Why Does My Phone Say LTE Instead Of 5G?

I’m always excited about the latest technological advancements. And there’s no doubt that 5G is one of the most talked-about technologies today. So, imagine my disappointment when I got my hands on a 5G phone, and it kept displaying LTE instead of 5G. It was frustrating, to say the least. After some research, I learned why my phone was displaying LTE instead of 5G. In this post, I’ll share what I found out and help you understand why your phone might be displaying LTE instead of 5G.

LTE vs. 5G: Understanding the Differences

Before we delve into why your phone might be displaying LTE instead of 5G, let’s first understand what LTE and 5G are and how they differ.

LTE

LTE stands for Long Term Evolution and is a 4G technology that offers faster internet speeds than its predecessor, 3G. LTE is capable of delivering download speeds of up to 100 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50 Mbps. While LTE is an improvement over 3G, it’s not as fast as 5G.

5G

5G is the latest technology that offers faster internet speeds than 4G/LTE. 5G is capable of delivering download speeds of up to 20 Gbps and upload speeds of up to 10 Gbps. Besides, 5G offers low latency and improved network reliability, which are essential for next-generation technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT).

READ >> How Fast Is 75 Mbps Internet Speed?

Identifying 5G-Compatible Phones

Now that we understand the difference between LTE and 5G let’s discuss how to identify a 5G-compatible phone.

Phone Specifications

If you’re shopping for a new phone, you should look for one that supports 5G. Most phone manufacturers indicate whether a phone supports 5G in their specifications. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and Google Pixel 5 all support 5G.

Network Compatibility

Besides phone specifications, you should also check if your carrier provides 5G coverage in your area. You can do this by visiting your carrier’s website or contacting their customer support.

Reasons for LTE Display Instead of 5G

Now, let’s talk about why your phone might be displaying LTE instead of 5G.

5G Coverage

The most obvious reason why your phone might be displaying LTE instead of 5G is that your carrier doesn’t provide 5G coverage in your area. Even if you have a 5G-compatible phone, you won’t be able to connect to 5G if your carrier doesn’t offer 5G in your location.

Network Congestion

Another reason why your phone might be displaying LTE instead of 5G is network congestion. 5G networks are still in their infancy, and carriers are still rolling out their 5G networks. As a result, some areas might not have sufficient 5G coverage. In such cases, your phone might switch to LTE to ensure that you still have internet connectivity.

Checking for Carrier 5G Coverage

To check for 5G coverage in your area, you should visit your carrier’s website or contact their customer support. Alternatively, you can download a coverage map app such as OpenSignal or RootMetrics. These apps will show you the areas with the best network coverage, including 5G coverage.

Factors Affecting 5G Availability

Now that we know why your phone might be displaying LTE instead of 5G let’s discuss the factors affecting 5G availability.

Network Infrastructure

The availability of 5G is largely dependent on network infrastructure. Carriers need to install new network equipment, including new towers and small cells, to provide 5G coverage. As a result, areas with limited infrastructure might not have 5G coverage. Moreover, 5G networks require more infrastructure than LTE networks, which means carriers might take longer to roll out 5G in some areas.

Phone Compatibility

While having a 5G-compatible phone is essential, not all 5G phones are created equal. Some phones might not support all the 5G bands that your carrier uses, which means you won’t be able to connect to 5G in some areas. Therefore, it’s important to check if your phone supports the 5G bands that your carrier uses.

Obstacles

Finally, obstacles such as buildings and trees can affect 5G availability. 5G uses higher frequencies than LTE, which means it’s more susceptible to obstacles. In some cases, 5G signals might not be able to penetrate buildings or trees, which can affect signal strength and availability.

Troubleshooting Phone 5G Connectivity

If your phone is displaying LTE instead of 5G, here are some troubleshooting steps you can take:

1. Restart your phone: Sometimes, restarting your phone can fix connectivity issues.
2. Toggle Airplane mode: Toggling Airplane mode on and off can also help reset your phone’s connectivity.
3. Check for updates: Make sure that your phone’s software is up to date, as updates can sometimes fix connectivity issues.
4. Contact your carrier: If none of the above steps work, you should contact your carrier’s customer support. They might be able to provide more information or troubleshoot the issue further.

Switching Between LTE and 5G

While you might want your phone to always display 5G, it’s not always the best option. For instance, if you’re in an area with limited 5G coverage, your phone might switch between LTE and 5G to ensure that you have internet connectivity. However, if you want your phone to always use 5G, you can disable LTE in your phone’s settings. Here’s how to do it on an iPhone:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap on Cellular
3. Tap on Cellular Data Options
4. Tap on Voice & Data
5. Select 5G

Note: This applies to newer versions of iPhones that support 5G

Data Usage Comparison: 5G vs. LTE

Now that we understand the difference between LTE and 5G let’s compare their data usage. 5G offers faster internet speeds than LTE, which means you can download and upload files faster on 5G. However, faster internet speeds also mean that you might use more data. Here’s a comparison of how much data you can use when streaming a 30-minute TV show on Netflix:

Resolution	LTE Data Usage	5G Data Usage
480p	200 MB	400 MB
720p	350 MB	700 MB
1080p	750 MB	1.5 GB

As you can see, streaming on 5G uses more data than on LTE. Therefore, it’s essential to monitor your data usage to avoid exceeding your data cap.

Health Concerns Associated with 5G

There have been concerns about the health risks associated with 5G. Some people believe that the radiation from 5G networks can cause health issues such as cancer. However, there’s no scientific evidence to support these claims. 5G networks use non-ionizing radiation, which is not harmful to humans. Therefore, there’s no need to worry about the health risks associated with 5G.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if your phone displays LTE instead of 5G, it could be due to several factors such as limited infrastructure, phone compatibility, and obstacles. However, if you follow the troubleshooting steps we’ve provided and contact your carrier if necessary, you should be able to connect to 5G. It’s also important to remember that while 5G offers faster internet speeds, it uses more data than LTE. Therefore, it’s essential to monitor your data usage to avoid exceeding your data cap. Lastly, there’s no need to worry about the health risks associated with 5G, as it uses non-ionizing radiation that is not harmful to humans.

As technology advances, we can expect more and more devices to be 5G-compatible, and the 5G network infrastructure to become more widespread. With faster internet speeds and low latency, 5G will revolutionize the way we use technology, making it faster and more efficient. But until then, it’s important to understand the differences between LTE and 5G and how to troubleshoot any connectivity issues you might encounter. So next time your phone displays LTE instead of 5G, don’t panic – just follow the steps we’ve provided, and you’ll be browsing the internet at lightning-fast speeds in no time.