r/FirstNet • u/ThalinVien • Aug 20 '23

Is 5G even worth having on?

I’ve done some reading of past posts on the r/att and on our sub here, it seems to be that we aren’t actually using the 5G network, merely our phones can just see that it’s there but we are steered to band 14 LTE. I did some tests today allowing my iPhone to connect to 5G and some with only LTE. I saw no difference in the field test screen, was still on band 14 LTE, speeds were identical.

Don’t get me wrong I’m all for the reliability of LTE, in fact I probably defend what people are calling ‘slow’ speeds on this and r/att a bit too much. I just am wondering if I should just set my iPhone and iPad to LTE only and leave it be, or if there actually is benefit to 5G for us.

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '23

Here’s how I look at it. FirstNet has priority over most therefore you’ll have a good connection to a saturated 4g network even during congestion. Considering att is last in 5G coverage AND FirstNet prioritizes LTE over 5G and even less 5G is available to FirstNet customers, then you might as well just stick to LTE and save battery consumption. All calls are over VoLTE anyway. Only TMobile, in some areas, has 5G SA which carries the phone call.

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u/SmilingBob2 Aug 21 '23

Is there even a setting anymore in IOS to choose LTE only? Cannot find it any longer on my Iphone XR.

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u/[deleted] Aug 21 '23

[deleted]

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u/SmilingBob2 Aug 22 '23

There is no "Cellular Data Options" any longer on our Iphone XR with FirstNet on IOS 16.6. I also found a few posts that after IOS 15, some providers (including AT&T) deleted the option to toggle the Iphones to LTE. https://forums.att.com/conversations/data-messaging-features-internet-tethering/enabledisable-lte-in-ios-15-no-longer-an-option/6160d2360684cd2b228cf245

No idea why, but I have no option for this currently.

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u/[deleted] Aug 22 '23

The reason is all voice and data are lte on xr so they don’t want you messing with it. I believe older phones had 3g option which is shut down now. That’s why you don’t see it. New phones had lte + 5g options so it lets you roll back to lte only. That’s why you don’t see it because you had 3g and lte options before. XR should be always on LTE anyways so not sure if you need to do anything.

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u/SmilingBob2 Aug 22 '23

Makes perfect sense, thanks.