Demystifying 5G: Do I Need a 5G Phone?

Now that we've known that the first thing to take advantage of 5G is owning a 5G phone, how can I know if my phone is 5G compatible? Here are some methods:

*Check the specifications of your phone: You can find the specifications of your phone on the manufacturer's website or by searching online. Look for information about the phone's network connectivity, and see if it supports 5G.

*Check your phone's settings: Go to your phone's settings and look for a "mobile network" or "cellular network" option. If you see an option for 5G or 5G NR (New Radio), then your phone is likely 5G ready.

*Check with your carrier: Contact your carrier to see if they offer 5G service in your area and if your phone is compatible with their 5G network.

*Check for a 5G icon: If you are in an area with 5G coverage, your phone may display a 5G icon on the status bar or in the network settings. If you see this icon, your phone is 5G ready.

*Note that not all 5G networks are the same, and some may require specific frequency bands or other features that not all 5G devices support. So it's important to check with your carrier to confirm compatibility.

"LTE" means "long-term evolution", which is used to describe the particular type of 4G that delivers the fastest mobile internet experience. Your phone on "lTE" and not "5G" means your phone is not connecting to 5G. Some of the most common reasons are:

- Your mobile phone may not be 5G capable: Not all phones support 5G, so if your phone is not 5G capable, it will not be able to access 5G networks.

- Your carrier may not offer 5G in your area: Even if your phone is 5G capable, your carrier may not have deployed 5G networks in your area yet, or they may have limited coverage. In this case, your phone will connect to the fastest available network, which may be LTE.

- Network congestion: If the 5G network in your area is congested, your phone may switch to LTE to provide a more stable connection.

- Phone settings: Some phones have settings that allow you to control which network types your phone can use. If your phone is set to use LTE, it may be because you turn 5G off on your phone. Here are the steps to open it up -

1. Open up the app and tap Service
2. Tap the settings tab
3. Select 5G Network
4. Switch on 5G
5. You'll then receive a confirmation "5G is active"

Just like 3G service being provided continuously in the 4G age, 4G phones will not become obsolete overnight after 5G comes up and 5G phones can keep using 4G, but will 4G phones work on 5G network? and will a 5G SIM work in a 4G phone?

A 4G phone will not be able to fully utilize a 5G network. While a 4G phone may be able to connect to a 5G network, it will only be able to access the 4G or 3G parts of the network, not the 5G-specific features such as faster data speeds and lower latency. To take full advantage of the benefits of a 5G network, a phone needs to have a 5G-capable modem and antenna, which means you will need a 5G-capable phone.

And in the same way, if you insert a 5G SIM card into a 4G phone, a 5G SIM card will work in a 4G phone, but the phone will only be able to use the 4G network, not the 5G network. So you will be able to make calls, send text messages, and use mobile data on the 4G network, but you will not be able to access the higher speeds and lower latency of the 5G network.