4G revolutionized how we use our smartphones. Since its introduction, people have watched TV without Wi-Fi at a decent speed and downloaded their favorite shows faster.
The introduction of 4G also made apps more accessible when out and about. Moreover, people could connect with loved ones by video—even when not at home.
Considering how big the jump was from 3G to 4G, many have big expectations for 5G. And one of the most significant talking points is speed.
So, when it comes to 4G vs. 5G, which is quicker?
5G vs. 4G: The Main Differences
In its simplest terms, 5G is the fifth generation of mobile technology, and 4G is the fourth. Whereas 4G was the bridge from 3G to turn our smartphones truly portable, 5G will—if all goes to plan—allow mobile devices to work on the go with even less latency.
The main difference between 5G and 4G is speed, especially when it comes to downloading. With 4G, the maximum download speed is 1 gigabyte per second (GB/s); for 5G, this is 20GB/s. As such, downloading a movie or TV series would take much less time with 5G. You can theoretically download a feature film in less than one minute with 5G.
Related: What Is 5G? Here’s How It’ll Make Mobile Internet Faster and Better
Both 4G and 5G are quick when looking at their average theoretical speeds. But again, 5G is faster in this respect. While 4G’s average theoretical speed is 100 megabytes per second, 5G is anywhere between 200 and 1,000.
5G and 4G also differ in terms of energy consumption. 5G will, once the infrastructure is there, allow more people to connect at any given time without networks crashing. This will be especially useful for ensuring stable connections during high-traffic periods, such as at rush hour.
If you want to see a comparison between other network kinds, check out our article comparing 5G vs. 4G LTE speed and connectivity.
4G vs. 5G Speed: Which Wins?
The 5G vs. 4G debate is put to bed pretty convincingly when looking at theoretical speeds. But it’s important to remember that when discussing connection speed, you should also consider real-world performance.
5G is, on its own, a lot faster than 4G. But at the moment, 4G has a much better infrastructure. The network can reach people in more remote locations, providing a more stable connection while there. So, while 5G is quicker over short distances, 4G is more consistent. And until 5G’s infrastructure is fully developed, that’s not going to change.
The question of "is 5G better than 4G" also depends on where you are in the world. The 5G networks of some countries are vastly superior to others, and with 5G, infrastructure is king.
In particular, the US is a big culprit when it comes to slower speeds. Opensignal published a report in October 2020 looking at the different 5G and 4G speeds worldwide. 4G in the Netherlands and South Korea performed higher than 5G in the US. Canadian 4G was also faster than American 5G.
With that being said, 5G beats 4G when it comes to latency. It does so pretty comfortably. For 4G, latency is currently around 20-30 milliseconds. While this is fast, it’s no match for 5G, which is expected to have delays of lower than 10 milliseconds. In some cases, 5G might even enjoy a latency of 1 millisecond or less.
Is 5G Better Than 4G?
At face value, 5G is significantly faster than 4G. Latency is non-existent, and downloading large data files is a breeze. But for the moment, that’s in theory only.
Currently, 5G infrastructure has a long way to go before we see it on smartphones everywhere, not least outside of cities. That project will be both time-consuming and expensive. Though quicker in short bursts, networks aren’t going to be too reliable over longer distances.
So, is 5G better than 4G? One day, it will be. But for now, the debate should move away from 4G vs. 5G—and towards incorporating both of them where possible.
