5G F&Q: Everything you should know about 5G

par Jessica sur Jun 28, 2020

Everyone has been talking about 5G as the fifth-generation of mobile networking is coming closer with every day passing by. In today’s world where everything has gone technological, consumers want faster speed and wider coverage in their everyday lives. 5G mobile phones are going to bring a great revolution as we all will be experiencing low latency and the faster speed that we have never experienced before. So let’s move forward to know complete information about 5G and how it is going to change the world.

Overview:

What is 5G?
How does 5G work?
5G VS 4G: What’s the difference between 5G and 4G?
Is 5G better than 4G?
Will 5G replace 4G in 2020?
What are 5G mobile phones in 2020?
Should I buy a 5G mobile phone in 2020?

What is 5G?

Those who do not know about 5G, we are going to clear all your doubts in this guide. 5G is the fifth-generation cellular network technology that is much quicker than the previous 4G. 5G will allow us to connect or download at a much faster speed than we have experienced before. Everything including machines, devices, and other objects will be connected in a few seconds without any lags. 5G requires a much higher number of cells and transmitters with a shorter range to provide high coverage. Governments and brands are working on it to make it happen soon in the next two years. Speaking in terms of data speed, the 5G network is going to cover much larger capacity in Gbps speeds. As the 5G is at its initial stage, the industries are working hard to figure out how it’s all going to work. 5G phones are expected to cover a high number of consumers with high performance, increased availability, and low latency. Brands like Samsung, OnePlus, and others are working to come up with the 5G mobile phones. However, the rumor is that Apple’s 5G iPhone is going to be launched by the end of this year. As Apple has always remained one step ahead, according to recent research, 5G iPhone might overtake Samsung. So let’s hope for the best!

How does 5G work?

To know about the functionality of 5G, we are going to go a little technical here:

5G Spectrum

Unlike 4G, there are three different spectrums on which 5G works that include low, mid, and high band spectrum.

A low-band spectrum covers only the sub-1GHz spectrum across urban, suburban, and also rural areas. Although the low-band spectrum covers a large area it comes with a drawback i.e. the speed is not as efficient as the other bands. T-Mobile has been working on 600MHz to build a 5G network all over the country.
Mid-band Spectrum is faster with lower latency as compared to the low-band spectrum. On the other hand, it does not penetrate the building as efficiently as the low-band spectrum. Massive MIMO has been used by the carrier to enhance the penetration and improve the 5G service.
The high-band spectrum has the highest performance compared to the other bands but it also comes with some drawbacks. The peak speed that this band can offer is up to 10Gbps with the lowest latency. However, the penetration through the buildings is weaker than the other bands. To make it an efficient band, there are tons of small cells required. Verizon, AT&T, and T-mobile are working on 5G mmWave technology for which they would require a high number of cells as the signals already have a shorter range. To penetrate through building easily, the deployment of a higher number of 5G nodes are needed. It might take a few years to cover cities and nations with a 5G network.

5G VS 4G: What’s the difference between 5G and 4G?

There are major differences between 5G and 4G as mentioned below:

Speed:

It must be clear by now that speed is the most important element that makes 5G different from 4G. 5G is expected to me almost 300 times faster than the previous generation. Wouldn’t it be great if you are able to download a movie in just a few seconds? Consumers, especially tech-savvy people have been waiting for this moment to upgrade to the 5G phone with higher performance as compared to the 4G phones. As the 5G networks are made on high-frequency waves which is why it can transfer large amounts of data in a short period of time.

Capacity:

Now coming to another major difference between 5G and 4G networks is the capacity. We all have experienced a moment when a group of people is using the internet at the same time therefore, face congestion and slow speed. 5G is going to prevent this issue as it covers a larger number of devices without slowing the speed. The 5G infrastructure is built on a greater bandwidth that allows numerous devices, appliances, and other products to be connected at the same time without any lags.

Latency:

Latency is the time interval when stimulation is made from a sender to a responder. The 5G network works with low latency that is almost zero. This will be beneficial in the future as the signals will be received right away so there will be no delays, especially in emergency situations.

Is 5G better than 4G?

Although much amount of time and investment is required to make things happen in the next two years. 5G will be much better than 4G in terms of speed, latency, capacity, and reliability. Industries have been waiting for 5G to take over as it is foreseen that 5G is going to connect humans and machines on a unique level. This will lead to new business opportunities. According to the report by HIS Markit, 5G is estimated to produce %12.3 trillion of the global economy in 2035. 5G working in milliseconds will be the real-time and the most reliable network across the world that will increase productivity and cut costs. Furthermore, 5G will have more connection density which makes it better than the previous generations. It is expected that 5G will be able to support 1 million connected devices in the distance of a square kilometer, which is a much greater capacity than the 4G. It is clear by now that 5G is better than 4G in a lot of ways but to build up such massive infrastructure will take some time.

Will 5G replace 4G in 2020?

As we all can’t wait for the 5G smartphones to be launched, the question is will 5G replace 4G in 2020? The obvious answer is “No” because to build the whole infrastructure all over the countries, it will take time, work, and investment. Although 5G is a lot faster and efficient as compared to 4G, right now it is almost non-existent around the world. Almost half a year has passed and 5G is not expected to take over in the next six months of 2020. Brands have been working to come up with new and upgraded 5G phones. To make 5G work efficiently, high-speed transmissions are required that can be spread over a larger area just like 4G. To cover larger areas for a premium bandwidth will require high costs. Studies have shown that 5G is estimated to be functional in the next 2 to 3 years.

What are 5G mobile phones in 2020?

As the competition is high, there are brands that have launched or soon launching their 5G mobile phones in 2020. These include:

Samsung Galaxy S20 / S20 Plus:

Samsung never stays behind which is why it has come up with the 5G mobile phone that has incredible specs. It is equipped with Snapdragon 865/Exynos990, 12 GB Ram, 128,256, and 512GB storage variations along with high-quality cameras.

OnePlus 9 Pro:

Next comes in the series is OnePlus 9 Pro that has wireless charging, Snapdragon 865, 8/12GB Ram, storage of 128/256GB. It is known as “The Best OnePlus yet” because of its incredible features, 3168 x 1440 displays, and 5G connectivity.

Oppo Reno 5G:

This one is great looking with amazing features and 5G connectivity. The camera is better than any other version. But it comes with a downfall i.e. the battery is 4065mAh but life isn’t good as compared to the Samsung or OnePlus.

Should I buy a 5G mobile phone in 2020?

Hopefully, this guide will help you to decide whether you should buy a 5G mobile phone in 2020 or not? According to the research that we have conducted over the past few days, it is better to wait for 5G to be fully functional. Rather than spending hundreds of dollars, it is better to wait for a year or two to pass as there are several factors involved. First of all, 5G mobile phones will cost you a fortune. The second major reason is that you might be in an area that does not support 5G connection so there will be no use of it for now. Buying a 5G mobile phone is not a necessary step that you should take for the next 2 years. The only perfect situation for you to buy a 5G mobile phone is that you have the budget and your area support 5G connectivity. In addition to that, if you are thinking of keeping a new upgraded phone for the next 2 years, in that case, you can consider buying a 5G phone in 2020. But it is advisable to hold on your horses and wait for the affordable mobile phone to come and also for 5G to develop fully across countries.