The best 5G phones to buy in 2021

There is more to 5G than the exaggerated hype and some really weird (and in some cases, dangerous) conspiracy theories. Here’s what you really need to know: 5G offers faster upload and download speeds, more bandwidth, lower latency, and enough throughput to support a household of people trying to connect to the internet (although 5G home broadband is … limited, to say the least).

And 5G connectivity is not as rare as it was in the beginning. Operators are rolling out more towers and installing more nodes on existing towers across the United States If your carrier has already enabled 5G where you live, or if you are planning to upgrade your phone this year, buy a phone 5G is a good thing. idea.

Apple, Google, Samsung, OnePlus, and even some budget smartphone gamers have all fully committed to the new wireless specification, although it is not equal among major carriers. There is a bit of nuance with 5G and its different frequencies, which can make choosing a compatible device boring!

Understanding 5G is complicated because of the way it was deployed in the United States. When buying a phone, you should know that there are three frequencies that make up 5G: low band, mid band, and high band. Low band frequencies are often considered 5G “blanket” due to their far reach, but their 600-700 MHz spectrum is quite slow. Mid frequencies are 1.7 GHz to 2.5 GHz faster, and they are like just right 5G level you might expect at this point. High band frequencies are referred to as millimeter wave 5G with 24 GHz spectrum and above, but the higher frequency means shorter range. The signal cannot travel very far and cannot penetrate, say, walls or windows. This means that you can get super-fast speeds if you’re directly under a 5G node, but not at home. Operators have rolled out 5G in different bands, but the ideal 5G network is made up of all three. It is a work in progress.

T-Mobile has been known for its mass supply of low-band frequencies since it engulfed Sprint, which allows it to advertise that it has the most coverage. Verizon and AT&T rely primarily on the high-band 5G mmWave. Not only do you have to pay attention to the type of 5G service offered by your carrier in your area, but some 5G phones only support specific types of 5G. It’s becoming less of a problem now, but if you buy a 5G phone, make sure it can support both mmWave and sub-6Ghz 5G.

5G phones are not so expensive anymore as they once were. It’s possible to spend as little as $ 300 on a 5G-capable phone, although devices are limited in band support at this price point and are often reserved for low-cost networks. Here are our recommendations for 5G phones to buy this year.