5G The Complete Manual 4th Edition, 2022

T-Mobile: Sprint merger Buyer’s guide coverage further from the initial 30 square miles • Los Angeles, from Marina del Rey to across Midtown and lower Manhattan. • Downtown L.A., and West Hollywood to Culver City. It also eventually included As well as New York, Sprint had achieved • parts of Torrance, Southgate, Lancaster and enhanced coverage in Los Angeles, Washington • Buena Park. D.C. , Phoenix, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and New York City, in parts of Manhattan from Houston. The specific areas covered by Sprint and Central Park to the southern tip, the Upper folded into T-Mobile’s network included: West Side and Harlem, the South Bronx; • Atlanta, from College Park to Alpharetta, and parts of Queens and Brooklyn; Hempstead, Long Island as well as Union City, Paterson, from Marietta to Lawrenceville, including Lodi and East Orange in NJ. Peachtree Corners. Phoenix, across the greater Phoenix metro • Chicago, from the historic IL-64 in the north area with service in parts of Phoenix, Tempe, to Stevenson Expressway in the south, and Scottsdale, Glendale, parts of ASU, Chase as far as California Avenue in the west to the Field and Mesa. periphery of Lake Michigan in the east. Washington, D.C., around the U.S. Capitol, • Dallas-Fort Worth, including downtown the White House, the National Mall, Foggy and north Fort Worth and Euless, stretching Bottom, Downtown, Penn Quarter/Metro across to north and northwest Dallas, Center, Dupont Circle, West End and including Plano, Richardson and Garland, Logan Circle. New additions include Fort and South Dallas. Dupont and Deanwood in D.C., parts of • Houston, from downtown Houston to Blandensburg and Fairmont Heights in Memorial City Mall and City Centre Plaza, Maryland, and parts of Bailey’s Crossroads. uptown Houston and northwest and south. and George Mason University in Virginia. • Kansas City, from downtown to Overland Park, Kansas, and other places in the KC Metro area. 101

Buyer’s guide Verizon Verizon The Verizon 5G network is offering improved coverage in several larger cities Above: Verizon hopes to roll out its 5G The Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband network was the first 5G Home Internet in more locations sometime technology service to launch globally. The network started rolling in 2021 out 5G with Verizon 5G Home Internet at first, subsequently launching the first commercial 5G mobile network globally in April 2019. It’s now live in more than 2,700 US cities, which isn’t as many as you might expect given it was first to launch. Verizon’s CEO Hans Vestberg stated that the corporation was targeting at least 50% coverage of the US in 2020. The network is committed to focus on 5G in the high-band mmWave spectrum. Then, Verizon followed rivals T-Mobile and AT&T to launch nationwide low-band 5G (which doesn’t provide much better speeds than 4G and uses dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS). This enables Verizon’s 5G service to run simultaneously with 4G LTE on multiple spectrum bands. “All of our spectrum is capable of deploying 5G, so it’s not like we can’t do what others have been doing,” said Verizon’s executive vice president Ronan Dunne. 102

Verizon Buyer’s guide All images © Verizon “On the basis of what we’ve seen so far, that “The potential of Verizon doesn’t provide any differentiation in either speed 5G Ultra Wideband or coverage relative to Verizon.” combined with mobile edge computing to transform The network provider also enabled its healthcare is limitless” 5G service in 13 NFL stadiums in time for NFL Kickoff Weekend 2020 including Bank of as two Sith troopers. Those wanting to take part America Stadium, Empower Field at Mile High, in the demo at the premiere afterparty could CenturyLink Field, Ford Field, Gillette Stadium, interact with the actors in real-time, even though Hard Rock Stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium, MetLife they were several miles away. Another demo Stadium, M&T Bank Stadium, NRG Stadium, took place in New York to show people in Times Soldier Field and U.S. Bank Stadium. Square what it was like to be on the red carpet for the Oscars 2020 ceremony 2,500 miles away in The Verizon 5G service is available in selected Los Angeles. areas of each stadium – the network says it is concentrated in parts of the seating area but And Verizon has also joined up with Emory service may be available in other areas. Healthcare to test 5G applications in the healthcare industry. “The potential of Verizon 5G Verizon has also partnered with Wi-Fi provider Ultra Wideband combined with mobile edge Boingo to bring its 5G Ultra Wideband service computing to transform healthcare is limitless,” indoors to places like airports, office buildings, stadiums and other public spaces. It also partnered with Disney for the premiere of Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker where it demonstrated streaming footage (over 5G of course) with actors from another location acting 103

