolution
Chipset / SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM: 12GB/16GB
Storage: 256GB/512GB
Cameras: 50MP + 64MP + 48MP (rear), 32MP (front)
OS: Android 14 (preinstalled)
Battery & Charging: 5,400mAh, 80W wired and 50W wireless charging
Reasons to buy
+ Top-of-the-line performance with improved heat dissipation Outstanding camera quality Four years of OS and five years of security updates Super-fast charging speeds Premium design
Reasons to avoid
- Curved display won't be to everyone's liking Somewhat glitchy software experience
With the OnePlus 12, the company seems to have gotten its mojo back. Sure, it's not without its flaws, but there's a lot to like here. The phone's 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display is, quite literally, one of its biggest highlights, as it can hit an incredible peak brightness of 4,500 nits. Not just that, 'Aqua Touch' technology allows the screen to register touch input even when it's wet.
Powered by Qualcomm's top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Gen SoC and up to 16GB of RAM, the OnePlus 12 excels at handling demanding tasks like heavy gaming. It also has an improved cooling system for better thermal efficiency. The phone comes with up to 512GB of internal storage and has an excellent triple-lens rear camera system. You get amazing battery life too, and the 5,400mAh battery can be charged at super-fast speeds.
- Back to the top ^
How to choose
You have plenty of options with T-Mobile
Why you can trust Android Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
There's no doubting that T-Mobile's network infrastructure is one of the best you can get in the United States, featuring nationwide high-speed 5G coverage. However, you need one of the best T-Mobile phones to take advantage of the network and all of its perks. For the best performance, we suggest getting a phone that (at least) supports 5G bands n71 and n41.
It's also worth noting that most users don't necessarily need top-tier devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the Google Pixel 9, even though they offer an unmatched user experience. If you want to save some cash, we suggest checking the Samsung Galaxy A54, the Google Pixel 8a, or even the OnePlus Nord N30 5G, all of which are some of the best cheap Android phones you can get.
Be an expert in 5 minutes
Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android
Samuel Contreras
When Samuel is not writing about networking or 5G at Android Central, he spends most of his time researching computer components and obsessing over what CPU goes into the ultimate Windows 98 computer. It's the Pentium 3.
With contributions from
- Patrick FarmereCommerce Editor
More about phones
Latest
No comments yetComment from the forums