Since 5G was launched in India, as an Indian there is a curiosity in our mind whether is it possible to upgrade 4G phone to 5G phones. Unfortunately, upgrading a 4G phone to 5G through a simple software update or any other modification is impossible.
Is it possible to upgrade 4G phone to 5G? - Our opinion
We understand that somewhere in your mind might have the desire to upgrade your existing devices to 5G, especially since in India 5G was launched and the service might be available in your regions. But to successfully connect with a 5G network it is mainly dependent on the hardware elements of the phone, primarily the modem and other radiofrequency components. Those are the components that are designed and built to support one of either 4G or 5G technology.
Is there any update available to convert 4G to 5G?
In our minds still have a little hope that we might have any software update available to convert 4G to 5G. But we are sorry to say that there is no software or firmware update available in the current scenario that can convert a 4G phone to a 5G phone.
> 4G Mobile Phones
In 4G mobile phones when we consider upgrading from 4G to 5G, it involves critical hardware changes, mainly the addition of a 5G modem and other radiofrequency components, but sadly this is not present in traditional 4G devices. Upgrading to 5G generally requires the mandatory hardware to help 5G connectivity. But keep in mind that hardware limitations are a crucial factor and a software update alone cannot enable 5G facility on a 4G phone. So we must say, it’s better not to try to change the hardware of your 4G mobile devices.
> SIM cards
SIM cards play a crucial role in network authentication and encryption, they alone cannot enable 5G functionality on a device that is designed only for 4G. While using a 5G SIM card in a 4G device is usually possible, however you only should be able to access 4G LTE networks. The SIM card primarily handles the authentication process on the network, and it’s undeveloped and united with older technologies.
Will 5G sim work in 4G supported phone?
After reading the above paragraph a general question arises, will 5G sim work in 4G-supported phones? Yes, a 5G SIM card can generally work in a 4G-supported phone. You have to keep in mind that, even though you have a 5G SIM card, the speed you will experience is the limited capabilities of your 4G device and you can only enjoy the 4G LTE network it connects to.
- 5G can offer higher speeds that you won’t be able to take advantage of.
- However, some newer 5G SIM cards may have additional security features that effectively increase their performance on 5G networks, but they might work on 4G devices.
If I insert a 5G sim in a 4G phone what will happen?
We are always curious about what will happen in any situation, So we know that you also think “If I insert a 5G sim in a 4G phone what will happen?” Am I able to experience 5G service on my device? or, Is my device suffering from a security problem? Here is some information to help you understand.
If you insert a 5G SIM card into a 4G phone, several things will happen:
- Just because your phone’s hardware doesn’t support 5G technology you won’t be able to access the higher speeds that 5G networks offer.
- Some newer 5G SIM cards may have additional security features, but they might work on 4G devices.
- The SIM card will handle the authentication process on the mobile network, allowing your 4G phone to access voice and data services.
In summary, inserting a 5G SIM card into a 4G phone will not magically upgrade your phone to 5G. It will operate as a 4G device
Should I get a 5G phone or stay with 4G?
Now the common question is “Should I get a 5G phone or stay with 4G?”. We know that you want to know the answer to this question. Let’s discuss, whether you should have a 5G phone or you should stay with a 4G phone, depends on many factors:
- At first check the availability of 5G in your area. If you find well-established and good coverage of 5G networks in your area, then you should go for it.
- Evaluate your usage and needs of internet data. If your primary need of use a phone mainly for standard tasks like calls, texts, and basic internet activity, a 4G phone might be sufficient for this kind of task. However, if you engage in data-intensive activities like streaming high-definition videos, online gaming or a task that needs a high-speed internet connection, you may consider the fast-speed 5G connection.
- You must have to consider your budget. 5G phones, especially newer models, can be more expensive than 4G phones. If cost is a significant factor for you, evaluate whether the additional features of a 5G phone justify paying the higher price for your needs.
- Other than 5G connectivity, you should consider other features that come with newer 5G phone models. If a 5G phone offers valuable features including a better camera, longer battery life, sufficient RAM, enough inbuilt storage, high-quality display, security updates, a high-performance processor and effective cost, that means it might be worth the upgrade.
We must say, if 5G connection is widely available in your area, and you need faster data speeds and the additional features that come with newer 5G phone models then upgrading to a 5G phone could be a good choice. However, if your 4G phone meets your current needs and budget constraints, sticking with a 4G phone might be more practical.
Which 5G phone is best to buy?
When buying a new 5G phone, It’s important to consider factors such as budget, brand preference, camera requirements, battery life, RAM, enough inbuilt storage, display and other features that matter. Here are some suggested mobile phones that you can consider because we have already researched and viewed the reviews of those phones.
