The best 5G phones in Australia

Even if coverage on par with today's 4G networks is still a ways off, widespread 5G connectivity in Australia is closer than you think. Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone are all well on their way when it comes to the rollout of 5G mobile networks across Australia and many Aussies already have access to the super-fast speeds made possible by the next-generation mobile network.

Of course, taking advantage of 5G in Australia will need the right hardware. Older devices don't support 5G and not every new one does either. Fortunately, those looking to hop aboard the 5G express in 2023 have a lot more options than those who came before them.

Here are the most popular 5G phones already available in Australia through every telco. 

If you're in the market for the 5G iPhone in 2023 and your budget is as big as your ambitions, then Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max is the obvious choice.

While size is the most tangible difference between the top-end of the iPhone 15 lineup and the rest, the iPhone 15 Pro Max also boasts a larger battery and a more capable camera. The difference between the performance offered by this device and the standard iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro isn't huge, but if you're looking for areas where the biggest iPhone of 2023 has the edge, they're easy enough to find.

Although the iPhone 15 Pro Max doesn't quite make the most of the larger form-factor in the way that something like the Galaxy S23 Ultra or a Galaxy Z Fold 5 might, it's still the most compelling candidate for those looking for the best 5G phone that runs on iOS.

While the Pixel 8 Pro has Samsung's latest flagship beat when it comes to delivering bang for buck, it's hard to argue that the Galaxy S23 Ultra isn't the brand's best and brightest when it comes to 5G devices.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is a new Galaxy Note in all but name. Even if it shirks away from competing with Google and Apple when it comes to camera quality, the Galaxy S23 has both beat when it comes to catering towards power users.

A sleeker refreshed design and the return of the S-Pen stylus as an integrated accessory rather than an add-on are likely music to the ears of consumers disheartened by the recent demise of the Galaxy Note series. If last year's Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ seemed a little underwhelming to you, that's probably because Samsung saved their best tech for this year's Galaxy S23 Ultra.

In line with previous Google-branded smartphones, the Google Pixel 8 Pro eschews camera gimmicks in favor of more practical premium inclusions like water resistance, 5G connectivity, a 120Hz screen, additional RAM and a bigger battery.

The Pixel 6 Pro was our top pick for Android smartphones in 2021 and the Google Pixel 7 Pro builds on that legacy in strong fashion. If you're in the market for an Android-based 5G phone and don't fancy paying the high price attached to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, then the Pixel 8 Pro is a more than worthy alternative. It's a phone with everything you need and an absence of the unnecessary parts that make phones expensive.

When it comes to this budget-friendly 5G handset, cheap doesn't have to mean compromised. Even if it's far from compact and loses some marks for iffy camera performance, Motorola Moto G53 5G packs in an enormous amount of bang for buck.

For an asking price of less than $400, consumers come away with 5G connectivity, a surprisingly premium form-factor, snappy performance and two days of battery life.

While the Motorola Moto G53 can't compete with flagships like the iPhone 15, this more modest take on what 5G smartphones should offer (and how much they should cost) is easier to live with than you might expect.

While Google's strength in the premium segment has waxed and waned over the years, its Pixel A devices have dominated the mid-range market ever since their introduction.

Back in 2022, Reviews.org’s Fergus Halliday came away with plenty of nice things to say about the Pixel 6a.  In his review of the device, he found that "the aesthetic character, confident camera hardware and powerful processor make it incredibly easy to recommend."

His recent assessment of the Pixel 7a 5G was similarly enthusiastic.

While 5G connectivity used to be reserved for the premium end of the market, that's no longer the case. These days, Aussies can pick up a 5G handset for as little as $349 outright. 5G isn't an extra anymore. It's something you can expect to see included as standard.

If you're in the market for a 5G device, that's not the only thing you'll want to keep in mind though. Here are a few other tips when it comes to 5G phones in Australia:

• The first few generations of 5G handsets often included both a 4G and 5G modem. That extra hardware contributed to a shortfall in power efficiency, causing many 5G devices to drain their batteries faster than their 4G counterparts.
• Regardless of brand or operating system, 5G tends to eat up battery life faster than 4G did. Those who want to make the absolute most of the faster speeds that 5G offers without compromising on that front may want to err on the side of larger handsets like the Galaxy S23 Plus and iPhone 15 Plus relative to their pint-sized counterparts.