Buyer’s guide Verizon said Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon. “With 5G, “They’ve painted themselves into a doctors should be able to do things like create technology corner with a 5G strategy focused on holographic 3D anatomical renderings that can millimetre wave. They bet on the wrong horse, be studied from every angle and even projected and now they’re trying to advertise their way out onto the body in the OR to help guide surgery.” of it.” VERIZON 5G COVERAGE But Verizon is also now using lower band technology to bring a lower spec service to a After criticism from users, media outlets and rivals, wider audience. Verizon has now released coverage maps of all the cities it is currently offering 5G services in. Verizon’s mmWave network – known as 5G Ultra Wideband – is only available in selected T-Mobile has been gleefully making areas of each city – so while speeds are great, fun of Verizon’s 5G rollout with a campaign coverage isn’t as yet. More than 60 US locations targeting Verizon’s limited rollout that’s been have received Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband since concentrating on mmWave locations rather than the network launched. a wider low-band rollout. “In the 5G era, they’re losing their network crown,” said T-Mobile CTO Mind you, it’s difficult to get away from the Neville Ray, in a 2020 blog post. thought that 5G Ultra Wideband coverage is still in its infancy because of the sparse coverage “More than 60 locations and you can see why Verizon might have been have received Verizon 5G reluctant to release the maps previously. Verizon’s Ultra Wideband” lower band offering is called 5G Nationwide. It uses dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) meaning it can run alongside 4G LTE. Verizon says the service is currently available for more than 230 million people across 2,700 cities in the US. 104

Verizon Buyer’s guide Even though Verizon has rolled out mmWave 5G services in Above: Verizon teamed up with Wi-Fi 60 cities so far, the coverage is hit-and-miss to say the least and it’s provider Boingo to bring its 5G Ultra concentrated in very specific areas for now. Wideband service to public spaces Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network – as it is calling it – uses Below: Verizon’s 5G coverage in Manhattan the high-frequency mmWave (millimeter wave) technology also favoured by AT&T and T-Mobile. Of course, one of the big benefits of 5G is vastly reduced latency and increased speed, and it’s here that you see the difference with mmWave. In a comparison of 5G network speeds last year by Opensignal, Verizon took the top spot, beating the competition by some margin. Indeed, the Verizon 5G network has a peak speed of 390Mbps faster than the closest US network. Verizon’s videos show speeds in excess of 1Gbps at times, although you should expect speeds in the low hundreds of Mbps as normal, faster in specific areas. Availability was another story. mmWave has a problem – while it’s great for close-together cell sites in large cities, it’s not so good for a rollout involving more rural areas where Verizon’s 5G Nationwide service has to take a front seat. And mmWave services work mainly outdoors at the moment. We’ve even heard about being able to get 5G on one side of the street and not the other. “Since we began building 5G, we have had a first-mover advantage,” said Hans Vestberg, Chairman and CEO of Verizon. “We are more than a year ahead in building and selling mmWave with our 5G Ultra Wideband service and still the only company with commercial Mobile Edge Compute.“ 105

Buyer’s guide EE EE The network has brought 5G to the most UK towns Above: EE’s 5G is available in more towns EE 5G was the first to launch in the UK, with the UK’s second-biggest and cities than any other network provider network clearly intent on being in the box seat for customers in the UK wondering what network to choose. BT now owns EE, of course, and BT Mobile is actually an MVNO working on EE’s network. As part of this, BT has also launched a combined 5G mobile and home broadband plan called BT Halo which offers unlimited data and calls on mobile and at home, something also offered by Vodafone Together. BT has also launched Hybrid Broadband, normal fibre which is backed up by cellular, but this is 4G not 5G at present. EE has now stated that it aims to have 5G across at least 90 percent of the UK by 2028 (measured by landmass) and it will do this by combining low band spectrum into the mix. Indeed, it has already begun to roll this out. The network is set to launch its new 5G core network in 2023 at which point EE says that its 5G network will cover around half of the UK’s population. EE has form for using big-name music stars to promote 5G - it held a gig with Stormzy on the River Thames to promote the launch of its 5G network and, of course, EE also sponsors the Glastonbury 106

EE Buyer’s guide © EE “EE demonstrated the robustness of its 5G network by streaming a 360-degree augmented reality Bastille concert” Festival each year. EE also streamed a 360-degree is the arm is being controlled by a barber 250 augmented reality (AR) Bastille concert from miles away in London, who just happens to be Birmingham New Street station to Edinburgh and joined by EE advert regular Kevin Bacon. The ad is Liverpool. Members of the public in the latter two designed to showcase a situation where you’d be cities could watch the gig on devices provided in a bad way if your network let you down. by EE reps including the Samsung Galaxy Fold 5G and some AR glasses. AR visuals surrounded EE has been named as the UK’s top network in the band, adding to the experience. And recently, independent tests by RootMetrics. The UK-wide EE used the Galaxy S21 and its 5G installation at aggregate median download speed was over Wembley Stadium to stage the world’s first 5G AR twice as fast as that of any other UK network at Foosball tournament between Gareth Southgate 58.8Mbps. However, what’s more interesting for and other well-known football figures. us here is 5G performance. Here EE took top spot in RootMetrics Everyday 5G rating. This is basically EE also launched an ad showing a slightly a rating based on availability plus speed and over-the-top depiction of what’s capable with 5G, reliability. The network’s highest availability is in shaving Lucifer actor Tom Ellis being shaved by a Birmingham, where it covers just shy of 65 percent robotic arm on top of Mount Snowdon. The catch of the city. 107