Redmi 12
- Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 Mobile Platform : Power efficient 4nm architecture | 12GB of RAM including 6GB Virtual
- Display: Large 17.24cm FHD+ 90Hz Adaptive Sync display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Protection
- Camera: 50MP f/1.8 AI Dual camera with classic film filters, Film Frame, Portrait, Night Mode, 50MP mode, Time-lapse, Google lens | 8MP Selfie camera
- Battery: 5000mAh(typ) battery with 22.5W charger in-box
MIUI Dialer | MIUI 14 with Android 13 | Side fingerprint | IR blaster | 3.5mm Audio jack | IP53 rating
Redmi 11 Prime
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 700 with 5G, 7nm Octa-core processor; Up to 2.2GHz
- Display: 90Hz FHD+(1080×2400) Adaptive Sync Display; 16.71centimeters; 20:9 aspect ratio
- Camera: 50MP AI Dual camera | 8MP Front camera
- Memory, Storage & SIM: 6GB RAM | 128GB UFS 2.2 storage expandable up to 512GB with dedicated SD card slot | Dual SIM (nano + nano) dual standby (5G+5G)
- Battery: 5000 mAh large battery with 18W fast charging support and 22.5W fast charger in-box with Type-C connectivity
Samsung Galaxy M14
- Superfast 5G with 13 5G Bands, Powerful Exynos 1330 Octa Core 2.4GH 5nm processor with latest Android 13 having One UI 5.0 interface
- 50MP+2MP+2MP Triple camera setup- True 50MP (F1.8) main camera + 2MP (F2.4) + 2MP (F2.4)| 13MP (F2.0) front camera
- 6000mAh lithium-ion battery, 1 year manufacturer warranty for device and 6 months manufacturer warranty for in-box accessories including batteries from the date of purchase
- 16.72 centimeters (6.6-inch) LCD, FHD+ resolution with 1080 x 2408 pixels resolution, 401 PPI with 16M color
- Get up to 2 times of Android Updates & 4 times of Security Updates with Samsung Galaxy M14 5G.
Realme narzo 60X
- With a 33 W Powerful SUPERVOOC Charge, 30 minutes charge for 50% battery and full charge in 70 minutes,5000mAh massive battery, without ever being concerned about the battery running out
- 50MP Primary Camera, street photography high-quality pictures that catch every detail with astounding clarity
- Superior visual experience with the 17.07 cm (6.72) high resolution with 90Hz ultra-high refresh rate,91.4% screen-to-body ratio with punch-hole display, screen brightness upto 680 nits
- Witness stupendous speed and flawless multitasking with up to 12 GB of dynamic RAM that provides a fluid and reactive user experience, whether you’re watching high-definition video, playing graphics-intensive video games
- More comfortable unlocking position than back fingerprint When the phone is placed face up on the desk, the user can unlock the phone by side fingerprint without picking it up, which is more comfortable and convenient than holding the phone up with the back fingerprint.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite
- Camera: 64MP Main Camera with EIS; 2MP Depth Lens and 2MP Macro Lens; Front (Selfie) Camera: 16MP Sony IMX471
- Camera Features: AI scene enhancement, Dual-View Video, HDR, Night Portrait, Panorama Mode, Retouch Filters, 1080p video at 30 fps, SLO-MO: 720p video at 120 fps, TIME-LAPSE: 1080p video at 30 fps, Video editor, Face unlock, Screen flash, HDR, NIGHT, PORTRAIT, TIME-LAPSE, Retouch, Filters
- Display: 6.59 Inches; 120 Hz Refresh Rate; Support sRGB, Display P3; Resolution: 2412 x 1080 pixels 402ppi; Aspect Ratio: 20:9
- Operating System: Oxygen OS based on Android 12
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G
- Battery & Charging: 5000 mAh with 33W Super VOOC
- Alexa Hands-Free capable: Download the Alexa app to use Alexa hands-free. Play music, make calls, hear news, open apps, navigate, and more, all using just your voice, while on-the-go
Oppo A79
- Big 5000 mAh Battery with All-Day AI Power Saving + 33W SUPERVOOC Charging with 5-layer charging protection to make charging safer
- Make high-resolution, high-definition films with ease with 50MP AI Rear Camera ( 50MP Main + 2MP Portrait ) | 8MP Front Camera
- Memory, Storage & SIM: 8 GB RAM (+ RAM expansion up to 8GB) | 128 GB ROM | Expandable Upto 1TB | Dual 5G Sim Slot
- 6.72″ FHD+ 90Hz Waterdrop Display with 1080×2040 pixels. Large Screen to Body ratio of 91.4%
From the above, we think you should know that it is not possible to upgrade a 4G phone to 5G through a simple software update. The transition involves critical hardware changes, and upgrading to 5G requires purchasing a new smartphone with 5G capabilities. We hope this article might help you to understand the answer you want.
Read more related posts:- http://bytelure.in/category/q-a
Thanks for posting. I really enjoyed reading it, especially because it addressed my problem. It helped me a lot and I hope it will help others too.
You’re very welcome. I’m happy to hear that you liked the post and that it solved your problem. That’s exactly what I aim to do with my blog. Thank you for your kind words and feedback. I hope you’ll come back and read more of my posts in the future. Have a wonderful day! 😊