Best T-Mobile Android phones (November 2015)

t-mobile-logo-mwc-2015

T-Mobile is the carrier everyone else is watching out for. They’re currently the third biggest mobile service provider in the United States, and they’re growing very quickly. Thanks to T-Mobile’s “Un-carrier” plan of action, they’ve been changing industry standards for the better over the recent years. On top of all of the changes they’re making, they have one of the widest varieties of smartphones available on any carrier. We’ve already taken a look at the best phones you can buy on Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, and now it’s T-Mobile’s turn.

Related: Best prepaid phones for T-Mobile

T-Mobile works a bit differently than the other carriers when it comes to pricing. They’ve gotten rid of carrier subsidies, and basically put all of their phones at full retail price. There are options to pay the device cost monthly, though most of the time, you can still get the devices for $0 down. That’s why we’re taking a look at the full retail costs of the phones. The categories we’re looking at today are solely based on price range, split up into three tiers: best phones above $500, below $500, and below $250. Let’s dive right in!

Editor’s note – we will be updating this list as more devices hit the market.
Update, November 2015: This month saw the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 depart from the list to make room for the LG V10. Also gone from the list is the Samsung Galaxy S5 to make room for the Nexus 6P. We’ve also completely revamped the “Under $250” category, adding the Moto G, Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 and ASUS ZenFone 2 to the list.

Best phones above $500

#1 – Samsung Galaxy Note 5 & Galaxy S6 Edge Plus

The Galaxy Note series is often referred to as the true Samsung flagships, and this year the Korean manufacturer didn’t disappoint. Not only is the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 an awesome device, but they also released the Galaxy S6 Edge+ for those who like curves on their super-sized screens. These are hands-down the best Samsung smartphones around right now.

The only issue is these bad boys won’t come cheap. The Note 5 is priced at $699.99 over at T-Mobile’s website, while the Galaxy S6 Edge+ goes for $779.99. Far from affordable, but definitely worth it if you care about screen size and performance. Not to mention, the Galaxy Note 5 has all those additional S Pen features for productivity buffs. You will also enjoy Samsung’s new design language and build quality, which is a much needed improvement over previous Note devices.

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Specs

  • 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution
  • Samsung Exynos 7420 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32/64GB of on-board storage, no microSD card slot
  • 16MP rear cam, 5MP front cam
  • Non-removable 3000mAh battery
  • Note 5: 153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm, 171 grams / S6 Edge+: 154.4 x 75.8 x 6.9 mm, 153 grams
  • Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

Read more

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 for $699.99
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ for $779.99

#2 – Samsung Galaxy S6 & Galaxy S6 Edge

Samsung really hit the ball out of the park with its new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge devices. These were the first to adopt a better design language and build quality, something that proved to be a success under most reviewers’ eyes.

These are essentially the same device, with the only difference being the obvious curved screen on the Galaxy S6 Edge. Aside from a few software enhancements on the Edge (and 50 mAh of battery), there are barely any other differences. Both are sleek, powerful, fast and well built. We must also mention the display and camera, which are among the best in the market!

While not as pricey as their larger brothers, the Samsung Galaxy S6 series is still up there. You can get the normal version for $579.99. Meanwhile, T-Mobile also sales the Edge iteration for $679.99

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Specs

  • 5.1-inch Super AMOLED with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi
  • Exynos 7420
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 32/64/128GB storage options, no microSD expansion
  • 16 MP rear camera with OIS
  • 5 MP front-facing camera with 90 degree wide angle lens
  • Non-removable 2,550mAh battery (S6) and 2,600mAh battery (S6 Edge)
  • 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138 grams
  • Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with TouchWiz

Read more

Buy Samsung Galaxy S6 for $579.99
Buy Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge for $679.99

#3 – LG V10

If you aren’t completely satisfied with the LG G4, perhaps the V10 will suit your needs. It has the same powerful Snapdragon 808 processor and 16MP rear-facing camera as the G4, but with a few extra features included. Most notably, the V10 sports a secondary “ticker” display LG calls the Second Screen. This extra display aims to provide its users useful information without the need to turn on the main screen. It will display app shortcuts, notifications, and even weather and battery percentage information. Although the placement is a bit wonky, we’re sure you’ll be pretty happy with the added benefit of having a secondary display.

The V10 also has two front-facing cameras for wide-angle selfies, a fingerprint scanner that’s actually really reliable, a MIL-STD-810G Transit Drop Compliant rating for shock absorption, and a 32-bit Hi-Fi DAC electronic processor with support for Qualcomm’s QFE2550 closed-loop antenna tuning solution. It’s also the first smartphone ever to come with a manual mode for taking video.