Buyer’s guide EE © EE “When EE announces it has switched on a new place with 5G, there must be meaningful levels of coverage there” EE 5G COVERAGE 5G is usable. We do not take our customers’ experience for granted.” In June 2021, EE turned EE has 5G service in 160 UK towns and cities on 5G in a few more coastal locations as part currently. That’s not as many as some other of its beefing up of connectivity across coastal networks, though BT/EE consumer chief Marc locations generally (mostly using 4G in places Allera says that other networks don’t have the like Blackpool, Bournemouth and Brighton). same level of coverage when they ‘claim’ a new Coverage remains fairly centred on built-up location has 5G. “When EE announces it has zones and it’s always worth checking out the switched on a new place with 5G, there must be EE coverage checker. 5G is also available at the meaningful levels of coverage there, which we following public transport hotspots in London: assess with clear benchmarks and strict criteria Euson, Waterloo, Liverpool Street, Charing Cross, which need to be met. Highbury, Islington, New Cross Gate Overground and Shoreditch High Street Overground. You can “We could loosen our criteria like some also get 5G access in London’s Piccadilly Circus, competitors; to be honest, it’s tempting, by doing Clapham Common, and Hampton Court Palace so we would reveal 5G is actually in around 200 gardens among other places. unique locations across the UK. However, we believe our claims should be as credible as our 108

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Buyer’s guide Virgin Media O2 Virgin Media O2 Despite launching later with a smaller slice of the 5G spectrum, the network is rapidly gaining ground Above: The O2 in Greenwich was an clear While O2 was the third of the big four UK networks to go live, choice to be one of the first places to be it has a large customer base to preach the benefit of 5G – it included in the 5G rollout remained the UK’s biggest phone network serving over 25 million connections. It’s aim was to have 50 5G locations live by the Right: O2 initially rolled out 5G across the summer of 2020. O2 hit the 150 milestone in mid-January 2021 and UK’s capital cities as well as cities where today has nearly 200 locations live with 5G. they had offices The near future is set to be interesting for O2 since its merger with Virgin Media was approved by UK regulators in May 2021 and the two organisations are now working to integrate themselves in a joint venture. Virgin Media O2 - as the combined organisation will be known - will look after around 47 million mobile, home and business connections, including 41 million mobile connections. Mike Fries, CEO of Liberty Global, and José Maria Alvarez-Pallete, CEO of Telefonica, commented: “This is a watershed moment in the history of telecommunications in the UK as we are now cleared to bring real choice where it hasn’t existed before, while investing in fibre and 5G that the UK needs to thrive.” 110

Virgin Media O2 Buyer’s guide Virgin Media O2 now has nearly 200 locations © Getty Images live with 5G. O2 spent much of its pre-5G work focusing on making its 4G network (which is, of rollout,” said Mark Evans, O2’s CEO. “5G offers course, the backbone for 5G) as good as it could critical support to the UK’s digital economy, be and said it was investing around £2 million a supporting jobs and growth.” day into its infrastructure. The two networks again worked together If you take into account O2’s MVNO (Mobile after the second UK 5G auction in early 2021 - the Virtual Network Operator) customer base two reached a deal to trade spectrum bands to including Giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile and create more efficient blocks of spectrum for each Lycamobile, O2 manages a total of 34.1 million operator. “Large contiguous blocks support faster connections. O2 owns Giffgaff outright while speeds, lower latency and greener 5G services,” Tesco Mobile is a joint venture with Tesco). Tesco said Vodafone and O2 in a statement. “The move Mobile has also now launched its 5G service in will, subject to approval from Ofcom, create a the same locations as O2. contiguous block of 80Mhz for O2, and ensure good proximity of Vodafone’s blocks totalling VIRGIN MEDIA O2 5G COVERAGE 90MHz of spectrum.” O2 and Virgin may have merged, but O2 is Mark Evans, CEO of O2, added: “This year close to another mobile network - it has a long- O2 is investing more than ever in its network standing network-sharing deal with Vodafone. to improve coverage and experience. Securing The pair’s agreement for the rollout sees 2,700 contiguous blocks of spectrum is crucial to sites in 23 larger UK towns and cities keep harnessing the true power of 5G - we will have separate provision for each network. So while the the strongest indoor and outdoor connectivity mast will remain shared, all the other equipment and an ultra-reliable frequency. will be separate. That’s presumably a matter if control and also, possibly, ensuring each retains “O2 is a champion for coverage and reliability, a competitive edge. As 5G becomes the norm, it and remains committed to responsibly and will also help each to bring 5G services to areas securely improving the network experience for where it may not have been financially viable all our customers across the UK. This deal with otherwise. “We’re moving at pace with our 5G Vodafone is further evidence of our commitment to customers and we’re hugely excited about the possibilities of our 5G network.” 111

