Grand Central Station, New York
The ideal scenario is a very strong 5G signal wherever you go. 5G is faster than 4G and better able to handle large numbers of users, for example in a crowded railway station.
However, very few mobile operators can offer a brilliant 5G signal in every location. Does this matter? Probably not as much as mobile industry marketing campaigns might suggest.
- Will 5G’s very high download speeds improve my mobile experience? Although 5G is typically four times faster than 4G, averaging about 130 Mbit/s compared to 30 Mbit/s for 4G, in normal use you are unlikely to notice. For web browsing, social media and emails speeds higher than 10 Mbit/s have little impact because the servers simply can’t work any faster.
- Peak download speeds are impressive, but wider coverage at lower speeds is probably more useful to most people.
- Video streaming works on much slower speeds than 5G offers: the minimum varies from 1 Mbit/s to 3 Mbit/s.
- Is it worth paying more for a 5G service? That’s up to you – it depends on how much!
- Is a weak 5G signal better than a strong 4G signal?
Generally no. Download speed and signal strength are interconnected: if you have a weak 5G signal you won’t get good download speeds. You would get a better experience from a strong 4G signal.
- Is a 5G deal a better long term proposition than a 4G deal?
Definitely yes, as 5G is technically superior and 4G will eventually be phased out. But this could take 10 years and mostly we change mobile plans every couple of years!
