The best 5G phones in Australia
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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.
Even if coverage on par with today’s 4G networks is still a ways off, many Aussies already have limited access to the super-fast speeds made possible by the next-generation mobile network.
It’s not quite time to put all your chips on 5G, but those expecting coverage might be considering their next smartphone upgrade. Even if you struggle to get a 5G signal at your address, 5G phones will revert to regular 4G coverage, where the reception isn’t strong enough. So you’re free to upgrade and future-proof your handset even if the next-gen network is still a pipedream in your area.
Here are the most popular 5G phones already available in Australia through every telco.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Best 5G iPhone
Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.
If you’re in the market for the 5G iPhone in 2022 and your budget is as big as your ambitions, then Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro Max is the obvious choice.
While size is the most tangible difference between the top-end of the iPhone 13 lineup and the rest, the iPhone 13 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 13 or iPhone 13 Pro isn’t huge, but if you’re looking for areas where the biggest iPhone of 2021 has the edge, they’re easy enough to find.
Although the iPhone 13 Pro Max doesn’t quite make the most of the larger form-factor in the way that something like the Galaxy S22 Ultra or a Galaxy Note series device would, it’s still the most compelling candidate for those looking for the best 5G phone that runs on iOS.
The best cheap smartphones in Australia
Looking for a cheap phone? We’ve ranked the best budget smartphones available in Australia.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Best 5G Samsung phone
Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.
While the Pixel 6 Pro has Samsung’s latest flagship beat when it comes to delivering bang for buck, it’s hard to argue that the Galaxy S22 Ultra isn’t the brand’s best and brightest when it comes to 5G devices.
The Galaxy S22 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 S22 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 this year’s Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ seemed a little underwhelming to you, that’s probably because Samsung saved their best tech for last, and specifically for the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Best 5G Android phone
Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.
In line with previous Google-branded smartphones, the Google Pixel 6 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.
Some might miss the convenience of facial recognition, sure, but acclimatizing back to touch ID isn’t as cumbersome as you might imagine. The Pixel 5 was our top pick for Android smartphones in 2021 and the Google Pixel 6 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 the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, then the Pixel 6 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.
Motorola Moto Edge 20 Fusion 5G
Best cheap 5G phone
Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.
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’s Edge 20 Fusion 5G packs in an enormous amount of bang for buck.
For an asking price of less than $500, consumers come away with 5G connectivity, a 90Hz OLED screen, a quad-lens camera and all-day battery life. While the Motorola Moto Edge 20 Fusion 5G can’t compete with flagships like the iPhone 13, 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.
Samsung Galaxy A73 5G
Best mid-tier 5G phone
Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.
While Samsung’s popularity in the premium range has wavered in recent years, its mid-range and budget Galaxy handsets have only become more consistent in their strengths.
Back in 2020, Reviews.org’s Joe Hanlon questioned whether the Samsung Galaxy A71 was actually the best Samsung smartphone of 2020. Our recent assessment of the Samsung Galaxy A73 5G was similarly enthusiastic.
The Galaxy A73 5G’s two-day battery life and stunning Super AMOLED display see it hold its own as an alternative to the Galaxy S21 FE, which is actually about $200 more expensive.
The quad-lens rear camera isn’t going to replace your Nikon or Panasonic Lumix camera anytime soon, but smartphone photography has never been Samsung’s strength to begin with. The Galaxy A73 5G makes a calculated gamble that consumers looking at a mid-tier 5G smartphone like this one care more about practical performance than pretty pictures, and it’s a bet that pays off.
5G phones we also considered
OnePlus 10 Pro
OnePlus haven’t officially launched down under just yet, but thanks to imports, they’ve quickly built up a large fanbase in Oz, and if you’ve never gotten your hands on one before, the OnePlus 10 Pro will quickly make a convert out of you.
This 5G-enabled smartphone has been dubbed the ‘flagship killer’ thanks to its out-of-this-world 120Hz display, snappy performance, IP68 water and dustproof rating, and sleek styling.
As you’d expect from a device not technically on sale in the country, there are no telcos currently offering plans, but you can get it outright from $1,661 at Amazon.
ASUS ROG Phone 5
It’s marketed as the ultimate gaming phone (which it is), but there’s so much more to love about the ASUS ROG Phone 5 than its incredibly speedy Snapdragon 888 5G chipset and whopping 16GB RAM.
For one, with a 6,000mAh, this beast will keep you going all day, and probably all day tomorrow, too. Its camera, while not the best we’ve ever seen, is a massive improvement on its predecessor and takes some really nice shots. Oh, and with 256GB storage, you can pack it chock-full of photos, apps, games and more.
The ROG Phone 5 isn’t available on any plans, and at an RRP of $1,699, it’s not cheap. However, you can get it for $916 at Kogan and chuck in a SIM-only plan.
Oppo Find X3 Pro
Oppo’s recent forays into the luxury smartphone market have been huge successes and the Find X3 Pro doesn’t break this streak. It’s beautifully designed, armed with the latest specs, and sports one of the most spectacular displays we’ve ever seen on a phone.
