Best Mint Mobile phones 2025
Enjoy the expansive 5G network infrastructure with a good smartphone.
At a glance
1. Best overall
2. Best balance
3. Best midrange
4. Best on a budget
5. Best small phone
6. Best for gaming
Honorable mentions
How to choose
When you get one of the best Mint Mobile phones, you can expect the most out of the prepaid carrier's incredible 5G network infrastructure. Mint Mobile has always been excellent when it comes to device compatibility, and is even more so now that it's fully owned and operated by T-Mobile. We've tested dozens of phones over the years, and the devices listed here have been hand-picked as they work flawlessly with Mint Mobile.
Hands down one of the best MVNO carriers in the United States, Mint Mobile lets you save money by requiring upfront payment for three, six, or 12 months of service. The longer the duration of service that you get, the better are your savings. What's more, the MVNO has now removed data caps on its unlimited plan, so you get even more if you get one of these phones via the prepaid carrier. Of course, you can bring over your existing device to the network, we suggest getting the Google Pixel 9 via Mint Mobile. Why? It's because by availing this limited time offer, you get an incredible $400 off one of the best Android phones, provided you also pay upfront for an entire year of service and port in your number of Mint Mobile.
However, if you don't want to take advantage of this deal, there are several other smartphones that you can use with the MVNO without any issues. These include compact flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S25, affordable options such as the OnePlus Nord N30 5G, and many more.
At a glance
Best overall
The Google Pixel 9 comes with a premium, squared off design, top-tier hardware, loads of AI-powered tools, as well as a dual-lens rear camera system that's unmatched. It'll also get up to seven years of OS and security updates.
Best balance
Part of Samsung's latest flagship series, the Galaxy S25 Plus sports a premium (albeit a bit boring) design, top-tier hardware, a laundry list of AI-powered goodies, fantastic cameras, and long software support.
Best midrange
With the Tensor G3 SoC and an excellent camera system, you can save a lot without giving up much with the Pixel 8a. This phone is even set for seven years of OS updates straight from Google.
Best on a budget
Easily one of the best phones from OnePlus, the Nord N30 5G gives you high-speed 5G connectivity, stereo speakers, reliable battery life, and even a 3.5mm audio port.
Best small phone
Thanks to slimmer bezels, the Samsung Galaxy S25 is even more compact than its predecessor. You get amazing performance with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, and there's 12GB of RAM as standard now. Other features include a triple-lens rear camera setup, seven years of updates, and more.
Best for gaming
Driven by Qualcomm's top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the OnePlus 13 improves upon its already fantastic predecessor in just about every way. You get solid cameras, super-fast charging speeds, and an IP69 certification as well.
Best overall
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Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Arguably the most well-rounded Android flagship currently available in the market, the Google Pixel 9 is packed with awesomeness. It all starts with the refreshed, squared off design that gives the device an industrial in-hand feel. Up front, you get a 6.3-inch OLED panel that can hit a peak brightness of almost 2700 nits and sports a 120Hz refresh rate. Needless to say, this screen is a visual delight.
Powering by Google's latest Tensor G4 chipset and 12GB of RAM, the Pixel 9 can make quick work of even the most demanding of workflows with little to no effort. Of course, this hardware also makes the plethora of AI-powered tools (e.g., Magic Editor, Call Notes) that the phone comes loaded with, work their magic. The smartphone runs Android 14 out of the box, and with support for seven years of major OS and security updates guaranteed, you can rest assured it'll continue to serve you well for a very long time.
As you'd expect from a Google smartphone, the Pixel 9 excels when it comes to photography. Its dual-lens primary camera setup is made up of a 50MP primary sensor and a 48MP ultrawide module, with everything from OIS to 4K video recording included in the mix. Backed by a 4,700mAh battery, the Google Pixel 9 supports both wired and wireless charging.
Attribute | Quick look | Score |
---|---|---|
Design | Compact and industrial design | ★★★★☆ |
Display | Gorgeous 120Hz OLED panel | ★★★★★ |
Price | Pricier than last year, but Mint Mobile deals are common | ★★★★☆ |
Performance | AI features are sweet | ★★★★★ |
Cameras | Among the best in the business, as they've always been | ★★★★★ |
Updates | Seven years of OS/security updates | ★★★★★ |
Best balance
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Sitting in the middle of the company's newest flagship line-up, the Samsung Galaxy S25 is a top-tier smartphone that offers the perfect balance of features and performance. Yes, it looks and feels largely similar to the last-gen model, but as Android Central's Derrek Lee noted in his review, there's a lot to like here.
