Yes, 4G phones are still worth buying for most people due to their affordability, reliable performance for daily tasks like streaming and browsing, and the fact that 4G networks will remain active and supported for many years alongside 5G. They offer excellent value, often providing better overall features (camera, screen, build) than similarly priced mid-range 5G phones, making them ideal for budget-conscious users or those needing strong, widespread coverage.
4G is not being phased out in the U.S. anytime soon, but it's anticipated to phase out starting in 2030. Mobile carriers like Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, have committed to maintaining their 4G networks for years to come, even as they expand their 5G infrastructure.
4G LTE phones are still widely available and affordable, and they offer excellent performance for most tasks. In fact, many people may not even notice a difference in performance between a 4G LTE phone and a 5G phone, depending on their usage habits.
4G phones cannot access 5G speeds but will continue functioning on existing 4G networks for several years, likely until 2030 or beyond.
In short, 5G networks can broadcast ultrafast data to a lot more users, with high precision. Theoretically speaking, 5G will be much faster than 4G. Under ideal conditions, 5G download rates can exceed 10 gigabits per second.
4G devices will continue to work. Mobile providers are expected to maintain their 4G networks as they invest in 5G deployment. If your mobile device is more than a few years old, it may be a 3G device. Check with your mobile provider to see if it plans to phase out its 3G services.
Cybersecurity risks: The expansion of 5G networks increases the number of connected devices, raising the threat of cybersecurity vulnerabilities. With more data traveling over the network, the potential for cyberattacks or breaches becomes a concern.
Definitely! As 5G is a big improvement from 4G in terms of latency rate and speed, it offers a far better gaming experience. If you're a gamer, 5G will enable you to play online games without a hitch - on both mobile and gaming devices as well as laptops through a hotspot.
The good news is that 4G LTE will be available for at least a decade to come, and will co-exist with 5G networks. In this post, we'll provide updates on the sunsetting of 2G and 3G networks and the outlook for 4G LTE and 5G networks, to support those who are planning their migration path.
5G networks are not being designed to replace 4G, rather they are designed to work in conjunction with 4G networks. Therefore, no one really knows when 4G will be phased out because cell phones that are 5G-capable will still be using 4G technology for quite some time to come.
Disadvantages of 4G Connectivity:
Upgrading to 5G may be worth it for users who need faster speeds, lower latency, and better performance for high-demand tasks like streaming or gaming.
What speed do I need for Netflix on multiple devices? A download speed of around 5Mbps should be enough for standard-definition (SD) Netflix content on each device. However, if you're all about high-definition (HD) quality, bump that number up to around 15Mbps per device to ensure smooth streaming for everyone.
If your device is compatible, you need to make sure 4G Calling is switched on in your device settings. You can find out how to do this on our device support page. If it's not compatible, you can still send and receive texts and use 4G data, but you won't be able to make or receive calls using 4G.
No, 4G is not being phased out in 2025 or anytime soon. Based on historical patterns from 3G's lifecycle, 4G networks will likely remain operational until around 2030 or later. No major carriers have announced plans to shut down 4G infrastructure.
Technology Behind 4G
This enabled far higher data transfer rates, reduced interference, and greater network efficiency, thus providing access to a broader range of services such as gaming, video, mobile commerce and social media.
Is a 4G phone still worth buying in 2025? Yes, absolutely. For most users, 4G network speeds are perfectly adequate for all daily tasks. High-end 4G phones deliver top-tier performance, cameras, and battery life, often at a better price than their 5G counterparts, making them an excellent value proposition.
After Australia's 3G shutdown (completed late 2024), phones that won't work are older 3G-only devices (like iPhone 4/5, Galaxy S5) and some newer 4G/5G phones (especially imported/grey market models) that lack Voice over LTE (VoLTE) or Emergency VoLTE (eVoLTE) capability, meaning they can't make calls, send messages, or reach 000 on 4G/5G networks. Common impacted examples include Google Pixel 2, older iPhones (5, 5C, 5S), Samsung Galaxy S5, and some Oppo A57/F1s, plus many smartwatches, tablets, and medical alarms relying on 3G.
5g offers significantly faster data speeds compared to 4g, enabling instant downloads and HD video streaming. In Australia, Optus' network has an average download 5g speed over what's 100 Mbps, approximately 239.6Mbps.
The biggest difference between 4G and 5G is the speed. 5G has the potential to be up to 10 times faster, because the way 5G works means that it uses smaller wavelengths and much higher frequencies which can support far more simultaneous connections than 4G.
Theoretically, it's a hundred times faster than existing 4G technology, but this depends on your choice of network, your location, the type of connection you have, and your device, among other factors. But for most customers, expect speeds faster than 4G mobile and some NBN plans.
Cost: 5G networks are more expensive to build and deploy than 4G LTE networks. This means that it may take some time for 5G to be widely available. Range: 5G signals do not travel as far as 4G LTE signals. This means that 5G coverage may be more limited than 4G LTE coverage.
'Not worth it'
It found that while phones often display the 5G logo, the data being transmitted is still carried by older 4G infrastructure. The difference isn't always obvious to users, but it can mean slower downloads and buffering in places where they expect the ultra-fast network.
Yes, cellular networks like 5G will always consume more battery than Wi-Fi. The reason is simple: the further you are from a 5G tower, the harder your phone has to work to maintain a connection.
A recent study published in NeuroImage found that individuals with specific gene variants who are exposed to 5G frequencies experienced changes in their brain wave activity — measured via an EEG — during sleep.