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After Pure Talk and Cricket, H2O Wireless is another mobile virtual network operator (or MVNO) to consider in areas hot of AT&T. It has rate plans from as low as $5 per month. And with the right H2O wireless compatible phones, you can have decent data speeds of 50+Mbps.
The “right” phone doesn’t necessarily mean high-end, pricey brands. It just means your device should have at least the crucial compatibility features, as we shall see shortly.
Verdict: 6 h2o wireless compatible phones list
- Best Overall: Fully Unlocked Apple iPhone 12 64GB Memory
- Best Under 200: Fully Unlocked Samsung Galaxy A71 (5G) Android
- Best of Deal: H2O Wireless Apple iPhone SE (2022 Release) 3rd Gen
- Best of Budget: Motorola One 5G ACE (2021 Release) Snapdragon
- Best of Photography: Factory Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Pro-Grade
- Best of Upgrade: H2O Wireless Apple iPhone 13 A15 Bionic
What to Know When Looking for H2O Wireless Compatible Phones
In this article, the idea is to help you get not just H2O wireless compatible phones. I’d like to make sure you have a phone that works best on the network, be it you’re joining, replacing, or upgrading.
The first trick to a smooth experience with your H2O Wireless phone is to make sure the necessary LTE bands are present. It should (at a minimum) have LTE bands 12 and 17, which, as expanded-range frequencies, have wide coverage and penetrate through walls.
However, for the best service on the AT&T MVNO, your phone should also have at least Band 29, 30, or 66. This will provide access to the high-capacity LTE frequencies, which usually have the fastest data, albeit at a shorter range.
So, a phone with bands 2, 5, 12 (and or 17), and 66 (and or 30) will be ideal on H2O Wireless.
Besides running on the AT&T network, other crucial points you should keep in mind when looking for phones that work with H2O wireless are:
- H2O Wireless Now supports eSIM
H2O Wireless is part of the many small carriers that now have eSIM support. You can enjoy benefits like instant activation and Dual SIM capability for your personal and work service line.
- H2O wireless Supports up to 5G
Similar to other prepaid carriers, H2O Wireless does offer 5G for better voice and data service. The feature is still not a must but does ensure you have a usable phone all the time.
For instance, in a speed test with an iPhone, the H2O Wireless line peaked at 45Mbps both times. And this is almost six times faster than what LTE offers.
Tip: H2O Wireless offers 5G for extend-range frequencies through bands N2, N5, & N66. Then bands N77 (C-Band), N258, & N260 for high-capacity mmWave frequencies.
- H2O Wireless Throttles Your Data
Sadly, Yes, H2O throttles data (reduce data speed based on usage) of all plans, including the Unlimited. Don’t expect to stream as much as you would with its rival prepaid carrier Cricket and Visible Wireless.
- H2O Wireless Gets Deprioritized Data
As an MVNO, H2O Wireless doesn’t have network towers of its own, which is why it made a deal with AT&T. However, part of this deal is that H2O users get deprioritized data, where the browsing speed will drop when the AT&T towers are congested.
- H2O Wireless Still Cap its Data Speed
For many years, H2O Wireless has capped the LTE data speeds at 8Mbps. The cap, unfortunately, is still there today.
From the looks of it, the operator also has a cap on the 5G data, as the speeds don’t leave the 50Mbps mark. But you can try and see how it works out on your end.
- H2O Wireless Has No Domestic Roaming On All Plans
H2O Wireless has an international roaming add-on pack. It also has domestic roaming in some plans, which means in several cases you may have to use other options to connect outside the native coverage.
Tip: AT&T has the second largest LTE coverage in the country, including many parts in rural areas.
- H2O Wireless Supports WiFi Calling
WiFi calling is one of the ways you can use H2O Wireless outside the native coverage. You just need to have a phone that supports the feature.
- H2O Wireless Supports Mobile Hotspots
H2O Wireless support mobile hotspot if you want to share data with your tablet or laptop. But the better the built-in WiFi technology, the more you get to make out of the feature.
