AT&T and Verizon are set to launch their 5G networks, while T-Mobile launched in 2021. The new, faster 5G network means older phones that connect only on those providers' 3G network will no longer work.
If you own an older cellphone with 3G, be aware that in 2022, some of your electronics will stop working because of a 5G upgrade. If you own an older cellphone with 3G or a Kindle, be aware that in 2022 some of your electronics will stop working because of a 5G upgrade.
Among iPhones, only iPhone 12 and the later models like iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max support 5G. So, if your iPhone is older than iPhone 12, it won't support 5G. All of these models are built with the Apple A14 Bionic processor.
Can I use a 5G phone on a 4G network? Yes! 5G-capable phones can use both 4G and 5G technology.
If you see 4G, LTE, or 4G LTE, your phone is safe and will continue to work after the 3G networks are shut down.
4G is expected to last for at least another decade, and possibly longer with the help of Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS), which shares available spectrum between 4G LTE and 5G devices.
Older Samsung Galaxy phones such as the Galaxy S4 and earlier won't work anymore in 2022 and beyond. However, since Samsung was relatively quick to adopt 4G LTE way back in 2014 with the Galaxy S5 (LTE model), the majority of Samsung devices will continue to work through 2022 and beyond.
Other than that, if you're buying a 4G smartphone, definitely go ahead and get one. 4G phones are available across all budgets, the infrastructure is already there and, on the whole, 4G services are here to stay. Fun fact - 5G projections are projected to reach 500 million userbases by 2027.
While spending more money on a 5G phone or a 5G variant of the same device may seem like a good, future-proof idea, it will not be worth it if you don't have the coverage and budget for 5G plans. Note that while 5G data plans may be priced equal to 4G in the beginning, they can quickly climb up for the faster service.
Today, both devices support Apple's iOS 15 software. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus did not get upgraded to iOS 16 when it was released in late 2022.
Getting a 4G device is not a bad option for many, even in 2023. This is because a 4G device would be priced more affordable than a 5G smartphone. 5G smartphones will definitely see higher demand as the telcos roll out 5G to more cities in India. However, that doesn't mean you should jump for a 5G phone as well.
With its lower latency, greater network capacity and faster download speeds, 5G represents a massive improvement over the 4G network standard. But while major Aussie telcos have already started rolling out 5G mobile networks across the country, this new tech is still getting out of the starting blocks.
When will 4G be phased out? Shutdown of 4G networks are not expected for another decade at least. Of course, this all depends on the uptake of 5G connections and whether the technology can thrive without 4G altogether.
4G will be around for years to come as we have seen with 3G. Mobile service operators still — albeit in very few areas — offer 3G services. So 5G will not mean the end of 4G.
A lot of older cellphones, including the IPhone 5, IPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy S4, as well as many of the flip phones, will become obsolete in 2022 as mobile providers make the switch to 5G networks.
Apple sold tens of millions of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models after their launch in 2015. The iPhone 6 is reportedly “safe until 2023,” but the iPhone 6 Plus isn't so lucky. This popular iPhone model won't stop working overnight — but that's not the real danger.
5G up to 100 times faster than 4G
In the right conditions 5G download speeds can reach 10 gigabits per second. That's up to 100 times faster than 4G – and certainly the level of performance needed for an increasingly connected society.
Today the Telstra 5G network leads the pack, offering coverage that can reach at least 75% of the Australian population. This translates to over 3,200 suburbs in over 200 major cities and towns across the country.
So if you got a 5G phone before then, it would've come with a 4G sim. Now that our 5G network is on, you need to swap to a 5G sim. Just get in touch and we'll get it sorted. Once you've swapped to your 5G sim, you will need to complete a software update and enable 5G on your phone.
In theory, 5G is likely to reach speeds that are 20 times faster than 4G LTE1. 4G LTE has a peak speed of 1GB per second; 5G could theoretically achieve speeds of 20GB per second. These are of course what you might call 'peak speeds', we'll just have to see when 5G is rolled out what the real-world performance is like.
The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be discontinued in 2022. We will have iPhone 14 and iOS 16 in the fall, which will mark the iPhone 7 support ends. Before the formal announcement of iOS 16, it was believed that the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, and older phones would not be eligible for the upgrade.