Having completely flat front and back panels, along with flat sides, the Galaxy S25 features a practical if somewhat boring design. The new Navy colorway, however, looks absolutely astonishing. Up front, you get a 6.7-inch LTPO Dynamic AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphone's powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC which, combined with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of onboard storage, gives this thing more than enough power to make quick work of even the most demanding of workflows. As one of the best Android phones currently available in the market, the Galaxy S25 Plus offers all major connectivity and I/O options such as Wi-Fi 7, NFC, USB-C 3.2 (with DisplayPort functionality), UWB support, and much more.
The triple-lens rear camera setup is comprised of a 50MP primary sensor, a 10MP telephoto unit (with 3x optical zoom), and a 12MP ultrawide module. As you'd expect from a smartphone of this class, the Galaxy S25 is capable of shooting fantastic photos and video, complete with a plethora of AI-based editing tools. Rounding off the spec sheet is a 4,900mAh battery with support for 45W (wired) and 15W (wireless) charging.
Attribute | Quick look | Score |
---|---|---|
Design | Premium, although a bit boring | ★★★★☆ |
Display | QHD+ looks as great as you'd expect | ★★★★★ |
Price | Same as last year, and there is a limited-time deal at Mint Mobile too | ★★★☆☆ |
Performance | Awesome Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and 12GB of RAM | ★★★★★ |
Cameras | Great, plus lots of AI features | ★★★★★ |
Updates | Seven years is (and should be) the new standard | ★★★★★ |
Best midrange
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Google Pixel 8a comes with the Google Tensor G3 SoC under the hood giving it strong overall performance and runs Android 14 with 8GB of RAM. Compared to the last generation model, the screen has been upgraded to 120Hz refresh rate and has a maximum peak brightness of 2000 nits, so its readable even on a sunny day.
The 64MP main camera hasn't been upgraded, but even with last year's sensor, this is still without a doubt the best mid-range camera phones you can get. It's also nice that Google is offering both a 128GB and 256GB version of this phone, so you have plenty of space to store all those photos and videos.
Another big upgrade over the previous-gen Pixel 7a is extended software support, as Google's now promising seven years of major OS and security updates. Speaking of support, the Pixel 8a is a great fit for the T-Mobile 5G network utilized by Mint Mobile with strong mid-band support.
Attribute | Quick look | Score |
---|---|---|
Design | Nice to hold, lightweight | ★★★★★ |
Display | Outstanding for the price | ★★★★★ |
Price | Already affordable, and you might find deals with Mint Mobile every now and then too | ★★★★★ |
Performance | AI fun at a lower cost | ★★★★☆ |
Cameras | Pretty great at this price point | ★★★★☆ |
Updates | Seven years | ★★★★★ |
Best on a budget
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The OnePlus Nord N30 5G is a well-balanced budget phone that remains among the best cheap Android phones available in the market right now, even when you buy it unlocked. As the name implies, you get 5G support including mid-band 5G on Mint Mobile. The design has a premium look and feel, with two large camera rings on the back. Our OnePlus Nord N30 5G review noted that the phone offers great battery life with impressively fast charging speeds too, especially in its price range.
On the software side, things aren't as good, with the Nord N30 5G having Android 13 out of the box, and only one OS update. The good news is that it has begun receiving Android 14 this year, so it should be relevant for a bit longer. The 6.72-inch display is good, but it's not AMOLED, which means you won't get the vivid colors and increased contrast levels when watching your favorite movies and TV shows.
The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 695 5G SoC, which works well for everyday tasks but can't handle more demanding workflows. But despite all that, OnePlus Nord N30 5G offers plenty of perks such as a 3.5mm audio port, a big battery, and even stereo speakers.
Attribute | Quick look | Score |
---|---|---|
Design | 3.5mm headphone port!! | ★★★★★ |
Display | Decent for the price | ★★★☆☆ |
Price | Dirt cheap, but no Mint Mobile offer at this time | ★★★★☆ |
Performance | Starting to feel a little dated; great battery life | ★★★☆☆ |
Cameras | Good enough for casual use | ★★★☆☆ |
Updates | Can't touch Samsung or Google | ★★★☆☆ |
Best small phone
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
On the hunt for a fully loaded smartphone that's also compact enough for one-handed use? Look no further than the Samsung Galaxy S25. It crams best-in-class hardware and a laundry list of software enhancements in a well-built yet pocketable form factor.
Even though the Galaxy S25 has the same 6.2-inch LTPO Dynamic AMOLED panel as the previous-generation model, the screen's surrounded by even slimmer bezels this time. The display is every bit as incredible as you'd expect it to be, with vibrant colors and up to 2600 nits of peak brightness. Under the hood, you get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset working in tandem with 12GB of RAM (finally!) and up to 512GB of internal storage, so you can play the best Android games at maximum settings without any issues. The smartphone runs One UI 7 (based on Android 15) and is guaranteed to receive up to seven years of OS and security updates.
