5G smartphone: what are the best compatible smartphones?

Want to step up a gear and take advantage of 5G? To do this, it is necessary to be in an area covered by the new mobile network, to subscribe to a 5G mobile offer and to equip yourself with a 5G compatible smartphone! In order to help you find the mobile solution best suited to your needs, we have classified the 10 best 5G phones, as well as the 3 best offers with or without a plan!

Do you want to subscribe to a 5G plan in order to benefit from a 5G smartphone at a competitive price? Contact Selectra for an advisor to guide you among the most competitive partner offers, depending on your eligibility: 09 75 18 80 51 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) or ask you call back for free.

What is 5G?

Launched since the end of 2020 in France, 5G presents itself as the new generation of mobile network, which will replace 4G in the near future . 5G was launched in order to meet the growing demand from mobile users, who consume ever more data (40% increase in mobile data consumption in 2019), but also in order to avoid network saturation in dense areas and to provide an ever more optimal network quality by limiting latencies as much as possible.

French operators are currently in the process of deploying their 5G network throughout the country, starting with the major cities where the need is a priority; due to the high traffic, network saturation occurs frequently. The 5G mobile network is currently hosted on 3.5 Ghz frequency bands and currently offers speeds 3 to 4 times more efficient than 4G standards. By 2023, the frequency bands should then switch to 26 Ghz. 5G will then be able to provide connection speeds 10 times higher than those of 4G!

Operators also use 2.1 Ghz and 700 Mhz frequency bands to ensure their network coverage in addition to 4G.

The performance of the 5G network will also allow the development of new Internet uses (cloud gaming, 4K streaming, video calls in UHD, augmented virtual reality, etc.) and will eventually open up new prospects in the industrial sectors, from health or transportation. Indeed, 5G could indeed revolutionize our daily lives by making autonomous cars and connected cities a reality! In addition, 5G antennas broadcast their waves according to demand. This allows a significant reduction in energy consumption compared to 4G antennas, which transmit continuously. In addition, receiving the 5G signal at the most opportune time will significantly extend the battery life of our connected devices; which will be much less in demand than before!

5G smartphone: what are the advantages?

5G smartphones are essential to take advantage of the operators' very high-speed mobile network. By getting a compatible phone, you can indeed surf at full speed, provided you are in a covered area and take advantage of a 5G mobile plan. Currently, France's 5G coverage is far from optimal. ARCEP estimates that France should be fully covered by 2030. Until the network extends to the whole of France, 5G smartphones can also support the 4G mobile network. 5G terminals can thus be used without any problem in an area where 5G is not yet deployed, or if you have not yet subscribed to a compatible plan.

In addition, 5G-compatible smartphones have the particularity of being relatively recent and therefore benefit from the latest mobile technologies. Contrary to what one might think, 5G smartphones are not necessarily more expensive than 4G smartphones. Indeed, and although high-end smartphones are the first to have benefited from this major addition, more and more entry-level and mid-range smartphones, which want to be much more accessible, now benefit from compatibility with the 5G. Which means you'll have no trouble finding a 5G mobile solution that meets your expectations, as well as your budget!

All mobile operators now offer 5G smartphones. It is therefore possible to get one easily and at a good price, with or without a package!

What were the first 5G-compatible smartphones on the market?

In anticipation of the arrival of 5G in France, smartphone manufacturers launched their first 5G terminals in 2019. In 2020, the trend increased as the 5G launch date approached and manufacturers released many 5G-enabled smartphones.

The following models are the first 5G smartphones released in 2019:

Best 5G phone in 2021: our top 10

In order to help you find the 5G smartphone that suits you the most, we have ranked the 10 best models based on different criteria .

Do you want to subscribe to a mobile offer in order to benefit from an advantageous price on a 5G smartphone? Contact a Selectra adviser from Monday to Sunday on 09 75 18 80 51, so that he can direct you to the most competitive offer, or have a call back free of charge!

1 - The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: the best 5G phone under iOS

The largest and most versatile iPhone in the 2021 range is hands down the best 5G smartphone under iOS at the moment. 'actual hour ! As usual, the Apple flagship sports elegant lines and has a superb screen. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is indeed equipped with a 6.7-inch OLED screen, bright as desired and calibrated to perfection. The Super Retina XDR panel, with impeccable display quality, is also equipped with ProMotion technology which allows it to benefit from a refresh rate of 120 Hz; a first on an iPhone! The Pro Max model is also equipped with one of the most powerful mobile chips on the market: the A15 Bionic. The latter, supported by 6 GB of RAM, actually offers very high performance and offers the American smartphone great versatility in all circumstances!