What Kinds of Phones are Compatible with H2O Wireless
When looking for phones compatible with H2O Wireless, network compatibility (cellular bands) isn’t the only thing to consider. You also must ensure the devices are either:
- H2O Wireless-branded phones: these are phones that H2O Wireless sells and they come locked on its network. So, they are automatically compatible with the service.
- Factory unlocked phones: these are the phones that come directly from the manufacturer with no network restrictions.
- Carrier unlocked phones: as the name, these are phones that were previously locked to another carrier but now are fully unlocked and support H2O Wireless (or AT&T) network bands.
- AT&T branded phones: when looking at phones compatible with Cricket Wireless, we saw the MVNO can work with some phones still locked to AT&T. The same rule applies to H2O Wireless or any other MVNO of AT&T, for that matter.
A Summary of the Best H2O Wireless Compatible Phones
Below, I’ve put together a short list of H2O Wireless compatible phones from various brands. You’ll notice it covers the various types of devices I’ve listed above:
Despite the data speed cap, H2O Wireless is still decent on LTE phones, particularly if you can access the high-capacity frequencies. However, I’ll recommend getting a 5G phone (if possible) due to the deprioritization ordeal. And some of the brands you can check out are:
Fully Unlocked Apple iPhone 12 64GB Memory
The iPhone 12 is my first recommendation if looking for a good 5G phone that works with H2O Wireless. It has a nice balance of pricing and features, including access to high-capacity frequencies for faster data speeds (if not for the cap).
Other amazing features of the Apple phone include:
- It utilizes a fast A14 Bionic processor
- Has a sleek, IP68-weatherproof build
- Supports both eSIM & physical SIM
- Records videos in 4K & Slo-Mo mode
- Has WiFi 6 (802.11ax) WLAN protocol
- Compatible with Qi & MagSafe Wireless chargers
Fully Unlocked Samsung Galaxy A71 (5G) Android
Even though not the bestseller, the Galaxy A71 fits the bill if looking for a decent 5G phone under 200 dollars. It offers the service (5G coverage) through up to Band 66 (C-Band) mmWave, which the H2O carrier network, AT&T, has in many areas.
Other amazing features of the Samsung phone are:
- It has a wide 6.7-inch, Full HD+ display
- Has a built-in NFC for contactless payments
- Supports WiFi 5 (802.11ac) WLAN protocol
- Has a built-in Fingerprint reader for quick access
- You can expand storage with up to 1TB MicroSD
- Captures videos in 4K & Super-Slow-Motion mode
Motorola One 5G ACE (2021 Release) Snapdragon
At a regular price of $170, the Motorola One ACE here’s the best budget 5G phone compatible with H2O Wireless. It also offers 5G through band 66 (midrange frequencies), which is still pretty fast.
Other notable features of the Motorola phone are:
- It has an extra-wide 6.7-inch, Full HD+ display
- Uses a high-performance Snapdragon 750 processor
- Has a built-in MicroSD slot to expand storage space
- Supports up to WiFi 5 (802.11ac) WLAN protocol
- Captures sharp videos in up to 4K Ultra-HD quality
- Has a rear-mounted Fingerprint sensor for fast unlocking
H2O Wireless Apple iPhone SE (2022 Release) 3rd Gen
If you’re a big fan of Apple, the latest iPhone SE is the cheapest from the maker with 5G connectivity. But even at low cost, the phone houses the A15 Bionic processor, which places it as fast as the iPhone 13 performance-wise.
Other features of the Apple phone worth mentioning include:
- It supports both eSIM & physical SIM
- Utilizes WiFi 6 (802.11ax) WLAN technology
- Includes an NFC chip for contactless payments
- Records videos in up to 4K & Slo-Mo mode
- Compatible with the 7.5W Qi wireless charger
- Has a rugged design with IP67 dust/ water protection
Factory Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Pro-Grade
The Galaxy S21 FE is yet another phone you can use on H2O Wireless 5G for faster browsing data. It supports up to the 5G high-capacity coverage on mmWave bands 260 and 261. But my top favorite feature is the Pro-grade camera that not only captures videos in 4K quality and Super-Slow-Motion mode. It also has optical zoom to capture objects at a distance in high clarity as well.
