As one of the biggest carriers in the U.S., it'll come as no surprise that the best Verizon phones are in hot demand. Verizon isn't particularly cheap, but we can show you the latest prices below. It's also worth noting that Verizon phones can be made much more affordable with the ongoing trade-in offers, which could save buyers $800 on a new phone with monthly credits. You can also bring one of these phones unlocked to Verizon if you don't want to get stuck with the carrier.
These are the best phones for Verizon's massive network
Best overall
The Google Pixel 6 punches above its weight class with the powerful Google Tensor CPU package, delivering smooth performance on the 6.4-inch OLED display with the latest version of Android. It comes with two cameras on the back with a 50MP primary shooter, and an ultra-wide 12MP backup that our Pixel 6 review found to be sharp and accurate. This phone also supports Verizon 5G with Ultra Wideband support, including the upcoming C-band network.
Duly noted
The Galaxy S22 Ultra is the best of the best Samsung offers, with a huge display, blazing-fast CPU, and of course, the S Pen. On the back, you get one of the most advanced camera packages on any phone, with a massive 108MP main shooter and the software to make the most of it. In our S22 Ultra review, we were happy to see Android 12 out of the box with plenty of OS updates planned.
Compact folding design
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is Samsung's latest compact foldable and it has the latest hardware powering it. The AMOLED display is fast and vibrant with a 120Hz refresh rate. It's also got a display on the front for notifications. It runs on the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 CPU so it shouldn't break a sweat keeping up with any app you throw at it. And despite its folding design, you don't need to panic if it starts to rain with an IPX8 rating.
The best of Android
The Google Pixel 6 Pro takes the screen size up to 6.71 inches with a 120Hz refresh rate, and adds a 50MP telephoto camera, bringing the total to three with the 50MP main camera and 12MP ultra-wide option. It also gets a bump in RAM with 12GB, allowing you to better use the extra screen size. Our review found the Tensor chip from Google to deliver more than enough performance. This phone supports Verizon's 5G network, including Ultra Wideband with C-band.
Best mid-range performance
With a sharp 120Hz AMOLED display, 5G support, a 64MP camera, and a massive 5,000mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is one of the most capable phones you'll find at this price. Our A53 review found this mid-range phone's performance to be more similar to flagships with the Exynos 1280 CPU, running Android 12 buttery smooth. It's even got IP67 dust and water resistance with four years of planned OS updates.
The pen is mightier
Our Moto G Stylus 5G review shows just how much of an upgrade the Snapdragon 695 5G CPU in this phone is, with smooth and snappy performance on Android 12. If you want a stylus for input, but don't need the features of an S22 Ultra, the Moto G Stylus might be the perfect fit. With good 5G support on Verizon's network including mmWave and C-band, just make sure to get the 2022 version with the centered hole-punch camera.
Pixel features for less
As we saw in our Pixel 6a review, this phone punches well above its weight class with a high-end CPU and fantastic cameras at the right price. It has the same Google Tensor CPU under the hood as the rest of the Pixel 6 lineup, which allows it to keep up with demanding tasks as well as quickly process images to look vibrant and sharp. Of course, Google handles the software so you'll also get longer-term support than many other phones.
A cheaper 5G flagship
The Samsung Galaxy S22 keeps its eye on the prize, with a sensible level of restraint missing from the rest of the S22 series. This phone has the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU package as the rest of the line, with a 6.1-inch 120Hz display, glass out to the edge, and a hole-punch camera. Around the back, you get a 50MP main shooter alongside, a 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto camera, so you're ready for any situation.
A durable choice
This durable Kyocera phone isn't designed to be fast; it's designed to be tough. With an IP68 water and dust resistance rating and MIL-STD-810H drop rating, this phone can withstand the elements. The Snapdragon 480 CPU inside isn't breaking any records, but it has plenty of power for daily tasks as well as 5G support on Verizon. The battery is fairly large at 4,500mAh and should easily make it through a day of work without dying.
Plenty of choice on Verizon's network
Verizon supports the majority of the best Android phones if you want to buy unlocked. If you want to buy your phone from Verizon, you can pay full price to get the phone from the carrier, or can opt for monthly payments on your bill. The latter is required for some discounts, so it can be worth it. However, with 36-month payment plans being the only option, you may find yourself paying the device off early if you like to upgrade frequently.
The Google Pixel 6 is priced like a mid-range phone, but it stands toe-to-toe with the best phones on the market. Google's Tensor CPU delivers plenty of performance, and the camera hardware works with the software to provide rich photos and realistic colors. You also get a beautiful display, with the 6.4-inch 90Hz OLED showing off the newest builds of Android.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is the latest iteration of Samsung's compact foldable design. Unlike folding phones that open up like a tablet, this phone folds vertically to easily fit in a pocket or bag. Since it's got the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 CPU, you don't give up any performance in pursuit of style either. Or, if you're a Samsung fan who prefers a classic phone design, you can also get any of the latest Galaxy S22 phones on the carrier.
