From trade-in discounts to buy-one-get-one deals, getting one of the best Android phones on Verizon is more affordable than it may seem. Verizon’s award-winning LTE network offers excellent coverage, even in rural areas, with a growing network of mid-band 5G coverage adding a lot more speed in cities and towns across the country.
To get the most out of it, you need the right phone with the right bands. Verizon’s fast mid-band 5G coverage now reaches more than 200 million people, meaning that you could see some very real speed improvements with a new phone with full 5G support.
Most mid-range to high-end phones available on Verizon today support its full 5G network, including C-band and mmWave coverage. Overall, the Pixel 8 Pro checks all the most important boxes with strong reception, a reasonably fast SoC, and one of the best camera systems ever put in a phone. It supports Verizon’s full 5G network, so you’ll get the best connectivity the carrier has to offer as long as you sign up for a plan with Ultra Wideband support, like Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate.
Our top Android picks for Verizon’s LTE and 5G network
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Best overall
Google’s best Pixel yet
$799 $999 Save $200
The Google Pixel 8 Pro improves on everything that made the previous generation great with improved cameras, a faster SoC and a better display. In fact, the display is much brighter with up to 1,600 nits in SDR content, making the screen look much nicer outdoors.
- Bright and vibrant 1,600 nit display
- Excellent camera performance for stills and video
- Seven years of Pixel software updates
- Expensive at $1000
- Phone is prone to overheating
The Pixel 8 Pro is unsurprisingly Google’s best non-folding Pixel yet, with an iterative hardware design that isn’t afraid to make some big hardware upgrades. The LTPO OLED display, for example, has a similar 1-120Hz refresh rate, but can get much brighter with up to 1,600 nits for SDR content and 2,400 nit peaks with HDR. It’s equipped with the Tensor G3 SoC with nine CPU cores and 12GB of RAM on all models. The battery is appropriately large at 5,050mAh with support for 30W charging, which is an improvement over the previous generation, but falls short of Samsung’s charging speeds.
Pixels are known for their cameras and the Pixel 8 Pro is no different with several key upgrades that should make this phone a photographer’s best friend. Our Pixel 8 Pro review even notes that compared to other Pixels, the main sensor produces images better than ever before. That main camera is 50MP and sits next to a 48MP telephoto, and a 48MP ultrawide camera under a sizable camera bump. Google is even releasing an update for video with Ai processing called Video Boost, and early samples look promising.
Google Pixel 8 Pro review: Living up to its name
If you want to see the future of Google, the Pixel 8 Pro is the phone to buy
Verizon network support is strong, with 5G support for all of Verizon’s bands. That includes its nationwide 5G coverage on lower bands as well as its much faster C-band and mmWave coverage. The Pixel 8 Pro also supports Wi-Fi 7, so you’re ready for multi-gig Wi-Fi speeds as well. One of the best reasons to choose a Pixel is the software and software updates coming directly from Google. In fact, Google has committed to seven years of updates, so there’s a good chance you’ll tire of using this phone long before Google stops updating it.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Premium pick
The ultimate Galaxy
There’s not much the Gaalxy S24 Ultra can’t do with a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, an excellent 6.8-inch AMOLED display, and a massive 200MP camera. This phone also comes with the S Pen, Samsung’s smart stylus that makes it easier to interact with your phone, or to just jot down a quick note.
- One of the best display on any smartphone
- Cameras can take some impressive pictures
- Strong battery life
- Cameras can struggle with motion
- Very expensive starting at $1300
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is, without a doubt, one of the best phones you can buy with a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC under the hood and up to 12GB of RAM. This hardware has plenty of power to drive the massive 6.8-inch AMOLED display at 120Hz. Speaking of the screen, this year’s model supports up to 2600 nits of peak brightness and the use of Gorilla Glass Armor reduces reflections.
On the back, there are four cameras starting with the primary 200MP sensor. Alongside it are a 50MP 5x telephoto camera, a 10MP 3x telephoto camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera. This camera system is capable of capturing some truly incredible images, but as our Galaxy S24 Ultra review noted, this system can struggle with objects in motion, which is a drag on a phone this expensive.
On the Verizon network, this phone will work well with support for all of Verizon’s 5G bands, including C-band and mmWave. You can rest assured that you’ll be getting some of the best speeds on Verizon. Speaking of Verizon, you can get it even cheaper with a trade-in, a new line, and a 36-month payment plan, though you can still buy it unlocked if you prefer.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review: Still the best, unless you take photos
Without any meaningful changes, Samsung’s latest phablet feels like a do-over for last year’s smartphone
Keeping this phone for a long time isn’t going to be a problem for most people thanks to Samsung’s seven-year commitment to software upgrades. This phone launched with Android 14 and will continue to recieve updates for years to come.