Other amazing features of the Samsung S phone include:
- It has a wide 6.4-inch, 120Hz display
- Runs on a super-fast Snapdragon 888 processor
- Compatible with 15W Qi/ PMA wireless charging
- Has NFC for contactless payments & content sharing
- Supports the latest WiFi 6 (802.11ax) WLAN protocol
- Includes a rugged design, with IP68 dust/ water protection
Fully Unlocked Google Pixel 5 (5G+) 128GB Android
The Pixel 5 is a great alternative if looking for an Android phone that supports 5G on high-capacity mmWave frequencies. It also has a slot for physical SIM and eSIM support for instant activation or Dual-SIM benefits.
Other features I’m sure you’ll love on the Google phone include the:
- High-performance Snapdragon 765 processor
- Sturdy design with IP68 dust/ water protection
- WiFi 5 (802.11ac) WLAN protocol
- Compatibility with the wireless chargers
- Built-in NFC sensor for contactless payments
- Option to record videos in 4K & Slow-Motion mode
Unlocked Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G-Enabled (2021 Edition)
Do you love to sketch? The Motorola Moto G Stylus here comes with a built-in Stylus and pen you can use to sketch, scribble notes, and edit photos. It also has 5G bands n66 and n77 that brings you super-fast data speeds on the mid-range (c-band) mmWave frequencies.
Other lovely features of the Motorola phone are:
- It has an extra-wide 6.8-inch, Full HD+ display
- Runs on a decent Snapdragon 480 processor
- Utilizes WiFi 5 (802.11ac) WLAN protocol
- You can expand storage with a MicroSD card
- Has a built-in fingerprint scanner for quick unlocking
AT&T Unlocked LG Velvet (G900UM ) 5G Android
The LG Velvet model is yet another great option to consider if looking for a budget-friendly phone compatible with H2O Wireless. But even at low pricing, the smartphone still offers superlative performance, thanks to its combination of a high-performance snapdragon 765 processor and 6G RAM.
Other features of the LG smartphone worth mentioning include:
- It has an extra-wide 6.8-inch, Full HD+ display
- Supports WiFi 5 (802.11ac) WLAN protocols
- Includes an NFC chip for contactless payments
- Captures high-quality videos in 4K Ultra-HD
- You can expand storage with a MicroSD card
- Has a sturdy design, with IP68 dust/ water protection
H2O Wireless Apple iPhone 13 A15 Bionic
Although last, the iPhone 13 is the overall best upgrade 5G phone on my list. It runs on the Apple A15 Bionic chip, which is currently the fastest in the market. Then has a superior 5G modem that you would be able to tap into the high-capacity mmWave frequencies (if not for the H2O data speed cap).
Other notable features of the Apple phone include:
- It supports both eSIM & physical SIM
- Has a rugged, IP68-rated aluminum build
- Supports WiFi 6 (802.11ax) WLAN protocols
- Includes an NFC chip for contactless payments
- Captures sharp videos in 4K & Slo-Mo quality
- Compatible with Qi & MagSafe wireless charging
Make Sure Your Phone is from the Whitelisted Models
If we’re to cover all the H2O wireless compatible phones in the market, we’d be here the whole day. The adoption of 4G LTE and 5G ended the reliance on GSM and CDMA protocols by the carriers. Thus, many of the phones from even Verizon (CDMA carrier) will work on our AT&T MVNO (GSM carrier).
Nonetheless, the two points you’ll want to keep in mind when looking for phones that work with H2O service at any given time are network and cellular compatibility.
As for cellular compatibility, the idea is to make sure the device is either from H2O wireless, Factory unlocked, or Carrier unlocked. We have also seen phones from AT&T will also work even while still locked.
On the other hand, network compatibility means the phone you want to use must support the necessary AT&T frequency bands. And this is where I remind you that H2O is still capping the LTE data speeds to 8Mbps. So, having a 5G-compatible phone will be more worthwhile.
It’s also worth noting AT&T has blacklisted phones intended for the international market. And for that, you’ll want to have a US-version of the phone model you’d like to use with your H2O wireless SIM card.