There are some advantages to getting in on 5G early.
All the buzz around 5G makes it seem like the next must-have technology. However, because it requires a new phone and a top-tier unlimited plan, it can be hard to know when it makes sense to make the jump to 5G. While 5G still isn’t ready for everyone, there are some people that will benefit from everything on offer.
5G is in its early stages, but there are still some advantages to getting in on it now.
The 5G Galaxy
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
$1,300 at Samsung
Fast, smooth, and cutting edge
One of the most complete feeling flagship phones only gets better with 5G support and a massive battery. With a great display and cameras, this phone is the perfect tool for anyone that gets things done on the go.
You live in a covered city
This is the biggest “if” when it comes to 5G. If you live in an area that currently has or will very soon have 5G coverage then you will be all set to receive every benefit. While connected to 5G, data will be faster and more responsive than the current 4G tech and more consistent than hopping from one free Wi-Fi point to another.
Make your new device relevant longer
Many people commit to a couple years before upgrading their smartphone. With 5G deployment right around the corner for most people, having a phone that will be ready for this new technology makes sense. With a 4G-only phone, you could be paying for a network you can’t even access until your next upgrade opportunity.
Buying electronics for next year rather than this year is a common practice for many people. It’s annoying having a phone that doesn’t support the newest tech when it’s only a few months old. 5G phones available right now, like the Galaxy S10 5G or LG V50 ThinQ 5G are some of the fastest and most complete Android phones available. If you get a 5G phone today even without 5G service, the great hardware inside like the powerful Qualcomm X50 modem will get you the best of 4G LTE until 5G comes online.
What is 5G technology?
5G is technically better than 4G
If you are connected to 5G technology you are connected with the most modern, most powerful wireless network available. With 4G LTE Advanced, you can get many of the speed benefits of 5G, but your latency will be higher and you won’t have access to newer technology like edge computing when it comes into effect. This latency will be felt when navigating many different apps that require a constant online connection. The extra milliseconds it takes 4G LTE to form a connection can really start to add up for a heavy user.
Good deals
Right now, 5G cell plans are the same as 4G on every carrier but Verizon. Currently Verizon does not charge for 5G access as long as you are on one of its high-end unlimited plans. On Verizon, 5G data and hotspot are unlimited, which can make mobile computing good enough for real work.
Sprint offers 5G on it’s premium unlimited plan and T-Mobile offers 5G with all of its plans, so you still get all of the major plan benefits at 4G on these networks. It’s impossible to tell how these plans will shape up with the new 5G investments, but it may be worth it to lock in your plan before anything chnages.
A better hotspot
Verizon at least offers more hotspot data on 5G. Even if you have your standard hotspot limit, 5G offers a connection much more competitive with a home connection and in many cases, faster than cable or even fiber. 5G as a home internet service is in the early stages of being rolled out but it skips most of the coverage concerns of mobile 5G while keeping all of the benefits.
Move to the cloud
A lot of us know the benefits of cloud saving — save space on your phone and reduce clutter by offloading apps and saved files to the cloud. 5G can help you retrieve these files with little delay and can allow you to work from multiple devices fluidly. It can also simply reduce load on your local machine.
Treating data like a limited resource can really hurt the usefulness of a phone. When data is an afterthought, you are free to use your phone to the best of its ability without worrying about your connection. New phones have beautiful, high resolution displays and having the data needed to push full HD and 4K videos with 5G finally takes advantage of these beautiful screens.
Cutting edge
If you’re like me, you like living on the cutting edge of technology. Having the fastest possible connection on my phone is a path towards a more useful and more complete smartphone experience. As more of my computing moves from home to my laptop or phone, a fast connection is more important than ever.
At the end of the day, a new technology only matters if you can use it. With solid coverage, the experience available with 5G will be transformative for someone that needs to move a lot of data or demands immediacy in their daily life. 5G deployment is picking up steam and I for one, want to be on the first train out.
The 5G Galaxy
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
$1,300 at Samsung
Fast, smooth, and cutting edge
One of the most complete feeling flagship phones only gets better with 5G support and a massive battery. With a great display and cameras, this phone is the perfect tool for anyone that gets things done on the go.