Talking about cameras, the Galaxy S25 features a triple-lens primary camera system with a 50MP primary lens, a 10MP telephoto sensor (with 3x optical zoom), and a 12MP ultrawide unit. The 4,000mAh battery isn't exactly the best by today's standards, but as noted by Android Central's Brady Snyder in his review, it can easily last throughout the day with average use. Of course, you get 25W (wired) and 15W (wireless) charging support as well.
Attribute | Quick look | Score |
---|---|---|
Design | Perfect to use with one hand | ★★★★☆ |
Display | Sharp and vibrant Dynamic AMOLED panel | ★★★★★ |
Price | Discounted by $200 on Mint Mobile for a limited time | ★★★☆☆ |
Performance | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite and 12GB RAM now come standard | ★★★★★ |
Cameras | Not much in terms of hardware upgrades, but awesome performance | ★★★★☆ |
Updates | Seven years of OS and security updates | ★★★★★ |
Best for gaming
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Improving further upon its already excellent predecessor, the OnePlus 13 is a top-of-the-line Android smartphone that's filled to the brim with goodness. If you just want a no-nonsense Android flagship that can do it all, this is definitely worth taking a look at.
With a design that's equal parts classic and modern, the OnePlus 13 is a delight to hold in hand, thanks to the "2.5D curved edges" on the front and back. You get amazing haptics, as well as the trademark alert slider for added convenience. The 6.82-inch LTPO OLED panel can hit an astounding peak brightness of 4500 nits, which makes it arguably the best display you can find on a top-tier Android smartphone in the market. Powering the OnePlus 13 is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, and it's helped by up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of onboard storage. Essentially, this means that this smartphone will handle just about anything you throw at it without breaking a sweat.
The OnePlus 13 has a triple-lens rear camera array that includes a 50MP primary sensor, a 50MP periscope telephoto unit (with 3x optical zoom), and a 50MP ultrawide module. As noted by Android Central's Nicholas Sutrich in his review, you can expect some amazing photos and videos, along with a wide range of AI-powered utilities. Among other notable features are an IP69 rating, years of software support, and blazing-fast charging (both wired and wireless) speeds.
Attribute | Quick look | Score |
---|---|---|
Design | Gorgeous design with IP69 rating | ★★★★★ |
Display | Super bright 120Hz AMOLED panel | ★★★★★ |
Price | Often discounted during big sale events | ★★★★☆ |
Performance | Legendary, but AI features need network connectivity | ★★★★☆ |
Cameras | Arguably better than Samsung and Google | ★★★★★ |
Updates | Only four years, so not at par with other flagships | ★★★☆☆ |
Honorable mentions
All of the phones above are excellent and Android Central-approved, full stop. But they aren't the only devices that will work great with Mint Mobile's service. The following honorable mentions may not be the best of the best, but they're well suited for the MVNO carrier and might even come with some epic discounts.
Full-featured flagship
The Pixel 9 might be at the top of our list, but if you want even more goodies in the same form factor, you should consider the Google Pixel 9 Pro instead. Its LTPO display is a sight to behold, and you get a versatile triple-lens rear camera system that's just incredible. And for a limited time, you get a 40% discount if you buy the smartphone through Mint Mobile.
Best flip phone
If you're interested in foldable phones, you can't do much better than the Galaxy Z Flip 6. You get a lot of the same power and AI features found in the Galaxy S25 series packed into a versatile, clamshell-style phone. Mint Mobile is also carrying the Z Flip 6 and pairing it with discounted wireless plans.
How to choose
Get a phone with plenty of performance for all your needs
If you're using Mint Mobile, you're likely focused on getting great service for less money — and you want a phone that follows the same approach. Mint Mobile lets you bring any unlocked phone to its network, so your options are wide open. For the best results on T-Mobile's network, the carrier that owns Mint Mobile, you're going to want a 5G-enabled phone that supports bands n71 and n41. That gives you the best of both worlds for coverage and speeds and luckily, most of the best Android phones you can buy support these bands.
The Google Pixel 9 meets all of these requirements, including having support for 5G on T-Mobile's fastest bands. Not only that, if it turns out you don't love Mint Mobile's service, the Pixel 9 fully supports other major carriers too, including C-band 5G. You get Android 14 out of the box and years of software updates, so you're set for years to come.
Alternatively, you can take a look at the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, which matches Google's software update policy and brings an even more refined design over its predecessor, all while also having a dedicated telephoto lens and a bunch of AI-based tools included in the mix. We also quite like Google Pixel 8a, as it offers all the basics in a fairly well-priced package.
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After almost a decade of working in the e-commerce space, Patrick Farmer (he/him) began his career at Android Central as a Deals and Commerce Writer before moving into a new role as AC's eCommerce Editor in 2023. When he's not hunting down the best deals and offering shopping advice for our readers, you'll often find him listening to music, camping out at a brewery, or treating his cat like a human child.
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