Buyer’s guide Three © Three UK Three After something of a delay, Three’s UK 5G phone network is now live Above: Three UK is claiming it’ll have the Three 5G was later than other networks to roll out in the UK, but UK’s fastest speeds thanks to its spectrum it is now neck-and-neck with other key networks in terms of the allocation. number of locations covered, even if Three’s footprint in each location is currently fairly modest. The network claims it now has Right: Three’s 5G is available in 154 over a million 5G customers. Three also has a very limited home 5G locations across the country with more broadband service in operation. expected to roll out soon. Three has just undergone a refresh of its brand as it prepares to do battle with other vendors in the competitive 5G market. There’s a new tagline, too; ‘Life needs a big network’ and a new, warmer colour scheme to go with it. Three has the UK’s fastest 5G network because it currently has more spectrum than the other UK operators. The bottom line, however, is that the network believes it can “provide peak mobile speeds of up to 2x faster than other telco operators due to its substantial 5G spectrum holding.” However, the spectrum allocations have been somewhat balanced out as a result of the 112

Three Buyer’s guide latest UK 5G spectrum auction in early 2021. limited in each of these areas - you can see Three still added to its holding, by spending an exactly where is covered on the Three coverage additional £280 million on low band allocation checker. In some large towns and small cities (two 10MHz blocks). only one small area is covered (presumably from a single mast) and this has caused BT/EE to say Three says “this triples the amount of low that rivals will lose customer support because of frequency spectrum [we] own and will have a their claims. transformative effect on its customers’ experience indoors and in rural areas. Three UK is in a fantastic However, Three UK says its 5G investment position to deliver a great network experience for is part of a £2 billion, 5 year programme to its customers now and in the future.” deliver “the UK’s fastest 5G network”. Three says it currently has 1300 5G sites. Part of this The signs are that Three’s speed claims for its investment is in connecting mast sites to high- network are true to their promise, with speeds speed, high-capacity fibre. 3500 sites have now in the 600-700Mbps range in the fastest areas - been upgraded to 10Gbps capable transmission indeed, we’ve previously seen over 700Mbps from giving faster and more reliable 4G and 5G. one of Three’s top-end sites. You’ll be getting David Hennessy, Chief Technology Officer at an average of around 400Mbps in these areas. Three UK, said: “The investment we’re making However, keep in mind that you won’t get this in our network and IT infrastructure is vital to type of speed everywhere. delivering on our promise of providing better connectivity, every day for every customer. As we mentioned, Three was late to launch its Despite unprecedented challenges presented 5G network in early 2020. This wouldn’t necessarily by a global pandemic, our 5G and 4G rollout have been noteworthy, except that the company is going strong and we’re making sure our had taken out multiple-page newspaper ads to customer remains at the centre of every decision boast about its service during summer 2019. we make.” In November 2019, Three admitted the obvious - its 5G launch wasn’t going to happen on time. “There are a number of parts we need to put in place to deliver our 5G experience: 5G equipment on masts, the right backhaul transmission, as well as the need to acquire the right planning permissions from landlords,” said Three in a statement. “Added to this we also need to move all of our customer traffic onto the world’s first 5G cloud core network.” Three’s new cloud-based core network is powered by Nokia. THREE LOCATIONS Three has now rolled out to a total of 154 locations. However, coverage remains very 113

Buyer’s guide Vodafone © Vodafone Vodafone With unlimited tariffs and roaming on 5G, the network is looking to topple some of its rivals Above: Lewis Hamilton joins Vodafone for Whereas once Vodafone could have been accused of resting on its its 5G launch at London’s Sky Garden laurels, it certainly can’t be criticised for that now. It wants to be the main 5G challenger to EE (instead of O2) and sees 5G (and unlimited data) as a key part of that. Vodafone 5G wasn’t the first 5G network to launch in the UK, but it forced the pace with the introduction of unlimited tariffs. As Three had them already, it laid down the competitive gauntlet for others such as EE and O2. The company was the first network to offer roaming on 5G. Although it’s restricted to Ireland, Spain, Germany and Italy for now (and only in 5G areas in those countries, of course), it’s clearly an area where Vodafone thinks it can lead. Coincidentally, Vodafone says 5G roaming doesn’t yet work with the iPhone 12. Vodafone was also the first to offer a 5G mobile and home broadband option for both business and home users, called Vodafone Together. 114

