How to upgrade a 4G smartphone to 5G?

June 10th 2022

4 mins read

Introduction

5G is the 5th generation of wireless cellular connectivity. It is extremely fast compared to previous Gen 3G and 4G cellular networks. Thus, every flagship phone in 2022 has 5G connectivity. In the same way, even the budget smartphones to entry-level phones have now started to come with 5G support.

Learning this 5G advancement on a 4G smartphone must raise many questions. Will 4G phones work on 5G networks? How to upgrade a 4G smartphone to 5G? When will 4G phase out? Well, to answer all these queries, we've prepared this article; hope you'll find it useful.

What is 5G?

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As mentioned earlier, 5G is the 5th generation of wireless cellular connectivity that is extremely fast compared to 4G networks. Likewise, some of the key features of 5G are as follows:

Supports wider bandwidth like sub-6GHz and mmWave
Can transfer data at around 20Gbps (around 500% faster than 4G)
Supports one million devices per square miles
5ms or lower latency (rapid real-time data transfer)

Will 4G phones work on 5G Networks?

Yes, 4G phones will work on 5G networks. However, it won't work on 5G exclusive networks, but that’s a thing of the distant future. As of now, most cellular networks use both 4G and 5G bands. So, until 4G completely phases out, your 4G smartphone will work fine. However, you’ll not get the blazing fast speed that the 5G offers.

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Can you upgrade a 4G smartphone to 5G?

Before learning how to upgrade a 4G smartphone to 5G, you might want to learn if it's even possible?

The answer to that question is, yes, you can upgrade a 4G smartphone to 5G. However, it’s not that straightforward. Currently, the possible ways to upgrade to 5G are as follows:

Changing some key components of the device: add a 5G-compatible processor and 5G modem to your 4G smartphone. However, this process is highly technical and requires high engineering skills. Furthermore, you won’t find such parts in the local market.
Using a 5G compatible case: Although rare, some special mobile cases come with built-in e-SIM and 5G connectivity. Most notably, Huawei’s 5G case for their premium P50 series. As the company struggled to bring 5G phones following the US ban, with the help of a third party, they manufactured a 5G case. This allowed Huawei P50 users to get 5G connectivity by simply putting on the case.

How to upgrade a 4G smartphone to 5G?

As we mentioned above, there are some ways to upgrade a 4G smartphone to 5G. However, some of them are extremely technical and some are rare. So, what’s the best way to get the 5G upgrade?

The best and simple way to get the upgrade is to buy a new 5G phone. Currently, smartphone companies offer 5G connectivity at even the budget segment. You can find smartphones like Galaxy A13 5G at just $250. Therefore, the hassle-free way to upgrade to 5G is to buy a new 5G phone.

Conclusion

To summarize, if you want to experience blazingly fast speeds, you have to upgrade from 4G to 5G. And the best way to do that is to buy a new 5G phone. However, this doesn’t mean that the 4G is going anywhere.

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