5G is not quite worth it in the Netherlands in 2021

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Speed ​​above all

Speed: we are all going for it very hard. Where in 2010 we were still stunned by 3G on the original Samsung Galaxy S, we now get annoyed when we have to wait more than a second for an app to open. We got used to all that speed and every year we want more.

For the real speed demons there is 5G, the latest generation of mobile internet. At the time of writing, it has been available in the Netherlands for about a year. All major providers now offer 5G. But to what extent is 5G really worth it? Is it really that much faster than 4G and is it available everywhere and for everyone?

The full speed of 5G is not yet available in the Netherlands

Only in the autumn of 2022 will the so-called 3.5GHz frequency be auctioned and we will be able to make optimal use of 5G. Until then, we are stuck with a lesser version: it may be called 5G, but it is hardly faster than 4G. And that’s not the only problem.

Some phones, such as the Poco F2 Pro, sometimes indicate that a 5G connection is active, while secretly using 4G. That is pure deception. Devices like the Motorola Moto G 5G are not yet able to handle all networks.

Many cheaper phones don’t support 5G yet

Not everyone is always up-to-date on the latest Android news and walks around with the most expensive and best device on the market. In fact, in 2021 the largest group of people will go for a smartphone that does not cost the top prize. Although more and more budget-friendly devices support 5G, such as the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, a large part still has to make do with only 4G support.

This results in a slow rise of the faster mobile internet. In addition, many people only upgrade their smartphone once every two or three years. That is why many people will only get their first 5G smartphone in a few years.

4G is already faster than the WiFi connection

While 5G is faster than 4G, 4G is often faster than the average WiFi connection. Just to illustrate: 4G can achieve speeds of more than 1000 Mbps per second, where fixed connections of households often do not exceed 100 Mbps.

We generally use our Wi-Fi connection more often than mobile internet. We are used to this speed, which means that the difference between 4G and 5G will probably not be very large. Of course we are with you Android Planet especially for the developments around mobile internet, but in 2021 5G is still a bit for many people overkill.

5G is more expensive than 4G

To give a smartphone support for 5G, a 5G modem is needed. This modem is more expensive than a 4G modem. As a result, the price of a smartphone with 5G support is higher in many cases, although we are seeing more and more budget phones that also work with 5G.

After all, manufacturers are more often bringing 5G to cheaper smartphones, but as a result, they are compromising in other areas. For example, the screen quality and the camera of cheap 5G smartphones regularly leave something to be desired. The screen of the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G for example, has such a low resolution that you can almost count the pixels. That’s too bad. And that while the 4G version of this device is better (and therefore more attractive) on many points.

Advantages of 5G

Of course, there are also a lot of advantages to 5G. Ultimately, of course, faster is simply better. For example, the download speed of 5G is up to 100 times faster than that of its predecessor. You can download a complete season of your favorite series in minutes.

There will also be more space on the mobile network. This gives you reliable mobile internet at festivals or in concert halls, despite the fact that thousands of others use it besides you.

In the future, many disadvantages of 5G will disappear. The modems are expected to become cheaper, more and more smartphones will receive 5G support and the full speed of 5G will soon also be available in the Netherlands. So we will have to be patient a little longer.

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