Summary
Samsung Galaxy S21 UltraGoogle Pixel 6iPhone 13Xiaomi Mi 11T ProOnePlus Nord 2Samsung Galaxy A52 5GXiaomi Poco F3Xiaomi Mi 10T LiteFAQComments5G and compatible subscriptions are finally available. And for those who want to take the plunge, we have selected the most interesting 5G phones of the moment.
The best 5G smartphones in 2022
Good value for money8 /10OnePlusNord 2
The test €399Our choice9 /10SamsungGalaxy S21 Ultra
The test €1259The small price that sends heavy weight8 /10XiaomiMi 10T Lite
The test €329The deployment of 5G is accelerating! And if we must admit that the Hexagon had a delay in ignition, this does not come without some advantages.
All the major manufacturers already offer a full range of compatible phones. Contrary to what happened with 4G, 5G is not confined to the very high end. There are now options for all budgets, including very decent options below 300 euros.
If you can't find what you're looking for in this selection, take a look in our guide to the best smartphones, but beware: not all smartphones are necessarily 5G compatible.And my 5G plan?
It's all very well to have a smartphone capable of capturing 5G, but you still need a subscription to take advantage of it. To choose well, head to our 5G plan comparator bringing together all the offers on the market.
The best 5G plans
SFR 5G Mobile Plan – 90 GBUnlimited calls
90 GB
1983 sites 5G 3.5 GHz2271 sites 5G/4G shared
For 12 months€20€32
DiscoverB&You Mobile Plan special series 5G - 130 GBUnlimited calls
130 GB
2498 sites 5G 3.5 GHz5679 sites 5G/4G shared
€24.99 DiscoverRED 5G plan – 130 GBDecember 22, 2021
Unlimited calls
130 GB
1983 sites 5G 3.5 GHz2271 sites 5G/4G shared
24€30€
DiscoverAll 5G plansThese start around 20 euros, but for the moment we recommend that you focus on the operator that covers the places you frequent the most rather than trying to compete.
Always on the lookout for this kind of thing, ARCEP recently put its map of 5G transmitters online, enough to check in a few seconds if your home is covered.
To go further5G network: deployment, operation, uses and compatible smartphones in France
Samsung Galaxy S21 UltraOur choice
9 /10Product sheetSee the Fnac test €1,259Available at €1,259 on FnacNot surprisingly, the latest version of the Galaxy S comes to take its place in our selection of best 5g smartphones. If it does not revolutionize its design, Samsung gives it a pleasant touch of freshness thanks to the adoption of a very becoming black polished glass back. Very imposing, the photo module does not try to hide with its aluminum casing. It will also prevent the phone from lying flat…
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra seen from behind//Source: Arnaud Gelineau — Frandroid
Samsung is still the king of OLED and the 120 Hz panel used breaks records for image brightness and offers superb colors. We have the screen to beat this year. Note that the S21 Ultra supports styluses. Unlike the Galaxy Note, the stylus is sold alone and cannot be stored in the phone.
Samsung inaugurates here its Exynos 2100, a powerful chip and above all much more energy efficient than the one before it. The S21 Ultra thus displays a solid autonomy. Small disappointment all the same, Samsung follows in Apple's footsteps and does not deliver a charger. A little petty for such an expensive phone...
The very large photo module lives up to its size, the main 108 Mpx sensor produces very good quality shots in all situations. Above all, it is the 10x optical zoom that impresses with its quality. A 100x digital magnification is still present (and surprisingly functional), but it's more gimmicky than anything.
The 10X optical zoom in action.
Of course, the phone supports standalone and non-standalone 5G, with the added bonus of Wifi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. This is the best Android smartphone on the market. For more details, do not hesitate to take a look at our Samsung S21 Ultra test.
Where to buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra at the best price?See more offersGoogle Pixel 6Google on top
9 /10Product sheetSee the Fnac test €649Available at €649 on FnacWith its new range Pixel, Google is extremely aggressive, with premium models at unbeatable prices. The Pixel 6 is the best example of this. Its daring and massive design is successful and is accompanied by impeccable finishes. The photo module now spans the entire width of the phone, without unbalancing it once in hand. We also appreciate the IP68 certification of the machine.
Google Pixel 6 test // Source: Arnaud Gelineau – Frandroid
The OLED screen is of good quality, although the refresh rate is only 90Hz and not adaptive. Google inaugurates here its first in-house processor, the Tensor. The latter is not quite up to the best Snapdragon chips in terms of raw power, but is distinguished by a particularly low consumption.
