What 5G is, and whether you need it on a trip

5G without the jargon

Each generation of mobile network carries more traffic than the one before. Google's Pixel help puts it simply: 5G networks let you use more bandwidth than 4G, and with more bandwidth you can get faster speeds. The word that matters there is can. Google adds that 5G service, speed and performance vary widely, depending on the operator's network and how busy it is, your phone model, whether you are in a city or the countryside and how far you are from the antennas, and even walls, buildings and some phone cases.

Google also notes that operators' 5G areas may be smaller than their other services. In other words, an operator's 5G tends to cover less ground than the rest of its network. On a trip, that means a typical day mixes 5G and 4G without you noticing.

Does your phone support it?

• iPhone: Apple lists the iPhone 12 models and later.
• Google Pixel: Pixel 4a (5G) and later, although Google notes that not every model works on every kind of 5G network.
• Other Android phones: check the model's specifications for 5G, or our compatibility page.

There is a quick check on iPhone. Apple says that if you open Settings, then Mobile Data, and find a Mobile Data Options screen with 5G choices, your device is 5G capable. On a Pixel, the Preferred network type setting lists 5G when the phone supports it. Remember that the phone is only one of the three conditions: the plan and the local network have to support 5G too.

Where there is no 5G, the phone drops to 4G

Nothing breaks when 5G is not available. Google states that Pixel phones with 5G fall back to 4G and lower networks when 5G service is not available. Apple's default setting, 5G Auto, goes further: when 5G speeds would not give a noticeably better experience, the iPhone switches to LTE on its own to save battery.

Apple also addresses travel directly. Many operators support 5G roaming, it says, and if yours does not, you can get mobile data through 4G or LTE networks or use a local SIM card or eSIM with 5G where available. So the realistic outcome of a phone without 5G abroad is 4G, not a dead connection.

The 5G icon and your battery

The icon in the status bar tells you what network is available, not exactly what you are getting. Apple notes that the 5G icon appears based on the configuration of the operator's network and, in rare cases, may appear even when 5G coverage is not available. If a connection feels slow, the icon is not proof that something is wrong with the plan, and the lack of it is not proof that something is wrong with the phone.

Battery is the other trade-off. Apple says 5G On, which always uses 5G when available, might reduce battery life, which is why 5G Auto is the default. Low Power Mode disables 5G on iPhone except in some cases, such as video streaming and large downloads on certain models. On a long day of maps and photos, that is worth knowing.

So, do you need it on a trip?

For most travellers, no. Navigation, messaging, booking apps, translation and social media were in everyday use on 4G before 5G arrived, and 4G is what you will be on in plenty of places anyway. Where 5G earns its keep is heavy use: uploading a lot of video, or sharing your connection with a laptop to work, as in our hotspot guide.

What decides whether your trip goes smoothly is coverage where you are going and a plan that works there. Whether a given travel eSIM uses 5G depends on the plan and on the local network it connects to, so check the details of the destination you are buying for. If you are unsure about the phone itself, start with the compatibility check, because without eSIM support the 5G question does not even arise.