4G or 5G Phone: Which is Worth Buying in 2024?
1st October 2022 was a revolutionary day for digital India when the much-awaited 5G network was launched in this country. The dilemma over the 4G or 5G phone becomes more significant with the presence of this lightning-fast mobile network.
At present, two telecom giants, Jio and Bharti Airtel are covering 5G services across the country at a rapid pace where Jio’s mission is to cover the entire country by December 2023 and Airtel by March 2024.
So 4G or 5G, which phone should you buy in 2024? Do you prefer a 5G phone over 4G in this present scenario?
My short answer is definitely “Yes”. The single fact that 5G in India is now 25 times faster than 4G (source: Ookla) pushes me to the 5G side. There are also many other factors to consider to determine the winner of this 4G vs 5G debate.
Table of Contents
4G Vs 5G: The Basics
4G Stands for “fourth generation.” It’s the successor of 3G mobile network technology that aims to deliver faster internet download and upload speeds than 3G. The average download speed of a 4G network in India is 10-12 Mbps which is good for streaming videos and gaming.
5G, the fifth-generation mobile network offers nearly 25 times more download and 4.5 times more upload speeds than its predecessor 4G network as reported by Ookla. The main attraction of 5G technology is the lower latency, i.e. less time taken to pass data between devices which ensures greater connectivity.
Is 4G Phone Worth Buying in 2024?
Though the world is pursuing 5G technology, 4G phones still have a major share in the Indian market. There are considerable reasons to stick with the 4G technology in the conflict of 4G vs 5G.
1. Pocket Friendly: 4G mobiles are generally more affordable than their 5G counterparts. In the same price range, a 4G phone offers better configurations in terms of quality of processor, camera, and battery. So if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option that delivers good performance, 4G is a sound choice.
2. Proven Stability: 4G technology has been around for a while now. All the initial bugs or issues have been sorted out. So it can guarantee a smooth user experience.
3. Broad Coverage: While 5G is growing rapidly in India, 4G coverage is more widespread. Particularly in rural or less developed areas, 4G is the best connection available.
Is a 5G Phone Worth Buying in India?
Massive Speed: 5G has the potential to deliver download speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second. Forget about waiting for 2-3 hours to download an entire HD movie, the ultra-fast 5G gives you the opportunity to do it within minutes. Streaming high-quality content, playing graphically intense games, and uploading large files now have become smoother experiences.
Much Reduced Latency: 5G has a much-reduced latency than the 4G network which takes less time to pass data from the data center to the user device. You can feel the uninterrupted pleasant experience while playing online games, watching 4K movies, or video calling.
Increased Network Capacity: With the use of 5G, maximum data can be transferred between different locations in a network. So you can connect a lot of devices to transfer high-speed data in a 5G network.
Should You Buy a 4G or 5G Phone in 2024?
The average internet speed has increased remarkably in India within a couple of months after the introduction of the 5G network. India’s ranking position which was 116th in September 2022 in the Speedtest Global Index, jumped to 55th position in June 2023. The download speed across India has increased by 208% since before the 5G launch, from a 13.87 Mbps median download speed in September 2022 to 42.75 Mbps in June 2023.
To take advantage of the next-gen technology, most mobile manufacturing companies are coming with 5G-enabled devices which shows a sharp increase in the sales growth rate (＞50%) of 5G mobiles.
The era of 5G has made your life much easier. You don’t have to struggle with buffering issues of 4G networks. You can watch live matches without any interruptions. You can watch 4K movies without any disturbance. You will not face any lagging experience while playing high-definition online games under the lightning-speed 5G network. Also, the uploading of large files has now become a piece of cake.
Due to huge market competition, the price of 5G mobile devices is now well within reach. You will not find a very noticeable price difference between a 5G phone and a 4G phone with the same configurations. Also, the production of new 4G models becomes very limited.
The 5G plans are also becoming cheaper nowadays. The telecom giant, Jio has come up with a welcome offer with unlimited 5G data up to 1 Gbps speed at no additional cost for some specified time period.
Considering all the above factors it would be worth buying a 5G phone from a long-term perspective to take the opportunity to use this next-generation ultra-speed network.
However, the choice of a 4G or 5G phone depends on individual needs, budget, and preferences. Think about your current usage, consider whether your location is under the coverage of a 5G network, and importantly consider your budget to make an informed decision. After all, the best phone for you is the one that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle.
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