The best 5G smartphones of 2020 - so far

We're only just reaching the end of the first month in 2020, and the 5G phone wars are already under way. With the likes of O2 announcing their plans to increase 5G connectivity from just 21 towns and cities to 50 locations by summer 2020, if you haven't already thought about getting a 5G-enabled phone, maybe now is the time.

"5G offers the potential to transform businesses and sectors. It's more than just pure connectivity. It has the potential to unlock new experiences and increase productivity around all the things that matter most, so you can transform your business and live life without wasting a moment." - O2 Telefonica

Although we can expect numerous 5G handsets to be announced and released this year, there are already a number of 5G smartphones on the market that are extremely sought after, but how do you choose which is the right one for you?

See our guide to 'The best 5G smartphones of 2020 - so far' below:

1. Samsung Galaxy S10 5G:

"The Galaxy S10 5G is a smartphone for early adopters who don't mind paying for the privilege. Its huge display is great for videos and gaming, it's a sleek phone despite its size, and Samsung's UI is smooth. Just how good it is will come down to where you are, but if you want to futureproof your smartphone, you won't find a 5G phone with more bells or whistles than the S10 5G." - TechRadar.co.uk

Weight

198g

Dimensions

162.6 x 77.1 x 7.9 mm

OS

Android 9.0

Screen size

6.7-inches

Resolution

1,440 x 3,040 pixels

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 / Exynos 9820

RAM

8GB

Storage

256GB / 512GB

Battery

4,500mAh

Rear camera

12MP + 12MP + 16MP + TOF

Front camera

10MP + TOF

2. Samsung Galaxy A90 5G:

"The Samsung Galaxy A90 5G is one of the most affordable 5G phones. It also has a decent amount of power, but its camera is enormously disappointing for the price, so only buy this if you value 5G over photography." - TechRadar.co.uk

Weight

206g

Dimensions

164.8 x 76.4 x 8.4 mm

OS

Android 9.0

Screen size

6.7-inches

Resolution

1,080 x 2,400 pixels

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855

RAM

6GB / 8GB

Storage

128GB

Battery

4,500mAh

Rear camera

48MP + 8MP + 5MP

Front camera

32MP

3. Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G:

"If you can get past the fact the Mi Mix 3 5G will accidentally slide open and start doing stuff when you take it out of your pocket every so often, it's a great phone and among the most affordable 5G options around. Whether you need a 5G option is another conversation entirely." - TechRadar.co.uk

Weight

225g

Dimensions

157.9 x 74.7 x 8.5 mm

OS

Android 9.0

Screen size

6.39-inches

Resolution

1,080 x 2,340 pixels

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855

RAM

6GB

Storage

64GB / 128GB

Battery

3,800mAh

Rear camera

12MP + 12MP

Front camera

24MP + 2MP

4. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G:

"The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus is Samsung's latest and greatest phablet, giving you even more power than the S10 range and the addition of a handy stylus. The 5G model meanwhile takes productivity to the next level." - TechRadar.co.uk

Weight

198g

Dimensions

162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm

OS

Android 9.0

Screen size

6.8-inches

Resolution

1,440 x 3,040 pixels

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 / Exynos 9825

RAM

12GB

Storage

256GB / 512GB

Battery

4,300mAh

Rear camera

12MP + 12MP + 16MP + TOF

Front camera

10MP

5. OnePlus 7 Pro 5G:

"The OnePlus 7 Pro 5G is minimally different from its non-5G version, but that's okay - the base phone is phenomenally powerful at a lower price than the competition, and thus is one of the least expensive options for hooking up to one of the next-gen phone networks." - TechRadar.co.uk

Weight

206g

Dimensions

162.6 x 75.9 x 8.8 mm

OS

Android 9.0

Screen size

6.67-inches

Resolution

1,440 x 3,120 pixels

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855

RAM

6GB / 8GB / 12GB

Storage

128GB / 256GB

Battery

4,000mAh

Rear camera

48MP + 8MP + 16MP

Front camera

16MP

6. Huawei Mate X:

"Behold the wonder of the Huawei Mate X - the foldable phone unveiled by Huawei at MWC 2019 that throws in 5G just for the fun of it. This is a seriously good-looking device with seriously fast upload and download speeds to go with it, though you might struggle to pay it." - T3.com

Weight

295g

Dimensions

161.3 z 146.2 x 5.4 mm (unfolded), 161.3 x 78.3 x 11 mm (folded)

OS

Android 9.0

Screen size

8-inches

Resolution

2,200 x 2,480 pixels

CPU

Kirin 980

RAM

8GB

Storage

512GB

Battery

4,500mAh

Rear camera

40MP + 8MP + 16MP + TOF

Front camera

N/A

7. Huawei Mate 20 X 5G:

"The Mate 20 X 5G is a strange beast. On the one hand, it's the perfect streaming and gaming device, poised to take advantage of fast data speeds thanks to its huge screen and ample power. On the other hand, the 4G version packs a bigger battery and costs half the price in the UK. So while in isolation it's a great phone, until 5G coverage improves, or its price goes down, it is a tough sell at £999." - TechRadar.co.uk

Weight

233g

Dimensions

174.6 x 85.4 x 8.4 mm

OS

Android 9

Screen size

7.2-inches

Resolution

1,080 x 2,244 pixels

CPU

Kirin 980

RAM

8GB

Storage

256GB

Battery

4,200mAh

Rear camera

40MP + 8MP + 20MP

Front camera

24MP

8. Oppo Reno 5G:

"The Oppo Reno 5G is a Reno 10x Zoom with 5G capabilities. It's a small upgrade in the grand scheme of things, and one that's matched with a sizeable price increase, but it's still a fantastic device, and it's also one of the most affordable 5G phones yet." - TechRadar.co.uk

Weight

215g

Dimensions

162 x 77.2 x 9.3 mm

OS

Android 9.0

Screen size

6.6-inches

Resolution

1,080 x 2,340 pixels

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855

RAM

8GB

Storage

256GB

Battery

4,065mAh

Rear camera

48MP + 13MP + 8MP

Front camera

16MP

9. Moto Z3 5G:

"The Moto Z3 won't turn heads with its simple design and lack of flagship features, but it's a surprisingly powerful phone at a bargain price. Which would be enough to recommend the phone - but it's also Verizon's secret weapon to get folks in the 5G door at a lower cost by buying the Z3 and a 5G Moto Mod. But how it will perform on the network has yet to be seen." - TechRadar.co.uk

Weight

156g

Dimensions

156.5 x 76.5 x 6.8 mm

OS

Android 9.0

Screen size

6.01-inches

Resolution

1,080 x 2,160 pixels

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835

RAM

4GB / 6GB

Storage

64GB / 128GB

Battery

3,000mAh

Rear camera

12MP + 12MP

Front camera

8MP

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