Source: Pocketnow
5G started to take off around 2019, and it became widely available by the middle of 2020 and early 2021. Smartphones also started to come out with 5G around the same time, and carriers quickly jumped on advertising the new technology as something you must have to encourage more users to upgrade and sign up for more expensive plans.
We have a list of the best Samsung phones, best OnePlus devices, and the best Motorola devices you can buy in 2022. We also have an explainer that tells you everything you need to know about 6G.
This strategy seems to have worked, and many users upgraded, but there are still tens of millions of people who are using 4G smartphones. 4G devices are often equipped with slower chipsets, but that’s not true for all devices and manufacturers. In the case of HUAWEI, the company has been put on a special entity list that bans the company from accessing 5G technologies.
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In this article, we’ll provide three reasons why it doesn’t make much sense to buy a 5G smartphone in 2022. Suppose you’re happy with your current 4G-only device. In that case, we don’t necessarily recommend you to upgrade, unless your phone is starting to show its age, and you have legitimate reasons to upgrade – such as wanting a better display, camera, and faster speeds when gaming or browsing the web.
5G isn’t fully utilized yet
On paper, the sub-6GHz technology is faster than 4G LTE, but that’s not always the case in practice. Depending on your area and traffic, you may see 40 Mb/s download speeds and 150 Mb/s at other times, over LTE. Sub-6Ghz can often yield similar results, although it can range anywhere between 10 Mbps to a couple of hundred Mbps. The average speed for 5G networks is used to be around 50 MB/s, while LTE is around 28MB/s in 2020 (via OpenSignal). You can find more up-to-date analytics on this page.
As a power user, I see no noticeable benefits of using 5G while traveling and using Google Maps. When I occasionally want to see videos on-the-go, I usually turn to YouTube or Netflix, and 4G provides a comfortable experience. There are usually no buffer or loading screens, and content often loads in a matter of seconds. While 5G – in theory – eliminates ever seeing the loading screen, it can happen, depending on the traffic and your location to the nearest tower.
5G mmWave adoption is slow
Source: Qualcomm
The 5G mmWave technology is a true game-changer, and it lets you download at gigabit speeds. Downloading the entire series of your favorite TV show could take only a few seconds, and it could have a massive impact on machine learning, and autonomous driving technologies.
Big companies are already using it where possible, in many large US cities, but it’s still unavailable outside less densely populated areas. mmWave can’t travel as far as sub-6Ghz; therefore, the speeds are much slower. Sub-6Ghz is easier to install, and it’s widely available worldwide, while mmWave is behind as it requires more hardware and more towers.
4G is available everywhere, and it works great
4G might not be as fast as 5G, but it’s available in most rural places and the countryside. It provides great speeds even when you’re in the middle of nowhere, and it works for the most part. 4G is also stable; it lets you easily browse the web, make calls, and even make video calls with friends and family.
Many applications and services are also well optimized to provide a comfortable experience while the connection is slow, and it’s rare to see an application and content loading for more than 20 seconds in developed regions. If you consume a lot of media, you might think that 5G will yield better results, and while that could certainly happen, you’re better off checking your carrier’s website for more information to see if there are 5G towers near your home or workplace.
Here are some of the most affordable 5G devices in 2022
Samsung Galaxy A53
The new Galaxy A53 comes with a large 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz, and a 64MP primary camera. The battery packs a 5,000 mAh cell that can last 2-days on a single charge, and it also supports 25W fast wired charging.
Apple iPhone 13 mini
The iPhone 13 mini is a smaller version of the standard iPhone 13. It comes with the same powerful chipset, excellent dual camera on the back, and it has a much improved battery life over the iPhone 12 mini.
Apple iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 is the default smartphone from Apple for 2021. If you’re looking for an experience that remains fast and fluid over years to come and not lacking on any hardware front, this is the device to get.
Samsung Galaxy S22
The Samsung Galaxy S22 comes with a flagship 4nm chipset, a three-camera setup on the back that is capable of capturing important memories both day and night, and a long battery life that can last a full day on a single charge. If you want a compact and stylish device, the Galaxy S22 is one of the best devices to get in 2022.
Samsung Galaxy A13 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A13 5G comes with the Dimensity 700 chipset and 4GB of RAM. It features a 6.5-inch display with 90Hz refresh rate, and it has a 5,000 mAh battery that provides a full day’s worth of charge.
iPhone SE 2022
The latest iPhone SE 2022 comes with 5G and the A15 Bionic Chip, the same SoC that powers the iPhone 13 series of flagship devices. The new iPhone SE is the most affordable iPhone in Apple’s lineup, and it comes with new camera features and improved battery life.
Google Pixel 6
The Google Pixel 6 is the more compact and affordable variant from the new flagship series. It features most of the same features, and it comes with the same primary and ultrawide camera as the Pixel 6 Pro.
Motorola Moto G 5G 2022
The Moto G 5G is the mid-range refresh for the year and the device to consider if you’re looking for a phone that will offer a level of performance not saddled by a few resource-heavy applications and other hardware that can justify the price. The ideal scenario of owning this phone would be on a carrier deal that will drive the cost down significantly.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022)
Moto G Stylus 5G offers a large 6.8-inch FHD+ LCD for users to jot down information without any issues. The Snapdragon 695 SoC will be able to keep the device snappy, while the large 5000 mAh cell can help keep you going throughout the day.