Vodafone Buyer’s guide Vodafone offers a range of plans that are meant to appeal to both consumers and businesses “Vodafone is also the first network to offer a 5G mobile and home broadband option for both business and home users” VODAFONE 5G CITIES AND TOWNS Horwich, Huddersfield, Huyton-with-Roby, Inner London, Isles of Scilly, Jarrow, Kingston upon Hull, Vodafone 5G coverage has grown significantly Kingswood (Bristol), Lancaster, Leeds, Lisburn, since launch and the service is now available in Liverpool, Llandudno, Long Benton/Killingworth, 100 UK towns and cities, with more locations to Manchester, Mangotsfield, Middlesbrough, follow in the near future. Morley, Mosborough/Highlane, Newbury, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newtownabbey, North The full list is as follows: Aberdeen, Shields, Oldbury/Smethwick, Outer London, Alexandria, Ambleside, Aughton (Sth Yorks), Paisley, Penarth, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Prescot, Basingstoke, Bebington, Belfast, Birkenhead, Prestwich, Pudsey, Rawmarsh, Reading, Rochdale, Birmingham, Bishopbriggs, Blaydon, Bolton, Rotherham, Salford, Sheffield, Shipley, Solihull, Bootle, Bournemouth, Bradford, Bristol, Bristol South Shields, Southampton, Stockport, Stockton- Airport, Cardiff, Cheadle and Gatley, Cheltenham, on-Tees, Stoke-on-Trent, Stranraer, Stretford, Chesterfield, Clydebank, Crawley (West Sussex), Sunderland, Sutton Coldfield, Swansea, Swinton Crosby, Dewsbury, Dinas Powys, Droylsden, and Pendlebury, Tynemouth, Urmston, Wallasey, Dudley (West Midlands), Dundee, Eccles, Wallsend, Warrington, Washington, Whitley Bay, Edinburgh, Eston and South Bank, Felling, Wolverhampton and York. Gateshead, Glasgow, Gloucester, Gosforth (Tyne & Wear), Guildford, Hebburn, Helensburgh, 115

Buyer’s guide The best 5G phones The best 5G phones The best 5G phones deliver much faster downloads, lower latency and a lot more The best 5G phones are hoping to deliver on the Price is becoming more of a consideration, hype we’ve been hearing about 5G long before though, as phone makers start to offer 5G phones the new networking standard even launched. that cost less than £600/$600. These don’t have With every major carrier having launched 5G the premium features found in flagship phones, in some form, the focus is now on 5G-capable but they also won’t put a £1,000/$1,000 dent in handsets and whether it’s worth making sure your wallet. your next smartphone can connect to the new networking standard. If you’re in the market for a smartphone this year, the time is right to start looking at a 5G phone, The answer so far? You can get blazing speeds, especially as lower-cost 5G phones are starting provided that you’re in an area with 5G coverage. to appear and more 5G flagship phones arrive. But 5G phones have more to offer than just Moreover, given by the time you read this 5G speedier downloads. iPhones should have finally arrived on the scene, there’s no longer any reason fans of particular Initially, the best 5G phones offered ecosystems can’t get involved. outstanding cameras, big displays and super-sized batteries. That’s no surprise really, since many of 5G networks are only going to get faster and these phones are really just the best phones overall, more extensive, so it’s worth making sure your next only with 5G modems included. phone can make the most of them. 116

The best 5G phones Buyer’s guide The best 5G phone right now How we test 5G phones 01. Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus To test phones with 5G connectivity, we take them Screen Size: 6.6 inches | Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 out into the field to measure Size / weight: 157.5 x 76.2 x 7.6mm / 195g | Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 9:46 download speeds with the 5G networks supported: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Vodafone, O2, EE, Three Speedtest.net app. When possible, we compare that speed to a Samsung's Galaxy S22 Plus is the best 5G phone you can buy right comparable phone on the same now because it works on every type of 5G network. The Snapdragon wireless network to try and gauge 8 Gen 1 processor that makes 5G connectivity possible also delivers the improvement that 5G has to performance that can match any Android phone. offer. We also take note of how the phone performs when 5G The biggest mark against the Galaxy S22 Plus is its price. At coverage isn't available. £949/$1,049, this is not a device for those on a budget. But you get a lot of phone for that hefty price. The Dynamic AMOLED screen Because so much of that lets you opt for a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and more 5G performance hinges on the immersive gaming – just be aware that the faster refresh rate can wireless network and not the drain the phone's battery at a faster clip. Samsung has also made phone itself, though, we give improvements to the rear cameras, with the 50MP dual pixel lens greater weight to the criteria by standing out with its super-crisp zoom shots. which we judge all phones. We run an array of benchmarks on You'll be able to find cheaper 5G phones, especially the more every phone – both synthetic recent releases, but only the Galaxy S22 Plus offers a great balance benchmarks as well as real-world between features and price. tests like transcoding a 4K video to 1080p and timing how long it takes. Our lab also measures the brightness and colour accuracy of each phone's display. Our proprietary battery test determines longevity on a charge by endlessly streaming web pages over an LTE network; we then recharge the tested phones to see how quickly they charge in 15-minute intervals. To measure camera performance, we shoot images under a variety of conditions, comparing the results to photos produced by cameras in the same price range. For 5G phones, we also consider the price of the device compared to comparable 4G handsets on the market. 117

