5G vs. 4G LTE: Understanding the Differences

All wireless communication systems work on the principle of using radio frequencies. With the evolution of each ‘G or Generation’, the systems work faster, transferring more data at greater speeds.

While 3G laid the foundation for robust cell network technology, 4G transformed it into a flourishing phenomenon, followed by 4G LTE and 5G.

But what is 4G LTE and where does it stand against 5G technology? We’ll draw a comparison between the key differences between 5G and 4G LTE to help you make an informed choice for your network. Let’s begin:

What is 5G?

First introduced in 2018, 5G is hailed as one of the most groundbreaking developments in mobile tech history and is considered the future of internet technology. It carries more information at a faster rate using higher radio frequencies that are generally less crowded. 5G can be characterized into three types based on the use cases.

As of 2023, the world is progressing with 5G technology. It has fine-tuned internet access usage on cellular devices. There are approximately 100,000 5G base stations in the United States alone - providing the service to over 500 cities.

What is 4G LTE?

Essentially, 4G LTE is the assimilation of and 3G technologies. LTE is an abbreviation of "Long-Term Evolution". The 4G LTE phones are a hybrid of 3G and 4G and this is how:

• It is built on the 4G mobile network technology.
• It uses a lower radio frequency of 3G networks.

5G vs. 4G LTE – Side-by-Side Differences

With a clear concept of 4G LTE and 5G technology, let’s compare the two technologies based on some other perimeters:

1- Speed

While 4G LTE supports download speeds up to 100 Mbps, 5G easily supports ten times the download speed. This means that with 5G, downloads take up only a fraction of the time than they used to.

Because of the highest speed factor in all wireless networks, real-time communication and transmission capabilities have drastically improved with 5G as compared to the 4G and 4G LTE.

2- Latency

5G is an ideal choice for millisecond-level response time, also known as latency. Latency is the amount of time it takes for a data packet to move from point A to B. While 4G LTE may have good coverage, you still get above 50 ms latency with an LTE connection. But with a 5G connection, you can expect anything under 10 ms.

3- Coverage

For coverage, 5G networks use the pre-established 4G towers. This takes care of the basic coverage. Whereas, for a high-band signal frequency, 5G depends on small cells also known as base stations. These are installed in heavily urbanized lands for ultra-fast and strong signals.

Even though 5G networks need less power to operate and can be set up using 4G towers, the coverage, and availability of 5G in rural sectors are still limited. Meanwhile, 4G LTE networks are more accessible with almost 70% more tower availability than 5G networks.

Cost

As one would expect, 5G generally costs more than 4G LTE. Here is a quick cost comparison for the monthly expenditure:

A 4G LTE plan costs around $68 while 5G networks can cost you up to $89 a month. The average price difference between them ranges from $5 to $72 per month.

4- Power

As compared to 4G and 4G LTE, 5G tends to consume less power. This makes it more cost-effective for the providers. However, this power-saving is all subjective. The reason for this is that as the 5G network traffic becomes denser, the net energy consumption will soar 4 to 5 times more than 4G.

A 5G network is 90% more energy efficient than its 4G counterpart

5- Capacity

When it comes to handling peak hours, 5G has greater network capacity. It supports a greater number of connected devices without compromising on the signal strength. This can be attributed to small-cell technology that equips the 5G network to have more cell density (more towers in the area), supporting more users.

6- Device Technology

5G new radio signal uses NR (New Radio) technology with a radio spectrum that isn’t used by existing 4G/ LTE networks. In simpler words, 5G enables users to access better wireless air interfaces with minimal interference, more bandwidth, and high speeds.

In addition, 5G-enabled devices use OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing). This allows breaking carrier channels into smaller sub-channels for reduced interference. In other words, it’s similar to adjusting the frequency on your radio to find the channel you’re looking for.

4G and 4G LTE use MiMo (Multiple Input/ Multiple Output) technology alongside OFDM that allows it to provide more bandwidth than 3G networks.

5G vs. 4G LTE – Pros & Cons

Here’s an insight into the upsides and downsides of 5G vs. 4G:

5G vs. 4G LTE – The Ultimate Winner

With all the above factors considered, we can say that 5G networks are definitely an upgrade over 4G LTE networks. It has the potential to completely revolutionize the use of the internet with its high speeds, low latency, and capacity to accommodate a large number of devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a 6G network?

It is expected that 6G will launch commercially somewhere in 2030. This network is anticipated to make use of the distributed radio access capacity otherwise known as RAN and Terahertz spectrum for an elevated network capacity, speed, and lower latency.

What does LTE+ mean?

The suffix LTE+ or LTE Advanced stands for 4G mobile radio standard. This is downward compatible with LTE. In comparison to LTE, LTE+ facilitates a transmission rate of 1000 Mbit/s or 1 Gbit/s download and up to 500 Mbit/s upload.

Why does 5G switch to LTE on my iPhone?

If you put your 5G settings at “ON” your phone automatically connects to 5G if it is available. However, when your settings are set to 5G Auto, your phone will decide whether to connect to LTE or 5G based on 5G's availablity.