Do I have to have a 5G phone? (2023)

Do I have to have a 5G phone?

You do not NEED a smartphone with 5G connectivity because there is almost certainly no location inside the United States that'll have 5G without 4G.

You just need to get the right one for your carrier and your needs. There's no downside to getting a phone that happens to have 5G if it's the phone you want for other reasons. In the US, you can't buy a flagship phone without 5G!

Within the U.S., it's reasonable to assume that by the end of 2022 there will not be a single major carrier supporting 2G. The same fate awaits 3G. 4G LTE operates under a different scenario, and we can confidently say that 4G will be around for at least another decade.

The growth of 5G networks doesn't mean 4G is going away. Mobile carriers will use existing 4G LTE networks to provide their customers' cell service well into the next decade. 5G networks will work with 4G — not outright replace it. The upshot is that 5G-capable cell phones will still use 4G technology.

Yes, you'll need a new phone soon if you have a 3G phone. The largest three American mobile providers are all phasing out their 3G networks in 2022, meaning customers will need 4G or 5G phones to continue receiving service.

T-Mobile and Sprint 3G/2G/4G LTE network shutdown dates

These are January 1, 2022 for Sprint's 3G network sunset, and June 30, 2022 for the 4G LTE connections, respectively.

The answer is that there will be a long period of time when 4G and 5G will co-exist. LTE, which stands for Long Term Evolution, will be around for at least 10 years, so 5G will not make LTE obsolete any time soon. Having put our fears to rest that 5G will make 4G obsolete, how do you choose where to invest?

Eventually, in an estimated 15 to 20 years when there are few 4G LTE devices in use, most if not all of the spectrum will be used for 5G. Dynamic spectrum sharing lets carriers use the same spectrum band for both 4G and 5G.

It Doesn't Differentiate Enough From LTE Yet

This is because the bandwidth available on 4G as compared to 5G is too less which provides a better internet speed and connection. That is the only reason why people will shift from 4G to 5G and as happened with 3G and 4G, the same will happen with 5G.

Will 4G stop after 5G?

Many operators use 4G within their networks and worry that the arrival of the fifth generation means that their networks will soon become obsolete. Though this may be true one day, the shutdown of 4G is not likely to happen for at least another ten years.

Most phones 7 years old or older, which includes the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S. There is a list here of all phones that will continue working on the AT&T 4G network. Some phones, such as the iPhone 12 and up will also work on the 5G networks.

That all remains possible through 4G LTE, 5G, and Wi-Fi networks. With 3G turned off, the iPhone 3GS, for example, won't be able to make calls or text messages, but can still connect to Wi-Fi to access internet-based applications.

On Android smartphones, go to settings > Network settings > mobile network. It should give you a dropdown menu of mobile standards such as 2G, 3G or LTE (4G). If you don't see 4G or LTE, then your smartphone doesn't support the standard.

Per Samsung's recent support statement, they should be good to use until the middle of 2023. Another problem with Android devices is that older versions of the Android OS stick around for a lot longer than they should, as phone makers often ship second-tier or budget phones without the latest version of Android.

Yes, it's absolutely worth buying a 4G phone in India in 2022. If you buy a 4G phone, then you will use all the features of a phone. The older 4G processor, like Snapdragon 845, is still powerful enough to run any application. The best thing about buying a 4G phone is that you aren't compromising on features.

So yes, you can buy a 4G LTE smartphone in 2021 and save some money. While 5G is definitely the future, you can buy a 5G smartphone when it is as uniform as 4G. Till the time we have high-frequency mmWave speeds everywhere, I think the flagships running 4G are better than the mid-range phones running 5G.

4G and LTE are just a syntax difference. Some phones show 4G and others show LTE. Some will even show LTE instead of HSPA+. It's a bit weird, but you shouldn't see a practical difference just because the name of your data speeds changed.

Turn Off 5G on Android Smartphones and Tablets

To turn off 5G, go to Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Network Mode and select any of the options that do not say "5G" in the title.

CDMA (3G) devices and 4G Non-VoLTE devices will continue to make/receive calls, including emergency 911, send/receive text messages, and use data services on the Verizon network until December 31, 2022.

How do I know if my phone is 4G or 5G?

Another easier way to tell if your smartphone supports 5G or not is to check in the phone settings. Assuming it's an Android phone, tap on Settings >> Network & internet >> Mobile Network >> Preferred Network type. You should see all the Mobile Network technologies supported such as 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G.

4G devices will continue to work. Mobile providers are expected to maintain their 4G networks as they invest in 5G deployment. If your mobile device is more than a few years old, it may be a 3G device. Check with your mobile provider to see if it plans to phase out its 3G services.

Eventually, in an estimated 15 to 20 years when there are few 4G LTE devices in use, most if not all of the spectrum will be used for 5G. Dynamic spectrum sharing lets carriers use the same spectrum band for both 4G and 5G.

Is 5G worth it? Unless you're desperate for lightning-quick speeds, for most it is unlikely to be worth the additional cost. For many, 4G speeds are still fast enough for everyday use – plus, for now, your choice of 5G network and phones is still limited.

The new, faster 5G network means older phones that connect only on those providers' 3G network will no longer work. Well, that isn't entirely true. The phones will work but they won't work as phones, at least when you're away from your home WiFi network.

The answer is that there will be a long period of time when 4G and 5G will co-exist. LTE, which stands for Long Term Evolution, will be around for at least 10 years, so 5G will not make LTE obsolete any time soon. Having put our fears to rest that 5G will make 4G obsolete, how do you choose where to invest?

T-Mobile announced that it will finish shutting down Sprint's 3G CDMA network by March 31, 2022 and Sprint's 4G LTE network by June 30, 2022.

T-Mobile and Sprint 3G/2G/4G LTE network shutdown dates

These are January 1, 2022 for Sprint's 3G network sunset, and June 30, 2022 for the 4G LTE connections, respectively.

So yes, you can buy a 4G LTE smartphone in 2021 and save some money. While 5G is definitely the future, you can buy a 5G smartphone when it is as uniform as 4G. Till the time we have high-frequency mmWave speeds everywhere, I think the flagships running 4G are better than the mid-range phones running 5G.

CDMA (3G) devices and 4G Non-VoLTE devices will continue to make/receive calls, including emergency 911, send/receive text messages, and use data services on the Verizon network until December 31, 2022.

How do I know if my phone is 3G or 4G?

On Android smartphones, go to settings > Network settings > mobile network. It should give you a dropdown menu of mobile standards such as 2G, 3G or LTE (4G). If you don't see 4G or LTE, then your smartphone doesn't support the standard.

You will still use a lot of LTE

While LTE is fast enough for most of what people do on their phones, paying for 5G capabilities only to spend a lot of time on 4G LTE can feel like a waste. With time, 5G coverage will more than likely come to cover the entire footprint of any LTE network; it's not here just yet.

Among iPhones, only iPhone 12 and the later models like iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max support 5G. So, if your iPhone is older than iPhone 12, it won't support 5G. All of these models are built with the Apple A14 Bionic processor.