Can T-Mobile take the lead in 5G?
T-Mobile has one of the most ambitious 5G plans of any carrier out there. T-Mobile is banking on a merger with Sprint to complete its full 5G network but hasn't shied away from getting a head start. With new 5G spots in six cities across the U.S. as well as the promise of a nationwide 600Mhz network to come, it's time to start thinking about whether you should consider T-Mobile's 5G network. Here's everything you need to know about this network so you can make that decision with confidence.
- When will my area get 5G?
- Which devices should I get to be 5G ready?
- Which plan do I need for access?
- What tech is T-Mobile using?
- What's the deal with Sprint and does it matter?
- Is 5G worth it for most people?
The 5G Galaxy
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
Fast, smooth, and cutting edge
One of the most complete feeling flagship phones only gets better with 5G support and a massive battery. With a great display and cameras, this phone is the perfect tool for anyone that gets things done on the go.
When will my area even get 5G?
Low-band 5G at 600Mhz will be available to 200 million people by the end of the year according to an announcement from T-Mobile. While it remains to be seen just how fast this low-band network will be, the extra coverage available at this frequency will allow T-Mobile to cover many more people with fewer towers. It's worth noting that the only phone currently announced to take advantage od this low-band network is the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren which should be available later this year.
T-Mobile is still building a high-band 5G network in a few cities. The network is off to a strong start with a list of six cities and surprisingly detailed maps. With some coverage in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Cleveland, and Atlanta, the number of cities is high compared to other carriers but the actual 5G coverage is still quite low. Some highlighted areas with consistent coverage only encompass a few neighborhoods and many only have it a street intersection.
This deployment is reassuringly honest but it does exemplify the difficulty of deploying high-band 5G in a city.
High-band 5G coverage available now on T-Mobile.
Most of us will need to wait for low-band to be deployed to see 5G daily. There's also the consideration that Sprint is deploying its 5G network on the mid-band at 2.5Ghz. With potential offerings at high-band, mid-band, and low-band, T-Mobile really seems set to be the king of 5G very soon.
Which devices should I get to be 5G ready?
The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is the only 5G device currently available on T-Mobile. The Galaxy S10 5G is a larger version of the S10+ with a larger battery and display alongside a 5G modem.
Unless you have to buy a phone right now, it would be best to wait for the second wave of 5G devices from T-Mobile starting with the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren. This gorgeous phone will be the most fully-featured 5G device on T-Mobile and will be able to take full advantage of T-Mobile's 600Mhz network.
Should you buy a 5G phone in 2019?
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G vs. LG V50: Which should you buy?
Which plan do I need for access?
T-Mobile is allowing anyone with a compatible device to access its 5G network. It's important to note that using 5G will likely lead to increased data usage so a plan with plenty of data is recommended. Still, T-Mobile continues to stand out from the crowd in a great way with this 5G approach. And really, it doesn't make sense from a technical perspective to charge more for 5G access.
What tech is T-Mobile using?
T-Mobile started with high-band 5G on a 28Ghz band. With this network, T-Mobile should be competitive with what Verizon and AT&T have been doing once the network has more time to mature. This high-band deployment should be capable of very high speeds but building penetration and coverage is much more limited than we're used to with 4G.
Recently however, T-Mobile has announced plans to deploy a 5G network using it's low-band 600Mhz spectrum through the end of 2019. T-Mobile states that this network should cover more than 200 million people. That would make it the first nationwide 5G network if T-Mobile can pull it off. This deployment should sound familiar to 5G enthusiasts since U.S. Cellular announced similar plans this October.
5G in the U.S.: How each carrier will deploy 5G on phones
Is 5G dangerous or is it safe?
Does 5G use more battery than LTE?
What's the deal with Sprint and does it matter?
There's another piece of the 5G puzzle that still needs to be placed, and it's yellow. Sprint invested big in sub-6, or mid-band, spectrum early on and has partially used it to drive high LTE speeds thanks to carrier aggregation. Recently, Sprint has been making use of this spectrum to build a 5G network. While speeds aren't as high as high-band 5G networks, it has much better coverage and building penetration.
When and if Sprint and T-Mobile are able to join forces (and it's looking likely), both networks will be able to make free use of this combined 5G network, giving customers access to one of the most technically advanced and widest-reaching networks nationwide. We'll just have to wait and see if it becomes a reality.
Is 5G worth it for most people?
On T-Mobile, it really comes down to if you want the phone because there is no current separation of plans. The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is quite a good phone with everything you would expect from a modern flagship device. If you just want the advanced speed and improved connection consistency of 5G, the Galaxy S10 5G is a strong phone and T-Mobile has even demonstrated speeds over 1Gbps on it. We've seen similar results on the same phone on another network as well.
However, it's also the only current choice on T-Mobile and won't be as functional as the second wave of 5G devices thanks to its older X50 modem. If this large and expensive device isn't to your taste then you should hold off until a device with a better fit becomes available. 4G LTE will be more than enough for the needs of most users at this time.
It's OK not to be hyped about 5G
The 5G Galaxy
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
Fast, smooth, and cutting edge
One of the most complete feeling flagship phones only gets better with 5G support and a massive battery. With a great display and cameras, this phone is the perfect tool for anyone that gets things done on the go.
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