Do you need to buy a 5G phone in 2022? it is difficult

 

Access to 5G came at a steep price just a few years ago. Now, the technology is standard in most new smartphones and is available in devices that can cost less than $300.

But there are times when you wonder if 5G is a must-have feature in a phone. You might be getting a great deal on a refurbished device from a few years ago that doesn't support 5G. Maybe you're looking at the iPhone 11, one of the cheapest phones Apple currently sells at $500, but it can't connect to 5G.

For US buyers, the answer largely depends on which carrier you have, how much you're willing to spend and how long you plan to keep your next phone. Since 5G is available in almost every new phone at no extra cost, there are few reasons not to buy a 5G-enabled phone.

Combine that with the fact that carriers are building their own midband networks -- which offer faster speeds than low-band 5G offerings as well as wider coverage than the fastest millimeter-wave networks -- and the argument for buying a 5G phone is even stronger. .

At the same time, it's important to remember that 5G speeds and coverage will vary depending on your carrier. And 4G phones will continue to work for years to come.

"They're not shutting down these 4G networks anytime soon," said Avi Greengart, president and lead analyst at research and consulting firm Techsponential. "Your phone will be dead before you need to worry about it."

Understanding 5G  

Figuring out whether you need 5G in your next phone starts with understanding the current state of 5G. All three major network providers in the US offer 5G, and there are three main flavors to be aware of.

There's low-band 5G, which is widely available but offers speeds similar to 4G LTE, and millimeter-wave 5G, a superfast version that only works at shorter ranges. You won't notice the difference between 4G and 5G when you're on a low-band network. But millimeter wave networks are so rare you probably won't find yourself near one on a regular basis unless you frequent busy places like stadiums, arenas or airports. Even then, coverage is often limited to select locations.

The happy medium between these two networks is mid-band 5G, which offers faster speeds than 4G but can travel much longer than millimeter wave. AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile are all in various stages of their midband deployments, with T-Mobile currently leading the way. The carrier said in February that its ultra-capacity network, which consists mostly of midband spectrum acquired from Sprint, will reach 210 million subscribers by the end of 2021. By the end of 2023.

Verizon, on the other hand, aims to cover 175 million people in 2022 with its ultra-wideband network, which uses millimeter wave and its midband spectrum.

How much are you willing to spend?

The biggest factor in determining whether you should buy a 5G phone is how much you're willing to spend. If you have less than $200 to spend on a new device, finding a decent 5G phone can be difficult.

If your budget allows you to spend more than $400, there are several great 5G options like the $429 iPhone SE and the $450 Galaxy A53 5G. The upcoming $450 Google Pixel 6A will also support 5G when it launches on July 28. This is a significant departure from when the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G launched nearly three years ago at a sky-high price of $1,300.

Cheaper phones may not support all flavors of 5G, meaning the fastest millimeter wave networks, but that shouldn't be a deal breaker for most people shopping today. With its advantages in speed and range, the three major networks have prioritized midband 5G deployments over the past year. As long as your new phone supports mid-band 5G, you should be able to connect at high speeds in most places.

It's important to consider what's most important to you in a phone and how long you plan to hold onto a device. If you want a bigger screen, more contemporary design, dual cameras and plan to upgrade your phone again in two years, the $500 4G-capable iPhone 11 is a better choice than the $429 5G-capable iPhone SE. can .

But if you're looking for a phone that will last you the next three years, it's probably best to look for a 5G device. Most Android phones in the $400-$500 range have 5G and advanced features like multi-lens cameras and large screens.

The situation is different for Apple fans. The only 5G-enabled option under $600 is the 2022 iPhone SE, which has Apple's latest smartphone chip but lacks other staples like a larger screen and multiple cameras. That could change this fall when the rumored iPhone 14 launches and Apple drops the price of the iPhone 12 and 12 mini accordingly.

Bob O'Donnell, president and chief analyst at Technolysis Research, says 5G will likely feel more important as early as 2024. By then, carriers will have had more time to build their midband networks.

"You'll get faster," O'Donnell said. "Hopefully by then we'll see some additional services and apps that take advantage of 5G."

The bottom line

To decide if you need 5G in your next phone, consider how much you're willing to spend, how long you plan to keep your phone before upgrading. And what kind of coverage your carrier provides.

Investing in a new 5G phone is usually the best move if you can afford it as it ensures your device will feel fast and relevant for years to come. But if you're on a tight budget, or the 5G phones currently available to you just don't suit your needs, you won't miss out on much by opting for 4G instead.

"As a fully functional phone, you can't go wrong with a good LTE phone," said O'Donnell.