The best T-Mobile phones to buy in 2024 (Hand-picked guide)
After acquiring Sprint, T-Mobile became a force to be reckoned with, gaining millions of subscribers and those all-important mid-band 5G frequencies. Team Magenta continues to be an important competitor to both Verizon and AT&T, especially when it comes to 5G deployment in the US.
But most users aren't concerned with 5G or the merger. You probably aren't either. If you're here, that means you're looking to get a brand-new phone. You've come to the right place, as we have assembled a lineup that will satisfy any need.
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But if you're coming from another carrier, then you also need to select a plan. We can help with that as well, just head over to our Best T-Mobile Plans article!
Best T-Mobile phones summarized:
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra — The best phone of 2024
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max — Apple's best iPhone right now
- Samsung Z Fold 6 — Samsung's best foldable to get in 2024
- Google Pixel 9 Pro XL — Google's AI in Google's best new phone
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra — One of the most capable Android ex-flagships
- T-Mobile prepaid phones
Choosing a phone can be an overwhelming task, especially if you're not following the industry and have a hard time distinguishing between models and brands. Fear not, with just a few questions you'll narrow it down to maybe a couple of devices.
First off, do you want an Apple iPhone or an Android phone? Most people usually stick to one operating system, but jumps from one to the other are also not uncommon, plus now there are enticing phones on each side. If you've spent money on iOS apps, music, or Apple subscription services, then obviously, iPhones are what you should be looking at. If not, then Android phones offer a wider variety of brands and designs, so there's more to pick from.
Second, of course, is the budget. With monthly payments, all phones seem very affordable, but keep in mind that with a two-year contract, a relatively small difference in the monthly payment can mean hundreds of dollars eventually. These days, even budget phones are very capable and can do most things flagships can, even if it's not at quite the same level.
Third: consider your needs. Are you constantly taking pictures? Or would you rather have a phone that lasts days between charges? We all use our phones in a specific way, so think about what you're doing most with your current phone and what features you might need the most.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The top 2024 flagship
If you really want the best of the best, then the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the one phone you should strive to get in 2024, setting the benchmark for all the other flagship smartphones. Titanium design, top-notch performance, and pretty much everything you might need from a phone.
Equipped with a remarkable 200MP camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 10MP 3X telephoto lens, and a new 5X periscope camera, Samsung's premium flagship excels in smartphone photography, and did amazing in the camera tests during our Galaxy S24 Ultra review. Despite the omission of the 10X camera found in its predecessor, it still delivers excellent zoom capabilities.
With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip at its core, the S24 Ultra ensures top-tier performance, while the Galaxy AI suite delivers awesome extra functionality powered by generative AI. Additionally, the included S Pen stylus enhances its productivity features.
You can purchase the Galaxy S24 Ultra for up to $800 off its regular $1,300 starting price with an eligible trade-in and plan.
Equipped with a remarkable 200MP camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 10MP 3X telephoto lens, and a new 5X periscope camera, Samsung's premium flagship excels in smartphone photography, and did amazing in the camera tests during our Galaxy S24 Ultra review. Despite the omission of the 10X camera found in its predecessor, it still delivers excellent zoom capabilities.
You can purchase the Galaxy S24 Ultra for up to $800 off its regular $1,300 starting price with an eligible trade-in and plan.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
The most advanced iPhone in 2024
No two ways about it: the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the largest and most advanced iPhone so far, putting the focus back on raw performance, great battery life, and advanced camera features.
The Cupertino flagship features a larger 6.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with the thinnest bezels ever on an iPhone and a titanium design with an Action Button and the Dynamic Island. There's also a whole new Camera Control button, positioned on the right frame, which lets you quickly interact with your phone's camera, take pictures or videos, or access Visual Intelligence.
The second-gen 3nm A18 Pro chip on board, which includes a significantly upgraded Neural Engine designed with Apple Intelligence in mind, ushers in a new level of performance for the iPhone 16 Pro Max and also helps the phone achieve a pretty decent battery life.
The second-gen 3nm A18 Pro chip on board, which includes a significantly upgraded Neural Engine designed with Apple Intelligence in mind, ushers in a new level of performance for the iPhone 16 Pro Max and also helps the phone achieve a pretty decent battery life.
It is also due to the large 4,676mAh battery on board, the largest one on an iPhone so far. There is also faster MagSafe charging, which was upgraded to 25W from 15W. Interestingly, as we found out during our iPhone 16 Pro Max review, the phone can reach charging speeds of almost 40W, which is above what Apple advertises.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max camera includes a new 48MP ultra-wide camera with an f.2/2 aperture, as well as the slightly improved 48MP Fusion camera. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has the same 5X telephoto tetraprism camera as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is as capable as before.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max camera includes a new 48MP ultra-wide camera with an f.2/2 aperture, as well as the slightly improved 48MP Fusion camera. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has the same 5X telephoto tetraprism camera as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is as capable as before.
