What 5G phones are available now?

Though it won't replace 4G in its entirety, 5G is the next generation of mobile connectivity. 5G works fast, and many industries will benefit from the new network, including self-driving cars, drones and the internet. Samsung, the most popular maker of 5G phones, currently has five 5G phones under its belt: the Galaxy S10 5G, the Note 10 Plus 5G, the 5G variant of the Galaxy Fold, the Galaxy A90 5G and the Galaxy S20; the latter launched in February at Samsung Unpacked.

Though 5G deployment kicked off in 2019, you'll see even more 5G phones throughout this year and next. In the US it's currently live in select cities for Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint users. In 2019, UK carrier EE became the first 5G carrier in the country, followed by Vodafone and Three UK.  

Most people will likely experience the benefits of a robust 5G network only through a 5G phone. After all, the grand promises carriers and chip-makers are making with 5G coverage don't mean much if you can't access the network with your own device. To help you keep tabs on all the 5G phones and when we can expect more, here's what the major phone-makers are offering.

What about other companies?

As 5G networks all over the world continue to be built out, expect more phone makers that don't have a 5G phone yet to join the fray soon. Here's where other companies stand.

Apple

Rumors are floating that Apple will include 5G connectivity this year for its upcoming iPhone 12. More specifically, Apple analyst Ming-chi Kuo predicts the company will unveil three 5G phones. There are a couple of reasons why the company didn't jump on the trend in 2019.

First, Apple usually isn't the first in on mobile trends, preferring instead to perfect an emerging technology before committing to it. For example, it was behind its competitors in making phones with 3G and 4G LTE connectivity when those networks just launched. 

Second, Apple stopped working with the leading 5G modem provider, Qualcomm, because of a dispute over Qualcomm's licensing fees. The two companies settled their litigation in April 2019, and then agreed to a multiyear 5G chip deal. This led to Apple's previous partner of 5G modems, Intel, to ultimately exit the 5G phone modem business altogether and Apple later acquired Intel's smartphone modem business for $1 billion. Apple is still working with Qualcomm, but it got started too late to launch a 5G phone last year.

Apple did not respond for a request to comment.

Google

Google hasn't revealed its plans for 5G, and the company declined to reply to a request to comment. Even with its latest launch of the Pixel 4 and 4 XL in October 2019, the company did not unveil any 5G plans. That means we may have to wait until later this year (or even later) to see a 5G Pixel phone.

Nokia

Though Nokia isn't the phone giant that it was 15 years ago, it's still taking steps toward a 5G future. It's currently working with Qualcomm to make 5G devices and in July 2019, the company announced a $3.5 billion partnership with T-Mobile, which includes taking advantage of T-Mobile's 600-MHz spectrum to back its 5G network. 

But don't expect 5G Nokia phones any time soon. In February 2019 HMD CEO Florian Seiche (whose firm makes Nokia phones) said those devices probably won't arrive until later 2020. Seiche reiterated this point again at IFA 2019, and HMD Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas added that Nokia's 5G phone will be "a bit more affordable than anybody that's out there today." 

Nokia also stands to benefit from 5G in other ways though. In addition to Qualcomm and Ericsson, the company has patent rights to 5G technology, and stands to make up to $3.50 for every 5G phone sold.

HTC

Instead of a phone, Taiwanese electronics company HTC has a 5G hotspot. Available on Sprint for $600, the hub connects up to 20 people simultaneously. Equipped with a 5-inch display, audio speakers and Android Pie software, the device is also a media hub that users can make video calls with or use to check mail.

Lenovo/Motorola

Though Lenovo and Motorola's Moto Z3 and Moto Z4 have 5G, they require a modular accessory to connect to the high-speed network. As for a Motorola phone that wouldn't need an accessory, the company is working on making such a device that will launch in 2020. Though Motorola hasn't released any further information, we can expect the phone to be expensive and high-end. 

"If you put out a $399 5G phone, you're going to have to sacrifice a lot of the elements that people value," said Francoise Laflamme, Motorola's chief strategy and marketing officer, at a Qualcomm tech summit in December 2019.