Best T-Mobile phones in 2023
T-Mobile is one of the biggest wireless carriers in the U.S., with a variety of smartphones and plans available. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly phone, a high-end flagship, or something in between, T-Mobile has you covered. Almost all smartphones that made it to our collection of the best smartphones were available to purchase via T-Mobile in the U.S., and we expect that to continue this year too. We have already seen a couple of big smartphone releases in 2023, so it’s time to update this collection to see where everything stands and which ones are worth considering if you’re looking to buy a new phone from T-Mobile right now.
Our favorite T-Mobile phones in 2023
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Best overall
The most powerful flagship on the market
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the best phones on the market, packing an all-new 200MP sensor, a refined design, a custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, and One UI 5.1.
- Smooth, fast performance
- Great battery life
- Superb cameras
- Top-notch display
- New camera features aren’t easy to find
- Expensive
- Speakers are hit and miss
- Charging speeds aren’t up to par with the price
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best phone in Samsung’s latest batch of 2023 flagships, differentiating itself with a powerful set of internals, a 200MP camera, an S Pen stylus, and more. It also packs a massive battery and the biggest display of all three phones for a more immersive user experience.
One of the best things about the Galaxy S23 Ultra is that it comes with a custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. This is one of the most powerful chips on the market right now, and it works very well with One UI software to deliver a fluid experience. Also new to Galaxy flagships this year is UFS 4.0 storage, which is better than the UFS 3.1 storage we got in the previous-gen flagship.
Samsung has also packed in a 200MP camera on the Galaxy S23 Ultra that uses the new Adapt Pixel sensor to bring many improvements to the photography experience. The device will automatically decide whether to take a full 200MP shot or bin it down into a 50 or 12MP image. As mentioned in our Galaxy S23 Ultra review, leaving it in the automatic mode can fetch you some good results, so we recommend doing that unless you want to fiddle with different settings. The main 200MP camera is also complemented by two 10MP sensors with a 10x and 3x optical zoom and a 12MP ultrawide sensor.
There are a ton of other things to like about the Galaxy S23 Ultra, so be sure to check out our review before making a purchase decision. T-Mobile is currently offering an $800 discount when you purchase the phone with a new line on Magenta MAX, and it’s a good way to save a lot of money on your purchase.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Best iPhone
The iPhone 14 Pro features an always-on display, Dynamic Island, a new 48MP camera, and more. It’s a great flagship for Apple fans.
- Premium design and build quality
- Always on display with Dynamic Island
- Powerful A16 Bionic chip
- Excellent software support
- Expensive price tag
- Slow charging speeds
Apple’s new iPhone 14 Pro is easily one of the best smartphones to come out of 2022. It may not look a lot different from its predecessor, but there are a bunch of changes that make it better. From an updated SoC to an improved “Pro” camera system, there’s a lot to like about the iPhone 14 Pro, and it deserves a spot in this collection as one of the best T-Mobile phones you can buy right now.
One of the biggest changes to the iPhone 14 Pro models is the cutout. The notch on top of the display has been replaced by a pill-shaped cutout. Apple is using some software tricks to turn this particular cutout into an interactive element on the screen. It’s called Dynamic Island, and it’s exclusive to just the Pro models for now. This particular cutout/interactive software element isn’t going to change the way you use the iPhone, but it brings a nice flair of useful glanceable info to the main screen.
Also new to the iPhone 14 Pro is the new “Pro” camera system. The main camera now has a larger sensor and a faster aperture. It’s also a higher 48MP sensor that uses pixel binning to produce 12MP shots. We’ve already tested the new camera and added a bunch of samples to our iPhone 14 Pro review, so be sure to check it out. Apple has also improved the video recording capabilities of the iPhone 14 Pro. In addition to an improved cinematic mode, there’s also a new Action mode that helps you capture stabilized footage of moving objects.
There are some other improvements, including the new Apple A16 Bionic chip, and you can learn more about them in our review as well. T-Mobile is carrying all four colors of the iPhone 14 Pro, and you get some solid deals too.
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Best Android experience
The Pixel 7 Pro is Google’s best phone ever, with a refined, premium design and Google’s second-generation silicon — plus awesome cameras, as usual.
- Great value for money
- Unique design and premium build
- Clean UI with exclusive features
- Good software support
Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are undoubtedly the most refined Pixel phones yet, and they’re easily one of our favorite Android phones from last year. While the regular Pixel 7 offers the most bang for your buck, the Pro model is the one we recommend for most users who are looking to get the absolute best Android experience. One of the main differences between the two phones is the physical size and a couple of other key specs, including a bigger battery and a higher refresh rate display. The overall experience of using both phones is going to remain largely the same, but the Pixel 7 Pro is just a tad premium as it represents Google’s best smartphone hardware to date.
