Discover if Your Phone Has 5G Coverage
Discover if your phone is 5G compatible and what it means for your cellular technology Learn how to identify if your iPhone or Android device is 4G or 5G and find out if 5G is available in your area
To determine if your phone is 5G compatible, follow these simple steps. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Mobile Data, then Mobile Data Options, and then Voice & Data. If you see 5G as one of the options, then your phone is 5G compatible. For Android users, navigate to Settings, then Network & Internet, then SIMs, and finally Preferred Network Type to find out about 5G compatibility. With the promise of faster data speeds, greater bandwidth, and reduced latency, 5G is changing the game in cellular technology. If your phone is 5G compatible, you can enjoy faster downloads, seamless streaming of HD movies and TV shows, and uninterrupted online gaming.
To fully enjoy the benefits of 5G technology, it is essential to have a 5G-compatible phone. Carriers are upgrading their hardware to support 5G networks, and manufacturers are equipping newer cellular modems in 5G phones to connect to these networks. If you are unsure if your phone is 5G compatible, it is easy to check. Most new high-end and mid-range phones launched since March 2023 support 5G, and even some budget phones have this capability.
How Do I Know if My Phone Is 5G?
To access a carrier's 5G network, not only do you need 5G-enabled hardware, but your phone must also be certified to work on that network. If your phone isn't certified, a software update may be required to enable carrier support. Without this certification, you won't be able to use 5G on your network.
If you own an iPhone 12 series or newer, your device is 5G-compatible as Apple has included 5G hardware in every iPhone shipped since then, including the iPhone SE (3rd gen). However, having 5G hardware alone is not enough, as you also need the necessary software to support your carrier. Checking if your iPhone can work with your carrier's 5G networks is easy. Simply open the "Settings" app, navigate to Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options > Voice & Data, and check if "5G Auto" or "5G On" options are listed. If they are, your iPhone can work with your carrier's 5G networks. But if only LTE or 3G options are available, your iPhone won't work with your mobile operator's 5G network. Don't forget that you can turn off 5G on your iPhone to save battery life.
In case you own an iPhone 12 series or newer iPhone, but there is no 5G on the “Voice & Data” page for your carrier, you’ll have to wait for Apple to update iOS to include the necessary support for your cell carrier.
- Is My Android Phone 4G or 5G?
To check if your Android phone is compatible with 5G, follow a similar process as with an iPhone. However, due to the differences in Android devices, the location of options may vary depending on your phone manufacturer.
To confirm whether your phone is 4G or 5G compatible, go to the "Settings" app and navigate to Network & internet > SIMs > Preferred Network Type. If you see 5G listed as an option, your phone supports 5G. If not, check if 4G or LTE is listed, as their presence indicates support for 4G.
To ensure your phone is compatible with 5G on your carrier, it's important to check for certification from your carrier. If you don't see the 5G option on your phone, it's possible your phone doesn't currently support the necessary 5G bands used by your carrier. You can either wait for a software update from the manufacturer or check the specifications on their website to confirm if your phone has 5G hardware. However, for carrier-specific compatibility, the best way is to use the previously-mentioned method of checking for certification.
Do I Have 5G in My Area?
To fully take advantage of 5G's benefits, having 5G compatibility alone is not enough. You also need to have access to 5G network coverage in your area. However, as of 2023, 5G networks are still being deployed in the US, which means not every city or town has extensive 5G coverage. Nevertheless, carriers are gradually expanding their 5G networks, so areas without coverage may receive it in the near future.
To determine if your carrier offers 5G in your location, the most effective approach is to contact them directly. You can reach out to their customer service or visit their store to inquire. Alternatively, you can consult their website's network coverage maps, which all three major carriers in the US—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon—offer. These maps allow you to check both their 5G and 4G coverage and search for coverage information by address or zip code.