Both the V10 and the G4 are great smartphones. If you aren’t concerned with spending a bit more money, though, you should buy the V10. It’s available now from T-Mobile for $599.99.

Specs

  • Main display: 5.7-inch IPS Quantum Display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 513ppi
    • Secondary display: 2.1-inch IPS Quantum Display with 160 x 1040 resolution, 513ppi
  • Hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor
  • Adreno 418 GPU
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 2TB
  • 16MP rear-facing camera, 5MP Dual Lens front-facing camera
  • Removable 3000mAh battery
  • Android 5.1 Lollipop
  • 159.6 x 79.3 x 8.6mm, 192g
  • Space Black, Luxe White, Modern Beige, Ocean Blue, Opal Blue

Read more

Buy now from T-Mobile for $599.99

Best phones below $500

#1 - Nexus 6P

As the successor to last year's Motorola Nexus 6, Google recently unveiled the Huawei-made Nexus 6P. This device is the higher-end of the two Nexus phones announced at Google's event, and that's incredibly apparent when looking at the spec sheet.

It comes with a big 5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, super fast Snapdragon 810 processor, a giant 3450mAh battery and an impressive 12MP rear-facing camera. Want to get your hands on one? The Nexus 6P is pretty cheap, considering the specs and build quality. You can purchase it from the Google Store starting at just $499!

This is really one of the best Android handsets we've ever seen. If you have a few hundred dollars to spend and aren't keen on the best from Samsung or LG, get the Nexus 6P.

Specs

  • 5.7-inch AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 32/64/128GB of on-board storage, no microSD card slot
  • 12MP rear-facing camera, 8MP front-facing camera
  • Non-removable 3450mAh battery
  • 159.3 x 77.8 x 7.3mm, 178g
  • Aluminum, Graphite, Frost
  • Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Read more

Buy now from the Google Store for $499
Buy from Amazon for $590

#2 - LG G4

The LG G4 enters the market promising amazing performance, an outstanding design, insane battery life and customization like we haven't seen in a while. In an industry where most manufacturers sacrifice battery life for thinness, LG manages to stand out from the crowd by offering a massive 3000 mAh battery. Want more? This battery is removable, so you can easily swap batteries on-the-go. Furthermore, it supports microSD cards, which is a dying habit nowadays.

You also get the advantage of having a damn good-looking phone! You can switch your covers, but I am sure you won’t want to once you put that genuine leather back in there. Add in the fact that the phone comes with one of the best smartphone cameras in the market and you have a true winner.

Want to hear the best part? This bad boy is only $399.99

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Specs

  • 5.5-inch LCD Quantum Dot display with a 2560 x 1440 resolution (534 ppi)
  • 1.82 GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor
  • Adreno 418 GPU
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 32GB of on-board storage, expandable via microSD up to 128GB
  • 16 MP rear camera with LED flash, 8 MP front-facing camera
  • 3,000 mAh  battery
  • Android 5.1 Lollipop
  • 148.9 x 76.1 x 6.3 - 9.8 mm, 155 grams

Read more

Buy Now for $399.99

#3 - Moto X Pure Edition (Moto X Style)

With the original Moto X, Motorola proved you don’t need to have the latest specs to get a great user experience. With the second generation, the Lenovo-owned company took no chances and double-downed on the spec side as well, packing the new Moto X (2014) with a dense 5.2-inch AMOLED screen, a beefy processor, and a capable 13MP camera. But with the Moto X Style, Motorola reaches the perfect balance between performance, simplicity, price and... well, style.

By Style we are mostly referring customization capabilities, a factor which has been an integral part of the Moto X experience since day one. Customers can use Moto Maker to manipulate their devices' aesthetics to their will. You can change the color of the metal areas, engrave the back and even choose from a plethora of back options, including materials leather, wood, rubber and other materials.

The device is not a bad contender in terms of hardware, either. The larger screen puts the phone up with contenders like the OnePlus 2, Nexus 6, LG G4 and the Galaxy Note series. It may not sport the "best" processor in the market, but the Snapdragon 808 is pretty close to the 810, and Motorola has proven time and again they can make a super fast phone without the greatest chipset.

It's worth noting that the phone will be sold in most markets under the Style branding, though in the United States it will be sold as the Moto X Pure Edition, an unlocked model that will play nice with all U.S. carriers. You can purchase the Moto X Pure Edition from Motorola or Amazon for only $399.99.

