If you’ve been keeping up with the latest phone tips and tricks, device rollouts and technology updates, then you’ve likely heard talks of 5G cellular technology over the last year. 5G was deployed on a widespread scale in 2019 and has since become a major focus for cellular network providers and mobile device manufacturers.
To get the most out of your phone as the new technology rolls out to the consumer market, you’ll need to have a better idea of what to expect from 5G in 2020 and know how it will affect you.
What Types of 5G Phones Are Currently Available?
Many of the smartphone market’s manufacturers are already releasing 5G phones to the public. Verizon and Motorola were the first providers to offer 5G with the Moto Z3’s Moto Mod back in 2019, and a variety of other companies have followed suit by launching cutting-edge 5G phone models. Some brands that have already released 5G phones in the last year include:
- Oppo
- OnePlus
- LG
- Huawei
- Samsung
- Xiaomi
While these are some of the first big names that have unveiled 5G devices — such as the Galaxy S20, the Oppo Reno 5G and the V50 ThinQ — other companies like Apple and Sony are also well on their way to 5G. Sources indicate that Samsung is currently working on expanding its portfolio of 5G-ready phones, while Apple may be designing its own antenna for its upcoming 5G model this year.
What 5G Benefits Do You Have to Look Forward To This Year?
5G technology is expected to continue to grow as more networks adopt it into their strategies. Currently, most of the major wireless carriers such as Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon have deployed 5G networks.
It’s important to understand that there are multiple types of 5G service, and they have huge gaps in capability. The three main forms of 5G include low-band, mid-band and mmWave service. While low-band 5G covers a large area, it has much lower data speeds than the faster versions of this technology. Meanwhile, mmWave 5G offers incredible performance at a staggering 10Gbps. The challenge that comes with high-band service is that it has a much smaller reach, meaning that only those who are close to a base station can use it.
Although 5G is rolling out in cities all over the United States thanks to the efforts of Verizon, AT&T and other providers, most 5G services offered to the public in 2020 are only slightly faster than the average 4G network. The fastest networks are currently appearing in densely populated areas, while the majority of smartphones that have it are only compatible with one type of 5G.
In other words, the widespread deployment of 5G is still in progress. Companies such as T-Mobile have already made low-band 5G accessible on a nationwide scale. Major cities across the U.S. such as New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Detroit and Cleveland are already seeing the growth of mmWave 5G.
While it could be a few years yet before we start to see super-fast 5G become mainstream in major industries, we expect to see network carriers and smartphone manufacturers continue to roll out 5G solutions throughout 2020. One thing is certain: to get the most out of your new iPhone or Android phone this year, it’s time to embrace 5G and everything it has to offer.
Contact The Whiz Cells today to learn more.