Best phones for Visible 2024

The best phones for Visible let you enjoy all the benefits of Verizon's 5G network infrastructure, which also comes at excellent prices. Owned and operated by Verizon, Visible is a prepaid carrier that keeps things simple by giving you two fully loaded plans—Visible and Visible Plus—to choose from. The two plans share many similarities. Visible Plus gives you access to extras like premium 5G data, blocks high-risk spam and robo calls, unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada, and access to Verizon's super-fast 'Ultra-Wideband' 5G network.

Visible supports various Android phones (and even some iPhones) that you can buy via the carrier's website. Alternatively, you can use your existing unlocked device with Visible, provided it's compatible. Our top vote is Google's Pixel 9 Pro, a well-rounded flagship smartphone. You can also go for Google Pixel 8a and Samsung Galaxy A54 if you want something more affordable. With that said, here are the best Visible phones you can get!

Samuel Contreras

Sam has been an Android fan since first trying out the HTC Evo 4G at a Sprint store. As a phone technician, he became familiar with what matters most to those picking a new phone and accessories and has been writing about carriers and plans at Android Central since 2019.

At a glance

Best overall

While cameras aren't the only thing Google got right with the Pixel 8 Pro, they're the headlining feature. Nicholas Sutric's Google Pixel 9 series hands-on mentions that the Pixel 9 Pro XL picks up an improved 42MP front-facing camera along with a 103-degree angle field of view, and there is a 30% better light sensitivity than the Pixel 8 Pro. The primary camera includes 50MP wide and 48MP ultrawide/macro cameras. It also has a 48MP 5x telephoto for great upgraded zoom detail. That's before you remember some of Google's AI-powered software tricks, such as Magic Editor and Photo Unblur.

Under the hood, you get Google's latest-gen SoC—the Tensor G4—essential to the phone's AI tricks and keeping Google Assistant ready. The power is more than adequate for anything you need today. Luckily, 5G support is strong with sub-6 and mmWave, including C-band, which makes up most of Verizon's (and thus, Visible's) fast 5G coverage.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL launches with Android 14 and can easily last the day on a charge. This is good as the smartphone only supports 37W wired charging speeds. It's also worth noting that Google has decided not to include a USB-C charger in the box, so you'll need to find your own.

Best flagship

Although the Pixel 9 Pro impresses with its high-end features, it ranks among the most balanced Android phones on the market today. It boasts many of the same great characteristics found on the more expensive Pro model, such as the Tensor G4 chipset, a stunning design aesthetic, and a clean Android 14 build, all at a lower price.

As we noted in our initial Google Pixel 9 Pro review, the phone features a ton of incredible camera tech. The Pixel 9 Pro has a 50MP primary lens, a 48MP ultra-wide lens, 48MP 5X zoom, and a 42MP selfie camera. You also get many fantastic camera features that Pixel is known for, such as Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur. 

With its 6.3-inch AMOLED display, the Google Pixel 9 Pro is a bit smaller than its Pro XL counterpart, but the 120Hz display is still vibrant and pleasant. Visible sells the Pixel 9 Pro directly via its website, but if you want to save a little money, you can check out the best deals on the Google Pixel 9.

Best on a budget

While Google's flagship Pixel 8 series is easy to recommend, it might feel a little pricey and has hardware features many people don't need. The Pixel 8a refocuses on the core Pixel experience and has hardware that offers plenty of speed for Android 14 thanks to the same Tensor G3 SoC found in the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones.

It has a comfortable fit in the hand with nicely rounded corners and a model with an upgraded 256GB of storage. The display now has a fast 120Hz refresh rate with up to 2000 nits of peak brightness, so you can use it outdoors when it's sunny. Even if it starts to rain, you've got nothing to worry about with IP67 water and dust resistance.

You can take great pictures with the 64MP main camera and 13MP ultrawide camera and still capture some excellent images, thanks in no small part to Google's image processing enabled by the Tensor SoC. When it comes to battery life, you get a 4492mAh pack that should last the day with normal usage, though charging is still slow at just 18W wired and 7.5W wireless.

Best small phone

Want a top-of-the-line smartphone that you can easily use with one hand? Look no further than the Samsung Galaxy S24. The smallest member of the S24 family brings many improvements over the last-gen model while keeping the overall design and in-hand feel largely the same. Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, it features 8GB of RAM and 128/256GB of internal storage. Up front, there's a slightly bigger 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED panel that looks as stunning as you'd expect.

If you compare Samsung Galaxy S24 vs S23, you'll see that the triple-lens primary camera system hasn't changed much. It still features a 50MP wide-angle module, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto unit capable of 3x optical zoom. The smartphone supports all modern connectivity standards (including 5G) and comes with Android 14 out of the box. Even better, it's guaranteed to get up to seven years of major OS updates, so you'll be able to use it for a really long time. The Galaxy S24 is backed by a 4,000mAh battery and supports both wired (25W) and wireless (15W) charging, provided you get the right charger for it.

Best midrange phone

Samsung has decided to aim for affordable mid-range phones with the Galaxy A series, and the Galaxy A54 5G continues to be among the best in that line-up, even though it's a bit old. Although the phone isn't going to break any records for performance, its Exynos 1380 SoC is perfectly fine for everyday tasks such as web browsing and even some gaming. The phone has already been updated to Android 14 and is still eligible for three more OS updates, so it'll continue to serve you well for years. 

The Galaxy A54's camera setup may not be the best in the business, but it more than gets the job done. You'll get excellent 5G connectivity on Visible, and many other goodies are also included in the mix. Regarding battery life, the Galaxy A54 features a 5,000mAh battery capable of keeping it going for at least a day of moderate use on a single charge. If you decide to get it, we suggest looking at the best Samsung Galaxy A54 deals to save even more money.

Best premium flagship

Packed with just about every high-end feature you could possibly think of, the Galaxy S24 Ultra represents the absolute best the world of Android has to offer. Although it looks a lot like its predecessor, the new titanium frame and Corning's Gorilla Armor allow for improved durability. The 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display is a delight to look at and interact with and now comes with an anti-reflective coating. Under the hood, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sports Qualcomm's top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, complete with 12GB of RAM and 256GB/512GB/1TB of internal storage.

Easily one of the best Android camera phones available out there, the Galaxy S24 Ultra sports a quad-lens rear camera setup having a 200MP wide-angle lens, a 10MP telephoto unit, a 50MP periscope telephoto sensor, and a 12MP ultrawide module. It's one of the first Samsung smartphones to get up to seven years of guaranteed OS updates and includes the full Galaxy AI suite of software-based tools to help you get the best smartphone experience. You get full 5G support on Visible, as well as a bevy of other connectivity features, and the whole thing is backed by a 5,000mAh battery that can be juiced up — both wired (45W) and wirelessly (15W) — in little to no time.

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How to choose

Which Android phones work best with Visible?

There's no denying that Visible is one of the best MVNO carriers in the market. With a relatively decent selection of Android phones (and even iPhones) to choose from, it's an excellent option for anyone who wants to take advantage of Verizon's 5G network infrastructure at (relatively) affordable prices.

Google's Pixel 8 Pro being one of the best Visible phones shouldn't be surprising, as the phone is a fully loaded flagship that offers everything from top-tier cameras to a clean software experience. If you like what it has to offer but find the price a bit too high, we suggest getting the regular Pixel 8, which offers most of the same stuff at a much better price.

On the other hand, Samsung's Galaxy A54 and Google's Pixel 8a are solid options that give you access to Visible's 5G network at highly affordable prices. They even both promise seven years of OS updates. Then there's the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the perfect choice for anyone who doesn't care about the price tag and wants the best of the best.

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