Best Metro by T-Mobile phones 2024

Metro by T-Mobile is a prepaid brand owned by T-Mobile that uses the entire T-Mobile network, including LTE and 5G. This carrier has four main plans starting with 5GB of data and going up to unlimited. The Metro by T-Mobile network has full support for unlocked phones and even allows a 5G connection on every plan as long as the phone supports it.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is the perfect companion for Metro thanks to its solid performance, features, and great-for-T-Mobile 5G. The device is guaranteed to get seven year's worth of OS updates, which is on par with what Google offers. It's a great investment from any point of view. In case you don't want to spend that much, we have plenty other great options too. 

At a glance

Best overall

Although the Galaxy S24 doesn’t exactly revolutionize Samsung’s S series, the base model flagship takes everything that its predecessors did well and refines it. Considering how much we loved the Galaxy S23, this is good news.

With the Galaxy S24, you get a slightly larger 6.2-inch AMOLED display and great camera software that was found in the S23, although the newer phone beefed up its performance with the addition of the ultra-efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. You also get a boost in battery life thanks to a slightly higher capacity. Galaxy AI is the big draw here, which offers on-device AI features in various apps like photo editing and translation.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is the one we tested, but most of our findings apply to the smaller S24 too. The compact flagship is also set to receive seven years of Android OS upgrades, which means you could be using the phone for years before it becomes obsolete. Typically retailing for around $800, the Galaxy S23 is a great choice if you want a compact 2024 flagship phone to pair with your Metro by T-Mobile service.

Best value flagship

Similar to Samsung’s latest flagship, the Google Pixel 8 is more about refinement than dramatic transformation — and once again, we’re here for it. The Google Pixel 8 pairs sleek design and cutting-edge features with premium performance, thanks to the outstanding Tensor G3 chipset and some of the best haptic motors in the biz. 

In our review of the Google Pixel 8, we looked closely into the phone’s camera software to see if it held up to the hype, and for the most part, it didn’t disappoint. In addition to producing images that simply look great, the Google Pixel 8 comes loaded with a ton of interesting and easy-to-use AI-powered camera features, such as Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, and Audio Eraser.

While something like the older Galaxy S23 can stand toe-to-toe with the Pixel 8 in performance, the Pixel's lower price tag (typically around $699) makes it an overall better value. Not to mention, seven years of Android OS updates make this a very sweet deal.

Best value

The Google Pixel 7a gets close to being the ideal balance of features and hardware to achieve its low price without feeling cheap. The phone feels premium with a solid construction, nice materials, and a vibrant 6.1-inch AMOLED display. The battery should have no trouble making it to the end of the day, thanks to a 4,385mAh capacity. The performance on this device is strong thanks to using the same Google Tensor G2 CPU found in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.

The standout feature of this phone is the camera system. Like the rest of the Pixel line, this phone punches well above the weight of the hardware thanks to Google's fine-tuned image processing. The colors look vibrant and sharp, and as we saw in our Pixel 7a review, the pictures look like they came from a much more expensive phone.

Google keeps up its strong reputation for software support, with this phone getting five years of Pixel updates and three platform upgrades. This should help keep the Pixel 7a secure and running well into the future.

Best with stylus

The Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) updates the G Stylus formula with better hardware and network support on Metro by T-Mobile. This phone sports the robust Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 and couples it with 6GB of RAM. Still, as we found in our review, this should be more than enough for most apps and with 256GB of onboard storage plus another 256GB via microSD expansion out of the box, you'll be able to download to your heart's content.

The phone is available in a dark Cosmic Black color or a lighter Rose Champagne. On the back, you get three cameras with the main shooter coming in at 50MP with an 8MP ultra-wide camera, enabling you to take better photos in challenging spaces. You also get good 5G support on Metro by T-Mobile with sub-6 bands including mid-band Ultra Capacity 5G coverage.

While Motorola isn't known for speedy OS updates, you do get Android 13 out of the box. You're only promised one OS and three years of security updates. Even so, the stylus paired with this phone's 6.6-inch 120Hz will be more than worth it for those looking for precision input without stepping up to an expensive flagship.

Best mid-range

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is an excellent mid-range device with a sensible combination of hardware. While the Exynos 1380 CPU isn't topping any benchmarks, it has more than enough grunt to power through Android 13 with One UI 5.1, as we noted in our review. Samsung has also extended its excellent update plans to this model with four OS updates planned. These software updates can keep this phone feeling fresh and modern for years.

The screen is a 6.4-inch 120Hz AMOLED so colors are vibrant and navigating the OS feels smooth. Compared to its predecessor, the cameras on the A54 5G are a solid upgrade. The 50MP main camera takes good photos in both bright and low-light conditions. You also get a 12MP ultra-wide and 5MP macro camera on the back so you can be ready for nearly any condition.

Best budget

The OnePlus Nord N30 5G is a mid-range Android phone that looks and feels a lot nicer than its price tag would suggest. In our review, we found that if you only have $300 to spend on a phone, it had better be the N30 5G. Even those that can spend more might not need to with the Snapdragon 695 CPU keeping up well with Android 13. It is worth noting that OnePlus has only promised one software update for this device, which is Android 14. At least you get three years of security updates.

The main rear camera comes in at 108MP with 2MP macro and 2MP depth sensors assisting it. Photos with this camera system are great and far exceed anything else at this price range. This phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack so you don't need to rely on Bluetooth for your music. You also get microSD expansion in addition to the onboard 128GB of storage so you can download as much music or take as many photos as you like.

Battery life isn't a letdown either, with a generous 5,000mAh cell and insane 50W SUPERVOOC charging. While the water and dust-resistant OnePlus Nord N30 5G doesn't quite keep up with flagship phones, it outpaces every other phone at this price, making it the best Android phone under $300.

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There's plenty of choice with Metro by T-Mobile 

The great thing about Metro by T-Mobile's network is that it supports most unlocked phones, including many international models. So if you have an unlocked phone with GSM and LTE support from the last few years, it will probably work on Metro. In fact, most of the best Android phones will work with the entire network with just a SIM. Some of the models in our list like the Galaxy A54 and Nord N30 can be bought for as low as $50, with Metro's ongoing promotions. 

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is the best Android phone with plenty of performance for most people, solid cameras, 5G support, and an attractive price for a flagship. This phone looks great with its glass back and a variety of pleasing colors to choose from. What with its IP68 rating, fast charging specs, and seven years of promised updates, the Galaxy S24 is a great overall fit for T-Mobile's prepaid carrier.

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