Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Depending on where you live, you have eaten 5g in your pocket for at least two years – or possibly around half a decade. In any case, wireless tech has certainly passed for a long time to fulfill many promises that the CEO pipe for us to upset, which included retail retail from retail retail to traffic lights, from the traffic lights that advanced to your car.
Although some of these promises may be, many of them do not have clearly. I don’t know about you, but my city’s traffic lights are not in sync a decade ago. But let’s answer this big question: Now when we are in the global rollout of 5G for many years, has it come close to living according to the hype?
Is 5G Hype alive?
294 votes
Fast data for something but not for everyone
David Emal / Android Authority
For you and me, 5G promised three major improvements: Gigabit speed increases more than 10x or 4G, less than 1MS, and proud of more reliable coverage.
Let’s start with the first point, which always relied on the promise of expensive, small range MMV Spectrum. This technology has mostly seen in some countries like China and the United States deployed to dense citizens, stadiums, airports and cities, but the rest of the world has largely ignored it due to its cost and poor signal limit. Even in the United States, only Verizon is extremely determined to technology, in which AT&T and T -Mobile prefer local deployments. Instead, most of the world’s 5G network coverage is based on the re-produced 4G spectrum and select 6-Gig Herz band.
So how do the data compare to the hype?
Between July and December 2024, Okla’s US Speed Test report shows a huge contradiction in data rates nationwide. In many states, the middle download speed of the middle download is around 50Mbps data range, and even in the best case, consumers usually experience all 200 MBPS speed. It is light work on the go. Serving, but we were promised that Gigabit’s ability is well as shameful (though consumers will never maintain this level to some extent). Equally, the delay for our gadget is relatively high, which is average of 63 63 mm on average, fine for browsing but is very high for real -time applications like cloud gaming or AR/VR.
When we look at the global picture, the situation is equally different. Western users sit somewhere between 100 Mbps and 300 Mbps for normal 5G download speed, but this is a very wide range. Once again, the normal pace varies quite widely, the worst markets score more faster than a reasonable 4G and 300 Mbps under 100 MBPS, which challenges a decent fiber package. For example, South Korean operators score more than 400Mbps for 5G downloads.
According to the GSA’s June 2025 report, between 20 MBPS and 50 Mbps, the upload speed is quite slow. However, it still has a range of 15Mbps range from 5Mbps on 4G LTE networks.
One step back, the report reveals that the speed of 5G on the same networks is 4G LTE faster. This is clearly a solid advantage, but once again, it is nowhere to the 10x speed marketing at the beginning of the 5G deployment, partially because MMVO reaches so fewer users. In addition, it is more generous to look at 5G in isolation – you will certainly not be connected to 5G at all times, so normal speed will slow down. Given that some 4G LTE-A networks were already able to kill 100Mbps or more, many of the benefits of 5G can also be substantially exaggerated by this figure.
The carrier’s coverage is prominent
Edgar Survints / Android Authority
Considering the positives, carriers have some seemingly decent coverage numbers to be proud of these days, which you hope, because we are involved in the rollout in the years. In the United States, at least 75 % of users are now covered with 5G, as well as data are close to 80 % in many European countries. The other regions are from 60-90 %, depending on how quickly they started their deployment. As you may have experienced, urban areas have the best 5g coverage, while rural areas are often more limited.
However, coverage is not always attached. You can sink and out in the cell areas on your journey, or in reality you can’t find 5G signals while sitting in your home.
Although the geographical coverage looks strong, the users are spending half their time connected to 5G.
Instead of measuring geographical access, 5G availability of open signal is spent with an active 5g connection time of matric records, and this number is clearly less than the area, and it is very different in terms of your country and network. Puerto Rico guides the chart with a 57.4 % ordinary 5G contact time, followed by India (54.3 %), Kuwait (45.6 %), Singapore (40 %), and the United States (37.5 %) in fifth, on the basis of the data collected between January and 20225, based on the fact that the data is based on the data.
