5G Mobile Phones UK: What to Know Before Purchase

5G has long been touted as one of the most disruptive upcoming technologies by news outlets including Forbes and Bloomberg. Although the rollout of the technology has taken a few years, the largest telecommunications operators now offer 5G coverage on a suite of the latest smartphones. But why is 5G such a big deal, and is it worth investing in a new phone?

The time is now: Why invest in a 5G mobile phone?

5G coverage isn’t available throughout the UK just yet, but it’s coming very shortly. In the past year, companies including Vodafone, EE and O2 have expanded 5G capacity across hundreds of locations with more set to follow in the new year.

Why is 5G such a big deal?

5G provides a significant improvement on speeds compared to its predecessor, 4G. As a result, 5G mobile phones enable users to enjoy high quality streaming, expedited download speeds and minimal latency lag.

In layman’s terms, that means that with 5G, you can download a full length film in seconds, not minutes. Minimal latency lag, meanwhile, means that information is transmitted and received extremely efficiently. With 5G, inputs between devices are instantaneous, creating not just ideal connectivity for IoT (Internet of Things, for example smart devices like voice assistants or home heating systems), but perfect playability conditions for serious mobile gamers.

Comparing 5G mobile phones in the UK

Deciding which 5G mobile phone is the best for you can be challenging at first glance. It’s important to narrow your focus by figuring out which features of a new phone will make the greatest difference to you.

The Gamer: 5G mobile phones for gaming fans

Mobile gaming has taken off in recent years. However, previous hardware limitations have got in the way of a seamless mobile gaming experience. A selection of 5G compatible mobiles seek to shake off historically negative associations, and are specifically designed for avid gamers.

Asus ROG Phone 5

With an incredible display and quality sound, the Asus ROG Phone 5 offers mobile gamers an immersive experience that is hard to beat. On the downside, it is a heavy and bulky piece of equipment. The phone also doesn’t feature a telephoto camera mounted on the front, so can’t be used for Facetime or similar face-to-face calls.

Nubia Red Magic 5G

The Nubia Red Magic 5G is tailored for gamers. The inclusion of shoulder-buttons offers gamers greater versatility than more traditional smartphone designs. Although the 144H (Hertz) display is ideal for gaming, the screen isn’t the highest resolution.

Xiaomi Black Shark 3

Aesthetically, the Black Shark 3 is an acquired taste that is unlikely to appeal to everyone. But the phone does feature top-line specs and has a good camera, especially for a gamer-focused product.

The Photographer: Pictures and storage on the cloud

Capturing high quality photos is essential for many of us. Whether you’re travelling the world or making memories with friends and family, the right camera might be non-negotiable for your next smartphone. Unfortunately, technical jargon can make it challenging to work out which phone best balances quality image capture within your budget.

How to compare cameras on 5G mobile phones

When looking for the best cameras, customers should watch out for the following:

• Screen size: On smartphones, the screen operates as your viewfinder; better screens make for a higher quality display, ensuring that the pictures you take remain sharp and focused.
• Lens quality: Related to the above, the lens of a smartphone is crucial to getting the best images; the most popular 5G phones on the market feature multiple lenses that work together to provide the greatest clarity.
• Pixel capture: With pixel capture, more is not necessarily better; the greater the pixels, the larger the file size which can cause problems for phones that don’t have additional memory capacity (known as microSD or memory cards).

Let’s take a closer look at some of the best phones for photography fanatics.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Samsung’s S21 has the best zoom among the current crop of smartphones. It isn’t cheap, however, representing one of the more pricey 5G phones on the market.

OnePlus 8 Pro

The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts a high quality camera and is slightly cheaper than the S21. However, the phone doesn’t come with microSD support.

Google Pixel 5

Alphabet’s Pixel series is renowned for balancing high quality cameras with a reasonable price tag. However, the Google Pixel 5 doesn’t come with expandable storage.

The Wanderer: Long battery-life to minimise charging

Few things are more frustrating than short battery life. It’s even more critical for 5G phones, as modern mobiles require more to run at full capacity than previous models. The following 5G mobile phones last the longest in terms of battery life, keeping you connected however far you roam.

Moto G50

The Moto G50 is by no means the highest-end phone on the market, but it certainly has some of the best battery life. Light usage of the phone can stretch over two days without you needing to charge it back up.

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G

Another phone that’s less powerful than some of the other mobiles on this list, the Samsung A32 5G nevertheless features an impressive battery life. As with the Moto G50, moderate usage can give you up to two days usage on one charge.

Motorola Edge 20 Lite

The Edge 20 Lite is extremely fast charging and features one of the longest battery life spans of any 5G phone at the time of writing.

Step into the future with 5G mobile broadband coverage

Whatever your priorities, it’s important to do your research. Luckily for customers, a wide range of new 5G mobile phones have entered the market, providing unparalleled choice. Comparing coverage, technical specifications and price are all critical factors consumers should consider when stepping into the future with 5G mobile broadband technology

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