The narrator purchased a 5G phone (Samsung Galaxy S10 5G) and tested it in Providence, Rhode Island, one of the cities with Verizon's 5G network. The results were impressive, with download speeds reaching up to 1.9 gigabits per second. However, the narrator noted several limitations and drawbacks, including:
1. Limited range: 5G signals do not travel far and are easily disrupted by obstacles like trees, walls, and buildings.
2. Inconsistent performance: Speeds dropped significantly when the narrator moved away from the 5G node, and the phone frequently switched between 4G and 5G.
3. Upload speeds: Upload speeds were still at 4G levels, around 100 megabits per second.
4. Heat and battery life: The phone got warm during testing, and the battery life was reduced.
The narrator concludes that 5G is not yet ready for widespread adoption, but its potential is promising, with possibilities for virtual reality streaming, autonomous cars, and remote surgery. However, the current infrastructure and technology limitations need to be addressed before 5G can realize its full potential.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. 5G is the fifth generation of wireless network technology.
2. All major carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint, are working on building out their 5G networks.
3. To take advantage of 5G, you need a 5G device with 5G radios and a 5G network.
4. 5G represents a significant step forward in terms of speed and capability compared to 4G.
5. 5G is built on millimeter waves, a new section of very high frequency spectrum.
6. The higher the frequency of any wave, the lesser the range.
7. Millimeter waves have a hard time traveling through obstacles like trees, walls, and buildings.
8. Even rain in the air could potentially be a problem for 5G signals.
9. Verizon is building out its 5G network in certain cities, one location at a time.
10. The author tested 5G in Providence, Rhode Island, which is one of Verizon's 5G cities.
11. The author used a Samsung Galaxy S10 5G on Verizon to test 5G speeds.
12. The author achieved speeds of up to 1.9 gigabits per second in ideal conditions.
13. 5G speeds can drop significantly when moving behind obstacles or away from the node.
14. The solution to this problem is to put a lot of nodes all over the place to maximize coverage.
15. The current plan is to blanket areas with lower-powered cells that allow for quick switching between nodes.
16. The infrastructure required to cover an entire city and eventually an entire country with 5G is expected to be incredibly expensive and take a long time.
17. There are still some drawbacks to 5G, including heat, battery life, and upload speeds.
18. Upload speeds on 5G appear to be happening at 4G speeds, even when connected to 5G.
19. The ping is still at 4G levels, with a goal of getting it down to a millisecond or less.
20. The phone used for testing, the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, suffered from heat and battery life issues during testing.