The best 5G smartphone of our top is also equipped with a 4373 mAh battery, which allows it to enjoy a monstrous autonomy! Apple has once again refined its recipe by offering 3 12 Mpx sensors on the back, larger than those of the previous model: the iPhone 12 Pro Max; the result is an increased quality of shots day and night! Finally, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is very robust with its surgical stainless steel design, its Ceramic Shield glass (4 times more resistant than Gorilla Glass 6) and its IP68 certification; which ranks as the best on the market today!

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is available from €1,209 without a plan from SFR and Orange operators.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is also available from €641 with a 5G 160 GB or Unlimited plan from SFR!

2 - The Oppo Find X3 Pro: the 5G smartphone The most complete Android

Oppo is a Chinese brand that has made a name for itself in a very short time on the French market. As proof, the Find X3 Pro, which presents itself as the manufacturer's flagship in 2021, is none other than the best 5G smartphone model under Android at the moment! In addition to sporting an attractive design and very pleasant aesthetic finishes, this ultra premium smartphone features a 6.9-inch curved-edge OLED screen, which justifies a very high display quality, a calibration to the hair, as well as a refresh rate of 120 Hz!

The mobile terminal also has performances that could not be more qualitative, which are among the best on the market! In practice, the Pro version of the Find X3 does not balk at anything and shows unparalleled fluidity whatever the use, thanks to its state-of-the-art technical sheet: Soc Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, Adreno 660 and 12 GB graphics card of RAM. Oppo's smartphone is also equipped with one of the best photographic equipment on the market today. It can indeed count on 4 rear sensors (2 x 50 + 13 + 3 Mpx), able to offer extremely detailed renderings day and night! The autonomy of the smartphone is however indented, although it has a 4500 mAh battery. However, the Find X3 Pro has the ability to be operational again very quickly, thanks to the 65 Watt charging block that accompanies it and which allows a full charge in less than 30 minutes flat! Finally, the Oppo Find X3 Pro is IP68 certified and is equipped with a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 glass coating, front and back.

The Oppo Find X3 Pro is available from €1,049 at Cdiscount.

SFR offers the Oppo Find X3 Pro from €301 with a 5G 160 GB or Unlimited plan!

3 - The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: the best foldable 5G phablet< /h2>

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3 is currently the most advanced clamshell smartphone on the market! The 5G phablet benefits from one of the most original and elegant designs, as well as high-end finishes; like its predecessor. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 has the particularity of benefiting from 3 very good quality screens: 2 internal screens which can be folded and unfolded like a book and 1 screen on the outside, which takes over when the smartphone is folded. Thanks to this original and ingenious design, the mobile has the ability to switch in the blink of an eye from a 6.2-inch smartphone format to a 7.6-inch tablet format, optimized for entertainment! In addition to offering very good display quality, the 3 on-board AMOLED panels benefit from an adaptive refresh rate of 120 Hz; and in this sense offer an unparalleled feeling of fluidity! In addition to being compatible with the S-Pen of the Galaxy Note range, the Korean smartphone is the first on the market to offer a front camera under the screen!

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 also offers excellent performance in all areas and particularly in-game, where it delivers an exemplary performance! The smartphone can indeed count on a high standard technical sheet: Soc Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, Adreno 660 graphics card and 12 GB of RAM. It also has a triple 12 Mpx rear photo module, which allows it to take very good shots! The Korean smartphone-tablet also justifies an autonomy below that of competing solutions, with its 4400 mAh battery; one of the only downsides to Samsung's 2021 flagship. Finally, it has an IPX8 certification which gives it water resistance but not dust resistance. The mobile is also equipped with a reinforced aluminum frame and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protective glass; designed to withstand scratches and drops up to 2 meters.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is available from €1,526 on the Darty website.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is available from €991 with a 5G 160 GB or Unlimited mobile plan from SFR!

4 - The Google Pixel 6 Pro: the king of photophones

If the Google Pixel 5 did not aspire to compete with the most high-end smartphones of 2021, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, freshly landed, intend to change the game and restore the image of the American giant! Indeed, Google has completely revised its recipe to develop its new generation of smartphones, which justifies a decidedly more upscale design, as well as better performance; just to mention these improvements. The Pixel 6 Pro is, however, the most successful version of the range. This 5G-compatible smartphone has one of the most elegant designs, with attractive finishes and thin borders. The Pro version of this 2021 vintage is also equipped with a 6.7-inch diagonal OLED screen with curved edges, displaying in QHD and offering an adaptive refresh rate of 120 Hz; in addition to justifying perfect colorimetry and readability!

