Is it time to upgrade your smartphone to a 5G-capable handset?
BY READERS DIGEST
11th Aug 2021 Technology
New upgrades come out for phones every few years. With 5G being rolled across many countries, now might be a good time to think about upgrading your phone to one that is able to handle 5G. Here are some of the things to think about.
Much the same, slightly different
While 5G will be introducing better connections and faster speeds, it is important to remember that the introduction of this does not mean that there will be much in the way of a change of services. You will still be able to shop online at your favourite stores, for instance, whether you’re on 5G or not.
Though the goal will be to move towards 5G as a whole, this transition is likely to take several years to fully facilitate. As a result, you might be able to stick with 4G for quite some time. That being said, numerous industries and companies are in a position to leverage the upcoming developments with the existing products, and with updates they’ll be able to capitalise on once the 5G speeds reach desired heights. For instance, online gaming providers like Dunder Casino have live casino game selections which gamers will be able to put to full use out and about without Wi-Fi with 5G’s lower latency.
Major Cities
As with the rollout of 4G, we are likely to see 5G come to the major cities first. While the capitals of the world might be quick to introduce 5G to their public hotspots, the more rural areas are not going to be so quick on the uptake. It is a legitimate reason that you might not have to upgrade your smartphone if you do not live in an area that will be getting 5G.
Upgrading a phone can be expensive, even if you are on a contract. If you live in an area that is not going to get 5G for a while, there might not be much of a point in you getting the upgrade now. Therefore, it might be a better idea to take a look at the rollout of 5G in your country and make a decision based on that.
Modern handsets
Of course, it is also worth noting that the most modern of handsets will come 5G-capable from the start. If you like to always have the latest tech, no matter what it might be, then you might very well be picking up a 5G handset soon.
Many of the big phone manufacturers and developers are beginning to turn out high-end models that are 5G-capable. Just as we saw a market shift from different handsets to the standard smartphone block a few years ago, so might we see a similar change as more developers introduce this style of technology.
So, is now a good time to upgrade your phone to one that can handle 5G? That really does depend on you as a tech enthusiast. If you like to have the latest of everything, then yes – it might be time for you to upgrade. However, the rollout of 5G is likely to be as slow as some of the other big tech moves we have seen in previous years. Though it will no doubt become the standard eventually, for now, we do not have to upgrade to a 5G-capable handset if we do not want to. The choice is yours.
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