4G Phones Are Good Enough: Why Should You Pay for 5G's Hidden Costs?

In today’s tech era, the newest generation of mobile network technology, 5G, draws widespread attention for its high speed and low latency. However, this does not mean everyone needs or should upgrade to 5G. Perhaps staying on 4G is the better choice for us.

You Can Skip the 5G Upgrade

Take Chunghwa Telecom as an example. In their promotional campaigns, they lure users to upgrade from the old NT$4991 4G plan to a NT$599 unlimited 5G plan, advertising that for just one hundred dollars more you can enjoy faster, higher-quality service. But is it really worth it?

An Apple iPhone 15 user shared his experience on social media. After following a telemarketer’s pitch and upgrading from 4G to 5G, he found that not only did his internet speed fail to improve noticeably, but his phone’s battery drained even faster.

He said he used to get a full day out of a single charge, but now he has to hunt for a charger by the afternoon. Eventually he simply limited his mobile network to “only” 4G, which solved the high power consumption problem.

This user originally enjoyed satisfactory unlimited 4G internet for just NT$499 a month, only to discover a worse experience after upgrading.

This is not an isolated case; many have felt some degree of disappointment after upgrading. Part of the reason is that their own phone usage habits simply never required the so-called high speed of 5G. Instead, the tangible feeling of faster battery drain creates unnecessary trouble for themselves.

Why 4G Is More Practical

Here are some reasons why staying on 4G may be the wiser choice for most of us right now:

1. Cost-effectiveness: For many users, 4G speed is already sufficient for daily use, including browsing the web and watching YouTube, TikTok videos, and social media. If you are not a professional streamer or esports player, you do not need the ultra-fast downloads 5G offers, and the NT$100 you save each month can go toward other expenses.
2. Battery life: 5G mobile networks may accelerate battery drain, especially in areas with poor 5G signal, where the phone frequently searches for base stations and switches channels, wasting power. If you find yourself charging often, locking to 4G may make your phone last longer.
3. Coverage: 5G network coverage is still gradually expanding. In many areas, 4G networks offer broader coverage and more stable signals.
4. Device compatibility: Not all devices can fully utilize 5G networks. If your device does not support all 5G features, upgrading may not bring the expected benefits.

While chasing the latest technology, we should also consider our actual personal needs, user experience, and cost-effectiveness. Sometimes the newest is not always the most suitable. Keeping a low-cost, high-quality 4G plan may be exactly what we need.