From 4G to 5G: A Technical Comparison

Looking at the official specifications, the difference between 4G and 5G seems enormous: from 100 Mbps to 20 Gbps, from 50 ms to 1 ms latency. But in everyday reality, how much does it really change? And above all, why is this generational leap much deeper than a simple speed increase? This technical comparison answers these questions without filters.

Network Architecture: From Centralized to Distributed

How 4G (LTE) Works

4G uses an essentially centralized architecture. The device connects to a radio tower (eNodeB), which transmits data to a regional controller, which routes it to the network core — a centralized infrastructure physically located in a few large data centers.

This means that a data packet, even to reach a server close to you, may have to travel hundreds of kilometers physically. It is one of the main reasons for 4G latency.

How 5G (NR — New Radio) Works

5G introduces a distributed, cloud-native architecture. The network core is broken down into microservices that can run close to the antennas, on edge computing servers distributed across the territory.

5G also uses a denser cell hierarchy:

• Macro cells: wide coverage, like 4G towers
• Small cells: smaller antennas installed on streetlights, buildings, bus stops — more cells, more capacity per km²
• mmWave nodes: ultra-high-frequency nodes for high-density areas (stadiums, airports, trade fairs)

This distributed design is what makes ultra-low latency possible: data no longer needs to travel to a centralized core.

Speed Comparison: Real Numbers vs Theoretical

The numbers you see in operator press releases are peak speeds under ideal conditions. Here is what is actually measured:

| | 4G LTE | 5G (mid band) | 5G (mmWave) | |---|---|---|---| | Theoretical peak download | 150–300 Mbps | 1–2 Gbps | 10–20 Gbps | | Real average download | 20–80 Mbps | 150–600 Mbps | 1–4 Gbps | | Theoretical peak upload | 50–75 Mbps | 100–500 Mbps | 1–2 Gbps | | Typical latency | 30–60 ms | 10–20 ms | 2–5 ms | | Coverage in Italy | ~99% pop. | ~85% pop. | <5% pop. |

Source: AGCOM measurements and independent tests, 2024.

Real Italian values show that 5G on mid band (the most widespread today) offers roughly 3–5× more speed than 4G and half the latency. mmWave, while extraordinary, is still extremely rare.

The Real Revolution: Latency and Density

Speed matters, but the most significant differences between 4G and 5G are latency and connection density.

Latency

4G has an end-to-end latency of about 30–50 ms (from device to server). For browsing and watching videos it is sufficient. For competitive gaming it is borderline. For remote surgery or autonomous vehicles it is unacceptable.

5G targets less than 5 ms in mission-critical applications. This is not just an improvement — it is what makes entirely new categories of applications possible:

• Real-time industrial control: robots and machinery synchronized wirelessly with guaranteed latency
• Telesurgery: the surgeon feels the tactile feedback of the robot while operating remotely
• Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X): vehicles communicate with each other and with infrastructure in <10 ms

Connection Density

4G handles approximately 100,000 devices per km². 5G handles up to 1 million per km².

It sounds abstract, but it is the key to mass IoT. In a smart factory, in an agricultural area with sensors on every field, in a hospital with thousands of connected medical devices — 4G would become congested. 5G would not.

The Radio Technologies That Make the Difference

Massive MIMO

4G uses antennas with 4–8 elements. 5G uses Massive MIMO with 64–256 antennas per tower. This makes it possible to serve many more users simultaneously on the same radio channel, multiplying effective capacity.

Beamforming

Instead of radiating the signal in all directions, 5G concentrates a precise signal beam toward each device. Less dispersion, stronger signal, fewer interferences between nearby users.

Millimeter-Wave Spectrum (mmWave)

Frequencies between 24 and 100 GHz, never used for mobile before 5G. They enable multi-Gbps speeds but cover only a few hundred meters and are blocked by walls and even heavy rain. Technology still nascent in Italy.

When 4G Remains the Right Choice

Not everything requires 5G. 4G remains more than sufficient for:

• Web browsing and social media
• Video streaming up to 4K (requires ~25 Mbps, comfortably covered by 4G)
• Video calls and standard remote work
• Rural areas where 5G won't arrive soon

The 4G/5G coexistence will last many more years, with 4G serving as an anchor in uncovered areas and as an automatic fallback.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my 4G smartphone become slower after 5G launches? No. 4G networks remain operational and are maintained by ISPs. The introduction of 5G does not affect the performance of existing 4G.

Is it worth buying a 5G phone now? If you are buying a new mid-range or high-end phone, it almost certainly already has a 5G modem included at no extra cost. Keeping the door open to 5G costs nothing. Replacing a still-working phone just for 5G, no.

Does 5G consume more battery than 4G? Early 5G modems were inefficient. Modern 5G modems (Qualcomm Snapdragon X70, MediaTek M80 and later) have comparable or better energy efficiency than 4G under normal conditions. Consumption increases only when very high speeds are used for intensive downloads.