The spread of 5G networks has accelerated worldwide, but what does this mean for the traveller? Is it worth buying a 5G eSIM, or is 4G more than enough? We looked at the situation in 2026.
Where is 5G available abroad?
Excellent 5G coverage
- South Korea: The world's best 5G coverage, almost nationwide
- USA: Extensive 5G in big cities (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco). 4G in rural areas
- Japan: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya — good in cities, 4G in rural areas
- United Arab Emirates (Dubai): Excellent 5G across the whole city
- China: Widespread 5G, but with special regulation
Good 5G coverage (mainly in cities)
- Germany: Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt — getting better
- United Kingdom: London, Manchester, Birmingham
- Spain: Madrid, Barcelona
- Italy: Rome, Milan
- France: Paris, Lyon
Emerging 5G
- Turkey: Istanbul and Ankara, but coverage is still limited
- Thailand: Bangkok, but most tourist areas are 4G
- Egypt: Very early stage
5G vs. 4G: what is it good for in practice?
| Activity | 4G/LTE speed | 5G speed | Difference noticeable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Maps navigation | 1–2 Mbps is enough | Overkill | No |
| WhatsApp message/call | 1–3 Mbps is enough | Overkill | No |
| Social media | 5–10 Mbps is enough | Faster loading | Barely |
| Video call (Zoom/Teams) | 3–5 Mbps is enough | More stable | Minimally |
| HD video streaming | 5–10 Mbps is enough | Better quality | Sometimes |
| Large file download/upload | 10–50 Mbps | 100–500 Mbps | Yes! |
| 4K video upload | 20+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | Yes! |
Conclusion: For most travel purposes, 4G is perfectly sufficient.
5G band compatibility: the hidden trap
5G works on different frequency bands, and not every phone supports every band:
- Sub-6 GHz (n78, n77, n41): Wider coverage, moderate speed
- mmWave (n261, n260): Extreme speed, but very small coverage (only in certain buildings, stadiums)
In practice this means: a Samsung or iPhone bought in one market won't necessarily pick up US mmWave 5G, and vice versa. 4G/LTE, by contrast, is much more universal — most bands are compatible worldwide.
Battery impact
Using 5G drains the battery 10–20% faster:
- The 5G modem uses more power
- The phone switches more often between 5G and 4G (if coverage isn't continuous)
- When travelling, when you navigate and take photos a lot, this can be critical
Tip: When travelling, switch your phone to 4G mode to conserve battery:
- iPhone: Settings → Mobile Network → Voice & Data → LTE
- Samsung: Settings → Connections → Mobile networks → Network mode → LTE/3G/2G
When is it worth buying a 5G eSIM?
Worth it if:
- You download/upload large files — videos, presentations, large documents
- You work remotely and stability is critical
- You're travelling in South Korea or Dubai, where 4G really has been superseded
Not needed if:
- You're travelling as a normal tourist — navigation, WhatsApp, social media
- Battery matters — 4G lasts longer
- You're going to a country where 5G coverage is limited
Summary
4G/LTE is more than enough for most travel purposes, even in 2026. 5G offers a real advantage when you move a lot of data and you're in a city with extensive 5G coverage (Seoul, Dubai, New York). Because of band compatibility and battery drain, 4G is often the more practical choice for travel.