T-Mobile is the third-largest wireless carrier in the United States. It offers a wide selection of smartphones from many different OEMs all with different capabilities and price points. As such, it can be difficult to figure out which are the best T-Mobile phones when there are so many to choose from!
Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find our roundup of the best T-Mobile phones you can currently get from prices as low as $250 to all the way as high as $1,100.
Our list only covers Android smartphones you can buy directly through T-Mobile. However, it should be mentioned that T-Mobile is a GSM carrier, so you can pretty much use any globally-supported smartphone with the service. All you need to do is throw in your T-Mobile SIM card. Of course, you’ll need to buy your phone unlocked for this to work.
Best T-Mobile phones:
Editor’s note: We’ll be updating this list of the best T-Mobile phones regularly as new devices launch.
1. Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus
Not only are the Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus two of the best T-Mobile phones available, but they are two of the best smartphones in general. The handsets are very similar as far as specs and design go, but the Galaxy S10 Plus is the top dog. It features an enormous 6.4-inch display, a giant 4,100mAh battery, and a dual front-facing camera setup. It also has an option for adding a whopping 1TB of built-in storage.
The vanilla Galaxy S10 is a bit smaller with a 6.1-inch display and has a smaller battery to match. It also only features a single selfie shooter on the front. However, it has the same processor, triple-lens rear camera setup, and software as its larger sibling.
As one would expect, getting the best-of-the-best smartphones won’t come cheap, as the Galaxy S10 currently starts at $900 and goes up from there. T-Mobile offers a few options as far as payment plans go so that will hopefully offset some of the upfront costs.
Samsung Galaxy S10 specs:
- Display: 6.1-inch, QHD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Cameras: 12, 12, and 16MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 3,400mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus specs:
- Display: 6.4-inch, QHD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB and 1TB
- Cameras: 12, 12, and 16MP
- Front cameras: 10 and 8MP
- Battery: 4,100mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
2. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus
Samsung’s Note line is kind of like a flashier, more expensive version of the Galaxy S line. As such, with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus, you’re getting most of the ultra-premium features of the Galaxy S10 with the addition of some new features as well as the iconic S Pen stylus.
For the first time ever, Samsung released two versions of the Note 10 this year: the vanilla version and the Plus version. If you’re looking for the best smartphone you can get — and money is not really a concern — you should absolutely stick with the Note 10 Plus.
That doesn’t mean that the Note 10 isn’t a good phone. It is. It’s just that with the existence of the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus the vanilla Note 10 sits in an awkward place: not quite as good as the Note 10 Plus and kind of outshined by the S10 Plus.
In general, if you really need the S Pen stylus but don’t want to spend over $1,000 on your smartphone, the Note 10 is perfect for you. If you don’t care about the S Pen, stick with the Galaxy S10 Plus. If you want the best of everything, get the Galaxy Note 10 Plus.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 specs:
- Display: 6.3-inch, FHD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB
- Cameras: 16, 12, and 12MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 3,500mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus specs:
- Display: 6.8-inch, QHD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 256/512GB
- Cameras: 16, 12, 12MP + ToF
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 4,300mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
3. OnePlus 7 Pro
The OnePlus 7 Pro is only the second OnePlus device to land at T-Mobile (the first is a bit further down). Being that OnePlus is a much smaller company than Samsung, LG, Google, and the other OEMs with T-Mobile phones, it’s pretty notable that OnePlus is now among those ranks.
There are a few reasons the OnePlus 7 Pro stands out among the crowd of phones on this list. The most obvious is its all-screen, completely notch-less display. Even the high-end Samsung devices on this list feature display cutouts which interrupt what you see on the phone’s screen.
How the OnePlus 7 Pro achieves this is another thing that sets it apart from the crowd: a pop-up selfie camera. When you set the camera app into selfie mode, a front-facing camera pops out of the top of the phone, which is a cool party trick, if nothing else.
The device also comes in a slick color called Nebula Blue, which looks incredibly nice. There’s a more traditional Mirror Gray variant as well.
As far as specs go, the OnePlus 7 Pro matches many of the specs of its more-expensive peers. If you’re willing to step out of the Samsung ecosystem, the OnePlus 7 Pro is probably dollar-for-dollar the best deal on this list.
OnePlus 7 Pro specs:
- Display: 6.7-inch, QHD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB
- Cameras: 48, 16, and 8MP
- Front camera: 16MP
- Battery: 4,000mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
4. LG G8 ThinQ
As far as the other flagships on this list go, the LG G8 ThinQ might seem like it’s not as “advanced” as the rest. There’s no triple camera on the rear, no in-display fingerprint sensor, and no fancy pop-up selfie shooters.
The LG G8 ThinQ has a few nifty tricks up its sleeve.
However, don’t let that deter you from considering the LG G8 ThinQ as a viable Android flagship. It does have some nifty tricks up its sleeve, such as air gestures which allow you to manipulate some of the phone’s features without needing to physically touch it. This is possible because of the dual-sensor camera system on the front of the phone.
The LG G8 ThinQ also features a headphone jack, which is unfortunately left out of some of the other flagships on this list. Not only that, but it also features a sweet Quad-DAC, which will make your music listening experience better than ever.
