Ultra Wideband - Useful, worth it?

[Aflaaaak]

I am still using my LG G4 because the camera and screen are still pretty great, and well, it's all I know LOL! Not a heavy tech user, and so far the phone has served me well (except the fatal Boot Loop flaw).

Trying to get myself into 2021, and looking at a Pixel 6 or P6 Pro. One of the features only on the Pro, besides the Zoom lens, is Ultra Wideband. I read a little on it and seems it's mostly handy for tracking devices like Samsung Smart Tags. What else is the feature good for now, and potentially in the future?
Thanks!

 

[dmxjago]

My opinion not in most places. The coverage radius is still so low that it probably won't be a factor for most people. I'd say only consider it being a factor if you plan on keeping your device for at least 5 years. Just like LTE/4G I think it will be a while before we see good coverage in most places.

 

[reb0957]

You can order a carrier 6 and get ultra wideband. Just remember, 5g ultra wideband isn't offered everywhere and on Verizon it is very limited!

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

To the first 2 replies, that's not what they're talking about.

OP, you can also use it as a car key in a limited number of cars and with some smart locks... I think it's more cool than useful right now (I've had an #21 Ultra with UWB for nearly a year and never used it), but if you're planning to keep your phone as long as the G4, maybe it'll become useful within it's lifetime lol.

If @Mooncatt sees this thread, this is what I was talking about the other day.

 

[idiotekniques]

I have it right outside my front door of my condo, gets over 400Mbps, but once I go inside I get a totally ****ty LTE signal. I've seen it elsewhere on my phone in northern NJ when driving or walking and in NYC, when outside. It's fast as fook. Tested it at over 600Mbps.

Who cares. I don't stand on sidewalks downloading 4k videos and sharing a hotspot with 5 laptops. I don't do it when I drive either. I stream music and use maps or browse the web. Sometimes I watch YouTube videos but I just need good LTE for that.

I guess if you were on a family trip and needed to hotspot your phone so the whole family could stream 4k video off it, that's great.

I'd prefer more investment in stronger coverage of non UW coverage by far.

 

[Mooncatt]

If @Mooncatt sees this thread, this is what I was talking about the other day.

Yeah, I see it, but I still personally see it more in reference to the uber fast 5G networks. I think my opinion on it actually applies in both cases. If you have to ask if you need it, chances are you don't. It may be a nice feature to have, but not worth going out of my way to get it.

I'll also say to the OP that if you are coming from an LG G4, you may find any new phone to be a downgrade in multiple ways. I had one and loved it outside the bootloop issue. Then I went to the V20. Many of us LG users have been pretty bummed at them leaving the market because they were one of the few companies that didn't remove useful features for the longest time (but even they went cookie cutter at the end).

 

[ras47]

Ultra Wideband 5G is in so few places its barely worth talking about. Now if you live in a place with it, like some of the boroughs of NYC or Jersey City, then *maybe*. Regular 5G, on the other hand, is everywhere. At least on Verizon. I imagine T-Mobile has a 5G footprint equal to or greater than Verizon.

A major reason I got both the Pixel 5 and iPhone 13 Pro Max is 5G. UWB 5G is where regular 5G was two years ago - just a dream. Maybe in another year or two the UWB will worth it. But not yet IMO.

 

[Aflaaaak]

The Ultra Wide Band I think I was referring to is not a 5G thing, but same thing Apple and Samsung uses for their key fob "finders".

 

[PaulQ]

The Ultra Wide Band I think I was referring to is not a 5G thing, but same thing Apple and Samsung uses for their key fob "finders".

I would not base your decision on the presence of UWB support. You're right, I think its main intended use is for trackers right now. As another person said, it could be in locks and possibly end up in cars for unlocking. I am really not sure. As for trackers, I doubt the Samsung UWB tracker works with Pixels. Tile will be releasing an UWB tracker next year (the "Ultra").

I would put the presence of UWB way down on your list of things to consider. If everything else (cost, size of phone, feel in the hand, major features) checks out and you are down to UWB, buy the Pixel 6 Pro. You are going to love it for all the other reasons, it is shaping up to be a great phone. And... you'll have UWB in case they come up with new and exciting ways to use it.

My two cents.

(bias: I use trackers, but didn't consider UWB support when looking at the P6P)

 

[Aflaaaak]

I would not base your decision on the presence of UWB support. You're right, I think its main intended use is for trackers right now. As another person said, it could be in locks and possibly end up in cars for unlocking. I am really not sure. As for trackers, I doubt the Samsung UWB tracker works with Pixels. Tile will be releasing an UWB tracker next year (the "Ultra").

I would put the presence of UWB way down on your list of things to consider. If everything else (cost, size of phone, feel in the hand, major features) checks out and you are down to UWB, buy the Pixel 6 Pro. You are going to love it for all the other reasons, it is shaping up to be a great phone. And... you'll have UWB in case they come up with new and exciting ways to use it.

My two cents.

(bias: I use trackers, but didn't consider UWB support when looking at the P6P)

I agree with you and others, UWB is probably more of a gimmick now than practical of necessary feature, for the moment. Just looking at the feature differences between the P6 and P6 Pro and wondered out loud.

 

[anon(40376)]

UWB means nothing to me. I can already unlock and start my vehicle from 3000 miles away if wanted. However, only used it once and that was in WY one day when it was 15 below and wanted the vehicle nice and warm when I got to it after a mile walk in Jackson. (And I was not the cold one, my friends from NC who were wearing summer shoes were the ones truly in need.)

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

I did consider UWB when I was looking at the 6 Pro. I am interested in UWB trackers so the Tile option is one of them. Maybe less so now my cats are confined to indoors, but when they were outdoor cats I wanted to get a tracker to keep an eye on them.

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

UWB means nothing to me. I can already unlock and start my vehicle from 3000 miles away if wanted. However, only used it once and that was in WY one day when it was 15 below and wanted the vehicle nice and warm when I got to it after a mile walk in Jackson. (And I was not the cold one, my friends from NC who were wearing summer shoes were the ones truly in need.)

As far as I'm aware, the point of UWB is that you don't use your phone to open your car so much as you just walk up to your car and it unlocks, you get in and it turns on.

It us what it is.

 

[anon(40376)]

Looks like you are correct. So, not for me. I'll make sure to keep it turned off. Had that on a system on a Vette once, where the door would unlock when I walked near it with a key fob. well, my truck and a Hummer were parked in that garage and every I walked by it in the garage when taking the truck or Hummer the doors would unlock. PATA! Yes, they locked with I was out of range....