Introducing 5G The best 5G phones 02. iPhone 13 While keeping the notch and multi-camera Screen size : 6.1 inches Processor: A15 Bionic system of the iPhone 11, Size/weight: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm / 174g the 13 takes design cues Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 8:25 | 5G networks supported: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, O2, Vodafone from the more angular iPhone 4 As it does with many things, Apple took its time to get into 5G phones but it struck a fine note right away with the iPhone 12. While the iPhone 13 Pro doesn’t do enough to distinguish itself from the standard iPhone 13, the Pro Max certainly does with its huge display and sheer desirability. It’s a super performer too while the cameras are among the best we’ve seen, especially in low light. It’s eye-wateringly expensive, though. The standard iPhone 13 is in many ways the pick of the new iPhone range with plenty of reasons not to go for the same-sized iPhone 13 Pro – though we love the Pro. The whole iPhone 13 range comes with the latest A15 Bionic platform so there’s no performance limitation either (Pro has more RAM though). Available in Midnight, Starlight, Red, Green, Blue and Pink, there’s also the iPhone 13 mini to consider, too. The new (to iPhones) MagSafe connector on the rear of the iPhone 13 is a really interesting proposition – this magnetic connection tech not only enables you to attach things to your phone, such as a charger or a case, but can also tell what’s been connected through a special chip. “The standard iPhone 13 is in many ways the pick of the new iPhone range with plenty of reasons not to go for the same- sized iPhone 13 Pro – though we love the Pro” 118

The best 5G phones Buyer’s guide 03. Samsung Galaxy S22 Screen Size: 6.1 inches | Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Size / weight: 144.7 x 71.1 x 7.6mm / 167.2g Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 7:52 | 5G networks supported: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, O2, EE, Vodafone, Three Up until now, the best 5G phones have been pretty A52 is also available. While the Galaxy S22 may be bulky to accommodate the larger batteries and 5G less expensive than the Plus and Ultra versions, modems required for the faster networks. But the you're not getting short-changed with this model, Samsung Galaxy S22 is relatively compact. You're as the phone features camera improvements to its not going to mistake this device for an iPhone three rear lenses, including a telephoto lens with a SE, but the Galaxy S22 is just over 6 inches tall 3x lossless zoom. and weighs just 167 grams. You still get a 6.1-inch AMOLED screen capable of a 120Hz refresh rate for Meanwhile the fact that the phone comes smoother scrolling. running Android 12 out of the box with Samsung’s superb One UI 4 skin on top means interacting At £769/$799, this had been the most affordable with it is a sheer joy. Throw in some genuine 5G phone you could get from Samsung. The gaming chops thanks to its impressive GPU and phone maker has since released the Galaxy A53 5G, plenty of internal storage space, and it is easy to see which costs £399/$449. A 5G version of the Galaxy how this phone delivers the complete package. Unlike many bulkier 5G flagships, the Samsung Galaxy S22 is relatively compact 119

Buyer’s guide The best 5G phones 04. OnePlus 9 Screen Size: 6.55 inches | Processor: Snapdragon 888 | Size / weight: 7160 x 74.2 x 8.7mm / 192g Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:51| 5G networks supported: T-Mobile, Verizon, Three, EE, Vodafone The era of affordable 5G phones is coming, with “The OnePlus 9 is an future devices promising price tags of around affordable way to get a £500/$500. For now, though, the OnePlus 9 is an premium 5G device” affordable ways to get a premium 5G device. The OnePlus 9 runs on a Snapdragon 888 processor, smartphones. There's no Hassleblad lens in the just like the other top Android phones with 5G OnePlus 9, that is probably going to come in the connectivity. You get a 6.55-inch fluid AMOLED next generation of phones, but they did provide screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, and you can colour calibration for three rear cameras. The 50MP charge the phone quickly with OnePlus' Warp ultra-wide, 48MP main camera and monochrome Charge 65T technology. It takes just over half an lens offer a lot of shooting options and produce hour to fully charge the device. You can also get a great results. If what you're looking for is a powerful day’s worth of power from only a 15 minute charge phone with great specs and can connect to 5G and the OnePlus 9 is compatible with most wireless without breaking the bank, though, the OnePlus 9 Qi chargers. is a great option. OnePlus’ cameras was always where their devices fell short. But OnePlus has partnered with Hasselblad to produce camera technology for 120

