Mint Mobile’s multi-month mobile plans are some of the best values in wireless with plenty of data packed in for most users. Since its plans are available in 3, 6, and 12-month increments, Mint doesn’t lure customers in with 2 or 3-year payment plans on phones like the Big Three but instead gives you a discount on service when you buy one. Mint Mobile is owned by T-Mobile and uses the carrier’s network for all of its coverage which means that just about any unlocked will work, including the best Android phones purchased unlocked or through Mint’s online store.

Mint still encourages customers to get everything from one place, often providing discounts to those that buy a phone through Mint. Presently, Mint Mobile offers $50 off of one of its yearly mobile plans meaning that you don’t need to think about a wireless bill for a year and don’t need to worry about paying a phone off to switch carriers if you find a better deal later on. Financing is also available via Affirm for those that want to spread their payments out a bit. These are the best Android phones you can buy directly from Mint Mobile or purchase unlocked to bring to Mint Mobile.

The best phones compatible with Mint Mobile

Source: Google

Google Pixel 7 Pro

Best overall

A fantastic Android experience in every aspect

The Google Pixel 7 Pro might not look all that different from the Pixel 6 Pro, that came before it, but it features some key upgrades that might cement it as the best in the series to date. Everything we loved about those last-gen phones is unchanged. It’s still packed with 12GB of RAM, features a huge 120Hz OLED display — now brighter than ever — and keeps the large camera bar design.

Pros

• Excellent camera performance
• Fantastic calling features

Cons

• Battery life could be better

The Pixel 7 Pro’s design separates itself from the Pixel 6 Pro in a number of ways. Sure, the back panel is still that glossy glass — but the camera bar is coated in polished aluminum that blends directly into the phone’s frame. Plus, the curved screen is much less rounded this time, making it easier to hold in your hand.

Google’s claim to fame with the Pixel series has always been the camera’s performance, and the Pixel 7 Pro delivers again. It has the same 50MP primary sensor as the previous model, which outputs images at 12.5MP, but this time it can crop at 2x, making for some incredible images. The ultra-wide lens has been upgraded to a much wider field-of-view, and thanks to those improvements, the Pixel 7 Pro features an exclusive Macro Mode.

Of course, the biggest upgrade over the base Pixel 7 (also featured on this list) is the telephoto lens. It’s 5x this year — up from 4x — and supports up to 30x digital zoom using Super Res Mode. It takes some incredible photos, especially at 10x, which seems to be Super Res Mode’s sweet spot.

No phone’s perfect, and that includes the Google Pixel 7 Pro. As we mentioned in our review of the device, the battery life could leave you a little disappointed at times. You’ll likely get through a whole day with regular use but don’t expect much more than that. You can buy the Google Pixel 7 Pro directly from Mint Mobile or buy it elsewhere and bring it over to the service — it’s fully compatible regardless.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Premium pick

The absolute premium Android experience

$1000 $1200 Save
$200

With all that money you will be saving by using Mint Mobile, maybe you can splurge for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsung has once again crushed the competition with a massive and beautiful phone that is as elegant as it is powerful. It’s packed with features: a massive 6.8″ 1440p display, an S Pen for taking notes or drawing, all-day battery life, and an incredible array of cameras on the back.

Pros

• Best display in a smartphone
• Excellent cameras
• S Pen support

Cons

• Quite expensive
• Camera software can be quirky

Clearly, its price tag is going to preclude lots of people from buying the S23 Ultra, but considering Samsung’s proven track record of keeping its phones updated with consistent and timely monthly patches, this is a phone you can feel comfortable holding onto for the long haul. Plus, thanks to it being one of the best 5G phones on the market right now, it’s a great phone to pick up whether you want to use it on Mint Mobile or any other carrier.

It’s hard not to notice the quadruple camera array on the back of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Its main 200MP sensor packs an absolute punch, even if most of your shots are binned to 12MP images. Photos and videos alike turned out great, and the camera only really struggle a bit when lots of motion was involved. Plus, Samsung’s manual shooting mode gives you complete control over how your photos will look if you don’t just feel like shooting on auto.

Some minor annoyances plague the device, however. The S23 Ultra doesn’t come with a charger in the box (annoying for how expensive it is). And although it’s capable of 45W charging, you’ll need a very specific power supply to reach it, which means you can’t just expect any old charger you have lying around to give you the fastest speed.