There’s 5G too (of course!) and, as we’ve come to expect from Oppo, a killer tri-lens camera set-up that takes a leaf out of Apple and Google’s book with some smart post-processing software that takes snaps to the next level.
Check out Oppo Find X3 Pro plans below, or catch it from $939 on Kogan.
5G phone buying guide
While 5G connectivity used to be reserved for the premium end of the market, that’s no longer the case.
In 2022, Aussies can pick up a 5G handset for as little as $349 outright. In some ways, that’s radically changed the equation. 5G isn’t necessarily going to be an extra you expect to pay a premium for, but something included as standard.
However, in other respects, the same small print that applied to early 5G handsets continues to be apply to modern ones. 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.
For that reason, those shopping for a 5G phone will want to favor more recent devices over older ones. The closer you are the cutting edge, the less impact that 5G connectivity is likely to have on overall battery life.
5G phones FAQs
For most people, their location and mobile provider are going to be a much more significant factor when it comes to 5G speeds.
Research conducted by Ookla in 2021 found that the iPhone 13 Pro Max led the pack when it came to median 5G download speeds in the United States and Canada. However, that edge in 5G speed may not necessarily hold up in Australia.
For most consumers, the difference between 4G and 5G speeds is going to be much more significant and noticeable than the difference between different sub-generations of 5G devices.
Unless you have a specific business or other use case that requires 5G connectivity, it’s probably not worth upgrading to a new device for 5G alone.
That said, the cost associated with 5G connectivity has fallen over the last two years such that, if you are looking to buy a new phone in Australia, making sure it has 5G is a smart way to futureproof that purchase.
Nope! While most major flagships tend to offer 5G as standard in 2022, it’s far from universal.
With a few exceptions like Apple’s iPhone range, most manufacturers and carriers include 5G in the branding for relevant devices. Although this makes naming conventions a little clunky, it does make it a little easier for consumers to tell whether a device has 5G without having to dig into spec sheets.
The best pocket WiFi and WiFi dongles available
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In the age of widespread NBN, smartphone tethering and more recently, unlimited mobile data plans, the old Pocket WiFi dongle is becoming a bit of a fossil. Once a saviour amongst students, the humble dongle has more or less seen its day, but it’s not quite ready to take its place in the Smithsonian next to the Nokia 3310.
Families on the move and folks who regularly travel for work still require the kind of bandwidth and consistency tethering can’t offer. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the very best pocket WiFi and WiFi dongles you can get in 2022 for 4G and 5G internet on the go.
A WiFi dongle (or internet dongle) is a small device that is plugged into a desktop computer or laptop (typically via USB).
Some WiFi dongles use a SIM card to generate a portable WiFi network when plugged in (effectively the same as tethering from your smartphone), others enable the connected device to access the internet, without generating a WiFi signal of their own. Then there are pocket Wi-Fi devices, portable modems that generate a WiFi signal when powered on.
USB WiFi dongles are most commonly intended for a single user while pocket WiFi devices encourage multiple connections.
Most of the Pocket WiFi and WiFi dongles listed below are available as an add-on to a mobile broadband plan while others are available for an upfront cost on a prepaid arrangement.
Compare pocket WiFi and WiFi USB dongles
Telstra 5G WiFi Pro
ZTE 5G Portable WiFi Modem
Telstra 4GX WiFi USB
Prepaid Pocket WiFi 3
Netgear Nighthawk M2
Netgear Nighthawk M5
Spintel Netgear AC800S
That’s just a small sample of the pocket WiFi and WiFi dongles available in Australia but most of them require a mobile broadband plan to go with them https://jiji.ng/. Here’s quick look at some of the most popular mobile broadband plans available.
The best pocket WiFi devices
Telstra 5G WiFi Pro
For fast 5G on the go, it’s hard to look past Telstra’s WiFi 6-capable 5G WiFi Pro device. It boasts up to 9 hours battery life and can support up to 30 connections but only weighs about 200g.
This portable powerhouse is a future-proof 5G modem that fits in the palm of your hand and a solid NBN alternative.
The Telstra 5G WiFi Pro offers 30 simultaneous WiFi connections, support for WiFi 6, and an ethernet port for wired gigabit speeds. The 4,500mAh battery lasts up to 9 hours, and the device weighs a light 200g.
There are 4G WiFi devices with better battery life if that’s a major consideration. Still, if you’re able to take advantage of super-fast 5G speeds, Telstra’s 5G WiFi Pro is one of the only portable solutions currently available on the market. No need to worry if you can’t get Telstra 5G yet either, as the Telstra 5G WiFi Pro also supports 4G, so you can expect the same reliable 4G speeds when you’re not within 5G coverage.
The one downside to Telstra’s 5G pocket WiFi is that it doesn’t come cheap. It will set you back a whopping $598 outright, or an additional $16.63 per month over 36 months if you add it to your monthly mobile broadband bill. Here’s a small selection of Telstra’s most popular mobile broadband plans that the Telstra 5G WiFi Pro is available on.