Difference Between 4G and 5G
5G is the next generation of cellular technology, offering significantly faster speeds (up to 10Gbps vs 4G's 100Mbps), lower latency (1ms vs 30-50ms), and capacity for more connected devices. However, 5G coverage is still expanding, and for everyday phone use, the practical differences may be modest. See also: WiFi vs Bluetooth.
Key Takeaways
- Speed is 5G's headline feature.
- 5G can drain battery faster than 4G, especially when signal is weak and the phone searches for 5G.
- Indoor 5G coverage, especially for high-frequency bands, is often worse than 4G.
Explanation
Speed is 5G's headline feature. While 4G LTE typically delivers 20-50Mbps in real-world conditions, 5G can achieve 100-500Mbps on mid-band frequencies and over 1Gbps on millimeter wave. This enables faster downloads, smoother streaming, and better video calls.
Latency (the delay between sending and receiving data) drops dramatically with 5G. This matters for real-time applications like video calls, online gaming, and future technologies like remote surgery or autonomous vehicles. Everyday users may notice snappier web browsing.
5G uses different frequency bands with tradeoffs: low-band offers wide coverage but modest speed improvements, mid-band balances speed and coverage, and millimeter wave provides extreme speeds but very limited range. Your experience depends on which type is available.
Things to Know
- 5G can drain battery faster than 4G, especially when signal is weak and the phone searches for 5G.
- Indoor 5G coverage, especially for high-frequency bands, is often worse than 4G.
- Not all 5G is equal - 5G on low-band may feel similar to good 4G coverage.