Is the 5G models worth considering now in 2020?

[gottria]

Being on ATT in the SF Bay Area and considering the S20 but is the 5G version worth the hype in 2020? I know the carriers are investing a lot in 5g, especially marketing but how much more is it going to cost and is it better, I know it's faster but if coverage isn't there it's useless.

 

[L0n3N1nja]

There is no 4G version, they all have 5G and it's the excuse they are using for the price hikes.

 

[tcdude]

There is no 4G version, they all have 5G and it's the excuse they are using for the price hikes.

I agree! Even though they will ship in countries that are not 5G ready but will still charge that premium

 

[Kilroy672]

I agree! Even though they will ship in countries that are not 5G ready but will still charge that premium

There's supposed to ship 4G LTE versions to countries that doesn't support 5G yet. And I'm sure that most of the United States doesn't support 5G yet but yet that's all they're going to ship us so they can make the extra money.

 

[Mike Dee]

There's supposed to ship 4G LTE versions to countries that doesn't support 5G yet. And I'm sure that most of the United States doesn't support 5G yet but yet that's all they're going to ship us so they can make the extra money.

How much is 5G adding to the cost?

 

[Mooncatt]

How much is 5G adding to the cost?

I haven't compared plans myself, but I seem to remember that at least some carriers require you to pay a premium for 5G service if the phone was 5G capable, regardless if you wanted the 5G service or if it was even available to you yet (meaning paying extra for literally nothing).

 

[Rukbat]

AT&T "5G", so far, is 4G evolution - they're calling it 5Ge (it's 4G with MIMO support and fiber optic backhauls). But it still works with 4G phones, it doesn't use 5G (and it doesn't use mm frequencies - which are two totally separate things; limited coverage is due to mm, not to 5G - TMobile's 600MHz 5G has the same coverage as their 4G signals did from the same towers).

https://www.androidcentral.com/expl...-sub-6-low-band-and-other-terms-you-need-know has a pretty good (and a bit long) explanation of the whole thing as the situation sits currently. (It could change at any time.)

 

[hasasimo]

How much is 5G adding to the cost?

Seems to be roughly $75 for each variant.

 

[Mike Dee]

I haven't compared plans myself, but I seem to remember that at least some carriers require you to pay a premium for 5G service if the phone was 5G capable, regardless if you wanted the 5G service or if it was even available to you yet (meaning paying extra for literally nothing).

I was referring specifically to the device cost but that's a good point. Not sure how they would enforce that with unlocked models, but then again if I were buying something 5G capable I would want the feature enabled.

 

[cnotes2019]

What 5g bands will the S20 support? Will it support SA? Will AT&T and T-Mobile’s variants support both mmwave and low band or just the latter? Thanks

 

[Mr Segundus]

5G is everywhere with T-Mobile, but it's the 600MHz band. But I agree, 5G right now is kind of worthless. In a year from now, it may be great. I'm irritated that they're using the 5G modems to justify the price hikes. I won't be purchasing an S20, at least not on day 1 if I do decide. I'm looking more forward to the Note 11 (or 20 if they're keeping the same naming scheme). And I won't buy that on day 1 either because we all know Samsung reduces the price 2 months later.

 

[cnotes2019]

So the T-Mobile model won’t also support sprints mid band? I only read it will support mm wave and low band of carriers.

 

[msm0511]

AT&T "5G", so far, is 4G evolution - they're calling it 5Ge (it's 4G with MIMO support and fiber optic backhauls). But it still works with 4G phones, it doesn't use 5G (and it doesn't use mm frequencies - which are two totally separate things; limited coverage is due to mm, not to 5G - TMobile's 600MHz 5G has the same coverage as their 4G signals did from the same towers).

https://www.androidcentral.com/expl...-sub-6-low-band-and-other-terms-you-need-know has a pretty good (and a bit long) explanation of the whole thing as the situation sits currently. (It could change at any time.)

AT&T actually does have real 5G now. It's low band and not available in many cities, but they do have it.

 

[Mike Dee]

AT&T actually does have real 5G now. It's low band and not available in many cities, but they do have it.

I think if you plan on keeping a phone 2 years or more 5G may be worth it. Buying 5G and trading up next year is probably overkill

 

[msm0511]

I think if you plan on keeping a phone 2 years or more 5G may be worth it. Buying 5G and trading up next year is probably overkill

T-Mobile is really the only carrier I see as worth spending more on a 5G phone. Their 5G is pretty far along. Even if it's low band 5G, there are still some advantages. I wouldn't bother with worrying about mmwave yet though.

 

[anon(50597)]

The short answer is no. How would it serve you having (limited) 5g? Will you really notice the difference in your everyday phone usage?

 

[pgg101]

Being on ATT in the SF Bay Area and considering the S20 but is the 5G version worth the hype in 2020? I know the carriers are investing a lot in 5g, especially marketing but how much more is it going to cost and is it better, I know it's faster but if coverage isn't there it's useless.

Not really. I'm mostly on Wi-Fi vs anyways unless I'm in the car. 4G is good to stream my tunes. I'll wait for the tech to get cheaper. I just place my order today for the P 4xl.

 

[cnotes2019]

The short answer is no. How would it serve you having (limited) 5g? Will you really notice the difference in your everyday phone usage?

I agree. Wait a couple of years or so

 

[Mr Segundus]

The short answer is no. How would it serve you having (limited) 5g? Will you really notice the difference in your everyday phone usage?

I didn't when I was using the OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition. Sure, I got speeds that were twice as fast as normal (70Mbps vs 140Mbps), but on the grand scheme of things, I didn't notice any difference in my day-to-day use.

 

[cnotes2019]

I didn't when I was using the OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition. Sure, I got speeds that were twice as fast as normal (70Mbps vs 140Mbps), but on the grand scheme of things, I didn't notice any difference in my day-to-day use.

I had the note 10 5g and got same speeds as on 4g. Glad I was just testing it out. I might try out the ultra on T-Mobile or AT&T (if At&t allows consumers to use mm wave in my area and not just businesses)