Source: Google

Google Pixel 6a

Best value

The cheapest Pixel is still a winner

The Google Pixel 6a offers some of the best value you can find in a smartphone right now. It has an absolutely fantastic camera, call features that are out of this world, and provides an incredible software experience. Sure, it misses some hallmarks of the more expensive flagship phones out there, but you can’t be too upset when the price is so affordable.

Pros

• Excellent camera performance
• Great price
• Good performance

Cons

• Wireless signal weaker than some others
• No wireless charging

Don’t worry. Not every phone Mint Mobile offers will make your bank account sweat, as there are plenty of great phones available that cost much less than the standard flagship from Google or Samsung. The Google Pixel 6a is a shining beacon of hope to people who need a phone that does the basics super well but also doesn’t skimp too much on the cool features that are nice to have in the pocket.

A big part of why the Google Pixel 6a made the top of our budget Android phones list is because of Google’s focus on delivering incredible software. Unsurprisingly, Google Assistant’s deep integrations with the Android platform on Pixel devices are downright amazing. Features like automatic call screening, Direct My Call, Wait times, and even the Magic Eraser make your life so much easier; you’ll wonder how you ever got by without them.

While Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s network, you may want to ensure you’re in a good coverage area before investing in the Google Pixel 6a. Unfortunately, the device occasionally has trouble connecting to a network where reception gets a little spotty. Still, if you can handle a few drawbacks — like a plastic body — you’ll find a lot to love about the Pixel 6a, from the stellar camera performance to the all-day battery life; it just offers so much in return for its affordable price point.

Source: Google

Google Pixel 7a

Best mid-range upgrade

Flagship CPU and camera performance for less

$444 $499 Save
$55

The Pixel 7a is a mid-range phone from Google with impressive hardware. Performance is strong with the same Tensor G2 CPU as the flagship model. It also has a large 64MP main camera and a 13MP ultrawide shooter. Google software makes the most of these cameras with excellent processing.

Pros

• Fast Tensor G2 CPU with 8GB of RAM
• Crisp and fast 90Hz OLED display
• Great cameras

Cons

• Battery life could be better
• Price is too close to the Pixel 7

The Google Pixel 7a is a mid-range phone priced and configured to prove that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get flagship-tier hardware and performance. This phone is powered by the same Tensor G2 SoC that’s in the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro and comes with a healthy 8GB of RAM. You also get a 6.1-inch OLED display capable of a 90Hz refresh rate. You also get a large 4,385mAh battery that should have no trouble reaching the end of the day with average use, but only charges at 18W compared to 25W on the Pixel 7. If you don’t mind a few more minutes on the charger, this won’t be a huge deal to you.

On the software side, this phone launched with Android 13 and is among the first to receive new Android updates with five years of Pixel updates planned. It also comes with Google’s security chip, the Titan M2, as part of the Tensor G2 SoC which can help keep things like passwords safer. It’s also IP67 dust and water-resistant, so you don’t need to worry if it gets splashed. You can also have it in black, blue, or white with another coral color available directly from Google.

The biggest competition for the Pixel 7a comes from its older sibling, the Pixel 7. This phone can often be found for a similar price as the Pixel 7a with discounts. That phone comes with faster charging, a larger display, and wireless power-sharing. The Pixel 7a can also see some discounts of its own and is also available with six months of Mint Mobile service for free when you get a bundle with a year of service.

Source: Google

Google Pixel 7

The everyman’s Pixel

Just a few feature shy of the Pro version

The Pixel 7 Pro may get a little more attention, but don’t let the standard Pixel 7 pass you by if you want something a little cheaper. With the same great software experience, cameras that take incredible pictures, and all those amazing Google AI features that the Tensor G2 powers, there are plenty of reasons to skip the “Pro” model this time.

Pros

• Fantastic software experience
• Great price for performance
• Cameras outperform more expensive phones

Cons

• Battery life is a little low
• No telephoto lens

We’ve already raved about the Pixel 7 Pro, and the truth is the standard Google Pixel 7 deserves a lot of the same praise. Its excellent calling features are second to none, its cameras take great photos even with a minimal setup, and it’s all at a cheaper price point.

Of course, it’s not without just a couple of disadvantages compared to the Pro model. The one that makes the biggest difference to most people is likely the camera array. There’s no Macro Mode on the Pixel 7, and it’s also missing that phenomenal telephoto lens, which means you won’t be able to zoom in as much when snapping pictures.

