5G Technology stands for 5th generation mobile technology. 5G denotes the next major phase of mobile telecommunication standards after the 4G standard.
Every decade, the technological industry performs a tremendous upgrade to its wireless configuration. While the 2000s were dominated by 3G, the last decade was ruled by 4G networks.
The first 5G networks came to the forefront in the US. This makes everyone curious about what makes it so much more popular and unique than 4G.
It is surprising to know that 5G has the potential to be 100 times better and faster than the 4G network. Besides this, it also has quite a large bandwidth or capacity. This means that it is much more efficient than 4G.
5G is undoubtedly the next revolution in wireless mobile technology after 4G. In just 2021, over a million people around the world switched to 5G for its excellent benefits.
What bothers many is the need to replace their old 4G smartphones in order to enjoy the 5G network. A 5G smartphone can be easily purchased on the internet.
Now arises the big question that troubles almost everyone, will a 4G sim work on a 5G phone? Stay tuned to know more!
Will a 4G Sim Work in a 5G Phone
Yes, a 4G sim will work absolutely well on a 5G phone, but there may be some difficulty in being able to enjoy the 5G network. Sometimes, a 4G sim may have a 5G network if it is compatible with a 5G phone.
In simple terms, If you are in any network lower than 5G, you can access that network. However, if you wish to access a 5G network, you will need a new 5G phone.
A 4G sim card will work with 5G. However, you will not get the desired speed.
However, even if you won’t get that superfast 5G speed with a 4G sim, your 5G smartphone will still work better and faster than a 4G.
You don’t have to bother yourself if there is no 5g coverage in your location. If you wish, you can use a 3G sim in your 5G phone or even an older sim card, and it will work perfectly fine.
Can a 4G Phone be Upgraded to 5G?
No, a 4G phone can’t be upgraded to a 5G. This is because there is different hardware needed for using 5G in phones.
In order to get 5G technology, you will have to get a new 5G phone with the 5G plan and be in a place that supports 5G coverage. In case you are using a 3G or 4G device, you can use it in a 5G network. However, you will only get the 3G and 4G speeds.
You will specifically require a 5G modem to upgrade your phone. In the highest probability, the current 4G phones do not have the provision to implement this modem. It is a new technology, and there are many hardware changes required.
In addition to this, a 5G network technology is integrated into the chipset of the phones, and so if you want to use a 5G network, you will require a 5G chipset.
Do 5G Phones Work on 4G Network?
Yes! 5G capable phones can actually use both 4G and 5G technology. Many believe that soon 5G and 4G will co-exist and work together.
A smartphone with a 5G chip can very smoothly support a 4G network. In fact, it will be better at 4G connectivity than your existing 4G smartphone!
A 5G smartphone supports a network of frequencies 5G or below, which means it will support 5G,1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G.
This is because your 5G device is built in a way to receive equal frequency or below 5G.
The 5G technology has a millimetre wave that can only reach a frequency of more than 24 GHz, which can go up to 72 GHz. This is much higher than the 4G network.
What Happens if you Put a 4G SIM Card in a 5G Phone?
A smartphone having a 5G sim of any density very well supports a 4G LTE network. There are also chances that you will get better connectivity and speed of a 4G network in a 5G device than your existing 4G device.
If a 4G SIM card is inserted into a 5G smartphone, you will get to experience great 4G, but without a 5G connection, it is not possible to access a 5G network.
This is because 5G chips support entirely all generations of cellular networks, including 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G.
A lot can be done with a 4G Sim card on a 5G phone. You can make and receive calls. Even if the sim card is six years old, you can still use it in a 5G phone as long as you have to cut the sim to fit in the 5g phone.
You can use a 4g sim card to send both text messages and multimedia messages on a 5G phone and at the same time receive text messages or multimedia messages on a 5G phone using a 4g sim card.
It also enables us to browse the internet. However, as already mentioned, you will never see a 5g network coverage; instead, you will see only a 4G LTE or 3G network.
Can you use Old SIM Card on a 5G Phone?
Yes, absolutely! As mentioned earlier, the entire range of cellular networking ( 5G,1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G) is totally compatible with the 5G phone.
You will get to experience better speed, lesser lagging, and greater efficiency of your already existing network on a 5G phone. Therefore there is no compulsion to purchase a new SIM.
However, it should be kept in mind that if you wish to experience the massive advantages that come with the 5G network, then having a 5G SIM is a necessity.
You cannot use a 5G cellular network without having a 5G SIM card.
Do You Need a New SIM for 5G?
Yes, you will require a 5G SIM to avail 5G network on your smartphone. As 5G is gaining popularity by the day, 4G continues to be the most used cellular network as of now.
A 4G SIM supports cellular networks up to 4G. This means that all previous generations of networks like 3G, 2G, and 1G will be supported by it. But unfortunately, it cannot provide the benefits of the 5G network.
Are 4G and 5G SIM Cards Different?
Yes, a 4G SIM supports cellular networks up to 4G. This encompasses all previous generations of networks like 3G, 2G, and 1G. However, it cannot provide advantages of the 5G network.
A 4G SIM is designed in a way that it does not aid the availing of a network that has a higher frequency band of 2-8 GHz and a bandwidth of 5-20 MHz.
On the other hand, a 5G SIM supports cellular networks up to 5G (which includes 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G).
It works 100 times faster and more effectively than a 4G SIM. 5G is known to have significantly more bandwidth, or capacity, than 4G as well.
A 5G network works on a higher frequency of 24 GHz or 39 GHz, much higher than 4G, which operates on 700 to 2500 MHz frequency.
Should You Take a 4G Phone or Wait for 5G?
It may seem like the end of the world without buying the latest 5G phone, but it’s actually not.
Experts advise that it would be better to purchase a well advanced 4G phone rather than buying any 5G phone which is still in its initial development stage.
The present 5G phones available in the market have a minimal number of features, and that has given a reason for many to hang on to their 4G phones.
Besides this, it is still going to take a lot of time to get good area coverage of the 5G network as it is still a very fresh addition to the tech world. There is a long wait before it actually reaches us.
Therefore, a good 4G phone should do well for the next couple of years at least.
Conclusion
It is evident that the 5G network is gradually taking over the cellular tech world, but yet there is a high scope for it to work in co-existence with 4G network or even 3G.
4G network works very well on 5G phones but if we want to use 5G, then having a 5G SIM is a must.
Even though the 5G network blesses us with breakneck speed, lower lagging, and better music and gaming experiences, it is still going to take time actually to reach us.