Best T-Mobile phones 2024

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.

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At a glance

Best overall

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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How to choose

You have plenty of options with T-Mobile

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.

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