Metro by T-Mobile is a prepaid brand owned by T-Mobile that uses the entire T-Mobile network, including LTE and 5G. This carrier has four main plans starting with 5GB of data and going up to unlimited. The Metro by T-Mobile network has full support for unlocked phones and even allows a 5G connection on every plan as long as the phone supports it. The OnePlus Nord N20 5G is the perfect companion for Metro thanks to its low cost, solid performance, and great-for-T-Mobile 5G.
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The OnePlus Nord N20 5G is a mid-range Android phone that looks and feels a lot nicer than its price tag would suggest. In our review, we found that if you only have $300 to spend on a phone, it had better be the N20 5G. Even those that can spend more might not need to with the Snapdragon 695 CPU keeping up well with Android 11. It is worth noting that OnePlus has only promised one software update for this device so it will likely never move beyond Android 12. At least OnePlus is offering three years of security updates.
The main rear camera comes in at 64MP with a 2MP macro and 2MP monochrome camera assisting. Photos with this camera system are great and far exceed anything else at this price range. This phone also has a 3.5mm headphone jack so you don't need to rely on Bluetooth for your music. You also get microSD expansion in addition to the onboard 128GB of storage so you can download as much music or take as many photos as you like. While the OnePlus Nord N20 5G doesn't quite keep up with flagship phones, it outpaces every other phone at this price.
The Google Pixel 6a gets close to being the ideal balance of features and hardware to achieve its low price without feeling cheap. The phone feels premium with a solid construction, nice materials, and a vibrant 6.1-inch AMOLED display. The battery should have no trouble making it to the end of the day, thanks to a 4,410mAh capacity. The performance on this device is strong thanks to using the same Google Tensor CPU found in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.
The standout feature of this phone is the camera system. Like the rest of the Pixel line, this phone punches well above the weight of the hardware thanks to Google's fine-tuned image processing. The colors look vibrant and sharp, and as we saw in our Pixel 6a review, the pictures look like they came from a much more expensive phone.
Google keeps up its strong reputation for software support, with this phone getting five years of Pixel updates. This should help keep the Pixel 6a secure and running well into the future.
Although the Galaxy S23 doesn’t exactly revolutionize Samsung’s S series, the base model flagship takes everything that its predecessors did well and refines it. Considering how much we loved the Galaxy S22, this is good news.
With the Galaxy S23, you still get the same 6.1-inch AMOLED display and great camera software that was found in the S22, although the newer phone beefed up its performance with the addition of the ultra-efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. You also get a boost in battery life and a higher-resolution selfie camera.
As we detail in our Samsung Galaxy S23 review, the compact flagship is also set to receive four Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates, which means you could be using the phone for years before it becomes obsolete. Typically retailing for around $799, the Galaxy S23 is a great choice if you want a small phone to pair with your Metro by T-Mobile service.
Similar to Samsung’s latest flagship, the Google Pixel 7 is more about refinement than dramatic transformation — and once again, we’re here for it. The Google Pixel 7 pairs sleek design and cutting-edge features with premium performance, thanks to the outstanding Tensor G2 chipset and some of the best haptic motors in the biz.
In our 4/5 star review of the Google Pixel 7, we looked closely into the phone’s camera software to see if it held up to the hype, and for the most part, it didn’t disappoint. In addition to producing images that simply look great, the Google Pixel 7 comes loaded with a ton of interesting and easy-to-use AI-powered camera features, such as Photo Unblur and Magic Eraser. While something like the Galaxy S23 can stand toe-to-toe with the Pixel 7 in performance, the Pixel's lower price tag (typically around $599) makes it an overall better value.
The Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) updates the G Stylus formula with better hardware and network support on Metro by T-Mobile. This phone sports the same Snapdragon 695 CPU that's in the Nord N20 5G, though it takes a RAM cut to 4GB. Still, as we found in our review, this should be more than enough for most apps and with 256GB of onboard storage plus another 256GB via microSD expansion out of the box, you'll be able to download to your heart's content.
The phone is available in a dark Steel Blue color or a lighter Seafoam Green. On the back, you get three cameras with the main shooter coming in at 50MP. An 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera enable you to take better photos in challenging spaces. You also get good 5G support on Metro by T-Mobile with sub-6 bands including mid-band Ultra Capacity 5G coverage.
While Motorola isn't known for speedy OS updates, you do get Android 12 out of the box so you can start off up to date. Even so, the stylus paired with this phone's 6.8-inch 120Hz will be more than worth it for those looking for precision input without stepping up to an expensive flagship.
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is an excellent mid-range device with a sensible combination of hardware. While the Exynos 1280 CPU isn't topping any benchmarks, it has more than enough grunt to power through Android 12 with One UI 4.1., as we noted in our review. Samsung has also extended its excellent update plans to this model with four OS updates planned. These software updates can keep this phone feeling fresh and modern for years.
The screen is a 6.5-inch 120HZ AMOLED so colors are vibrant and navigating the OS feels smooth. Compared to its predecessor, the cameras on the A53 are a solid upgrade. The 64MP main camera takes good photos in both bright and low-light conditions. You also get a 12MP ultra-wide, 5MP macro, and 5MP portrait camera on the back so you can be ready for nearly any conditions.
There's plenty of choice with Metro
The great thing about Metro by T-Mobile's network is that it supports most unlocked phones, including many international models. So if you have an unlocked phone with GSM and LTE support from the last few years, it will probably work on Metro. In fact, most of the best Android phones will work with the entire network with just a SIM.
Overall, the OnePlus Nord N20 5G is the standout value with plenty of performance for most people, solid camera performance, 5G support, and a low price. This phone looks great with its dark matte finish making it look quite premium. While its software update plans leave a lot to be desired, the overall package makes the OnePlus Nord N20 5G a great fit for T-Mobile's prepaid carrier.