Apple Intelligence is a big selling point of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but Apple is employing a staggered release, which means that only a handful of Apple Intelligence features will launch at any subsequent iOS18.x software updates. Currently, iOS 18.1 is out with Writing Tools, notification summaries, and so on. Read more about it here.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Samsung's best foldable to get in 2024
It features a sleek, completely flat design and a faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, making it their most advanced foldable yet. While the overall concept behind the Samsung foldable remains consistent with its predecessors, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 does introduce a few noteworthy improvements.
The display is notably brighter, offering an enhanced visual experience with over 2,500 nits of brightness. And even though Samsung did not mention this during the phone's announcement, during our Galaxy Z Fold 6 review we noticed that the crease is somewhat less visible than before.
Additionally, the new Galaxy AI features integrated into One UI provide a more enriched user experience, bringing us the power of AI into our fingertips.
The camera system remains largely similar to previous models, but with subtle refinements that deliver better photo quality. Despite not drastically changing the formula, Samsung has managed to elevate the Galaxy Z Fold 6 with these upgrades, making it a solid choice for those interested in cutting-edge foldable technology.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Google's AI in Google's best new phone
Enter the new Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, the company's latest top phone with the most exciting new features and improvements. Sure, it's not a foldable one, but it arguably has better hardware than the rest of the lineup.
With the Tensor G4 on deck, the Pixel 9 Pro XL supports Google's Gemini Nano, the best large-language model that ushers in a new era for AI. It also packs some 16GB of RAM for future-proofing AI capabilities, as well as super-bright 3,000 nits of max brightness on the Super Actua display.
Hardware-aside, arguably the more exciting change is the revamped design language that brings the Pixel 9 Pro XL closer to its competitors: the iPhone and the Galaxy. After our Pixel 9 Pro XL review, we were happy with how the phone felt in the hand. The new more boxy shape made it more comfortable, and the refreshed design of the camera module gives the phone a more modern look while keeping the OG Google Pixel spirit.
Camera-wise, the setup is updated in comparison with last year's Pixel 8 Pro. Hopefully, this will translate to a decent camera quality.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The best phone of early 2023
The brand-new Galaxy S23 Ultra is easily among the best Android phones you could consider in early 2023. The latest Android powerhouse features Qualcomm's top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip, which vastly improves the performance and overall camera capability of the top Galaxy flagship. With a super-versatile quad-camera setup, helmed by a 200MP main camera and boasting an excellent periscope lens, this one is the poster child for Android's hardware and software advancements. At least for the first half of 2023, this one will be the best phone to consider--and buy.
Although some may argue that the differences with the previous generation phone are rather small, these certainly do make a difference in everyday life. The chip performs much better and delivers an excellent battery life, both of which have been lacking on most previous Exynos-powered Galaxy flagships. In the meantime, the display is mostly the same, but now it comes with a super-low minimum brightness of just 0.8 nits, which makes this one extremely comfortable to use in low-light conditions, especially at night.
Our full Galaxy S23 Ultra review will probably paint a much better picture if you're trying to make a buying decision, but overall, this phone should be short-listed. Mind the high full price though, look for trade-in opportunities and other promotions that could shed hundreds off its original price tag.
T-Mobile prepaid phones
Unfortunately, T-Mobile doesn't have a particularly exciting selection of prepaid phones. Currently, when you hop on one of Team Magenta's prepaid plans, you can pick between the Galaxy A03 and the Moto G Pure, which aren't making our hearts skip a beat. Still, T-Mobile's prepaid plans are very competitive, on par with the plans that Verizon and AT&T have to offer.
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- Best prepaid phone plans
Are phones on T-Mobile sold unlocked?
Unless stated otherwise, you should presume that all phones sold on T-Mobile are locked. The criteria for unlocking a device stand as follows: you need to have had your postpaid phone active on the T-Mobile cellular network for at least 40 days, paid in full, or without any pending balance payments to T-Mobile. Of course, T-Mobile can request proof of purchase when requesting the device unlock.If your device is prepaid, then you need to have had it active on the T-Mobile network for at least 365 days. If you wish to unlock it sooner, you can do that 14 days after purchase at the earliest, with at least $100 in refills for each line on the account during that period. What's more, you can't unlock more than two phones per line every 12 months, so have that in mind as well.
Can I get a free phone from T-Mobile?
Just like Verizon and AT&T, T-Mobile usually lets you get a free phone, sort of. While nothing is truly free, an eligible device and a new line with T-Mobile could get you a pretty serious discount on a certain phone, and even write off nearly 100% of the price tag. This could essentially get you a "free" phone, but you will have to pay for that one, one way or another.
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