3G, 4G, and now 5G - oh my! Choosing a phone or internet plan can be hard enough without throwing extra numbers around. Luckily, we’ve crunched the numbers, so to speak, so you can be confident that you’re choosing the phone plan and network that works best for you.
3G and 4G are the networks that let your phone connect to the internet. The ‘G’ stands for ‘Generation’, which is just a fancy way of saying update or upgrade. 3G is third generation, 4G is fourth generation and so on. And yep - you guessed it - the higher the number, the more advanced the technology. So by that logic, 4G is newer and faster than 3G.
Network operators are in the process of shutting down the 3G network in Australia. Vodafone already pulled the plug in December 2023. Telstra and Optus will follow later this year.
3G vs. 4G speeds
Yep, the main difference between 3G and 4G is simple; 4G is faster than 3G. 4G can reach speeds of up to 50mpbs - that's almost 10 times faster than 3G. While this difference in speed isn't always super obvious, you'll notice it more once you start to download files; it's much faster to download on a 4G network than it is on a 3G, and the bigger the file, the slower it will be on 3G. So if you're watching your favourite Netflix show on a 3G network, it might be a bit frustrating!
This is because 4G maintains a consistent speed of download, whereas 3G download speeds build up over time.
There are a few other differences that you should know about. And with the rollout of 5G added to the mix, as well as the gradual shutdown of 3G, it’s important to be as informed as possible. 3G was all the rage in the 2000s; up there with flip phones and playing snake. 4G was the natural progression for the next decade; the 2010s, and as we enter the 2020s - yep, 5G is knocking on our door.
5G rollout – everything you need to know
The next generation of phone network is here! We're now seeing more and more 5G-capable devices hit stores. Read more about 5G and what it means for you right here.
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How much faster is 4G?
Much faster. As we said, 4G can reach speeds that are over 10x faster than 3G; commonly between 20Mbps and 50Mbps. And if your phone supports something called “Carrier Aggregation”, when it can connect to multiple cellular frequencies at once, you could reach speeds of up to 450Mbps in, say, the Sydney CBD. Yes, that is faster than the NBN!
However, not everyone lives in a dense capital city, where these networks are at their strongest. Speeds are fastest depending on your proximity to network towers, so your speeds can get slower if your coverage isn't great.
3G vs. 4G: Downloads
Example download times for popular types of files (in seconds)
| File type | 3G speed | 4G speed |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 music file (5MB) | 3 | 1 |
| Large photo (10MB) | 7 | 3 |
| Video file (30MB) | 21 | 5 |
| Store app (50MB) | 38 | 12 |
As you can see above, you’ll start to notice the difference between 3G and 4G when you start downloading files. The bigger the file size, the longer it will take to download, especially on 3G.
Which is better for you?
Luckily, you don’t have to choose!
All of the major telco suppliers in Australia offer 4G services, as do the vast majority of smaller providers, and if you have a compatible phone it will automatically connect you to the best network available. Phew, that’s one less decision to make.
It does mean that 4G is faster and therefore the better of the two technologies. And not just a little faster. 4G is more than ten times as fast as 3G.
However, you can see from our table above that those faster speeds will be most noticeable for things like large downloads and streaming videos on sites like Netflix and YouTube. If you mostly use the internet on your phone for things like browsing Facebook, and checking emails, you may not notice the difference between 3G and 4G when you have a strong network connection.
There’s no real downside to using 4G over 3G; it may use a little bit more of your phone’s battery, but it’s hardly noticeable.
Is 4G more expensive?
This might surprise you - but nope! Vodafone, Telstra and Optus networks all offer a combination of 3G and 4G service and there is no extra charge for the faster speeds. You couldn’t even choose if you wanted to. Smartphones are designed to switch between available networks and find the best and fastest for your location. On your monthly bill, it all falls under the category of 'data'.
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What handset do I need to get 4G?
Pretty much any phone! Most handsets these days are 4G-ready, and most new ones have 5G capabilities, too. If you’re buying a phone for less than, say, $100 though, it’s always best to check the specs and make sure it’s 4G compatible.
Why do mobile networks still use 3G?
If we’ve got 4G - and now 5G - what’s the point of keeping 3G around?
Not all devices support 4G, and in parts or regional and rural Australia, telcos still don't have the same amount of 4G coverage as they do 3G. 3G provides the backbone coverage in many less populous areas of Australia.
Telstra, however, has said it will ensure all of its 3G coverages areas will be upgraded to 4G before it shuts down its 3G network.
Remember - 3G was around in the 2000s when we mostly used our phones for making phone calls. Now that we have little supercomputers for mobile phones and are downloading everything from the weather to our favourite movies, 3G doesn't quite cut the mustard for most of us.
What about 5G?
It’s finally here - the much-talked about 5G network.
5G is the next major evolution in mobile network technology, and we’ve already started to see the 5G enabled devices launch. As with 4G before it, 5G is focused on mobile data. 5G will promise three major improvements:
Faster network speeds: 5G networks will be capable of download speeds as fast as 20Gbps. The exact speeds an individual will get will depend on a number of factors, but the 5G specification states that individual users should see minimum download speeds of 100Mbps. That's the fastest NBN speed that's commercially available, and that's just 5G's minimum.
Lower latency: In plain terms, latency is perhaps best described as the time it takes information to get from your phone to the wider internet and back again. The typical latency for a 4G network is around 60 milliseconds, whereas 5G could decrease this to as low as 1 millisecond. This massive decrease in latency will be vital for technology such as self-driving cars, where every millisecond could make a difference in preventing a crash.
More simultaneous connections: 5G will allow more devices to connect to the network at the same time. This is great because there are more and more smartphones in the world, but equally important because 5G is set to facilitate new developments in autonomous cars, connected machinery, and Internet of Things devices.
While 5G will succeed 4G, it will not replace it. 4G and 5G networks will exist simultaneously, working together to offer the widest possible coverage for all of Australia, just as 3G and 4G did before them. But eventually, we will say goodbye to 3G altogether.
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