5g with Android 10, or 4g with Android 11?

[enltguy]

Looks like I may need a new phone soon, and in the interest of future-proofing, as I don't buy a new phone very often and wouldn't have it any other way, I am looking at some mid-range 5g phones. However, the one I really like, the Moto G 5G Plus, says it only comes with Android 10 and can't be upgraded to 11.

I found a comparable (actually many specs are a bit better) Moto G Pro, which can be upgraded to Android 11, but will be stuck with 4g.

Any sense from people more familiar with the technology which is the better future-proof route ... will I get a better run with apps and all on a later version of Android, or will 5g be utterly more important within the next year or two?

I realize this is a bit of an opinion piece, so happy to take comments from anyone who knows a bit more about the Android landscape than myself

 

[B. Diddy]

I think 5G will still take another 2-3 years before it becomes hugely better than 4G. Even so, 4G should still give you adequate speeds for what you need to do. So I'd go for the phone that can upgrade to Android 11.

Are Pixels out of the question for you? The Pixel "a" line is excellent, affordable, and one of the most future-proof phones around.

 

[mustang7757]

Looks like I may need a new phone soon, and in the interest of future-proofing, as I don't buy a new phone very often and wouldn't have it any other way, I am looking at some mid-range 5g phones. However, the one I really like, the Moto G 5G Plus, says it only comes with Android 10 and can't be upgraded to 11.

I found a comparable (actually many specs are a bit better) Moto G Pro, which can be upgraded to Android 11, but will be stuck with 4g.

Any sense from people more familiar with the technology which is the better future-proof route ... will I get a better run with apps and all on a later version of Android, or will 5g be utterly more important within the next year or two?

I realize this is a bit of an opinion piece, so happy to take comments from anyone who knows a bit more about the Android landscape than myself

Pixels and Samsung come to mind their latest mid range or high range phones get 5g and 3 years if support for future proofing

 

[Mooncatt]

For right now, I wouldn't be concerned with 5G at all. Even if you are with a carrier and in a location that offers the super fast versions, that won't really affect day to day users. The wider spread 5G offerings are basically re-branded 4G, with similar speeds (or worse speeds in some cases). Even if 5G became available everywhere tomorrow, 4G will still be around for years to come, so it's not like your phone would stop working next week.

 

[enltguy]

I actually haven't looked into Pixels. The reason I was looking at Motos again is that my Moto 5G Plus has held up extremely well over the last four years. I can't even believe it lasted this long (and is still going, just seems to be getting glitchier by the month). I've never had this with any other brand, LG, Samsung, they've all gone to **** after a year or two, tops. I may look into Pixels a little more, but this was the impetus for finding another Moto model.

 

[enltguy]

I appreciate the thoughts on 5g. Where I am are, there are three pockets in the city you can get 5g at the moment (and none near me), but just figure this will keep growing. The stuff I've read is that 5g will be markedly better for data, which is most of what I use when I'm away from wifi (Maps, messaging, looking up things on the internet, etc.). I don't need lightning fast, frankly, but do appreciate decent speeds (and for some reason, often get shifted to 3g by my carrier for data, which I don't understand, but...). I guess I shouldn't worry to much about 5g for now, but new thoughts very much welcome, I'm going to keep checking on this thread.

 

[Mooncatt]

The stuff I've read is that 5g will be markedly better for data, which is most of what I use when I'm away from wifi.

It's supposed to allow for greater capacity which would cut down on congestion and increase average speeds. As a 4G user, you would still benefit from that as others move to 5G and free up the 4G signals.

 

[enltguy]

Reading up on the Pixel now, the two concerns would be that anything beyond the Pixel 3 is out of my budget, and they also appear to have abysmal battery life next to most phones these days. 2915 mAh, non-removable is not highly appealing.

 

[mustang7757]

Reading up on the Pixel now, the two concerns would be that anything beyond the Pixel 3 is out of my budget, and they also appear to have abysmal battery life next to most phones these days. 2915 mAh, non-removable is not highly appealing.

What's your budget?
It's going limit your options

 

[joeldf]

From what I see, your G5 Plus got its last security update on Feb of 2019. On an android phone for primary daily use, I wouldn't use one that was any longer than 6 months past the last security patch. Your Moto is now 2 years past that.

Imagine all the exploits that have been patched since then that is now out for everyone to take advantage of.

Unless you've loaded a custom ROM.

The point that most are making here is that, for "future proofing", be sure to get one that gets the highest number of major updates, and continued security updates past that, in the price range you're looking in. I'd look at the Samsung A series. I don't know what you mean about Samsung, I've had no issues with the hardware over the years. I did not like the curved edges on the S8 and S9 that I had, but the S20 FE has a flat screen and is much better to work with. Otherwise - it's a slab, as they all are now, so just don't drop it.

 

[hallux]

Reading up on the Pixel now, the two concerns would be that anything beyond the Pixel 3 is out of my budget, and they also appear to have abysmal battery life next to most phones these days. 2915 mAh, non-removable is not highly appealing.

Pixel 4a 5G has a 3885 mAh battery. You can't just look at the capacity to gauge battery life, the software on the Pixels is optimized for them as well. Granted - list price on that phone is 2x the Motorolas you're looking at, but the software support will continue for 2x as long.

 

[B. Diddy]

Reading up on the Pixel now, the two concerns would be that anything beyond the Pixel 3 is out of my budget, and they also appear to have abysmal battery life next to most phones these days. 2915 mAh, non-removable is not highly appealing.

Even the Pixel 4a and 4a 5G? The 4a starts at $350. Battery life on those phones are supposed to be excellent, much better than expected with the mAh size of the batteries. @Kizzy Catwoman has a 4a (5G, I think), and can attest to that.

 

[mustang7757]

Even the Pixel 4a and 4a 5G? The 4a starts at $350. Battery life on those phones are supposed to be excellent, much better than expected with the mAh size of the batteries. @Kizzy Catwoman has a 4a (5G, I think), and can attest to that.

Do those phones get discounts or they consider it as a discount at that price?

 

[B. Diddy]

Do those phones get discounts or they consider it as a discount at that price?

I've seen some modest discounts (like maybe $50).

 

[mustang7757]

I've seen some modest discounts (like maybe $50).

Gotcha

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

Even the Pixel 4a and 4a 5G? The 4a starts at $350. Battery life on those phones are supposed to be excellent, much better than expected with the mAh size of the batteries. @Kizzy Catwoman has a 4a (5G, I think), and can attest to that.

I get over a day and a half with over 6 hours s,reen on time with my 4a 5G with the phone running Android 12 beta. Was getting 2 days on Android 11. I keep it on 4G and the battery life is incredible. It is fast enough and does everything I need it to. I also only paid £399 for it and it is often discounted. That is £100 off the price.