Compare 5G Phones
5G phones are now the norm rather than the exception: above the entry-level segment, 5G is included in virtually every new device. So the question isn’t whether you’ll get it, but what benefits it offers and which 5G bands you should look for. We don’t earn more from one brand or device than another, so the order doesn’t reflect our preference. Use the filters to narrow down the list to what you’re looking for.
Do you need a 5G phone?
For most people, that’s no longer a choice, but a given: the 5G modem is built into the chip of virtually every new phone. The choice that really matters is whether the device supports the band that delivers high speeds in the Netherlands.
How do 5G phones really differ?
The options listed above vary in these areas.
- Supported bands: the 3.5 GHz band (n78) provides the speed in the Netherlands, while the 700 MHz band (n28) provides coverage. A device that lacks n78 will still have 5G, but not the high-speed part.
- 4G-only counterparts: in the entry-level segment, many models come in both 4G and 5G versions with nearly identical names. If the 5G version doesn’t support n78, it offers little more than its 4G counterpart.
- Number of bands: the number of 5G bands a device supports determines whether you’ll have 5G access outside the Netherlands.
- Battery life: 5G drains the battery more than 4G, so for a device you use on 5G all day, battery capacity is a more important factor.
Every device in this overview supports 5G, and each device automatically falls back to 4G where 5G isn’t available. So your choice comes down to the bands and the rest of the device’s features, not whether it supports 5G.
Pay attention to the 3.5 GHz band if you want to get the highest speeds from your 5G plan.
Consciously choose 4G if you mainly make calls and send messages and are price-conscious; see the 4G phones.
Pay attention to the battery if you stream a lot on the go or share a hotspot.
What are the benefits of 5G in the Netherlands?
Since July 2024, a lot more than before. The 3.5 GHz band, occupied for years by the satellite station in Burum, was auctioned off on July 1, 2024; KPN, Odido, and VodafoneZiggo each received 100 MHz. Odido and KPN activated that band within two weeks, starting with the busiest locations and then rolling it out in phases.
In practice, 5G speeds in the Netherlands typically range from a few dozen to a few hundred megabits per second. On a 3.5 GHz tower with low traffic, speeds can exceed 500 Mbit/s and sometimes approach 1 Gbit/s. The 20 Gbit/s figure often cited in connection with 5G is a requirement from the ITU specification for peak capacity, in which all radio capacity is allocated to a single connection; no user actually achieves that speed in practice.
Pay attention to the band, not the logo
The 5G logo in the status bar says nothing about speed. 5G at 700 MHz has a long range and penetrates buildings well, but is barely faster than good 4G. 5G at 3.5 GHz is noticeably faster, but has a shorter range, so coverage varies by location.
| Band | Frequency | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| n28 | 700 MHz | Coverage: indoors and outside the city |
| n78 | 3.5 GHz | Speed: capacity in crowded areas |
How to check if a device supports n78
You can find this in the specifications. Look for the list of supported 5G bands and see if n78 is included. Pay attention to the full model name, because the same device often comes in regional variants with different band sets. And if you buy a device outside the European market—for example, through import—the band set may differ from what you need in the Netherlands.
Which 5G Terms You Can Ignore
A few terms that come up frequently but don’t affect your choice. Dutch consumer networks run on 5G non-standalone, where the 5G radio is connected to a 4G core network. Only with standalone 5G will network slicing and voice calls over 5G be fully possible, and standalone 5G is not yet in use for consumers here. 5G-Advanced, the further development set to be standardized in 2024, is not a new generation and does not require a new device.
The same applies to mmWave, 5G operating at frequencies above 24 GHz, which is discussed more in the United States and Japan than here. The 26 GHz band has not been allocated in the Netherlands, and no decision has been made on whether it will be auctioned nationwide. Furthermore, a single mmWave transmitter covers only a few hundred meters, which requires a very dense and expensive network, and most devices outside the United States do not even support it. Even in countries that do have mmWave, only a small fraction of connections rely on that technology.
Many people also raise health concerns. No link to health hazards has been demonstrated for the frequencies used by 2G through 5G and Wi-Fi in the Netherlands. That is the conclusion of the Health Council of the Netherlands, which does not completely rule out risks and therefore recommends ongoing research and the maintenance of exposure limits; the Electromagnetic Fields Knowledge Platform summarizes that advice.
What are your alternatives?
4G—and in the Netherlands, that’s a solid foundation. The older networks are phasing out: Vodafone shut down 3G in 2020 and KPN in 2022, leaving Odido as the only provider still offering 3G, while 2G is now mainly used by alarm systems, ATMs, and cars. For your decision, that means only one thing: a new phone in the Netherlands won’t be without network coverage, but a very old one might be.
Are there still new phones without 5G?
Yes, in the entry-level segment and among basic models. Manufacturers deliberately release 4G-only models in these categories, often alongside a 5G version with a nearly identical name, where only the addition of “4G” or “5G” indicates the difference. So when buying a budget phone, pay attention to the full model name, and if necessary, check the list of 4G phones.
