When purchasing a new smartphone in India, it often seems that 5G has become a standard feature because many manufacturers offer such devices. However, upon closer inspection, it turns out that 4G is used much more frequently than 5G. Although telecom companies constantly announce the expansion of 5G coverage across the country, the reality is different.
The on-the-ground situation is ambiguous. In major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Noida, and Bangalore, users note that even if the 5G icon is displayed on the phone, the network quality is not uniform. Sometimes the speed is excellent, but after a short distance, the phone switches back to 4G. In indoor spaces, metros, crowded areas, and certain neighborhoods, the 5G experience is unstable.
Perhaps this is why 4G has not disappeared from India yet. Although 5G has existed on paper for several years, for the average mobile user, 4G still plays a very significant role. Moreover, India is working on 6G technology, but people are having difficulty using 5G data due to lack of stability. For example, with slight movement, it cannot be guaranteed that the connection will remain 5G.
According to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report, by the end of 2025, the share of 5G subscribers in the region including India, Nepal, and Bhutan will reach 430 million people, accounting for about 35 percent of the total mobile subscribers. Meanwhile, 4G remains the most prevalent technology, holding about 46 percent of the market. This shows that 5G is growing rapidly, but 4G is far from being completely replaced.
It is important to understand that a telecom company's announcement of a 5G network in a specific city or area does not guarantee the user a constant 5G speed throughout that region. The quality of the network experience depends on numerous factors: the location of your home or office, building walls, your phone's support for the 5G band, the number of users currently on the network, and proximity to towers.
Therefore, two people in the same city can have completely different 5G experiences. One might get a speed of 500 Mbps, while another in a different part of the same city might have an experience comparable to regular 4G. This does not mean that 5G doesn't work; rather, creating and maintaining consistently high network quality across a vast territory like India are two different tasks.
Recent Ericsson forecasts also point to a gradual transition from 4G to 5G. According to the report, the share of 4G subscribers in this region may decrease from approximately 570 million to around 160 million by 2031. This means that millions of people will still be using 4G in five years.
This is not necessarily the case. If you plan to use the phone only for calls, WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, UPI, online banking, and general internet, a good 4G phone can function fully for several years. The 4G network remains the largest mobile network in India, and its speeds are sufficient for daily tasks. 5G is not a mandatory requirement for watching videos in Full HD, making video calls, or using social media.
If your budget is limited, and a 4G phone is significantly cheaper than a 5G model, there is no need to spend more money on a more expensive and potentially worse device just because it lacks 5G. For many people, an improved display, good battery, quality camera, and large memory are better than having 5G. 4G will remain on the market for some time and remains quite stable in many aspects.
However, if the price difference between 4G and 5G models is minimal, choosing a 5G phone would be wiser, as 5G is gradually becoming the primary network.
Although 5G phone sales have sharply increased, this does not mean that most mobile connections in the country have switched to 5G. According to the latest data, the share of 5G is 35 percent, while the share of 4G reaches 46 percent. The remainder belongs to older networks and other technologies. It is clear that India is in a transitional period. Furthermore, many people own 5G phones but do not use 5G constantly; the phone switches between 4G and 5G depending on the network condition.
Some companies continue to release 4G phones, and the main reason for this is price. The market for entry-level smartphones in India is huge, and most people do not want to spend a lot of money for 5G. Many simply need a reliable phone that makes calls, provides internet access, and has long battery life.
