This is one of the most affordable ways to get hooked up with 5G, but you pay for it in a few important areas

It has 5G; Big; bold screen; Plenty of power

Fingerprint scanner kinda sucks; Cameras are a way off the £650-plus standard; You may be disappointed by 5G right now; No headphone port

The Samsung Galaxy A90 5G is a real test for the appeal of 5G versus a world-class camera. And having tried 5G across London, we think there’s currently more fun to be had with a killer multi-lens snapper than (occasionally) faster mobile internet. This phone looks and feels like an A-list phone, and runs like one too thanks to its ultra-high-end processor. But bits like the temperamental fingerprint scanner and B-grade cameras make us cringe when we’re spending nearly £700, 5G or not. Still, if 5G has become an obsession, this is one of the less bank balance-destroying ways to get started with it.

It has 5G; Big, bold screen; Plenty of power;

Fingerprint scanner kinda sucks; Cameras are a way off the £650-plus standard; You may be disappointed by 5G right now; No headphone port;

It has 5G; Big, bold screen; Plenty of power;

Fingerprint scanner kinda sucks; Cameras are a way off the £650-plus standard; You may be disappointed by 5G right now; No headphone port;

Currently, users who want 5G at a good price have to give up certain features. This appears to be the core insight from our Samsung Galaxy A90 5G review. On the other hand, the device also offers a few advantages over other high-end smartphones such as particularly long battery life, although we...

relatively cheap 5G smartphone; relatively precise GPS; fast storage; microSD card reader; bright display; good performance level; long battery life

no Wi-Fi 6; mediocre speaker; non-HDR display; significant heat development under load and throttling; average call quality; camera without OIS or infinitely variable zoom

The Galaxy A90 5G is a very competent 5G phone that ticks all the right boxes when it comes to hardware and functionality. The design is a little bland, but it has all the graphical grunt you’ll need to play the most demanding games on Android and the screen remains one of the best you’ll find on a...

5G that won't break the bank; Excellent; big AMOLED screen

Design is a little bland; 5G connectivity not available in most places

If you want 5G speeds right now, the Samsung A90 5G should be somewhere near the top of your shortlist – especially when it comes to the price and the overall design quality.

Affordable way to get 5G; Stylish; premium design; Still has a headphone jack

5G network still growing; Camera could be better; Not the sharpest screen

Want 5G but don't want to pay for the priciest of flagships? The A90 delivers top connectivity and flagship specs that are knocking on the door of affordable.

Flagship spec includes 5G connectivity for a (relatively) affordable price; Large AMOLED screen keeps bezel to a minimal; Capable main 48MP camera (delivers 12MP by default); All-day battery

Feels a bit plasticky (even though it isn't); Do you really need hard-to-come-by 5G yet?; Not the best low-light or wide-angle snaps; Battery could last longer; Some jaggies in certain content

The Galaxy A90 5G is the most affordable 5G phone yet in the UK (though only just), yet it still has it where it counts - except the camera

Samsung Galaxy A90 5G: The Samsung Galaxy A90 5G offers the cheapest taste of 5G yet, but do you really need it?

Almost as good as the Galaxy S10; The cheapest 5G smartphone; Great design; Quality screen

5G really isn’t worth it yet; Ropey video performance

The A90 5G feels like a flagship in most of the ways that matter - slick design, fast specs, and a whopping big display - and the omissions mostly make sense too - wireless charging, waterproofing, and curved edges are the sort of nice-to-haves that most can live without. If your priority is getting a 5G phone and you don’t mind a slightly limited camera, the A90 is a solid and affordable-ish option. But if you can live with 4G for another couple of years, you can find better phones for less from other manufacturers.