The fact is the $300 savings between the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro is a lot of money, and you’re getting nearly the same great experience here as you would on the more expensive device. There’s always a chance that the next Pixel — the Pixel 8, presumably — will be more expensive when it launches later in 2023, so it may be worth the savings now.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

Amazing display for less

A top-tier display in a midrange phone

$350 $450 Save
$100

Samsung’s Galaxy A54 is the successor to one of our favorite mid-range phones from last year, and it’s only been improved. With a beautiful 120Hz AMOLED display and 50MP camera that promises to be capable even in low-light situations, the A54 looks to be one of the more impressive phones for under $500.

Pros

• Incredible display
• Great software support from Samsung

Don’t feel like spending flagship prices, but want a phone with several flagship features? That’s where the Samsung Galaxy A54 comes in. Equipped with 5G support, a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display that looks absolutely amazing, and very good battery life, it’s a phone that’s just hard to say no to.

Sure, its Exynos 1380 won’t be as powerful as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 you’ll find in the S23 series, but it’s a very capable chip that can handle all your day-to-day tasks just fine. The battery life can let you coast about 48 hours, which is good because the charging speed is a bit slow, and there’s no wireless charging option.

Source: Motorola

Moto G Stylus

Cheaper stylus phone

An affordable phone with a stylus

$170 $299 Save
$129

Not many budget phones don’t do things by the book, but the Moto G Stylus (2022) does just that. By including the titular stylus, a good set of software to go along with it, and a decent processor that can get through your basic daily tasks, it’s a cheap phone that offers a lot.

Pros

• Great battery life
• 90Hz display for this price is great
• Stylus works great with software

Cons

• Slow charging (only 10 watts)
• Bad selfie camera

The Moto G Stylus is pretty unique among budget phones thanks to its namesake stylus that tucks up into the device much like the Galaxy S23 Ultra does. While its MediaTek chipset isn’t the most powerful, it gives a decent performance and the six gigs of RAM make it adequate to get all of those basic phone tasks completed. Throw in the smooth 90Hz display (which is decent for the price point) and the superb battery life surprised us when we reviewed the device.

On the flip side, some aspects of the phone aren’t the best. The cameras on the back are only passable, but the annoying beauty filter on the selfie shooter that you can’t turn off is especially frustrating. Plus, its max charging speed is only 10 watts, meaning you’ll want to top it up overnight when it’s time to juice up. But the Moto G Stylus is worth a look if you want an affordable phone that offers a decent experience with a stylus in tow.

Bring your own phone to Mint Mobile

While you can get the phones listed above directly from Mint Mobile, you can also bring any of these phones (and plenty of other models) to Mint as long as it’s unlocked. Since Mint uses T-Mobile’s network, just about any unlocked phone will work, but they have a handy compatibility checker on their site, so you can be sure. If you bought your phone through another carrier, you may need to pay it off before switching.

Once you’ve made sure your phone will work and are ready to switch, Mint Mobile can be activated by purchasing a SIM kit with a physical SIM inside. Many phones from the last couple of years support eSIM, however, which can be activated in just a few minutes without needing to wait for shipping or even taking off your phone’s case. The SIM is simply downloaded to your phone replacing your old carrier’s information.

Mint Mobile has some stellar phones

Mint Mobile isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to the phones they offer with the heavy-hitters from Samsung, Google, and Apple available. These phones are available to buy outright on their own or with a Mint Mobile plan bundled in. Customers can also finance their new phone with Affirm. Keep in mind that phones bought from Mint Mobile are locked to the carrier for 60 days, but can be taken with you to another carrier after that.

We are most impressed by the Google Pixel 7 Pro. It’s Google’s magnum opus, marrying its excellent ability to make photos look amazing, software and AI features that no other manufacturer is doing, and a price point that makes it more affordable than its main competition — Samsung.

Source: Google

Google Pixel 7 Pro

Best overall

A fantastic Android experience in every aspect

The Google Pixel 7 Pro might not look all that different from the Pixel 6 Pro, that came before it, but it features some key upgrades that might cement it as the best in the series to date. Everything we loved about those last-gen phones is unchanged. It’s still packed with 12GB of RAM, features a huge 120Hz OLED display — now brighter than ever — and keeps the large camera bar design.

Pros

• Excellent camera performance
• Fantastic calling features

Cons

• Battery life could be better