Yes, buying a 4G phone in 2022 was perfectly fine as 4G networks remained strong and widespread, handling most daily tasks like browsing and streaming; it was a reliable, cost-effective choice, especially for light users or in areas with limited 5G, though a 5G phone was a better investment for future-proofing if you wanted the fastest speeds and kept phones for many years.
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.
The 4G network is still a reliable option for mobile connectivity, supporting activities such as streaming videos, browsing the internet, using apps and making calls. While 5G offers faster speeds and lower latency, 4G remains the backbone of mobile communication globally and is sufficient for most daily tasks.
A modern 4G phone in 2025 can still provide an excellent mobile experience for most daily tasks. You can expect: Reliable internet browsing and social media use. Smooth video streaming in HD.
4G phones without 700MHz capability: These handsets are compatible with the 4G networks but don't work on 700MHz, or 'Band 28', which is used in Australia for low-band 4G coverage. They don't work in areas where 4G is only available over 700MHz.
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.
A re-entry ban often applies to people who have overstayed their visa in Australia or had their visa cancelled, thereafter preventing them from being granted another visa to travel to Australia for 3 years after the date of their departure.
5G can connect more devices than 4G
5G solves this issue by intelligently transmitting to each device, with high precision – which enables it to handle as much as 1 million devices per square kilometer. This precision reduces the noise in 5G, so that it is easier to connect many devices.
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.
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.
Check your phone
If your phone is not 4G or 5G compatible, you will need to change your device to use 4G Calling. Below you'll find a list of compatible 4G and 5G phones. If your phone is not on this list, please use our device guides to check if your phone supports 4G Calling.
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.
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.
Theoretically speaking, 5G will be much faster than 4G. Under ideal conditions, 5G download rates can exceed 10 gigabits per second. That's up to 100 times quicker than 4G, and it's unquestionably the level of performance required for an increasingly connected society.
Is 4G being phased out in 2025? 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.
Disadvantages of 4G Connectivity:
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.
If you're a light user or live in an area with limited 5G coverage, a 4G phone is still a reliable and cost-effective choice. If you want faster speeds, future-proof performance, and already have good 5G coverage, then a 5G phone is the smarter investment.
In 2025, the 4G network continues to be the reliable cornerstone of mobile connectivity, with far superior coverage and stability compared to 5G. For everyday use, the real-world differences in speed, latency, and capacity between 4G and 5G are minimal for the average user.
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.
In Australia, "88 days" refers to the mandatory period of specified regional work that Working Holiday visa holders (subclass 417 & 462) must complete to be eligible for a second (or third) year visa. It's essentially three calendar months of regional work in approved industries like agriculture, tourism (in specific areas), or construction, though it doesn't always take exactly 88 calendar days to complete due to part-time/full-time differences and industry variations, requiring careful tracking.
Currently, the platforms the ban applies to are YouTube, X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Twitch, Threads and Kick. Tech companies that own these platforms could face fines of up to $50 million if they don't take reasonable steps to stop under-16s from having accounts.