The Pixel 6 lasts two days of use without any worries. An excellent score slightly dented by the weak fast charge (2 hours for a full charge). The icing on this beautiful cake is unsurprisingly the photo. The three sensors coupled with Google's still impressive algorithms do an excellent job both day and night, in all situations. It is by far the best smartphone for photography in its category.
Very good in all areas, the Pixel 6 is a little bomb. We detail it in depth in our test of the Google Pixel 6.
Where to buy the Google Pixel 6 at the best price?See more offersApple iPhone 135G by Apple
9 /10Product sheetSee the RED by SFR test €899Available at €899 on RED by SFRAs often with certain new technologies, Apple arrived late on the 5G market, adding this function only in 2020 on the iPhone 12. Its successor the iPhone 13 is logically compatible and takes up most of the design of its predecessor. However, we notice a weight gain caused mainly by a larger battery.
Source: FRANDROID – Anthony WONNER
The latter allows a gain of two and a half hours of autonomy, enough to now be able to really use your smartphone without fear all day long. If it does not support the 120 Hz brought by the iPhone 13 Pro, the screen sees its brightness increase by almost 25% and the notch becomes a little smaller.
Another major improvement is the photo module, which is more or less identical to that of the iPhone 12 Pro last year (but still without a telephoto lens). This results in a much better rendering, especially in low light and more generally in more detail.
Without being revolutionary, the iPhone 13 is a good gateway into the Apple universe. We describe it to you in detail in our test of the iPhone 13.
Where to buy the Apple iPhone 13 at the best price?See more offersXiaomi 11T ProThe flagship killer
8 /10Product sheetSee the Amazon test €669Available at €669 on AmazonLatest born of the very large Xiaomi family, the 11T Pro more or less replaces a classic Mi 11 which has become very difficult to find. The design of the device is certainly classic, but the device is comfortable to use. The prominent photo module that makes it wobbly when laid flat.
Source: Frandroid
Full card on the side of the screen since we are in the presence of an OLED FHD + panel at 120 Hz adaptive. The latter is particularly bright, a real strong point for readability. Surprisingly at this price level, the fingerprint sensor is not under the screen, but under a button on the edge.
The classic Snapdragon 888, coupled with 8 GB of RAM, ensures solid performance in all situations. But it's on the energy side that the 11T Pro stands out. If its autonomy of a good day is classic, the 120 W charger is ridiculously fast. It only takes 15 minutes to fill up. 5G is of course present.
For the photo, the results are mixed. The main sensor is of good quality, but the ultra wide-angle and low-light performance are struggling.
Xiaomi gives us here a versatile and affordable smartphone. Despite some weaknesses, we can only recommend it.
Where to buy the Xiaomi 11T Pro at the best price?See more offersOnePlus Nord 2Good value for money
8 /10Product sheetSee the Fnac test €399Available at €399 on FnacAfter a Nord first of the name that had marked the spirits, OnePlus was expected at the turn to provide a quality successor to its mid-range smartphone. The brand has not been original on the design side, things are changing in small touches, including a larger photo block. Overall, we are left with a well-finished smartphone that is pleasant to use.
The OnePlus Nord 2, an efficient sequel. // Source: Frandroid – Anthony Wonner
The OLED screen has hardly changed compared to last year. We therefore remain on a 90 Hz panel of good quality, but this one is less impressive than last year. The competition grew while OnePlus rested a bit on its laurels.
On the processor side, Qualcomm is abandoned in favor of a Dimensity 1200 IA from MediaTek. The performance is excellent, but the autonomy is average. We last a short day and a half, but in return the Warp Charge 65 W fills up in 30 minutes. 5G is of course present.
The photo is the weakest point of the phone with an overly saturated rendering and far too visible compression.
The OnePlus Nord 2 replaces its predecessor with dignity, but does not disrupt the market. We tell you more about it in our OnePlus Nord 2 test.
Where to buy the OnePlus Nord 2 at the best price?See more offersSamsung Galaxy A52 5GThe most balanced
8 /10Product sheetSee the Rakuten Marketplace test €349Available at €349 on Rakuten MarketplaceThe Galaxy A52 5G succeeds the A51, the best-selling Samsung smartphone of 2020. Surprising given the price, the back is clad in plastic. The latter is however quite pretty and has the advantage of being lighter and more resistant than glass.
The back of the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid
Samsung has not skimped on the display and offers a quality Super AMOLED panel. We particularly appreciate its refresh rate of 120 Hz and the very good brightness. Too bad, however, that the colors lack a bit of accuracy.