Although the G8 launched at a very expensive price, it’s since come down a bit, which means you’ll save a bit of money, too! Not a bad deal.
LG G8 ThinQ specs:
- Display: 6.1-inch, QHD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Cameras: 12 and 16MP
- Front cameras: 8MP + ToF
- Battery: 3,500mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
5. Samsung Galaxy S10e
Unlike its more advanced siblings at the top of this list, the Samsung Galaxy S10e is smaller and has some weaker specs. However, it also has a considerably lower price while still packing a mighty punch in two of the most important aspects of any smartphone: performance and photography.
The performance is bolstered by the inclusion of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, the same as you’ll find in all the flagships above. The Galaxy S10e also features a dual camera on the rear, which won’t be as good as the triple-lens setups on the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus, but will still get you some incredible footage.
Additionally, the Galaxy S10e also comes in some fun colors that you won’t find on the S10 or S10 Plus. However, keep in mind that certain T-Mobile shops might not have all the colors available.
Overall, if you’re looking for the best you can get from Samsung without paying the starting price of $900 for the Galaxy S10, the Galaxy S10e is the T-Mobile phone you’re looking for!
Samsung Galaxy S10e specs:
- Display: 5.8-inch, Full HD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Cameras: 12 and 16MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 3,100mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
6. OnePlus 6T
So far, every device on this list of the best T-Mobile phones has come out in 2019. Although the OnePlus 6T came out in 2018, don’t let that deter you: this is still one of the best phones you can buy from T-Mobile.
Since the device is about a year old, that means you’re going to get it for a great price, too. As of right now, you can grab a OnePlus 6T from T-Mobile for literally half the price of a Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus.
With the OnePlus 6T, you’re getting a lot of high-end features, including a nearly-all-screen display (with just a tiny waterdrop notch at the top), a dual-lens rear camera, tons of RAM, and plenty of internal storage. You’re also getting an awesome Snapdragon 800-series processor, albeit last year’s model.
It should be noted that OnePlus is incredibly efficient when it comes to software updates, too. We already know for certain that the OnePlus 6T will receive an upgrade to Android 10 and we can go ahead and assume it will get Android 11, too, considering even the OnePlus 3T received Android 9 Pie. That makes the OnePlus 6T a solid investment.
OnePlus 6T specs:
- Display: 6.4-inch, FHD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 845
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Cameras: 20MP and 16MP
- Front camera: 16MP
- Battery: 3,700mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
7. Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL
The Google Pixel 3a and Google Pixel 3a XL have the distinction of being the very first Google-made devices to launch on T-Mobile. Prior Pixel devices launched exclusively through Verizon. In fact, you still can only buy the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL from Big Red.
Although the Pixel 3a series isn’t as powerful as the regular Pixel 3 series, it still packs what counts: the Google camera. The camera in Pixel devices is frequently cited as one of the best you can get in any smartphone, and with the Pixel 3a series, you’re getting that camera for very little money.
Additionally, you’re going to get frequent Android security patches directly from Google and be one of the first to experience new versions of Android as they always land on Pixel devices first.
That all being said, you’re going to sacrifice some processing power in exchange for spending less cash. While the Snapdragon 670 isn’t terrible by any means, it’s certainly no Snapdragon 845 as we saw in the Pixel 3 — and definitely no Snapdragon 855 as we saw on the big flagships on this list.
If you don’t know how to pick between the 3a or the 3a XL, it’s pretty simple: the 3a XL is larger and has a slightly larger battery. Other than that, the devices are essentially the same.
Pixel 3a specs:
- Display: 5.6-inch, Full HD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 670
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Camera: 12.2MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 3,000mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
Pixel 3a XL specs:
- Display: 6.0-inch, Full HD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 670
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Camera: 12.2MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 3,700mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
8. Samsung Galaxy A20
The Samsung Galaxy A20 is the best device for you if you’re looking to spend as little cash as possible on your next T-Mobile smartphone. There might be other, even cheaper phones at T-Mobile, but trust us: you don’t want to go much cheaper than $250. Once you drop down below that, you’re going to see considerable dips in performance.
If you want a T-Mobile phone that won't break the bank, the Galaxy A20 is the one to get.
Besides, a few aspects of the Galaxy A20 make it an appealing device to those who want specific features on a tight budget. Those specific features are a large battery, a large nearly-all-screen display, and a decent dual camera setup on the rear. You get all of that with the Galaxy A20!
Unfortunately, you lose out on some other stuff, most notably the amount of RAM and internal storage. You also lose out on display resolution — the Galaxy A20’s 1,560 x 720 resolution won’t be nearly as crisp as what you’ll find on the higher-end devices on this list.
But if you want the best phone you can get for as little money as possible, this is the one to get!
Samsung Galaxy A20 specs:
Display: 6.4-inch, HD+
Chipset: Exynos 7884
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 32GB
Cameras: 13 and 5MP
Front camera: 8MP
Battery: 4,000mAh
Software: Android 9 Pie
These are our picks for the best T-Mobile phones you can get, although there are a lot of other great options out there as well. We’ll be sure to update this post once new models hit the market.
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