These days, all flagship smartphones, whether Android or iPhone, can connect to the 5G networks that major U.S. carriers have built over the past few years. All this new 5G technology was supposed to usher in a new era of super-fast mobile connectivity that would allow you to download huge files in just seconds and stream your 4K videos and console-quality gameplay via the cloud. But like all grand claims about next-generation technology, the reality is otherwise. very consistent with such lofty claims.
To be fair, 5G is definitely faster than previous 4G LTE networks, and in some cases, 5G networks may even deliver faster speeds than originally promised. However, not all 5G networks are the same. To tell Although it is connected to 5G, it is unlikely that you are using a “true” 5G connection.
5G in high, medium and low bands
After all, there are multiple versions of 5G, each offering different connection speeds, ranges, and coverage zones.
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high band 5G Millimeter Wave (mmWave) 5G is true 5G, capable of 10x faster download speeds compared to 4G LTE. However, high-band 5G requires entirely new cell tower technology. Connections are also limited by distance and prone to interference.
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low band 5g It’s only about 20% faster than 4G LTE, and in some cases there’s no difference at all. Unlike high-band 5G, low-band 5G can also piggyback on existing 4G LTE networks, allowing for faster deployment and wider availability.
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mid-band 5G is the third recent 5G variant and offers a good compromise between the two. It is faster than low band (about 6 times faster than LTE) and offers longer connectivity range and better availability than high band.
Technically speaking, there are also variations in each of the three categories based on the specific wavelengths used, but broadly speaking, these specifications are based on the specifications of the three major U.S. carriers (T-Mobile, AT&T , Verizon). What is inconsistent is the naming conventions each company uses and how they differentiate between high-band, mid-band, and low-band 5G.
Carrier-specific 5G: 5G+, 5GE, 5G UC, etc.
As if calling three separate network technologies “5G” wasn’t confusing enough, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all classify them as either high, medium, or low. , uses its own labels to refer to various 5G connections. Band frequency above. Here’s how each of the three major network providers in the U.S. labels 5G connectivity.
AT&T
T-mobile
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5G UC: Abbreviation for “Ultra Capacity” and refers to high-band and medium-band 5G.
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5G: Low band 5G. It is also sometimes referred to as “5G extended range” in planning and marketing.
verizon
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5G UW: It stands for “Ultra Wideband” and includes both mid-band and high-band frequencies.
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5G nationwide: Low band 5G.
Availability of each company’s 5G networks depends on your location, phone model, and phone plan, but you can tell which 5G network you’re connected to by looking at the network icon at the top of your phone’s screen.
You’ve probably noticed that all three companies lump high-band and mid-band connections together. This makes it difficult to know where you’re connected without checking your download speeds, but given the limited availability of high-band 5G, you can use 5G+, 5G UC on your phone to If it says , you’re most likely using a mid-band connection. , or 5G UW.
