5G is being rolled out worldwide and Australia has jumped on the bandwagon, with 5G now available across most major cities and metro areas. If you’re lucky enough to live or work in a 5G-enabled area, then you’re probably eager to give the next generation mobile technology a whirl!
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone have all started offering their own 5G networks, with a limited number of MVNOs also getting onboard. But to access the 5G network, you’ll need a phone with 5G capabilities.
These days, there are few phone brands that haven’t made advances into the world of 5G, with Samsung being one of the first to offer 5G-capable devices in Australia and Apple releasing its first 5G iPhone, the iPhone 12 series, in 2020. In this Canstar Blue guide, we run through some of the best 5G phones currently offered in Australia.
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What is 5G?
5G is the fifth generation of mobile technology, its predecessor being 4G, and offers faster-than-ever speeds for mobile phones, tablets and more. In addition to offering fast data speeds, 5G promises to be more reliable, cut out lag during video calls and streaming, and provide a more uniform user experience with more devices being able to be connected to the network simultaneously.
It is still being rolled out across Australia and the world, with potential maximum speeds theoretically faster than those offered by the NBN.
Is 5G better than 4G?
Yes. 5G is the next generation of mobile technology and therefore is better than 4G. Theoretically, 5G can reach speeds 20 times faster than 4G, making sending and receiving data much quicker, as well as helping to reduce lag on video calls. Gaming experiences should also improve, and the technology will allow more users to connect at the same time without as much network congestion.
When will I be able to access 5G?
Depending on where you live, you may already be able to access Telstra, Optus or Vodafone’s 5G networks. However, the technology is still being rolled out, so it may be a while before you’re able to connect. Telstra has confirmed it aims to cover 95% of the population with its 5G network by mid-2025, with Optus and Vodafone similarly planning to expand coverage.
The best 5G Phones in Australia
There is no one ‘best’ 5G smartphone, as all phones have advantages and disadvantages, and ultimately the best phone is going to be one that aligns with your priorities. For example, some things to consider in a 5G phone would be size, features, camera quality or price, and these will all vary across different models and brands.
Samsung was one of the first manufacturers to offer 5G phones in Australia with its Galaxy S20 series in 2020, which included both 4G and 5G variants. OPPO and other manufacturers also released 5G phones from 2019, with Apple and Google jumping on the bandwagon in the second half of 2020.
To use the Telstra, Optus or Vodafone 5G networks, you’ll need one of these 5G-compatible devices. We have broken down some of the most popular 5G devices currently on the market (note: this list is not exhaustive and there may be some devices missing).
Apple iPhone 5G phones
Despite being a little bit behind in the race for 5G, only releasing its first 5G device late in 2020, Apple still has a variety of phones on offer that have 5G capabilities. The first was the iPhone 12 series, followed by the iPhone 13 series in 2021, iPhone 14 series in 2022 the iPhone 15 series released in 2023 and the iPhone 16 series released in 2024. All phones in the three series include 5G capability by default.
Read more:
- iPhone 16 series
- iPhone 15 series
- iPhone 15 Pro review
- iPhone 15 Plus review
- iPhone 14 series
- iPhone 14 Pro review
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 13 series
- iPhone 12 series
The following table compares a selection of 24-month 128GB iPhone 15 plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table compares a selection of 24-month 128GB iPhone 15 Plus plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table compares a selection of 24-month 128GB iPhone 15 Pro plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table compares a selection of 24-month 256GB iPhone 15 Pro Max plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
Samsung 5G smartphones
Samsung was the first smartphone manufacturer in Australia to release a 5G phone with the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G in 2019. The few years following this saw a big step forward in 5G technology, with more 5G-compatible Galaxy devices across a range of price points.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 series, launched in early 2021, included 5G across all of its models which was then continued with both the 2022, 2023 and 2024 ranges, as well as the foldable Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Flip phones.
Read more:
- Samsung Galaxy S24 series
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review
- Samsung Galaxy S22 series
- Samsung Galaxy S21 series
- Samsung Galaxy S23+ review
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review
- Samsung Galaxy S22 review
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 review
Samsung Galaxy S24 plans
The following table shows selected published 24-month plans for the 256GB Samsung Galaxy S24 on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our tool for mobile phone plan comparison to see a wider range of plans from other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
Samsung Galaxy S24+ plans
The following table shows selected published 24-month plans for the 256GB Samsung Galaxy S24+ on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our tool for mobile phone plan comparison to see a wider range of plans from other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra plans
The following table shows selected published 24-month plans for the 256GB Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our tool for mobile phone plan comparison to see a wider range of plans from other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
OPPO 5G smartphones
While there aren’t as many OPPO 5G phones to choose from as one of the bigger retailers such as Apple or Samsung, you’ll find that OPPO offers some of the cheapest 5G phones on the market. Not all of the devices are typically stocked by Aussie telcos, so you may have to buy your device outright elsewhere and sign up for a SIM-only plan, but your options include the OPPO Find X5 series and OPPO Find X3 series, along with cheaper OPPO phones like the OPPO A60 5G and OPPO A80 5G.
Read more:
The following table shows a selection of published 24-month 256GB OPPO Find X5 Pro plans from Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of advertised standard cost, lowest to highest, then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Compare mobile plans from a wider range of offers from other providers using our comparison tool. This is a selection of products which may contain links to a referral partner.
Google 5G phones
Google released its first 5G phone in late 2020 and now offers several different options: the Pixel 9 series, the Pixel 8 series, the Pixel 7 series, Pixel 6 series, the Google Pixel 5, as well as the Google Pixel 4a 5G.
Read more:
The following table shows a selection of published 24-month plans for the 128GB Google Pixel 8 on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our mobile phone comparison tool to see plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
The following table shows a selection of published 24-month plans for the 128GB Google Pixel 8 Pro on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our mobile phone comparison tool to see plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
5G smartphones from other manufacturers
Apple, Samsung, OPPO and Google may be the biggest names when it comes to 5G-compatible smartphones, however they are not the only options. There are plenty of other manufacturers coming out with their own 5G-compatible devices.
Motorola has its Motorola Edge 30 series as well as the more affordable Moto G 5G, available for purchase from Australian retailers. In addition, Motorola has recently released the Motorola ThinkPhone.
Nokia joined the 5G phone game with the Nokia 8.3 5G and most recently released the Nokia XR21. Both of these phones have been designed with longevity in mind and are compatible with 5G networks.
Huawei dropped in popularity due to the lack of integrated Google apps, however it also released a 5G phone with the Huawei P40 Pro+.
LG also has a few 5G phones available. However, the manufacturer officially called it quits on the phone market in 2021, so you may be better off looking elsewhere if you want your phone to get software updates for more than a year.
Should I buy a 5G phone?
5G is becoming the norm, with the technology included in most new flagship phones available in Australia. However, the technology hasn’t been rolled out to the majority of Australian suburbs just yet – so even if you do have a 5G-capable phone, you may not be able to access the network until the rollout is completed. As of June 2023, Telstra’s 5G network reaches 80% of the population, while Vodafone 5G covers around one million Aussies.
The good news is that, while 5G is going to offer you the fastest speeds possible, realistically there is nothing that a 5G phone can do that you won’t be able to find in a 4G phone right now. So if the budget isn’t quite there for a 5G phone yet, you’ll still be able to download, stream, and upload on 4G – just at slower speeds than 5G can deliver.
Photo Credits: apple.com, samsung.com, oppo.com, store.google.com
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