Google Pixel 7a
Best value
Streamlined and affordable
$374 $499 Save $125
The Pixel 7a focuses on the most important specifications for a phone, with a powerful Tensor G2 CPU, excellent connectivity with full 5G support on Verizon with an mmWave version, and even an OLED screen. It even gets five years of Pixel updates straight from Google.
- Excellent camera system
- Strong performance with the Tensor G2
- Upgraded OLED display with 90Hz supprort
- More expensive than previous Pixel A-series phones
- Battery life and charging speeds should be better
The Pixel 7a is an excellent mid-range thanks in no small part to the powerful Tensor G2 SoC powering the phone with 8GB of RAM. This is the same chip that powers the still excellent Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro and, as such, it brings with it some high-end features uncommon on many phones in the price range. For one thing, it supports Verizon’s full 5G network if you get the model with mmWave and Wi-Fi 6E. It even supports USB 3.2 with its USB-C port, so you can transfer large files much more quickly than a USB 2.0 phone. Charging isn’t exactly fast at 18W, but the battery should easily make it to the end of the day at 4385mAh. Luckily, 7.5W wireless charging is supported, so you can top up your battery with a wireless charger at your desk.
Like all Pixel phones, the camera system is among the best you can get thanks in no small part to Google’s excellent image processing. It has a 64MP primary camera that manages to produce sharp and vibrant images in a wide variety of lighting conditions, including low light. There’s also a 13MP ultrawide camera to help you get better framing for your shot if you don’t have a ton of room. With IP67 water and dust resistance rating, this phone compromises very little in order to hit its low price.
Google Pixel 7a review: If déjà vu were a smartphone
This year’s A-series is more like its flagship counterpart than ever before — for better and for worse
If you’re a Verizon customer, however, there are two models to consider. If you buy the phone from Verizon, you’ll get support for mmWave 5G, but you’ll need to pay $50 more for it. The cheaper model supports mid-band 5G, which is the majority of Verizon’s 5G coverage area, but will fall short of some flagship phones in dense areas with mmWave coverage.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Premium folding phone
Folds flat without a gap
$1500 $1800 Save $300
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the most refined Z Fold yet, with a new hinge design that allows the phone to fold flatter. This is all made better with Samsung’s excellent enhancements built into One UI that help you make the most of the extra screen space.
- Large 7.6-inch internal OLED display
- Excellent software enhancements in One UI
- Folds closed without a gap
- Fragile inner screen
- Very expensive
- Slow 25W charging
Despite its sky-high price, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 feels like a window into the future with its gorgeous, if fragile, inner display that folds open to a full 7.6 inches. This folding screen is gorgeous, with an OLED panel running at 160Hz. This screen is more square than tall, making it perfect for multitasking, note-taking, or even editing a spreadsheet. You can still use the phone closed with a reasonably large 6.2-inch OLED display on the outside as well.
Under the back glass, the hefty Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC doesn’t break a sweat powering the large display paired with 12GB of RAM. The 4,400mAh battery delivers decent longevity but may need a top-up before the end of the day if you’re a heavy user. Unfortunately, charging is limited to 25W wired and 15W wireless, which is disappointing for a phone this expensive. Around the back, you get a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera.
On Verizon, you get full support for 5G, including C-band and mmWave. So this phone is ready for the best speeds on Verizon, which is prudent given how popular this phone has become with business people.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review: Polished to a sheen
With more competition than ever before, Samsung chooses to coast
Samsung offers the same sort of update promise as its Galaxy S phones, with four OS updates promised and five years of security updates. This phone launched with Android 13 with One UI 5.1.1, so you’ve got all of the latest features right away.
Google Pixel 8
Mid-range king
The best of Pixel for less
$549 $699 Save $150
If you’re looking for a smaller Pixel with the latest SoC, the Pixel 8 is a great choice with its 6.2-inch 120Hz OLED display. It’s set to get seven years of Pixel updates, so your phone will be up-to-date for as long as you realistically want to use it.
- Stunning OLED display with 1400nits of brightness
- Great battery life
- Seven years of Pixel updates
- Arbitrarily limited camera software
The Google Pixel 8 is, like its larger sibling, a powerful phone with the Tensor G3 SoC under the hood alongside 8GB of RAM. Its screen is an OLED panel with up to 120Hz refresh rate and 1400nits of brightness which can boost to 2000nits with HDR to help it remain vibrant in bright areas, such as outdoors on a sunny day. The battery isn’t breaking records at 4575mAh, but should be plenty to get you to the end of the day. It charges reasonably quickly for its size at 27W wired and 18W wireless.
