Best 5G smartphones 2019: Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, OnePlus 7 Pro 5G and more

The next-generation mobile network is now
available in six cities across the UK

Review

The new network, which is available in London,
Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh and
Belfast, can handle more devices at once than the
conventional 4G network. It promises to deliver much faster
download speeds, too.

EE believes its 5G customers could see speeds of between 100mbps
to 150mbps in “busy network areas”, the Daily Express reports. This represents a
tenfold increase over the performance of a 4G network.

But only a small selection of phones can connect to a 5G
network. 

Given that EE is currently the only 5G provider in the UK,
it’s the only mobile phone operator that sells
smartphones capable of connecting to
the next-generation network. But competitors are working fast to
catch up. Vodafone is expected to launch its 5G network on 3 July,
so EE won’t have the market to itself for much
longer. 

For now, these are the best 5G smartphones on
sale: 

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G [pictured top] isn’t just a
standard S10 that’s compatible with the next-generation mobile
network, it’s a much faster model that boasts the largest display
of the S10 range. 

Aside from its ability to connect to a 5G network, the S10 5G’s
standout feature is its quad-lens rear-facing camera. Trusted Reviews says the system, which has the
most lenses of any S10 model, includes a “3D depth-sensing” camera
that can improve augmented reality (AR) features – where computer
graphics are layered over real-world images. 

“In many ways, this is the ultimate version of Samsung’s
2019 flagship device” and is “one of the best picks” for those
looking to make the jump to 5G, the reviews site
concludes. 

EE is offering the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G for
£69 a month with an upfront cost of £130. The plan comes with 10GB
of data, as well as unlimited calls and texts. 

OnePlus 7 Pro 5G

The new OnePlus 7 Pro is proving to be another hit for the
Chinese tech firm and the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G is likely to follow
suit.

The 5G model is identical to the regular OnePlus 7 Pro, albeit
with the ability to hook on to the new generation of mobile
networks, says Pocket-lint. Buyers therefore get a 6.67in OLED
display with a slick 90Hz refresh rate, where swiping animations
look far smoother than other smartphones. 

The new device also comes with a “cool pop-up front
camera”, allowing OnePlus to install a display with barely any
bezels, the tech site says.

EE’s cheapest plan for the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G is
£59 per month following a downpayment of £170. Customers get 10GB
of data, plus unlimited calls and texts. 

Oppo Reno 5G

Much like OnePlus, Oppo is a Chinese phone maker that
specialises in creating powerful phones to rival the iPhone XS and
Samsung Galaxy S10 – but at a fraction of the price. In true Oppo
style, the phone company’s new Reno 5G is the cheapest model
on this list that can connect to a 5G network. 

The Reno 5G packs a “vibrant and sharp” 6.6in OLED display with
an in-screen fingerprint scanner that’s “blisteringly quick” at
unlocking the phone, says the Australian news site Finder.com. It’s also well suited to gaming as the
phone boosts its processing power to optimise frame rate. 

“There’s a lot to the Oppo Reno 5G beyond just its 5G
connectivity”, the website says, especially its “raw speed” and
impressive gaming performance.

The cheapest plan on offer through EE costs £54 a month after an initial payment
of £170. The plan comes with 10GB of data, and unlimited calls and
texts. 

LG V50 ThinQ 5G

It may not have the catchiest name, but the LG V50 5G is
one of the more powerful models on this list. 

The Korean tech firm’s latest smartphone is built around
Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 855 chipset, meaning it should be able to
handle anything that users demand. It has a triple-lens camera
system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance image
quality, says TechRadar. 

Users can buy a second screen that can be clipped onto the
side of the handset, effectively turning it into a foldable phone,
the website says. The new phone isn’t as slick as the Samsung
Galaxy Fold or Huawei Mate X, but it’s ideal for people who spend
most of their day on their smartphones.

Phone plans start at £69 per month with a downpayment of £170 on
EE. The phone comes with 10GB of data, along
with unlimited calls and texts.