Best phones for Visible 2024

The best phones for Visible let you enjoy all the benefits offered by Verizon's 5G network infrastructure, that too at extremely good prices. Owned and operated by Verizon, Visible is a prepaid carrier that keeps things simple by giving you two fully-loaded plans — Visible and Visible Plus — to choose from. The two plans share a whole lot of similarities, but Visible Plus gives you access to some extras like premium 5G data and access to Verizon's super-fast 'Ultra-Wideband' 5G network.

Visible supports a wide variety of Android phones (and even some iPhones) that you can buy via the carrier's website. Alternatively, you can also bring over your existing unlocked device and use it with Visible, provided it's compatible. Our top vote goes to Google's Pixel 8 Pro, which is a well-rounded flagship smartphone. You can also go for Google Pixel 7a and Samsung Galaxy A54 if you're looking for something a little more affordable. With that said, here are the best Visible phones you can get!

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At a glance

Best overall

While cameras aren't the only thing that Google got right with the Pixel 8 Pro, they're definitely the headlining feature. Our Pixel 8 Pro review found that the main 50MP camera delivers great photos with a lot of contrast and sharpness that doesn't go overboard. The 48MP camera lets you get closer to your subject and Google's AI is able to keep the images from losing detail. That's before you remember some of Google's AI-powered software tricks such as Magic Editor and Photo Unblur.

Under the hood, you get the latest-gen SoC from Google — the Tensor G3 — which is essential to the phone's AI tricks and keeping Google Assistant at the ready at all times. The power is more than adequate for anything you need today but may begin to fall short of some other flagships in intense workloads in the next couple of years. Luckily, 5G support is strong with sub-6 and mmWave including C-band which makes up most of Verizon's (and thus, Visible's) fast 5G coverage.

The Pixel 8 Pro's launched with Android 14 and can easily make it to the end of the day on a charge. This is good as the smartphone only supports 30W wired charging speeds, which is common on smaller phones but a bit disappointing on a Pro model device. It's also worth noting that Google has decided not to put a USB-C charger in the box, so you'll need to find your own.

Best value flagship

Although the Pixel 8 Pro steals the show with its high-end features, the Google Pixel 8 ranks among the most balanced Android phones on the market today. It boasts a lot of the same great characteristics found on the more-expensive Pro model, such as the Tensor G3 chipset, a stunning design aesthetic, and clean Android 14 build, all at a much lower price.

As we noted in our Google Pixel 8 review, the phone features a ton of incredible camera tech as well, including a 50MP primary lens alongside a 12MP wide-angle lens and a 10.5MP selfie camera. You also get many awesome camera features that Pixel is known for, such as Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur. 

With its 6.2-inch AMOLED display, Google Pixel 8 is a good bit smaller than its Pro counterpart, but the 120Hz display is still vibrant and nice to look at. Visible sells the Pixel 8 directly via its website but if you want to save a little money on an unlocked device, check out our monthly guide to the best Google Pixel 8 deals as well.

Best on a budget

If you want the performance and features that come with Google Pixel phones but don't want to shell out thousands of dollars for it, the Pixel 7a is the perfect choice. It comes with the speedy Tensor G2 SoC so you still get all the camera enhancements and AI features, albeit at a lower cost. Interestingly, the phone has a lot in common with the regular Pixel 7, except for few things that many people probably won't even care about.

The cameras are perhaps the biggest surprise, as our Google Pixel 7a review found that the experience is every bit as good as the Pixel 7, with sample shots backing it up. The results speak for themselves and for the photographer on a budget, it is one of the best cameras available out there.

Google Pixel 7a ships with Android 13 and has already been updated to Android 14. Moreover, the company has promised up to five years of security updates, so you'll be able to use it for a long time.

Best small phone

Want a top-of-the-line smartphone that you can easily use with one hand? Look no further than the Samsung Galaxy S24. The smallest member of the S24 family brings a lot of improvements over the last-gen model, while keeping the overall design and in-hand feel largely the same. Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, it features 8GB of RAM and 128/256GB of internal storage. Up front, there's a slightly bigger 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED panel that looks as stunning as you'd expect.

If you compare Samsung Galaxy S24 vs S23, you'll see that the triple-lens primary camera system hasn't changed much. It still features a 50MP wide-angle module, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto unit capable of 3x optical zoom. The smartphone supports all modern connectivity standards (including 5G) and comes with Android 14 out of the box. Even better, it's guaranteed to get up to seven years of major OS updates, so you'll be able to use it for a really long time. The Galaxy S24 is backed by a 4,000mAh battery and supports both wired (25W) and wireless (15W) charging, provided you get the right charger for it.

Best midrange phone

Samsung has decided to take aim at affordable mid-range phones with the Galaxy A series and the Galaxy A54 5G continues to be among the best in that line-up, even though it's a bit old at this point. Although the phone isn't going to break any records for performance, its Exynos 1380 SoC is perfectly fine for everyday tasks such as web browsing, and even some gaming. The phone has already been updated to Android 14 and is still eligible for three more OS updates, so it'll continue to serve you well for years to come. 

The camera setup of the Galaxy A54 may not be the best in the business, but it more than gets the job done. You'll get amazing 5G connectivity on Visible and there are a lot of other goodies included in the mix as well. As far as battery life goes, the Galaxy A54 features a 5,000mAh battery that's capable enough to keep it going for at least a day of moderate use on a single charge. If you do decide to get it, we suggest taking a look at the best Samsung Galaxy A54 deals to save even more money.

Best premium flagship

Packed with just about every high-end feature you could possibly think of, the Galaxy S24 Ultra represents the absolute best the world of Android has to offer. Although it looks a lot like its predecessor, the new titanium frame and Corning's Gorilla Armor allow for improved durability. The 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display is a delight to look at and interact with, and now comes with an anti-reflective coating. Under the hood, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sports Qualcomm's top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, complete with 12GB of RAM and 256GB/512GB/1TB of internal storage.

Easily one of the best Android camera phones available out there, the Galaxy S24 Ultra sports a quad-lens rear camera setup having a 200MP wide-angle lens, a 10MP telephoto unit, a 50MP periscope telephoto sensor, and a 12MP ultrawide module. It's one of the first Samsung smartphones to get up to seven years of guaranteed OS updates and includes the full Galaxy AI suite of software-based tools to help you get the best smartphone experience. You get full 5G support on Visible, as well as a bevy of other connectivity features, and the whole thing is backed by a 5,000mAh battery that can be juiced up — both wired (45W) and wirelessly (15W) — in little to no time.

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How to choose

Which Android phones work best with Visible?

There's no denying that Visible is one of the best MVNO carriers in the market, and with a fairly decent selection of Android phones (and even iPhones) to choose from, it's a great option for anyone who wants to take advantage of Verizon's 5G network infrastructure, that too at (relatively) affordable prices.

Google's Pixel 8 Pro being one of the best Visible phones shouldn't be surprising, as the phone is a fully-loaded flagship that offers everything from top-tier cameras to a clean software experience. If you like what it has to offer but find the price to be a bit too high, we suggest getting the regular Pixel 8, which offers most of the same stuff at a much better price. On the other hand, Samsung's Galaxy A54 and Google's Pixel 7a are both solid options that give you access to Visible's 5G network, at extremely affordable price(s). Then there's the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which is the perfect choice for anyone who doesn't care about the price tag and simply wants the best of the best.

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