The 5G network has been active in the Netherlands for a year now and there are now dozens of 5G smartphones for sale. If you are considering a new device, a 5G device can be interesting. But buying a 4G smartphone in 2021 is not that crazy.
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Buying a 4G smartphone in 2021
5G is the successor to 4G and makes faster mobile internet possible. Providers activated their 5G networks in the Netherlands a year ago and the first 5G phones also appeared at that time. The offer has now grown considerably and there are also plenty 5G smartphones under 250 euros For sale. It is only a matter of time before 5G support is in all smartphones, but it is not there yet.
There is still plenty of choice from 4G smartphones. Although manufacturers and providers go to great lengths to let you choose a 5G device, you can easily buy a 4G smartphone in 2021. Android Planet gives three reasons why. Are you reading along?
1. 5G will not be faster than 4G until the end of 2022
First of all, the added value of 5G in 2021 is still very limited. This is because 5G operates in practically the same frequency bands as 4G, and therefore the 5G network is not yet faster than 4G in practice. That will only change in the autumn of 2022, when the government auctions the 3.5 GHz frequency.
Providers can then ‘activate’ 5G on that frequency, and then you benefit from higher upload and download speeds. But that will take almost a year and a half. If you plan to use your new smartphone for a maximum of two years, you will only really notice the improvements of 5G in the end.
Android Planet-editor Bram calls the lagging behind of the higher speed in his opinion one of the current setbacks of 5G in the Netherlands.
2. 4G is fast and will last for years
A second argument for buying a 4G smartphone in 2021 is that the 4G network is simply well put together and will remain in place. 4G is available practically throughout the Netherlands, achieves high upload and download speeds and all providers sell 4G subscriptions for competitive prices.
The speeds of 4G are higher than many WiFi networks and more than enough to do everything on your smartphone at home and on the road. Moreover, 4G will remain ‘normally’ available, even if 5G will become a lot faster in the future. Providers will keep the 4G network up and running for many years to come, so your 4G device will continue to work properly. By the time 4G disappears, we will be several generations of smartphones.
3. 5G smartphones are not necessarily better
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The third reason to consider a 4G device is that a 5G smartphone is not necessarily better. Of course the 5G support is a plus because you are prepared for the faster mobile internet, but don’t stare at it blindly. Other specifications are of greater importance.
A good example is the Samsung Galaxy A32. It is available as a 4G and 5G version. The 5G variant is tens of euros more expensive, but has a not so nice LCD screen with a low HD resolution and a standard refresh rate of 60Hz.
The 4G model, on the other hand, has a beautiful OLED screen with sharp full-HD resolution and shows a smoother image thanks to the 90Hz refresh rate. You will notice the difference in screen quality from day one and continuously, while the added value of 5G will only become apparent at the end of 2022.
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