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Should you upgrade now or wait for one of 2020’s 5G phones?
June 05, 2025
OEMs delivered some trulystandout flagship smartphonesin 2019. Samsung launched theGalaxy Note 10line with alot of useful features, top-tier performance, and a unique, yet familiar design. Meanwhile,Google’s Pixel 4devices once again delivered “stellar” results in the camera department, and OnePlus took its first steps into thepremium flagship spacewith aplomb.
There were a ton of other great smartphones too, including some that were5G enabled. With next-generation network access touted as the next big step for smartphones (at least whilefoldablesfind their feet), the question is: Should you upgrade to a 5G phone now?
To answer that, let’s look forward to what’s coming in 2020 to see what might be in the works.
Why wait for a 2020 5G smartphone
Qualcomm’sSnapdragon Tech Summitbrought some exciting news. The company’s latest chipsets — the flagshipSnapdragon 865and the mid-range765 and 765G— will bring some substantial performance gains and new features to devices next year.
One of the most exciting benefits of these chips is the inclusion of5G across the board. Qualcomm bringing 5G to mid-range and flagship smartphones alike means the technology will be accessible to more people than ever. And with all four major US carriers now offering their own 5G networks, consumers will have the freedom to choose which one works best for them.
Qualcomm isn’t the only manufacturer working to bring 5G connectivity to affordable handsets, either.SamsungandMediaTekare also working on their own offerings, both of which will come in smartphones next year.
Though there are plenty of 5G capable devices out now, they are usually more expensive than their 4G counterparts. TheGalaxy Note 10 Plus 5Gcosts $200 more than the standardNote 10 Plus. TheOnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Editioncurrently costs $400 more than the standardOnePlus 7T.
So, is it worth spending hundreds of dollars more now to access the currently underwhelming 5G networks? I don’t know about you, but that’s a hard sell for me. With the industry preparing to go all-in on 5G in 2020, it might be a good idea to hold off on your next upgrade until later this year so you don’t get stuck with a 4G device for the next two to four years.
Why upgrade now
On the other hand, 5G isn’t the only thing that matters. Not only that, but it won’t even be accessible to the majority of people for several years. 5G rollouts will still be limited to major cities, so if you’re off the rollout map, there’s no point in waiting. Heck,4G still isn’t available to everyonein the US, so it will be quite a while before we see robust 5G networks.
On top of that, 5G plans are more expensive than the carriers’ base offerings.T-Mobile’s 5G networkmay be accessible for now at no extra charge, but you can expect to pay $10 more per month to gain access toVerizon’s 5G network. Granted, Verizon will wave that $10 charge if you happen to have a qualifying device on one of the company’s more premium plans, but they cost either $10 or $20 more per month, so those savings are a wash.
Read also:Smartphones in 2020: 20 things we want to see from phone makers
To accessSprint’s 5G network, you at least need the company’s$70 Unlimited Plus plan, though Sprint recommends its $80 Unlimited Premium plan for 5G users.AT&Tcurrently only offers 5G connectivity on its$75 Unlimited Extraand $85 Unlimited Elite plans. That’s up to $20 per month more than both carriers’ standard unlimited plans, and don’t expect those monthly prices to drop anytime soon.
It’s true that OEMs plan to deliver some pretty compelling smartphones that can take advantage of these carrier plans. But those same companies already have solid, non-5G devices available to buy right now.
Samsung’s Galaxy S10line is a perfect example. You don’t need to wait for next year’s 5G enabled Samsung smartphones to getone of the best devicesthe company has ever made.
The same goes for other OEMs too. TheOnePlus 7Tis one of the best value Android phones we’ve ever seen. The handset has a reasonable price tag while sporting high-end specs and premium build quality.
TheHUAWEI P30 Proprovides some powerful hardware, long-lasting battery life, and a genuinely great triple-camera setup. Despite the currentHUAWEI trade banwhich makes the company’s latest flagship avery hard sell, the P30 Pro still manages to be one of the best devices of the year.
Even though a 5G enabled future is just around the corner, that doesn’t mean you’re able to’t or shouldn’t upgrade your smartphone now, especially when the current crop of phones is so impressive.
All of the non-5G flagship devices come with their own pros and cons, but the bar of quality is so high right now that you can’t go too far wrong. Plus, you don’t need to spend even more on your monthly plan or rely on the promise of faster data speeds in select locations to unlock their full potential.
What do you think? Will you be upgrading now, or do you plan on waiting for the rise of 5G phones-as-standard? Select an option from the poll below, and let us know why in the comments section.
Should you wait until next year to upgrade your smartphone?
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