The best 5G phones in 2020 Buyer’s Guide The S20 Ultra’s battery will last all day on a single charge 05. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Screen Size: 6.9 inches | Processor: Snapdragon 865 | Size / weight: 166.9 x 76.0 x 8.8mm / 220g | Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 11:58 | 5G networks supported: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Vodafone, EE, Three, O2 When money's no object, turn to the Galaxy S20 Zoom works really well up to 10x. A huge 5,000 Ultra for your 5G phone needs. It may have a price mAh battery means you'll get through the day on tag as expansive as its 6.9-inch OLED display, but a single-charge. the S20 Ultra also boasts plenty of features for its £1,199/$1,399 asking price. The Galaxy S20 Ultra works with every kind of 5G network so you needn't have to worry about That display has a 120Hz refresh rate for a much which model to get for which carrier. The phone's smoother, immersive experience when you're price means it won't be for everyone, but people scrolling or gaming. The quad-lens rear cameras who do splurge on the Galaxy S20 Ultra will be take excellent pictures, and the powerful Space satisfied with the result. 121

Buyer’s guide The best 5G phones 06. Realme 9 Pro Plus Screen Size: 6.4 inches | Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 920 | Size / weight: 160.2 x 73.3 x 8mm / 182g Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:58 | 5G networks supported: Verizon, EE, O2 This is the first ‘Pro Plus’ handset in the range, point truly is something bold and bizarre: the rear and it boasts a few features that we don’t see in the of the phone changes colour in sunlight, going average smartphone. This is a seriously impressive from a sparkly blue to bright red. We love how device that shows us that ‘Pro Plus’ isn’t just an weird this is - even if it brings no tangible benefits. oxymoron, it’s a promise. If you know Realme But while you might check out the phone for this phones, you’ll know that the brand excels in the eye-catching novelty, you’ll stay for its solid range budget to mid-range market. The Realme 9 Pro of features and specs. Plus is just more evidence of that. The phone’s cameras, charging speed and There are two unique features that, it seems, processing power are all above-average for are meant to be the Realme 9 Pro Plus’ selling a phone in this price range. Even the weaker points. The first is a heart rate monitor built into elements, like the display or battery, are still on par the device’s fingerprint scanner. The second selling with rival phones at this price. 122

The best 5G phones Buyer’s guide 07. Sony Xperia 1 III Screen Size: 6.8 inches | Processor: Snapdragon 888 | Size / weight: 165 x 71 x 8.2mm / 186g Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 12:46 | 5G networks supported: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon The Sony Xperia 1 III is the best smartphone this is the world’s first 4K 120Hz smartphone – the company has made for years, offering a top-tier although that claim isn’t quite as impressive as it display, great battery life and a versatile camera sounds, as Sony is currently the only brand making that’s easy to use. Inside the phone are a Qualcomm 4K phones. That 120Hz upgrade makes this screen Snapdragon 888 chipset and 12GB of RAM, which better than ever though, with super-smooth we found delivered impressive performance, and scrolling the icing on the ultra-high resolution cake. you’ve got the option of 256GB or 512GB of storage. There’s no denying that the price of the Xperia 1 III is That’s plenty of power, and more than enough high, and the 21:9 aspect ratio design will put some storage space for the average user. off, too. But if you want a highly capable smartphone with a superb screen, this may be the phone for you. Sony is making a song and dance about how “That’s plenty of power, and more than enough storage space for the average user” © TechRadar 123

Buyer’s guide The best 5G phones 08. OnePlus 9 Pro Screen Size: 6.7 inches | Processor: Snapdragon 888 | Size / weight: 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7mm / 197g Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:40 | 5G networks supported: Verizon, T-Mobile, Three, O2, EE, Vodaphone The OnePlus 9 Pro is a culmination of the expect from a flagship smartphone right now. company’s efforts over the past couple of years, This is a handset that can genuinely compete with and it’s the first time a smartphone from the the very best phones from the biggest brands. company has felt like the complete package. However, it also comes with a high-end price tag, and there’s no denying that the OnePlus 9 Pro is an It offers top-end power, a great camera expensive choice for your next phone. experience and all the bells and whistles you’d The OnePlus 9 Pro has a premium design, “The OnePlus 9 Pro has a with a 6.7-inch QHD display that delivers strong premium design, with a brightness levels and top-notch detail, while a 6.7-inch QHD display that smooth 120Hz refresh rate adds to the top-tier feel. delivers strong brightness levels and top-notch detail” The handset itself may be too big for some, but the design feels worth the money, with a glass 124 rear and the choice of three colors to ensure that your new OnePlus matches your style – we think the Morning Mist shade pictured throughout this review is particularly good-looking.

