T-Mobile has recently announced that its 5G Advanced network is now available nationwide. This next evolution of 5G technology offers significant enhancements, including faster speeds, reduced latency, and improved overall efficiency. To take full advantage of 5G Advanced, your smartphone needs to be equipped with a modem that supports the 3GPP Release 18 standard.
The introduction of T-Mobile’s 5G Advanced network marks a significant milestone for the carrier, which began its rollout of standalone 5G infrastructure in 2020 and activated the 5G Advanced features in 2024. Unlike most carriers that rely on non-standalone 5G networks, which still depend on 4G cores, T-Mobile’s standalone 5G utilizes a fully developed 5G core. So why is 5G Advanced important?
The technology is built upon the 3GPP Release 18 specifications and incorporates carrier aggregation, among other advancements, to enhance speed and connectivity, particularly in crowded environments like stadiums. T-Mobile also highlights improved precision-finding capabilities and lower latency as part of the 5G Advanced offering. Remarkably, this technology is more energy-efficient compared to earlier 5G versions, suggesting users may not need to disable 5G for battery conservation on T-Mobile’s network.
However, there’s disappointing news for Pixel users. The Exynos 5400 modem in the Pixel 9 series does not appear to support the Release 18 standard, meaning that it cannot benefit from the advancements of the new 5G network. While there is a small chance that the Exynos modem could unofficially support some features of Release 18 before its ratification, current information indicates that this is unlikely.
For those looking to upgrade, devices with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Snapdragon 8 Elite chipsets should be compatible with 5G Advanced. If you’re considering a new phone, it’s essential to check for this compatibility to fully utilize T-Mobile’s modern network.
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