This year, two new 5G phones will be making their way into the US market. However, that doesn’t mean you should be lining up outside your local carrier’s doors anytime soon.
That’s not because there is no added value for smartphone users. Although the 5G wireless broadband will bring much faster speed and lower latency, the first round of phones will come at some serious tradeoffs and have limited access to 5G service. You may want to consider holding out on purchasing for another year or so.
- Limited AvailabilityRemember when 4G rolled out years ago and it really didn’t make much difference except in a few select areas. Most likely this will also be the case with 5G. AT&T, which is said to be the US’s leading carrier, will have just 19 cities up and running with 5G capabilities by the end of 2019. Adaptability may not be as easy as expected as 5G is short range technology. The estimated range of a 5G tower is just a third of a mile, compared to a 4G tower which can reach as far as 30 miles. The signal also has trouble making it through walls and other interferences.
- Service PricingAlthough better service may not be available everywhere you go, it may also come at a bigger ticket price. AT&T is considering offering tiered service levels for its 5G plans including the possibility of having separate pricing tiers for different activities you perform on the phone. Sprint has also been hinting at a similar model.
- Limited Options
Thus far, there are two phones set to be released into the US market in 2019. These are the LG V50 ThinQ and Samsung Galaxy S10 5G. Both have been confirmed to be supported on Sprint and Verizon’s wireless networks. It’s also figured that these 5G phones might come at a higher price point averaging $200-$300 more than their non-5G counterparts. Apple users might have to wait some more time before the first Apple 5G is set to be released! - CompatibilityIt took time, but we’ve finally reached a point where consumers can buy an unlocked phone that can be supported by just about any carrier. This means if you change carriers, you won’t have to purchase a new phone. With 5G phones, we can expect that luxury to fade away. For now, it appears every carrier will be adopting its own 5G standard meaning the device will likely not work with any other service carrier. For international users, this might cause more headache.
- Trade-OffsRemember just one more time that transition into 4G. Many early adopting phones had many issues with battery life and performance. It’s very likely that new devices taking on the 5G network will come with the same troubles. It’s also very likely that those devices will mostly become very outdated by 2020 when new phones are released into the market. In all, although you might want the newest phone with the fastest speed, you might want to save yourself some money and hold off for phones that come out next year or so. The early adopting 5G phones are likely to have trade-offs and come at a higher price point and will quickly become outdated as new tech emerges.
No matter what type of phone you have or decide to get, iDropped will continue to be the top provider of mobile device, laptop, and phone repair services. Stop by any of our iDropped Repair Center locations to have your damaged mobile device or phone repair completed quickly and efficiently by our experts.
