What Is 5G and How Is It Different From 4G?

TL;DR

• 5G is the fifth generation of mobile network technology, defined by the 3GPP standards body starting with its Release 15. [1][2]
• It uses a wider range of radio frequencies than 4G. Lower bands reach far but are modest in speed, higher bands are very fast but only over short distances. [1][2]
• Headline speeds are theoretical peaks. Typical real-world speeds are much lower and depend on the band, your location and the network. [1]
• Your experience depends on which kind of 5G your carrier has built where you are.

What 5G is #

Mobile networks have moved through generations, and 5G is the one after 4G LTE. The 3GPP group, which writes the shared rules so that equipment from different makers works together, defines 5G. Its radio technology is called New Radio (NR) [2]. It aims at faster mobile data, very reliable low-delay links for specialised uses, and connections for huge numbers of devices [2].

Your phone talks to a nearby cell tower by radio. The tower is wired into the carrier's core network, which connects you to the internet. 5G changes both the radio part and, in some deployments, the core.

Early 5G often ran in a non-standalone mode that reused the existing 4G core. Standalone 5G uses a dedicated 5G core and unlocks the full feature set, such as network slicing, which carves a network into separate virtual lanes [1][2].

The three kinds of 5G spectrum #

5G works across a wide span of frequencies, roughly from below 1 GHz to well above 24 GHz [1][2]. Engineers group them into three tiers, and each trades range against capacity.

The exact cut-off points vary a little between sources. The reason for the trade is physical: higher frequencies have room for wider channels and more data, but their signals fade faster and are easily blocked [1][2].

Real-world expectations #

Marketing often quotes a theoretical peak of up to 20 Gbps, and 5G is described as up to ten times faster than 4G [1]. Real-world results are far lower. Averages measured on some networks were in the low hundreds of Mbps, and the very fastest measured deployments are exceptions, not the norm [1].

On delay, the radio part of 5G can be around 8 to 12 ms under good conditions, but total latency also includes the path to the server, and moving between towers can add more [1].

Practical points:

• A "5G" icon does not tell you which band you are on. Low-band 5G can feel much like good 4G.
• Walls, distance, crowds and your phone model all change speed.
• Standalone networks and extra spectrum improve performance over time.

FAQ #

Is 5G faster than 4G? #

Usually, especially on mid-band and high-band, but not always. Low-band 5G often performs similarly to good 4G [1].

What is mmWave? #

It is the high-frequency part of 5G, from about 24 GHz upward. It can be extremely fast, but it only works over short distances and is easily blocked by walls and even foliage [1].

Do I need a new phone for 5G? #

Yes, you need a phone with a 5G radio, and it must support the bands your carrier uses. Your plan must also include 5G access [2].

Does 5G lower latency? #

It can, mainly on the radio link, but the end-to-end result depends on the network design and the distance to the server you are talking to [1][2].

Sources #