Our Best 5G-Compatible Cell Phones (2024) | T-Mobile (2024)

FAQs

Our Best 5G-Compatible Cell Phones (2024) | T-Mobile? ›

5G is short for 'fifth generation' and refers to the next generation of mobile networks following 2G, 3G and 4G. For most people, 5G will mean much faster download speeds and less delay between user and network. To use 5G, you will need a 5G compatible phone and to be connected to a network that offers a 5G connection.

5G is short for 'fifth generation' and refers to the next generation of mobile networks following 2G, 3G and 4G. For most people, 5G will mean much faster download speeds and less delay between user and network. To use 5G, you will need a 5G compatible phone and to be connected to a network that offers a 5G connection.

What is the best 5G phone right now? Nearly every phone from Apple, Samsung and Google, including the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, Galaxy S24 Ultra and Pixel 8 lineup, is 5G-ready. That means these smartphones come equipped to deliver the fastest possible data speeds across your wireless network.

T-Mobile has the fastest 5G experience in the U.S.

T-Mobile wins both the 5G Download Speed and 5G Upload Speed awards outright for the seventh consecutive time. Our T-Mobile users enjoy average 5G download speeds clocking in at 186.3Mbps — more than 100Mbps faster than the speeds Verizon's users experience.

4G LTE is expected to stick around for at least another decade too, coexisting alongside 5G. You'll just be missing out on those wicked fast 5G speeds that seem to be getting faster each month as operators improve their infrastructure.

In 2024, IoT adoption will continue to grow in both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) spaces. From smart cities to autonomous vehicles, 5G is paving the way for a more connected and efficient future.

Buying a phone that isn't 5G-ready means you'll be capped at 4G speeds until you upgrade to a 5G compatible phone at a later date.

To check if your phone supports 5G, open Settings, go to Connections, tap Mobile Networks, and select Network Mode. If "2G/3G/4G/5G (auto connect)" is an option, your phone supports 5G. If it shows only "2G/3G/4G," your phone does not support 5G.

The Pros of Upgrading to a 5G Phone

The enhanced speed of 5G facilitates quicker downloads, transforming what was once a time-consuming task under 4G into a matter of seconds. This efficiency extends to streaming services as well, allowing for smoother, uninterrupted high-definition viewing experiences.

What is the best 5G carrier in 2024? ›

Powered with the 2.5GHz spectrum band, T-Mobile triumphs for 5G Download Speed with a score of 204.9Mbps — hitting the 200Mbps milestone for the first time. However, AT&T and Verizon have whittled away at T-Mobile's lead in 5G Download Speed due to boosts in their scores of 43.5Mbps (54.4%) and 39Mbps (40.5%).

However, even though Verizon tends to be more reliable in rural and remote areas, AT&T stands out for its 5G coverage, which surpasses Verizon's in scope. AT&T has an advantage in making it easier for customers to access high-speed connectivity.

Most networks last 20 years before facing a phase out, and we don't expect 4G to alter that trend. 4G may seem old, but it's still a perfectly useful solution for cellular technology. 4G technology has been available for 15 years, and experts consider 2030 to be the year we'll begin phasing it out.

5G is designed to connect many more types of devices than smartphones – anything really. While 4G provided a one-size-fits-all kind of connectivity, where every device got the same service, 5G is different. For a smart watch that runs on a small battery, 5G can provide a connection that consumes very little energy.

LTE stands for Long Term Evolution and is sometimes referred to as 4G LTE. It's a standard for wireless data transmission that allows you to download your favorite music, websites, and video really fast—much faster than you could with the previous technology, 3G.

With 5G, you can expect higher download speeds when using mobile data, lower latency (the time it takes for a device to respond to information or an action), increased reliability and more network capacity. Basically, 5G is faster and more stable than 4G, and it's capable of connecting a lot more devices.

4G phone will work on 5G networks, but they won't receive the enhanced 5G speed. So, if you want to experience the full potential of the next-gen network, then it is a good idea to upgrade.

The biggest difference between 4G and 5G is latency. 5G can offer low latency under 5 milliseconds, while 4G latency ranges from 60 ms to 98 ms. Lower latency brings advancements in other areas, such as faster download speeds.

Many experts say that 4G should be available well into 2030, so even though you may see 5G utilized more prevalently, especially in large cities, there's no reason to believe that 4G is becoming more scarce.