Is 5G really worth it?

Hades · 3 Aug 2021 at 16:58

I am considering a Samsung S20 FE 4G for £510. But the 5G version is £594. I can't think of a reason why I would need 5G. Is there any killer reason I should consider it? I tend to keep phones a couple of years. Thanks.

GMac11 · 3 Aug 2021 at 17:33

In response to your title, no. In response to your actual post, for that particular phone you 100% want the 5G variant. This has nothing to do with 5G but the 5G model of the S20 FE comes with the Snapdragon processor which is significantly better than than the Exynos rubbish that’s in the 4G model. This results in better performance and most importantly much better battery life.

**Additional** I just re-read the prices, where is that? Those are awfully expensive. The 5G model is available from Amazon for £469.

Hades · 3 Aug 2021 at 17:58

Thanks. It was from a work discount direct from Samsung. I will take a look at Amazon. Thanks again.

something daft already!! · 3 Aug 2021 at 18:01

5g is potentially an awful lot faster than 4g. It was very fast indeed for me when it was first trialled but since became mainstream, it about the same as 4g maybe a little faster.

Penfold101 · 3 Aug 2021 at 18:10

Make sure you’ve had both vaccine injections - much better signal that way.

chroniclard · 3 Aug 2021 at 18:16

Only ever had 5g reception once in months of having a 5g phone. Way quicker than 4g but on the whole not worth it, unless you actually live in a 5g area.

mrgubby · 4 Aug 2021 at 08:40

I bought the S20 FE 5G purely because of the improved chipset over the 4G variant

doodah · 4 Aug 2021 at 09:15

I am still waiting for good and consistent 4G, it's obviously a step up from 3G, but I find myself having bugger all 4G signal at the time of most need.

jrwagh333 · 4 Aug 2021 at 16:34

4G is so crowded in my area that it doesn't even work and I have to manually drop to 3G. I'd jump to 5G just for the clearer traffic.

jrwagh333 · 4 Aug 2021 at 16:35

Penfold101 said:
Make sure you’ve had both vaccine injections - much better signal that way.

Never understand junk posts like these.

Tuvoc · 4 Aug 2021 at 16:37

The ridiculous thing is, if 4G gave us the speeds it is claimed to be capable of, most of us wouldn't need 5G.

I got a 5G capable phone this week, using an EE SIM. Yes the 5G speeds are way higher than 4G (I could limit the SIM to 4G in the settings so can compare). But given that the EE 4G speed for me is many multiples higher then Three's speed that I came from, 5G isn't necessary for me, today anyway. Who knows about tomorrow.

rG-tom · 4 Aug 2021 at 17:44

Hades said:
I am considering a Samsung S20 FE 4G for £510. But the 5G version is £594. I can't think of a reason why I would need 5G. Is there any killer reason I should consider it? I tend to keep phones a couple of years. Thanks.

At these prices you should be able to get an S21 if you play your cards right!!

Penfold101 · 4 Aug 2021 at 17:55

jrwagh333 said:
Never understand junk posts like these.

It’s called humour - you should try it some day.

MrRockliffe · 4 Aug 2021 at 17:57

Hades said:
Thanks. It was from a work discount direct from Samsung. I will take a look at Amazon. Thanks again.

The Samsung shop is turd based on my experience.

In relation to your question, for your specific device, get the 5G version for the better SoC

rodders · 4 Aug 2021 at 18:24

chroniclard said:
Only ever had 5g reception once in months of having a 5g phone. Way quicker than 4g but on the whole not worth it, unless you actually live in a 5g area.

This for me too, it's just not around enough to worry about.
4G is pretty fast, unless you want to download something mega, but who needs to do that very often.

Tuvoc · 5 Aug 2021 at 06:47

Ran Oookla Speedtest on my A70 just now on EE 4G indoors - 125Mbps down, 41 up. If we all got those speeds all the time on all networks, 99% of us would be happy with 4G. That speed does go down during the day to 30-50 down, and the pathetic Three indoors in the same location gives me barely 1Mb sometimes, and sometimes the test can't even complete and gives an error.

Cleisthenes · 5 Aug 2021 at 07:04

I disabled 5G on my Pixel 5 as whenever I picked it up in London it was laggier than 4G!

Hades · 6 Aug 2021 at 18:14

Thanks all.

Jabbs · 6 Aug 2021 at 18:52

Best speeds I had were 430mbps down, now it seems around 200-250. When it's slower times its 130's.

chrcoluk · 6 Aug 2021 at 18:57

In my opinion not at the moment.

4G is almost everywhere, and if you in a city, expect very good indoor signal.

I tested out my new phone on EE's 5G network, I am in one of their declared 5G cities, I am close to the city centre, and indoors it keeps flipping between 4G and 5G, had to root the phone to fix the behaviour, and outdoors the 5G signal is weak enough that 4G has faster speeds.

When I checked a 3rd party site which gives info on the cells, out of 14 cells in my immediate area, only 2 of them have 5G enabled, all 14 have 4G and usually multiple frequencies as well. It seems 5G has been rushed so they can advertise the service, but its nowhere near as usable as 4G.