When you glance at the top corner of your smartphone, you might notice a symbol that says “5G” or “5G+” if you’re connected to the right network. But what exactly do these symbols signify? Well, they not only indicate that you’re using 5G but also the specific type of 5G network you’re connected to.
That brings us to the question – What does “5G+” mean on iPhone and Android phones? Below, we’ll dive into that and introduce you to the different 5G icons!
The Different 5G Icons
If your phone has a 5G modem, you’ll see one of two symbols: 5G or 5G+. The 5G symbol implies your phone is connected to 5G NR (New Radio) on a sub-6 GHz frequency. The bands within this frequency range provide better coverage but relatively slower speeds. It’s important to note that the higher the frequency, the faster your download speeds can be.
Unfortunately, the 5G icon alone doesn’t provide information about whether you’re connected to low-band (less than 1 GHz) or mid-band (1–7.125 GHz) 5G. However, you can conduct a quick speed test to get a rough idea. Typically, low-band 5G offers download speeds of 30–250 Mbps, while mid-band 5 G’s reach speed reaches 100–900 Mbps.
It’s worth noting that T-Mobile has been adding the 5G icon to their phones even when they are not connected to the 5G network. To ensure clarity, you can download the app Signal Spy on Android or access Field Test Mode on your iPhone to determine the specific connection you’re using.
If you spot the 5G+ symbol in your status bar, consider yourself fortunate as you have access to a high-speed, multi-gigabit connection. 5G+ indicates your phone is connected to a mmWave (millimeter wave) 5G NR tower. These towers use short-range radios to deliver incredibly fast speeds. By conducting a speed test, you can expect download speeds ranging from 1 to 3 Gbps which is quite remarkable.
Meanwhile, Verizon users may come across the symbol 5G UWB (Ultra-Wideband) in their status bar. This is the marketing term Verizon uses to represent their mmWave network, equivalent to the 5G+ network.
Reasons for Different Icons
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the organization responsible for creating the 5G standard, opted for multiple ranges of frequencies to accommodate 5G networks. This approach was chosen to facilitate faster and more cost-effective deployment of 5G by carriers. However, the use of different frequency ranges results in varying experiences with 5G, leading to the existence of multiple icons.
Final Words
In brief, the 5G and 5G+ symbols that appear on iPhone and Android phones signify the type of 5G network connection you have. The 5G icon indicates a connection to 5G NR on a sub-6 GHz frequency, offering better coverage but slower speeds. On the other hand, 5G+ represents a connection to a mmWave 5G NR tower, delivering ultra-fast speeds in the multi-gigabit range.
However, It’s worth noting that while these symbols provide a general understanding of your connection, it may be necessary to perform speed tests to determine the specific band and speed you’re experiencing.