The primary and ultrawide cameras have both received upgrades over the previous generation with more light sensitivity overall. As our Pixel 8 review demonstrates, this phone can produce some excellent images, with features like Best Take and Magic Erasor making it possible to improve photos even after you’ve taken them. Best Take is perfect for those with children since you can take multiple images and use the best face from each. Magic Erasor lets you remove distractions from photos, such as a stranger walking behind your family photo.
Google Pixel 8 review: The Pixel for the masses
The Pixel 8 doesn’t need every feature the 8 Pro offers, it’s packing more than enough
The Pixel 8 is a great fit for Verizon with strong support for its 5G network, including mid-band 5G. It also supports Wi-Fi 7 with 6GHz support so you’re ready for multi-gig Wi-Fi speeds. Whether you’re on 5G or Wi-Fi, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will be ready for the best network speeds available. Of course, Google will keep the Pixel 8 up to date for years as well with seven years of Pixel updates promised.
Samsung Galaxy S24
Compact performance
Use it with one hand
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is the smallest in the Galaxy S24 range, but it’s still one of the most powerful phones you can get with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 under the hood, a bright and flat AMOLED display, and with flat sides that look and feel great in the hand.
- Vibrant 120Hz AMOLED display
- Small size enables one-handed usage
- Powerful with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Charging should be faster
- Camera performance can be unpredictable
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is the smallest in the S24 range with a 6.2-inch display and minimal bezels that make it possible to use it in one hand. The display is still phenomenal with a ton of brightness that makes outdoor use possible, and a 120Hz refresh rate that makes navigating Android 14 feel buttery smooth. Under the hood, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC has plenty of power on tap, paired with 8GB of RAM, to run any app on the Google Play Store with ease.
There are three cameras on the back with a 50MP camera handling most of the heavy lifting. Aongside it, a 10MP telephoto camera and 12MP ultrawide camera help fill in the gaps for better clarity in zoom shots, or to fit more in the frame. All the right hardware is here for an excellent photography experience, though our Galaxy S24 review notices some serious issues with blurry and grainy photos. At least battery life was a highlight with 8-10 hours of screen on time expected, though 25W charging speeds are starting to feel a bit antiquated.
Samsung Galaxy S24 review: Small but super
Bright screen, flat sides, can’t lose
Samsung has made sure this phone will work well on Verizon with full support for the carrier’s 5G bands, including its C-band and mmWave bands. That means you should get some of the best network speeds of anyone on the carrier with strong performance for years to come. With seven years of updates planned for this phone, you could end up using it for a few years before upgrading.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
Mid-range overachiever
Feels more expensive than it is
$350 $450 Save $100
Samsung’s mid-range offerings have struggled to hit the mark in the past, but with the Galaxy A54, the company has built a premium-feeling and performant phone with sensible decisions to keep the price down. Its cameras are solid, and performance is improved over the A53 thanks to the Exynos 1380 SoC.
- Sharp and vibrant 120Hz AMOLED display
- Premium look and feel
- All-day battery life with 5,000mAh
- No wireless charging
- Only charges at 25W
- No headphone jack
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G continues with the formula established by the mid-range series but manages to clean up a lot of rough edges that hampered the experience in the previous generation. As we saw in our Galaxy A54 5G review, the Exynos 1380 SoC powering this phone helps the A54 eliminate the lag present on the older A53 without increasing the cost. Samsung has wrapped the phone in Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back, further improving the look and feel. It’s even IP67 rated for water resistance, so you don’t need to panic if you get caught in the rain or fall in a lake, as long as you can swim.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G review: The empire strikes back
The Galaxy A54 washes away a lot of the sins of its predecessor
As expected from Samsung, the 6.4-inch AMOLED panel is sharp, and while our hands-on testing notes exaggerated colors, it looks great. Using the phone feels responsive thanks to a 120Hz refresh rate. The camera system is also decent, with a 50MP main sensor working well in good lighting and putting up a solid effort in low-light conditions. You can photograph to your heart’s content with microSD-expandable storage as well. Unfortunately, there is no headphone jack. The software is Samsung’s OneUi 5.1 on top of Android 13, so you’re running the latest OS out of the box.
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
Budget pricing
Ready for 5G on a budget
If you’re looking for something a little cheaper, the $200 Galaxy A15 5G is a well-rounded budget phone with a nice AMOLED display, a large battery, and 5G support on Verizon. Equipped with a Mediatek Diminsity 6100+ SoC, it’s not a terribly powerful phone, but it’s got enough power for most everyday apps and runs Android 14 out of the box.
