Why can't old phones use 5G waves?

5G waves are mentioned as a method of wireless mobile connection with speeds as fast as Wi-Fi in many Vietnamese families today, but unlike home devices that can take advantage of high-speed wireless internet, smartphones currently sold on the domestic market do not have many models suitable for this technology, especially in the mid-range and low-cost segments.

Specialized hardware is needed for 5G compatibility

5G is not simply an upgrade of network technology from 4th generation (4G) to 5th generation (5G). In fact, experts define it as a next-generation network due to the specialized hardware requirements. To make it easier to visualize, 5G waves can be seen as a completely new language that users' mobile devices must understand and speak fluently.

Phones need specialized hardware to handle 5G waves, providing a seamless connectivity experience and lower latency than older technologies.

While 5G may use some of the same frequency bands that 4G does, the technology also extends to higher frequency bands. Higher frequency signals can handle large amounts of data, but only if the phone has the right antenna and modem to handle it—something older phones may not have.

5G also uses advanced communications protocols called 5G New Radio (5G NR). Older devices don’t have the internal components to use this signal. Unlike a computer program that can be updated, a phone’s modem is fixed and cannot be upgraded. So if the hardware wasn’t designed for 5G from the start, users won’t be able to take advantage of this connection on older or incompatible phones.

Other physical limitations

There are certain hardware limitations that will become more apparent as users try to use their older phones to get 5G. They’ll need to replace antennas, radio chips, and possibly even processors to handle the added workload and data. Even if users can disassemble and install hardware themselves, they’ll run into other complications. For example, the phone’s antenna must be precisely tuned to specific frequencies, and the phone’s modem is locked into older network architectures (like 3G or 4G).

So, could you use an external 5G device to connect to your phone? It sounds reasonable in theory, but in practice, there hasn’t been such a thing, at least not for phones. Having to carry another accessory would also make your phone bulkier, making it less suitable for the role of “mobile device.”

Is it necessary to upgrade your phone to use 5G waves?

The answer may depend on the time, for example in Vietnam today, 5G waves are not yet widespread and 4G speeds are still meeting the needs of ordinary end users, so upgrading is clearly not necessary. But the jump from 4G to 5G is not small in terms of speed but completely changes the way phones "communicate" with the base transceiver station (BTS).

5G network speed is equivalent to internet speed in many Vietnamese households today

5G networks typically have extremely low latency, allowing phones to send and receive information in real time. This type of response is important for new technologies such as live streaming, self-driving cars, remote surgery, virtual reality, augmented reality, etc. Currently, users tend to consume a huge amount of content online, at this time 5G will show the difference when supporting high-definition video broadcasting, up to 2K, 4K, the ability to download large files to the phone is also significantly improved.

But in the end, whether it is "necessary or not" depends on each individual. It can be seen that 5G waves are suitable for industrial scale or meeting the needs of especially large content consumption. Meanwhile, 4G is still meeting the basic needs of connectivity, especially when Wi-Fi waves are now present in most households, even in public places in some large cities.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-sao-dien-thoai-cu-khong-dung-duoc-song-5g-185250127223556387.htm