Four hours, seven cell sites and dozens of tests later, Verizon’s 5G data network and Samsung’s Galaxy S10 5G achieved what I thought was impossible: they…
Four hours, seven cell sites and dozens of tests later, Verizon’s 5G data network and Samsung’s Galaxy S10 5G achieved what I thought was impossible: they made me excited about 5G again. The expensive new phone (it costs $1,300) and fledgling network still face hurdles in bringing this new technology to the masses. Things could still get messy. But after seeing consistently fast real-world and benchmarking tests, the 5G future we keep hearing about — the one that promises ludicrously fast downloads, real-time sports and pin-sharp online games — doesn’t feel as pie-in-the-sky as it did six weeks ago when I came to Chicago to test Verizon’s then-day-old 5G network.
My experiences were night and day. A month and a half ago, Verizon’s network launch was rocky. The Moto Z3 and 5G Moto Mod loan unit I used to test the network on ran out of battery, and while Speedtest.net showed fast speeds, it took 6 minutes to download a large file that today took me under 2 and a half. Another time this afternoon, I downloaded a Netflix movie in just over 8 seconds.
5G data speeds represent a profound shift for the industry, promising exponentially faster download speeds on your phone, which can make AR and new camera features come to life. The ultrafast data transfer also paves the way for next-generation capabilities including remote surgery, connected security cameras and cars and buses that talk to each other on the road to reduce accidents and help keep lanes clear. Carriers that can build out the most robust networks first believe they’ll have an advantage over rivals for signing on new subscribers.
So what went right for Verizon and Samsung this time and why, and what does all of this mean for you — should you run out and buy a 5G phone? Hang tight and I’ll break it all down.
I took a loaner Galaxy S10 5G that Samsung had preloaded with an account and apps like Speedtest.net, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix out into Chicago for testing. Because coverage is limited to specific areas where Verizon has set up its 5G network nodes, we couldn’t just go anywhere we wanted.
For example, you can’t use 5G signal most places indoors (Verizon’s store on Michigan Avenue is one exception).