In terms of performance, Google has also gone all out by equipping its Google Pixel 6 Pro with its brand new processor: the Google Tensor. Accompanied by 12 GB of RAM, the manufacturer's in-house chip offers impeccable performance in all uses and especially in play, since the smartphone reaches dizzying scores; and even manages to overshadow gaming smartphones! The Google processor is also accompanied by the Titan M2 chip, which ensures the security of your data against hacking.

The Pixel 6 Pro is the first model from the manufacturer to have 3 rear cameras (50 + 12 + 48 Mpx). If the Pixel 5 has been one of the best photophones on the market so far, the Pixel 6 Pro comes to reset the counters and even dethrones the excellent Oppo Find X3 Pro in terms of versatility! If the shots taken with the Pixel 6 Pro are beautiful, bright and could not be more detailed, the smartphone nevertheless manages to stand out by offering breathtaking photo quality at night! If there is one point on which the Pixel 6 Pro does not shine, it is on its endurance, which is more anecdotal compared to the rest of its performance. Indeed and although it is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery, the smartphone offers an average autonomy and recharges very slowly. Finally, the American smartphone has an IP68 protection index, as well as Corning Gorilla Glass Victus glass to protect its screen and Gorilla Glass 6 glass on its back.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro is available without a plan from €899 on the Bouygues Telecom site.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro is also available from €443.90 with a Bouygues Telecom Sensation 150 GB or 200 GB package!

5 - The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: the smartphone 5G borderless par excellence

Released in 2021, the Mi 11 Ultra is the latest flagship from the manufacturer Xiaomi! This ultra-high-end smartphone benefits from a high-quality design with clean lines, as well as a ceramic coating of the most beautiful effect on the back. The 5G smartphone also features a superb edge-to-edge AMOLED screen justifying a display area of ​​6.81 inches and offering high definition in WQHD +, a calibration of choice, as well as an adaptive refresh rate of 120 Hz. !

The Chinese smartphone also delivers performance worthy of the greatest, comparable to that of the other high-end smartphones in our top list; the Mi 11 Ultra actually embeds a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Soc, an Adreno 660 graphics chip and 12 GB of RAM. Its triple rear photo module (50 + 2 x 48 Mpx) also fulfills its role wonderfully, offering very bright and excellent quality shots! The Ultra model of the Mi 11 range is also equipped with a 5000 mAh battery, which allows it to enjoy satisfactory autonomy. He can also count on a 67 Watt charging block, which allows him to regain all his endurance in less than 40 minutes! The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is finally IP68 certified and protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus!

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is available from €1,199.90 on the Xiaomi website.

6 - The OnePlus 9 Pro: an interesting and inexpensive 5G alternative

OnePlus offers a very good compromise in the segment of high-end 5G smartphones, with its OnePlus 9 Pro! This smartphone released in 2021, which offers a neat design and premium finishes, also features an excellent 6.7-inch curved AMOLED panel; which in addition to offering a high definition display, offers the most accurate colorimetry, as well as a refresh rate of 120 Hz! In terms of performance, the Pro version of the OnePlus 9 has nothing to envy the competition, since it justifies fluidity at all times; thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, its Adreno 660 graphics chip and its 8 or 12 GB of RAM depending on the version.

A quadruple rear photo module (48 + 50 + 8 + 3 Mpx), signed Hasselblad, occupies the back of the Chinese smartphone and provides a most honorable photographic performance; in particular by offering a very appreciable versatility! Despite all its strengths, the smartphone offers far too low autonomy in this segment of the range. However, like the Find X3 Pro, the OnePlus 9 Pro comes with a 65 Watt charger that can fully charge its 4500 mAh battery in less than 30 minutes! Finally, the smartphone is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and is certified waterproof and dustproof by the IP68 standard.

The OnePlus 9 Pro is available from €739 on Cdiscount!

The OnePlus 9 Pro is available from €379 with a 200 GB 5G package from Orange!

7 - The Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate: the best 5G gaming smartphone on the market !

The Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate is particularly aimed at a clientele of gamers and gamers, since it is entirely designed to offer optimal immersion in the game: ergonomic design, customizable game triggers, front speakers, etc. This 5G smartphone sports a premium and futuristic design and is equipped with a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel, offering FHD + display quality, as well as an ultra-smooth refresh rate of up to 144 Hz ! This smartphone for gamers is also equipped with a competition technical sheet: Soc Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, Adreno 660 graphics card and 18 GB of RAM; enough to offer the best gaming experience on the market today!

