Best Verizon phones Android Central 2021
Big Red may charge an arm and a leg for its service, but the best Android phones on its network don't all have to be unattainably expensive. Whether you're after the top-of-the-line Galaxy S21 Ultra or you'd rather save some money and pick up something like the Galaxy A42 5G, there are plenty of great options for one of the nation's top-rated carriers. Here are our top picks when it comes to the best Verizon phones on the market right now.
- Best overall: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
- Best compact phone: Google Pixel 5
- Best value flagship: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G UW
- Best value with a stylus: Moto G Stylus
- 5G on a budget: Samsung Galaxy A42 5G
- A cheaper 5G flagship: Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
Best overall: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
Staff PickThe Galaxy S21 Ultra is Samsung's ultimate mobile experience, cramming powerful specs and a 6.8-inch 120Hz display into a modern design. It also has an enormously capable camera system that features a 108MP main sensor and up to 100X zoom, plus 8K video capture. You get a massive 5000mAh battery and 5G support, and the S21 Ultra even supports the S Pen stylus.
Best compact phone: Google Pixel 5
If you value clean software and timely updates above all else, there's no better choice than a Pixel. Of course, the Pixel 5 also takes incredible photos, particularly in low light thanks to Night Sight, and even manages impressive 4K video. The 4080mAh battery inside is shockingly resilient, easily landing all-day battery life with even heavy use, and of course, the Pixel 5 supports Verizon's 5G network.
Best value flagship: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G UW
The S20 FE is one of the best values in the high-end space, offering a flagship-tier Snapdragon 865 processor and a large, 120Hz flat display. You get Samsung's One UI 3.1 software overlay on top of Android 11, and the S20 FE is available in a wide range of eye-catching colors. It's already a great value at its usual price, but thanks to current Verizon promotions, the S20 FE is an unbeatable deal.
Best value with a stylus: Moto G Stylus
The Moto G Stylus is a solid budget phone that makes control a bit easier for those that want an alternative input option. The included stylus isn't smart and doesn't offer any significant benefits beyond a finer point, but it is attached to a solid budget phone. The 6.4-inch display is driven by a Snapdragon 665 CPU and powered by a large 4,000mAh battery.
5G on a budget: Samsung Galaxy A42 5G
5G has made it to cheap phones and with the network's footprint rapidly increasing, it really is time to make sure your phone supports the new tech. The Galaxy A42 5G comes with a Snapdragon 750G with 4GB of RAM and is powered by a huge 5,000mAh battery. Samsung has included one of its beautiful AMOLED displays and a 48MP main camera for a solid budget camera experience.
A cheaper 5G flagship: Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is a very fast phone with a Snapdragon 888 and full support for Verizon's 5G network. The gorgeous 120Hz AMOLED display measures 6.8 inches and is a great companion to one of the best cameras you can get at this price. A 4,000mAh battery gives you all-day battery life and since this is one of Samsung's main flagship phones, you can be sure you'll get prompt security updates.
The S21 Ultra isn't your only option for the best Verizon phone
Source: Hayato Huseman / Android Central
There are a lot of great phones on Verizon at various price points. If you're looking for the best combination of fast performance, superb cameras, and all-day battery life, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the phone to beat. It packs all of the best specs you can ask for and includes everything from 5G support to reverse wireless charging, water resistance, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and a 100X telephoto camera. Its 6.8-inch display is surprisingly easy to manage thanks to ultra-tight bezels, and the 108MP main sensor takes stunningly good photos.
Samsung isn't the only manufacturer making great phones for the masses, though. The Pixel 5 isn't quite as flashy in terms of design or features, but its camera takes terrific shots in any lighting situation and the software is updated constantly. Most of the Pixel's photographic prowess comes from machine learning, and it can even handle extremely low light thanks to the wildly popular Night Sight and Astrophotography shooting modes.
Designing the perfect cheap phone requires a ton of finesse since you need to trim features in a way that impacts the user as little as possible. Samsung is an expert in this field and has delivered an attractive phone with solid performance in the Galaxy A42 5G. With support for Verizon's 5G network including Ultra Wideband, a massive 5,000mAh battery, and an AMOLED display, this phone punches well above its weight.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
These are the best unlocked phones on Amazon for every budget
Amazon is one of the easiest places to buy an unlocked phone and have it delivered in a flash. Here are the best unlocked Android phones it's selling at a variety of price levels.
Best Android phones with a 3.5mm headphone jack
When you have to have a headphone jack, your Android phone options are more limited today than they were a couple years ago. But there are still several amazing choices.
The Google Pixel 5 is the best phone for taking photos, period
If you want the best Android camera, you should go with the Google Pixel 5. There are many great options that get close, though. So we've gathered a solid list to get you started.
