Why Your 5G Phone Shows 5G But Delivers 4G Speeds

• Many regions use Non-Standalone (NSA) 5G, which relies on 4G for control signaling, limiting true 5G speeds.
• Common 5G frequency bands like mid-band (Sub-6 GHz) offer speeds comparable to 4G, unlike the faster but limited mmWave.
• Factors such as distance from the tower, signal obstruction, and network congestion can prevent full 5G speed utilization.
• Limited tower capacity, high user density, and mobile modem limitations can hinder actual 5G performance.
• Data plan speed caps, slow app/server performance, and unstable 5G coverage can also contribute to 4G-like speeds.

Why It Matters: It explains why your 5G phone often delivers 4G-like speeds.