Each new generation of network technology has many improvements, and 5G has no exception. Credible sources and reports online project that the 5G network is going to deliver ultra-fast internet speed with surprisingly low latency.
The new network generation 5G may change the future up to a great extent. But one question that most people are asking is, “Is 5G better than 4G?” In this blog, we’ve tried to answer this question in detail.
So, let’s get started:
5G vs. 4G Frequency
The 4G technology launched with new frequency bands and spectrum, ranging from 600 MHz to 2.5 GHz. The 5G technology has two frequency bands. The major difference comes from the second band. So, let’s discuss both frequency bands in 5G:
- Sub-6 GHz Bands: Like in 4G, the transmitted frequency is below 6GHz. Cell phone towers use this band to transmit frequency.
- High-Frequency mmWave Band: It has a millimeter-wave and frequencies above 24 GHz. It makes 5G a great technology for urban areas that require high frequencies on large bandwidth to keep everything connected.
5G vs. 4G Speed Test
5G aims to provide wide coverage in urban areas with extreme data rates. On the other hand, 4G can provide a peak downloading speed of a few hundreds of megabits per second (Mbps). But the speed reduces to 10 Mbps or even less due to a latency time of above 10 ms.
5G mobile broadband is designed to provide a minimum 100 Mbps speed in urban locations. The latency time is expected to be only four milliseconds (ms), while the peak downloading speed can be 20 Gbps. So, you can download video content instantly in high quality. As of 2020, users in Saudi Arabia achieved the fastest 5G download speed standing at an average of 354.4 Mbps.
5G vs. 4G: Latency
Latency refers to the time a network takes to respond to a request. 5G promises to deliver significantly improved latency as compared to 4G. As of now, 4G provides a latency of 50 ms while that of 5G is 1 ms.
As you see, 5G is 50 times better compared to 4G. So, this is what makes 5G smartphones superfast, with minimal buffering. These phones are far superior for gaming and media streaming. You don’t have to wait for hours for your phone to respond to your commands.
4G vs. 5G Comparison Table
| 4G | 5G | |
| Year of Introduction | 2009 | 2019 |
| Average Data Speed | 30 Mbps | 60 Mbps–1 Gbps |
| Wireless Features | HD streaming, social media, complex gaming, interactive apps like Uber | Gigabit speeds, home internet, AI-based networking, automated sensors |
Can 5G and 4G Work Together?
The quickest answer is yes. When we use 5G on EE, we’re actually using both the 4G and 5G at the same time. The 5G network can’t replace 4G altogether, at least as of now. Both make a great combination if you want to achieve speed and low latency.
The full roll-out of 5G may take more time than we expect. However, in 2022, we can expect it at a larger scale compared to 2020.