Even if we give advantage of doubt to 5G in terms of speed, delays and geographical territory, American consumers usually spend more than 1/3 of their 5G network linked to their 5G network – rarely, it is convinced that this technology is an important game changer for our daily life. The European Union countries are worse.
So while mobile performances are a mixed bag every day, what will happen to future use matters was to unlock 5G? “
Where are all smart cities?
Damian Weld / Android Authority
If consumer coverage and speed are slightly disappointing, the maximum promised application promised by 5G is interested in polishing. Outside the shiny demo, things like remote robotic surgery and fully autonomous smart city were always more pipes than the reality of the closest.
This is partially because many networks are still non -standwright 5G (NSA). NSA relies on 4G infrastructure for basic functions, while stand loan (SA) is made from the ground to enable features like network sliding and extremely low lettuce. According to Thrill Research, only 74 out of 354 have moved to the Global Public 5G network SA – this is a disappointing 21 %. In addition, Omdia and Okla notes that European carriers are especially behind the United States, scoring only 2 % compared to 24 % in the availability of 5 GSA. By the middle of 2025, 163 more operators are investing in the SA, but unless the full stand 5G is widely deployed, many modern features such as ultra-fluatics and genuine network will remain on the spot. Many of the first 5G promises are being batted again with 5G Advanced – only time will tell.
Instead, some private businesses have deployed their personal 5G network for specific issues, such as security systems and warehouse robotics. Other sectors such as ports, airports, and manufacturing plants have adopted 5G networks for logistics, assets tracking and low delay automation. Although the scope is still limited, this deployment indicates future capabilities – especially if the costs fall and the software is solid. In particular, about 90 % strictly -controlled private 5G are based on a deployment stand.
A slow transfer to Stand 5G has kept many of the biggest benefits off the table.
With aside doubts, some new 5G -powered abilities have made its way to consumers. Fixed wireless access to home use is well -established for some users, the United States and abroad, often accessing the appropriate data speed in exchange for a more expensive cable setup. However, the speed and reliability of the data are different as the mobile packages. Pixel, iPhone, and such satellite connectivity is possible only due to 5 GNNN, although it will cost users to use in the long run.
However, these 5G benefits have come at a considerable cost for a carrier. In addition to the cost of raw equipment, carriers have spent a fortunate on the new spectrum. AT&T spent about $ 27 billion in US -C band action, and Verizon spent $ 55 billion in surprise. Still, in October 2024, the Open Signal noted that “5G has not yet had enough impact on operators’ profits.” Partially because the project prices have not increased by costs, which is good for consumers, but so because business use issues have not really appeared. Carriers are now preferring network performance to control investment costs.
Is 5g worth it?
Chris Carlin / Android Authority
Overall, the 5G rollout has some benefits, but they are certainly limited to preliminary promises and costs.
The mobile broadband is uncertainly faster than the 4G period, and although the speed of the 3X is far away from what was often marketing, it has helped to reach the speed of the data far more useful than the dubious. Delays are even better, making sure that activities like streaming and browsing may seem particularly smooth, but it is not less than fiber to consider real -time applications for users.
5G is fast and more reliable, but may not have been promised by the margin.
In terms of carrier investment, data plan costs, and hardware prices, they all have to weigh carefully against costs. Data projects have certainly not become much cheaper, and, if anything, the premium 5G tariffs remain expensive. Similarly, 5G modems, radio (especially for MMVO), and chasset prices are increasing, due to the cost of implementing a complex array for 5G networking brands and technologies. This is one of the reasons that modern flagship phones are just so expensive.
Of course, the promised future of mass iOT and automation has not been revealed. We have to see that these promises are ever made before revolving around 6G networks. But when it comes to 5G, I imagine that I am not alone in feeling that the next generation network is fine but hardly it is worth it, and the data proves it.