The Pixel 7 Pro sports a 6.7-inch panel with support for up to 120Hz refresh rate. Just like the last year’s model, the display on the Pixel 7 Pro also has curved edges on the sides. The curved edges aren’t necessarily a deal breaker because they’re more subtle this time around compared to what we saw in the outgoing model. Internally, the Pixel 7 Pro is powered by the new Tensor G2 chip, which the company is using to power smart software features such as audio message transcriptions, Photo Unblur, and more. It’s these smart features that make the Pixel 7 Pro better than popular flagships out there.
Cameras, as you probably already know, are a big part of the Pixels, and this year’s Pro model has a pretty versatile setup. In addition to the main wide and the secondary ultrawide cameras found on the regular Pixel 7, the Pro model also brings a telephoto camera with 5X optical zoom. It also takes advantage of the Super Res Zoom image-processing algorithms to get you sharper images even while you’re shooting with 30X zoom. Google has also added some other neat camera features to offer a well-rounded experience overall.
Google Pixel 6a
Best Value
Great value from last generation
The Google Pixel 6a keeps many of what made the Pixel 6 so great, at a lower price point.
- Excellent value for money
- Great software experience
- Reliable performance with Tensor chip
- Slow charging speeds
- Only a 60Hz display
We already have our eyes set on the Pixel 7a, but that’s not expected to arrive anytime soon. If you’re looking to buy a good-budget phone in the meantime, then consider buying the Google Pixel 6a right now. You can literally get a free unit of Pixel 6a from T-Mobile by opting for a new line, which is a fantastic deal if you don’t mind sticking with T-Mobile for 24 months. The phone itself offers great value, even at its full $449 asking price in the U.S.
One of the best things about the Google Pixel 6a is that it brings a lot of great features Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro features at an affordable price. The Pixel 6a, for instance, is powered by the same Google Tensor SoC as the other two phones in the series. It’s a highly capable chipset that can keep up with more powerful silicon from the likes of Qualcomm, Apple, and more. Google’s Tensor chip also prioritizes machine learning and AI to offer some smart features.
The Google Pixel 6a also brings the same design as the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro. It features the same camera visor at the back that runs across the body of the phone. You can also have a two-tone finish with some fun colorways like Charcoal, Sage, and Chalk. All these interesting design elements make the Pixel 6a stand out in the sea of mid-range phones on the market. It’s definitely a more premium-looking device that we would recommend in a heartbeat over a bunch of similar-looking budget phones.
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Best budget display
When you need a great display
The Galaxy A53 offers a modern design, large screen and battery at an affordable price.
- Beautiful and fluid AMOLED display
- Long-lasting battery
- Affordable price tag
- Could’ve used a better processor
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G has been a recommendation for us in the past, and rightfully so. It’s one of the best mid-range phones in the U.S. that offers a lot of value for your money. It usually costs as much as Google’s affordable Pixel, and it’s a solid alternative that fixes a lot of issues that we have with the Pixel 6a. The Galaxy A53 5G also works well with the T-Mobile network in the US, meaning it’s good to be a part of this collection too.
One of the best things about the Galaxy A53 5G is its display. We’re looking at a 6.5-inch 120Hz Samsung Super AMOLED panel, which is better than the Pixel 6a’s 60Hz OLED panel. And as we mentioned in our Galaxy A53 5G review, it’s a typical Samsung AMOLED panel with vibrant colors, inky blacks, and high peak brightness. Also, the 120Hz refresh rate makes it a superior option in a market that’s flooded with budget phones with a basic display.
Another thing we like about the Galaxy A53 5G is its design. It’s also worth highlighting that the Galaxy A53 5G comes with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, along with a microSD card slot for expandable storage.
Moving over to the optics, the Galaxy A53 sports a triple camera setup which includes a 64MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide, and a pair of 5MP sensors for macro and depth in the main system. These may not be the best camera sensors to work with, but we managed to capture some pretty good shots.
TCL Stylus 5G
Best budget phone with stylus
And good battery life, too
The TCL Stylus 5G is a budget smartphone with a garaged stylus. It also has a nice screen, great software, and a decent camera. It is exactly $258 of smartphone.