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Specs

  • 5.7-inch display with QHD 2560x1440p resolution
  • 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 CPU
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 16/32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
  • 21MP rear cam, 5MP front camera
  • Non-removable 3000mAh battery
  • 153.9 x 76.2 x 11.06 mm, 179g
  • Customizable via Moto Maker
  • Water resistant
  • Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

Read more

Buy from Motorola for $399.99
Buy from Amazon for $399.99

Best phones below $250

#1 - Motorola Moto G (2015)

The Moto G, one of the most beloved budget phones on the market, is now in its third iteration. This time around, the handset offers up a 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor and either 8GB storage and 1GB RAM, or 16GB storage and 2GB RAM. bother models include microSD support, a 13MP rear cam, a 5MP front cam, a 5-inch 720p LCD display, and a hefty 2470 non-removable battery. While the Moto G has never been about flashy extras, this year's model does introduce waterproofing and LTE to the mix.

For those that lust for customization, the Moto G also includes limited Moto Maker support. While this feature isn't as robust as you'd find with the Moto X Style (Pure Edition), it's still a great step in the right direction. As for software? The phone runs Lollipop out of the box, and it is likely only a matter of time before a Marshmallow upgrade makes its way into the hands of consumers.

The Moto G (2015) with 8GB of storage can be yours for only $179.99, while the 16GB model is available for $219.99.

Specs

  • 5-inch LCD display with 1280 x 720 resolution
  • Qualcomm quad-core Snapdragon 410 CPU
  • 1/2GB of RAM (depending on storage option)
  • 3G/GSM/LTE
  • 8GB and 16GB storage options, microSD expansion
  • 13MP rear cam, 5MP front cam
  • Non-removable 2470mAh battery
  • 142.1 x 72.4 x 11.6 mm, 155 g
  • Removable colored backs and Moto Maker customization
  • Android Lollipop (Marshmallow shouldn't be too far off)

Read more

Buy now from Amazon

#2 - Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3

The Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3 (5.5-inch variant) is one of the best budget-friendly smartphones on the market. It features a simple and elegant design, a solid 13MP rear-facing camera and a fantastic audio experience. For the price, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better value than the Idol 3 - it has a beautiful 5.5-inch Full HD display, a capable Snapdragon 615 processor, and runs a slightly customized version of Android 5.0 Lollipop.

The phone is now available from Amazon for just $250, which is quite the steal considering the impressive features this phone brings to the table. Be sure to head to the links below to check out our full review. Trust us, this phone might surprise you.

Specs

  • 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution
  • 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 Snapdragon 615 processor
  • 2GB of RAM
  • 16/32GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
  • 13MP rear cam, 5MP front cam
  • 2910mAh battery
  • 152.7 x 75.1 x 7.4mm, 141g
  • Android 5.0 Lollipop

Read more

Buy now from Amazon for $250

#3 - ASUS ZenFone 2

ASUS launched its newest flagship, the Zenfone 2, at CES 2015 a few months ago. It was originally marketed as the first smartphone to feature 4GB of RAM, but that's not all this powerhouse brings to the table. Toting a 5.5-inch 1080p display, the Zenfone 2 features a big 3000mAh battery, 13MP rear-facing camera, a powerful 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 processor and runs Android 5.0 Lollipop.

The Asus Zenfone 2 is now available in the U.S., China, Taiwan, Europe and a few other regions. The base model, which is the variant running on 2GB of RAM and the Z3560 processor, is now available from Newegg, Amazon, and several other major retailers starting at just $199. If you want to spring for the higher-end model, which has a 2.3GHz Intel Atom Z3580 processor, 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, that will only run you $299.

Specs

  • 5.5-inch full HD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution
  • 64-bit quad-core Intel Atom Z3560/Z3580 processor (running at 1.8 or 2.3GHz)
  • 2/4GB of RAM
  • 16/32/64GB of on-board storage, MicroSD card expansion up to 64GB
  • 13MP rear cam, 5MP front cam
  • Non-removable 3000mAh battery
  • 152.5 x 77.2 x 10.9 mm, 170g
  • Osmium Black, Sheer Gold, Glacier Gray, Glamor Red, Ceramic White
  • Android 5.0 Lollipop

Read more

Buy now from Amazon

How did you like our list? Do you have any other suggestions? If so, feel free to voice your opinion in the comments below!

Next: Best Android phones of 2015

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