Is It Worth Getting The Best 5G Mobile Speeds?

TwentyTwoCarats on 21/09/2023 - 09:25
Last edited 21/09/2023 - 09:44 by 1 other user

I’ve been using the iPhone 11 Pro for a while and wanting to get an iPhone 15 Pro. One thing I’m excited to have, although not a big deal, is 5G.

I’m an OzBargainer so I’ve always bought phones outright and gone with 12mth prepaid SIMs as they are the best bang for buck. But I’m willing to go on postpaid plans now, I don’t mind.

Upon browsing plans I’ve found that most 5G prepaid plans are capped to 100mbps. Boost’s 5G that uses Telstra is capped at 150mbps for the 12mth recharges. If you get a plan from Telstra themselves, the first tier plan is capped at 250mbps and then the next couple of plans are all uncapped. Optus doesn’t mention anything so I assume all their plans are uncapped.

So I’m wondering - for those who have the highest speeds of 5G what do you use it for? My use case is Google maps, Spotify, YouTube Premium (downloading videos too), internet browsing, hotspotting when I’m away from my city and don’t have Wi-Fi. All these things are fine on 4G too.

Thoughts? Is it worth getting uncapped 5G speeds? I just want the latest and greatest but if the cost is too much and not worth it, then I won’t.

Mobile

Comments

  • theguyrules on 21/09/2023 - 09:27
    +2

    Nah I keep it off most of the time, saves my phone battery.

    • OMGJL on 21/09/2023 - 11:07

      don't know why you got negged, but using 5G indeed drain more battery than 4G.
      My phone even have a setting called "Smart 5G" which switch itself to 4G to save battery when I am not actively using internet.

  • ihfree on 21/09/2023 - 09:34

    100Mbps is fine for your mentioned use case. If you don't have issues on 4G, you shouldn't have an issue with 5G. Hotspotting away from the city will likely still be 4G.

    I would take a reliable connection over a fast connection on paper. I spent a month on Vodafone and had issues with Google Assistant reporting connection issues and basically no internet on public transport for my particular locations.

  • non-core promise on 21/09/2023 - 09:48
    +2

    Obviously as everything to do with technology, it will be necessary one day, just not today.

    The 100/150mbps cap will matter to a few, but not to most people. This will slowly increase as time goes on.

    What matters more for mobile data, in my experience, is coverage. Specifically, the consistency of the speeds and making sure you can get moderate/modest speeds everywhere rather than the maximum speed when conditions are ideal.

    E.g. the Vodafone coverage for the Western Line on Sydney Trains is awful. It constantly drops out, especially between Strathfield and Redfern.

    In this case, it actually isn't worth getting anything beyond the bottom end data plans (120GB on Kogan Mobile) for most people because their data usage will be heavily capped by the inconsistent and slow speeds on the train.

    5G speeds will also slowly be raised or uncapped as 5G coverage continues to increase and more competition from rival telcos setting up more of their own 5G towers.

    • OMGJL on 21/09/2023 - 11:09

      talking about competitions, NBN is still capping out on less than 100mbps on a lot of areas.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 21/09/2023 - 10:10

    Imo yes worth it, definitely improves QOL assuming already at a decent standard of life..

  • GordonD on 21/09/2023 - 10:31

    I'm getting about 300/60 on Telstra/Woolworths 5G.

    But I use it for my home internet connection as well.

    The only time I notice that I'm getting that sort of speed, rather than a lot less, is when I'm downloading things that are gigabytes in size. Like operating systems and updates to them. I don't have to wait all day.

    • djsweet on 21/09/2023 - 11:18

      I thought Woolworths was 4G Only?

    • theguyrules on 21/09/2023 - 11:20

      I'm getting 288/10 on Telstra 4G right now.
      Same spot, 588/15 if I turn on 5G.

    • TwentyTwoCarats on 21/09/2023 - 14:50

      How is the Woolies 5G coverage vs Telstra 5G coverage - are they the same thing?

      • GordonD on 23/09/2023 - 11:02
        +1

        I only know how Telstra/Woolworths 5G coverage compares to Optus 5G and Vodafone 5G coverage in my area. I can't get either Optus or Vodafone 5G in my home, even though I can walk out into the street and see their phone towers, and I know those towers have 5G transmitters in them. They just deliver 5G to a small area in selected directions around their towers. All I can get from them is 4G at 50/20. Whereas Telstra blankets my whole area with 5G. So Woolworths may not have access to the whole Telstra network, but its still better than Telstra's competitors at delivering coverage where I need it. So it gets my business, reluctantly, because of the price, because I don't really have any alternative. Three quarters of a lot is better than all of nothing.

  • teacherer on 21/09/2023 - 11:03

    Not really

  • OMGJL on 21/09/2023 - 11:14
    +1

    you simply wouldn't notice on YouTube/Maps/Spotify, it's very unlikely you'll notice on internet browsing because most webpage is quite small in file size.

    The only time you might notice it while hotspoting, is if you were downloading something that you need ASAP(like game update).

    paying big bucks for a post paid plan just for uncapped 5G speed is not quite worth it.

  • USER DC on 21/09/2023 - 11:26

    Is It Worth Getting The Best 5G Mobile Speeds?

    And who exactly are you ??
    What are your requirements ?? - You need to run a gaming server with ultra low latency ? - You need to always download/upload 10GB+ files every hour ?
    What's normal speeds in your area ? - Those normal speeds not good enough for your daily needs ?

    Chances are you're probably on NBN 50 or 100 ?? - if those speeds are already good enough for your daily needs, then - you do not really need BEST POSSIBLE 5G SPEEDS.

  • Motek Benzona on 21/09/2023 - 11:29

    I never use it here (Ipswich qld)

    My 4g runs at almost 260mbps and the 5g is 380
    No point..might as well save battery

    I switch it on areas that 4g is weak but often those areas have no 5g anyway

    It does not affect me posting memes of Biden sniffing little kids and people in their cars with masks on, so why worry?

  • Drakesy on 21/09/2023 - 11:49

    NGL i'm on Boost, used the 5G for a whole day, didn't like what it did to my battery life and noticed the speeds weren't really required for what i used it for (not enough 4k movie watching ;)

    Went back to 4G and have been happy with it ever since.

    • TwentyTwoCarats on 21/09/2023 - 14:49

      I see. How is the Boost 5G coverage vs Telstra 5G - is it the same thing?

      • Drakesy on 21/09/2023 - 14:59
        +1

        Yep

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