- Affordable price tag
- All day battery life
- Stylus complements the phone well
- Software could be better
- Limited to just 4G RAM
The TCL Stylus 5G is one of the more exciting phones on this list. It’s one of the cheapest budget phones on the market right now, but it brings a stylus to the mix to help you do more things on a smartphone. As we mentioned in our TCL Stylus 5G review, it’s a good budget phone that offers great value for its $258 asking price in the U.S., and it works very well on T-Mobile.
One of the best things about the TCL Stylus 5G is the stylus. The phone also has a space to store the stylus in it, unlike some other phones that make you carry them separately. It’s a passive stylus, though, meaning it doesn’t have a battery, and it doesn’t rely on Bluetooth to function. We found that it works well with the phone and has minimal latency while writing and taking notes. And just like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the TCL Stylus 5G also lets you start a quick note without first unlocking the phone.
We also like how TCL built some custom apps that let you take advantage of the stylus on the device. The phone is bundled with Nebo for TCL, a handwriting recognition tool, and MyScript Calculator 2, which lets you write down calculations and computers them for you.
The TCL Stylus 5G also comes with a 6.81-inch display. It’s a simple-looking display with a notch toward the top and a sizable bezel at the bottom. You don’t get the darkest blacks, super contrasty colors, or even features like an always-on display with this one, but it’s a decent-looking display that’s suitable for day-to-day usage. We just wish it was a bit brighter as the 500 nits brightness makes it hard to read in direct sunlight.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Best foldable phone
Best foldable in the U.S. right now
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is at once a smartphone and a mini tablet, and Samsung’s polished the hardware and software enough that transition is seamless. If you want to flex with your personal device — this is the phone to get.
- More durable than its predecessor
- Impressive performance
- Beautiful displays
- S Pen not included
- The crease is still visible
- Expensive price tag
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is currently the only folding phone that’s readily available in the U.S., which is why it gets our recommendation for the best foldable phone. It also works well with all the major carriers in the U.S., including T-Mobile, so it’s a solid addition to this collection of the best T-Mobile phones. T-Mobile also seems to be offering the best deals for this phone in the US right now, which is great because the phone can be quite expensive otherwise.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is largely similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 from last year, and that’s mainly because the overall chassis remains more or less the same. Even while holding both phones side-by-side, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the two unless you look at the minute details. Even the small changes, however, make the Galaxy Z Fold 4 significantly better to hold and use in real life. The new and upgraded hinge also makes the device feels more premium. It’s still not going to be as durable as a traditional phone, but Samsung’s foldables have come a long way.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 also comes with upgraded internals for better performance overall. You get the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor that’s backed by 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. Samsung has also put more effort into improving the overall software experience of the phone. There’s now a persistent taskbar at the bottom of the screen to help you multitask better. The new OneUI software on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is packed with some great features like Flex mode to improve your productivity. You can also use an S Pen with the Galaxy Z Fold 4, but it’s worth mentioning that there’s no place to store the stylus within the device. You’ll have to carry it separately or buy one of those fancy cases to secure it in place.
Best T-Mobile phones: The bottom line
Samsung’s new Galaxy S23 Ultra is the one we recommend if you’re looking to pick up a solid phone from T-Mobile right now. It packs powerful internals and comes with a good set of features to deliver a solid experience overall. It’s powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip, making it one of the most powerful phones you can buy right now. Pair that with 12GB of RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, and you have a device that’ll serve you well for many years to come. The new 200MP camera also plays a huge role in delivering some solid photos, and the built-in S Pen just makes it a versatile device to use on daily basis.
Those who are looking to buy an iPhone can consider looking at the iPhone 14 Pro model, as it represents the best of what Apple has to offer in 2023. Apple’s new Dynamic Island makes it a unique offering compared to other iPhones, and it’s also one of the most powerful devices you can buy right now. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 is also a good phone to consider if you’re looking to get into foldable phones this year. Lastly, we’ve also highlighted some affordable phones for those who are working with a relatively tight budget, so be sure to explore all the options before making a purchase decision.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Best overall
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the best phones on the market, packing an all-new 200MP sensor, a refined design, a custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, and One UI 5.1.
There’s no shortage of phones that work with T-Mobile in the U.S., but these are the only ones that are worth considering in 2023. This is an ever-evolving list that we’ll update frequently to add more options that are relevant, so be sure to check back for newer and potentially better phones. We’re just getting started with the first batch of smartphones in 2023, and we expect the list to expand very soon with relatively newer options. We’ll have more to talk about the other releases soon, but you can check out our collection of the best phones if you want to explore options in the meantime.