In terms of performance, the Snapdragon 750G does a decent job, but remains modest in games. We especially appreciate the fact that it provides 5G compatibility. All French bands are supported, but millimetric 5G, which will appear in the years to come, is not on the program.
The photo module is distinguished above all by the quality of the main module, at ease in all situations. The autonomy reaches a short day and a half with the 120 Hz mode activated. We regret that Samsung was a little stingy with the charger. The one delivered only offers 15 W while the phone supports up to 25 W…
Samsung delivers a good smartphone here, with no major flaws and balanced if not revolutionary. We'll talk about it in more detail in its full review.
Where to buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G at the best price?See more offersXiaomi Poco F3Power at a low price
9 /10Product sheetSee the Amazon test €369Available at €369 on AmazonWith its Poco series, Xiaomi continues to offer powerful smartphones at attractive prices. The Poco F3 continues this momentum, with a particularly impressive technical sheet given its price. First strong point, it adopts a quality 120 Hz OLED panel. However, this mode is neither adaptive nor activated by default. It will therefore be necessary to think about turning it on to take advantage of it.
The front of the Xiaomi Poco F3 // Source: Anthony Wonner — Frandroid
The good surprise is to be found under the hood in the form of a particularly powerful Snapdragon 870 processor. This allows it to compete without worries with much more expensive phones. Thus, Fortnite runs in epic mode at 30 fps. The autonomy is solid enough to have fun without stressing too much and the fast charging relatively efficient. The processor also provides support for 5G on all French bands.
Among the few flaws of the Poco F3, we note the photo quality. The rendering is average, with colors a little washed out and the ultra wide-angle lacks detail.
Despite this weakness, the Poco F3 is an indisputable success. If you're looking for power, we clearly don't do better at this price level. We tell you more about it in our test of the Xiaomi Poco F3.
Where to buy the Xiaomi Poco F3 at the best price?See more offersXiaomi Mi 10T LiteThe low price that sends heavy
8 /10Product sheetSee the Boulanger test €329Available at €329 on BoulangerDespite the "Lite" in its name, this phone is very well filled. It offers 5G, a 120 Hz screen and promises a solid autonomy as a bonus. All with one of the most aggressive prices, in other words, we were curious.
In terms of form, Xiaomi is not trying to reinvent hot water: it's sober and efficient, even if the machine is a beautiful baby with its 214.5 grams.
The Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite in hand // Source: Frandroid
For the display, the brand has chosen a 6.67-inch IPS panel with very good brightness and contrast. The colors would have benefited from being more accurate, but that's not shameful. If we appreciate the presence of a refresh rate of 120 Hz, the latter is not adaptive, it will have to be activated and deactivated manually in the settings.
As for the photo, nothing revolutionary. There are four sensors, but the macro mode is almost unusable. That said, the main sensor does a good job overall, although it shows some limitations in low light. For its part, the Snapdragon 750G used is very satisfactory, it places the Mi 10 T Lite at the top of the basket at this price level. And not to spoil anything, we are also entitled to 5G compatibility.
The 4820 mAh battery ensures an autonomy of one to two days depending on your use and whether or not you use 120 Hz. Coupled with a fast charge that fills 75% of the battery in 30 min , you shouldn't run out of fuel.
Despite a few small flaws, the Mi 10T Lite combines many qualities and functions that are still rare at this price level. It is above all one the most affordable 5G smartphone that we can really recommend. Visit our Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite test for more details.
Where to buy the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite at the best price?See more offersUnderstand everything about 5G smartphones
When is 5G in France?
France took a little while to start up, but the network finally turned on! 5G has been available since November 2020 and the main operators now have compatible packages. However, the coverage is not yet national. We have grouped the best 5G packages in our dedicated comparator.
Are 5G plans more expensive?
Yes! At Orange, for example, you have to pay no less than 40 euros per month for a data envelope of 70 GB, i.e. an increase of 5 euros per month. A trend that can be found among the 4 operators. On the side of " low cost " operators such as Sosh, RED or B&You, we are currently limited to simple 4G.
Only Free has added 5G to its most comprehensive package without a price increase.
Will 5G drain my battery?
This is one of the major weaknesses of the technology at the moment: it consumes significantly more energy than 4G. In question, a constant switch between the 4G modem (for calls and SMS) and 5G (for data). For the latest iPhone 12, activating 5G results in a loss of about 20% battery life.
To follow us, we invite you to download our Android and iOS application. You can read our articles, files, and watch our latest YouTube videos.
More smartphone guide