Samsung Galaxy S20 5G: what you need on 5G on the latest version of Samsung

Samsung & # 39; sGalaxy S20, S20 Plus and S20 Plus Ultra hit stores on Friday March 6 and with it, the first major 5G launch is underway. While theGalaxy S10 Last year's line was largely focused on 4G, Samsung's S20 phones are the first large family of devices to integrate 5G on every U.S. carrier, and they're ready to tap into it from the start. the country's emerging 5G networks.

Since the launch of 5G in 2019, networks have matured during the year and 5G phones are performing better thanks to Qualcomm compatible 5G chips upgraded indoors. All S20 phones will support 5G in addition to 4G LTE in the United States on the four major carriers.

But that doesn't mean that each operator will receive the same phones or that each experience will be the same. If you are considering buying an S20 for 5G capabilities, here is what you need to know.

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Convenient with the Galaxy S20, S20 Plus and S20 Ultra

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Electronics

Samsung has three main Galaxy S20 phones in its range: the S20, S20 Plus and S20 Ultra. The phones share many features, but the S20 will differ from its more powerful (and more expensive) siblings when it comes to 5G.

The S20 Plus and Ultra will support the fast millimeter wave 5G networks deployed by Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, as well as the low and medium band 5G networks used by AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint.

Verizon plans to launch 5G on other bands this year but has not yet specified exactly when. Its S20 phones should be able to use these bands when available.

This is a break from Samsung's first 5G devices – the S10 5G and the Note 10 Plus 5G – which only supported 5G millimeter wave or 5G low and medium band , due to the limitations of Qualcomm's first 5G modem. With the new Qualcomm X55 modem and the latest Snapdragon 865 processor, these limitations disappear.

The S20 for AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile, on the other hand, will only support lower and medium band 5G networks and will lack the chips needed to operate millimeter wave networks.

Verizon will have a special version of the S20 that works on millimeter waves and low and medium bands, but it won't be available until the second quarter.

Carriers

AT & T

AT&T will have the four new Galaxy phones, including the three S20 versions.

The S20 will operate on its 5G low band network, which AT&T simply calls "5G", while the Plus and Ultra will operate on this network as well as the "5G Plus" millimeter wave service that the carrier has activated in parts of 35 cities.

AT&T is expanding its number of 5G low band markets on Tuesday to coincide with news from the Galaxy S20, bringing its total list to 45 markets.

In addition to 5G and 5G Plus (on S20 Plus and Ultra), as mentioned above, all AT & T's S20 phones will still support 4G LTE, which it calls "5GE".

Plans: To take advantage of any AT&T 5G service, you will also need to subscribe to the AT&T Unlimited Extra or Elite plans.

Verizon

Verizon currently only offers 5G millimeter wave (what it calls "ultra-broadband") and, as such, will only offer S20 Plus and Ultra capable of millimeter wave at launch, but not the basic S20.

While it's unclear when Verizon will turn on its lower 5G band, the S20 Plus and Ultra will be able to support it when it's online.

This special version of the S20 base with support for the millimeter wave and the low 5G band arrives in the second quarter of the year.

Plans: Verizon includes 5G with its Play More, Do More and Get More unlimited plans. Those in its cheapest unlimited Start plan will have to pay $ 10 more per month for 5G, which brings it at the same price as the Do More or Play More plans.

T Mobile

T-Mobile's 5G strategy is a little trickier in part because of its merger with Sprint.

The carrier will have three S20 phones, including low and medium band S20 only, which shouldn't be a problem for T-Mobile, as it has a national 5G network on its low band spectrum. 600 MHz.

The S20 Plus and Ultra, for their part, will be able to operate these 5G networks as well as the millimeter wave service offered by T-Mobile. lit in a handful of cities.

The three phones, like T-Mobile's previous 5G phones last year, will be able to work with Sprint's mid-range 5G network once the merger is still underway.

Plans: T-Mobile does not require any special plan to use 5G.

Sprint

Like its merger partner, Sprint will carry the three S20 phones. Sprint's S20 phones with its 5G midband network will offer a good mix of 5G coverage and speed increases, although deployment of its new network is largely stalled in all nine cities launched last summer. (For the Super Bowl, he also activated 5G in parts of Miami and kept the network active even if he doesn't officially list Miami on his 5G website.)

Although the carrier's first 5G devices have been announced to be compatible with T-Mobile's 5G millimeter wave, it is unclear at this time whether the S20 phones will support this and / or the 5G network. T-Mobile low band. CNET has contacted Sprint for comments and will update when they respond.

Plans: Sprint requires 5G users to be on its Unlimited Premium or Unlimited Plus plans.

Originally posted February 11
Update, March 2: Add updated details on the launch of the S20.