- Sharp 90Hz AMOLED display
- Large 5,000mAh battery with 25W charing
- Comes with a microSD slot and 3.5mm headphone jack
- No support for mmWave 5G
- The SoC isn’t suitable for demanding apps like 3D games
The Galaxy A15 5G isn’t the fastest phone you can get by any stretch, but for a budget phone, it gets a lot right. The display is a nice 6.5-inch AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate and a high 1080 x 2340 resolution. That means Android 14 on this phone will look sharp and vibrant. It’s powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ SoC, which isn’t anything special, but has enough power for everyday apps.
Support for Verizon 5G is included with C-band support. While you don’t get mmWave, you do get most of Verizon’s 5G coverage with plenty of speed for browsing and downloading. It all runs on top of Android 14, so the phone is reasonably up-to-date when you take it out of the box.
The Galaxy A15 5G also has a large 5,000mAh battery with support for 25W charging. That’s the same speed as the top-shelf Galaxy S24. With a few other budget comforts like a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot for storage expansion, the Galaxy A15 5G is a great phone for the money.
Pick the right phone for your Verizon plan
While Verizon’s network isn’t quite as friendly towards unlocked phones as AT&T and T-Mobile, the carrier’s prominence means that most of the best Android phones will work on its network. It’s also worth mentioning that Verizon has some of its own phone versions bearing the UW suffix, meaning it’s ready for Verizon’s mmWave 5G coverage. Still, Verizon’s most significant coverage comes from C-band with band n77, which most new phones support, even the cheap ones.
The Pixel 8 Pro is one of our favorite Android phones overall and on Verizon, it still takes the crown. Its snappy Tensor G3 keeps up with Google’s latest version of Android and helps power one of the best camera experiences on a smartphone with exclusive Pixel features. On Verizon, this phone supports the full 5G network, so you should get the best speeds Verizon has to offer as long as you’re on a plan with Ultra Wideband support. You can also get it in a stunning Bay blue color that looks great in any light, with Obsidian and Porcelain for something a bit more restrained.
If you’re looking for something cheaper, you’ve got a few options. The Pixel 7a is a great choice for someone that wants to keep the price tag under $500. With excellent cameras and a fast Tensor G2 SoC, this phone is perfect for a dedicated phone photographer on a budget. If you need something a bit cheaper, the Galaxy A14 is a capable phone for the price. You won’t be playing the latest 3D games on it, but you’ll be able to message, browse the web, and use social media with generally decent performance overall.
Should I upgrade my Verizon plan?
If it’s been a couple of years since you last checked, Verizon’s plans have been significantly simplified with only three unlimited plans available serving more as starting points. Customers can then pick and choose which add-on packages make sense for them with entertainment options like Apple One and Disney+, as well as plan upgrades like more hotspot data or international Travel Passes.
Unlimited Welcome is the cheapest plan with no premium data, slower 5G, and no hotspot data. Unlimited Plus upgrades this with unlimited premium data, Ultra Wideband 5G speeds, 720p video streaming, and 30GB of hotspot data. Customers on this plan will also have access to some other savings such as 50% off a connected device data plan, a larger credit for bringing your own phone, new device savings, and Verizon Home Internet discounts. Unlimited Ultimate takes the hotspot data up to 60GB, adds international usage, and supports video streams up to 1080p.
If you’re already a Verizon customer, you’ve got a good idea of what kind of coverage to expect, though you could see some nice improvements by upgrading to a modern 5G phone. Check Verizon’s coverage map to see if your area has Verizon Ultra Wideband coverage, which uses Verizon’s C-band and mmWave spectrum. Keep in mind that Verizon’s LTE network and its nationwide 5G coverage are still fast enough for streaming and browsing, so your network should be more than adequate even if you don’t have Ultra Wideband 5G.
A word about payment plans
If you buy your phone from Verizon, you’re looking at a long 36-month payment plan. Verizon offers a lot of promotions and discounts on new phones, but the fine print is that those discounts are applied over 36 monthly bill credits. Verizon also requires one of its more expensive plans for some of its deals, especially regarding upgrades.
If you plan out your payments, you can save a lot of cash with these discounts, even if you decide to pay your phone off early. Just note that you will need to pay for the phone if you decide to switch carriers before those 36 months are up. There’s no such thing as a free lunch, and Verizon is getting three years of plan payments from you in a time of unprecedented wireless competition.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Best overall
The Google Pixel 8 Pro improves on everything that made the previous generation great with improved cameras, a faster SoC and a better display. In fact, the display is much brighter with up to 1,600 nits in SDR content, making the screen look much nicer outdoors.