The best 5G phones Buyer’s guide 09. OnePlus Nord 2 Screen Size: 6.43 inches | Processor: Media Tek Dimensity 1200-AI | Size / weight: 159.1 x 73.3 x 8.2mm / 189g Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 11:18 | 5G networks supported: Three, EE, 02, Vodaphone, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T © OnePlus “This is an amazing package that OnePlus has put together for the price” OnePlus first made its name offering very good 128GB of storage, and 5G thrown in. That’s not to phone specs at very good prices, and it’s back in that mention the sharp, bright 6.43-inch display, which groove with the OnePlus Nord 2. While its phones zips along thanks to its 90Hz refresh rate. have slowly become more expensive over the years, the Nord is a fantastic mid-ranger. Compromises have been made to get the OnePlus Nord 2 to this price, however: there’s Starting at just £399 in the UK (the US has its no wireless charging or waterproofing, and the own version, the Nord N200 5G, which retails for camera and battery life are good rather than great. $239), you get a powerful Media Tek Dimensity All in all though, this is an amazing package that 1200-AI processor, at least 6GB of RAM, at least OnePlus has put together for the price. 125

Buyer’s guide The best 5G phones Note 20’s stylus offers precise writing and drawing on the screen 10. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Screen Size: 6.7 inches | Processor: Snapdragon 865 Plus | Size / weight: 161.6 x 75.2 x 8.3mm / 194g Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 9:38 | 5G networks supported: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, EE, Vodafone, Three The Galaxy Note 20 offers a nice compromise and the cameras stack up well against other top for people who want a full-featured 5G phone flagships. Like the Note 20 Ultra, the Note 20 without the four-figure price tag. At £949/$999, includes an S Pen, and while the stylus is more the Note 20 isn’t inexpensive by any means, but responsive on Samsung’s pricier phablet, you still you do get a lot for your money, including a get all the note-taking features on this model. device that works with all flavours of 5G. If there’s one thing to be wary of with the The Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset inside Note 20, it’s the battery life, which is perhaps the Galaxy Note 20 delivers some of the best below average. Still, that’s one of the few marks performance you’ll see from an Android phone, against an otherwise outstanding phone. 126

The best 5G phones Buyer’s guide Verdict 11. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Ultimately, the Galaxy S22 Plus may well be the 5G phone to get Screen Size: 6.9 inches | Processor: Snapdragon 865 Plus if you want a handset that works Size / weight: 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1mm / 208g | Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:15 with every kind of 5G network. 5G networks supported: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, EE, Vodafone, Three In addition to its 5G connectivity, Samsung’s plus-sized flagship “It’s the gaming aspect of the Note 20 phone also sports a big Dynamic Ultra that makes it one of the best” AMOLED panel, vastly improved cameras and above-average The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is Samsung’s most versatile big-screen battery life. It just edges the more phone, and that includes its approach to 5G. This 6.9-inch phablet expensive Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, works with every available 5G network, and its dynamic 120Hz though gamers should consider display adjust the refresh rate to squeeze more battery life while also that phablet for its compatibility delivering smoother scrolling and more immersive gaming. with Microsoft’s streaming game service. The standard Samsung It’s the gaming aspect of the Note 20 Ultra that makes it one Galaxy S22 offers a lot of the same of the best 5G phones, and not just because it runs on a powerful features, only without the hefty Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra works with price. If you want something Microsoft’s xCloud game streaming to let you play more than even more affordable and don’t 100 Xbox games on your phone. With 5G connectivity, gameplay mind missing out on some of should be a delight. the premium features then the Galaxy S21 FE would be worth You’ll pay a bit more for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra than you looking into. would for some of Samsung’s other 5G phones, like the Galaxy S20 Plus. But you’ll find it’s well worth the premium price. If you’re UK-based and looking for a bargain phone that acts premium, you could do a lot worse than the OnePlus Nord. While Samsung and OnePlus are dominating the selection of 5G phones thus far, don’t overlook Realme’s 9 Pro Plus. If you’re not a fan of Android devices then you’ll need to decide between the choice of iPhones currently available. The iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are all 5G capable, your decision will ultimately come down to how much you’re willing to spend on a device. 127

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