The Taiwanese phone comes with a removable ventilation system, allowing it to stay at a suitable temperature during long and intense gaming sessions! The device is modular and compatible with many other accessories (not included), with the aim of always improving the video game experience! In addition to the AirTrigger 5 control system, there is a triple module (64 + 13 + 5 Mpx) on the back of the phone which offers more than satisfactory daytime photo quality. The ROG Phone 5 Ultimate also has a very good battery life, which it owes to its 6000 mAh battery; split into two 3000 mAh batteries, in order to reduce the heating of the device. Finally, you should know that the Asus gaming smartphone is devoid of waterproof certification. The screen, on the other hand, is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.

The ROG Phone 5 Ultimate is available from €1,299.99 on the Asus online store.

8 - The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G: performance at a low price

The Samsung Galaxy A52s is a very good mid-range proposition, marketed at a much more attractive price than the high-end models previous ones. In addition to sporting a worked design and quality finishes, the 5G smartphone is equipped with an excellent 6.5-inch diagonal AMOLED panel, which justifies a calibration of choice and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The technical sheet of the Galaxy A52s is no less convincing (Soc Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G, Adreno 642L graphics card, 6 GB of RAM) and allows it to justify good fluidity in the majority of uses.

Although it is equipped with 4 modules on the back (64 + 12 + 2 x 5 Mpx), the Galaxy A52s delivers passable photo quality. The smartphone is also equipped with a 4500 mAh battery, which allows it to justify a good autonomy. Finally, the Samsung Galaxy A52s benefits from an IP67 certification, as well as a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protective glass.

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is available from €374 on the Amazon website.

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is available from €1 with a 200 GB plan from Orange!

9 - The Apple iPhone 13 Mini: the best compact and 5G smartphone

As a worthy successor to the iPhone 12 Mini, the latest from Apple still benefits from a compact format that is very pleasant to hold, as well as a most attractive design. The Californian smartphone has an excellent 5.4-inch OLED screen, offering impeccable display quality; however limited to 60 Hz. iPhone requires, the 5G smartphone delivers top-level performance by equipping itself with Apple's excellent in-house chip: the A15 Bionic; accompanied by 4 GB of RAM.

There are also two 12MP cameras on the back of the smaller iPhone 13, which capture good photos overall. The smartphone also benefits from an honorable autonomy, being equipped with a battery of only 2438 mAh; it indeed manages to hold 2 hours more compared to the 12 Mini! Finally, like the other models in the range, the iPhone 13 Mini benefits from the best sealing on the market (IP68). The smartphone is also protected by Ceramic Shield glass on the front and back, as well as aluminum on the edges.

The iPhone 13 Mini is available from €759 without a plan at SFR and RED.

The iPhone 13 Mini is also available from €271 with a 5G 160 GB or Unlimited plan from SFR!

10 - The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T 5G: the 5G mobile solution the most accessible on the market

Are you mainly looking to take advantage of your operator's 5G network and want to opt for a lighter mobile solution at a lower cost? The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T is in this sense as the lowest-cost 5G proposal on the market in 2021! Xiaomi's smartphone sports a successful design, which seems to be modeled on that of smartphones in the Poco range, as well as beautiful finishes. On top of that, it offers a 6.53-inch LCD screen displaying in FHD+, as well as pretty good performance overall; although it is limited in play. The smartphone has a MediaTek Dimensity 800U processor and an ARM Mali-G57 MC3 graphics card, boosted by 4 GB of RAM.

The T version of the Redmi Note 9 also offers good battery life with its 5000 mAh battery, as well as a triple back photo sensor (48 + 2 x 2 Mpx), which turns out to be disappointing. The Chinese smartphone finally benefits from a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 reinforced glass coating and has no waterproof certification.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T is available from €219 at Amazon.

Buying a cheap 5G smartphone: what are the best deals?

Cheap 5G phone without a plan: the 3 best deals

1. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T 5G: available from €212.21 on the Amazon website;
2. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G: available from €29 on the Amazon site;
3. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G: available from €249 at Cdiscount.

5G phone no expensive with a 5G plan: the 3 best offers

In addition to giving you attractive prices when subscribing to a mobile plan, operators regularly offer immediate and ODR discounts on 5G smartphones.

1. The Oppo Find X3 Neo 5G: available from €1 with a 200 GB 5G plan from Orange, instead of €699 without a plan;
2. The Google Pixel 6: available from €29 with a 5G 150 GB plan or higher from SFR, instead of €649 without a plan;
3. The Xiaomi 11T 5G: available from €1 with a 5G 160 GB plan or higher from SFR, instead of €569 without a plan.

You want to subscribe to a package with Orange or SFR in order to take advantage of a cheap 5G phone?