What is 4G LTE?
For maps, chat and video calls, 4G is enough, and in many countries it covers more ground than 5G does.
When people think of modern mobile networks, 5G is often the first thing that comes to mind, sometimes leaving 4G LTE dismissed as an old technology no longer needed. In reality, 4G LTE remains the standard that most travellers around the world rely on every day, and it is enough for the activities most people actually need during a trip.
This page explains what 4G LTE is, how it differs from 5G in practice, and why it remains the most workable choice for travel. The focus is on what an everyday user should know and can check for themselves through the phone's own settings, not deep technical detail that has no bearing on real-world use.
What 4G LTE actually is
LTE stands for Long-Term Evolution, the technical name for fourth-generation mobile network technology, commonly called 4G. It is a standard that most network operators worldwide have run continuously for years, and it remains the primary network in many countries even today, even as 5G continues to roll out more widely.
Almost every phone sold over the past decade or so already supports 4G LTE by default, unlike 5G, which is still limited to relatively newer models. That makes 4G LTE the more broadly compatible choice in terms of device support.
How 4G LTE and 5G differ in practice
The main difference an everyday user notices is the top speed achievable under favourable conditions. 5G is designed for higher speeds and lower latency, but in practice, the speed actually experienced still depends on several factors together — how dense 5G towers are in that area, how many people are using the network at once, and the specific handset in use — not the name of the technology alone.
Another important difference is coverage, since 5G is still in the process of expanding across many countries, while 4G LTE's infrastructure has been built out far more broadly for a long time. In many areas, particularly outside major cities, 4G LTE remains the only network that actually reaches at all.
Why 4G LTE is enough for most travellers
The activities most travellers actually want during a trip — opening a navigation map, chatting with friends or family, hailing a ride through an app, and typical video calls — all sit comfortably within what 4G LTE can handle. The higher speed of 5G tends to show a clearer benefit for more specialised tasks, such as streaming very high-resolution video or downloading several large files at once.
Locking the phone onto 4G LTE instead of switching automatically between 4G and 5G can sometimes keep the connection steadier in areas where the 5G signal is still patchy, since the phone does not spend time repeatedly switching between the two networks — something that can cause brief connection stutters during each switch.
Where the network setting sits on a device
Where the menu sits for choosing a network mode — locking onto 4G, or leaving it on automatic — differs by phone brand and operating-system version. On some phones it sits directly under mobile network settings; on others it is tucked inside a sub-menu specific to SIM or eSIM settings.
How to check and adjust the network mode on a device
The steps below are a general guide that applies to most phones, though the exact menu name may differ slightly by brand and operating-system version. Use them as a guide for what to search for, not as the exact menu wording on every device.
- 1Open the phone's mobile network settingsLook for a menu related to mobile network, cellular data, or SIM and eSIM, depending on the phone's brand and operating system.
- 2Find the network mode or Preferred network type optionThis option usually sits inside the sub-menu for the line running the eSIM, so open that specific line first before looking for the network mode option.
- 3Choose the desired mode, such as 4G only or automaticIf 5G is unstable in that area, try locking onto 4G to see whether the connection steadies. If nothing seems wrong, leaving it on automatic is enough for everyday use.
- 4Restart the phone or toggle airplane mode after adjusting the settingChanging the network mode sometimes needs the phone to re-register with a tower before it takes effect. Toggling airplane mode once helps the new setting take hold sooner.
The eSIM itself and the network mode are two separate things
An eSIM profile's job is simply to connect the phone to the roaming partner network in the destination country. The network mode — 4G or 5G — is a separate setting on the phone itself, controlling which technology it tries to connect with. The two are independent; changing the network mode does not touch the eSIM profile or the remaining data allowance in any way.
Because the two are separate, adjusting the network mode is safe to try when troubleshooting a stuttering connection, without worrying that it will disturb the eSIM setup or require reinstalling the profile at all.
When changing country, the network mode is worth rechecking
If a trip covers several destinations under a plan that spans multiple countries, the roaming partner network the phone connects to changes with each country, and 5G availability differs from one country to the next as well. A mode that suited one country may not be the best fit after moving to another.
The safest approach is to check the connection status again after crossing into each new destination. If the signal stutters or feels unusually slow, try adjusting the network mode again using the same steps, rather than assuming the setting that worked in the previous country still suits the new one.
When it is worth considering locking onto 4G
If a connection stutters often in an area with limited 5G, or the battery drains unusually fast, locking onto 4G is an easy option to try, since some phones use more power constantly searching for and switching between 4G and 5G in an area where 5G signal is unreliable.
Conversely, if nothing is going wrong and the highest speed the area can support is wanted — for downloading a large file, say — leaving the mode on automatic and letting the phone choose the best available network itself is the more suitable option.
| Situation | Usually the better mode |
|---|---|
| Navigation, chat, and typical video calls | 4G LTE is enough; no special locking needed |
| Frequent stutters in an area with limited 5G | Try locking onto 4G |
| Wanting the highest speed for a large download where 5G is strong | Leave it on automatic |
| Battery draining unusually fast in an area with unstable signal | Try locking onto 4G |
Common mistakes around 4G LTE and 5G
The table below summarises common misunderstandings about 4G LTE compared with 5G, along with what to understand instead, so expectations before travelling are not set incorrectly.
| Common misunderstanding | What to understand instead |
|---|---|
| The phone showing 4G instead of 5G means something is wrong | Usually just means 5G signal is not yet available there, not a device fault |
| 5G must always be faster than 4G in every situation | Actual speed also depends on tower density and how many users share the network, not the technology name alone |
| 4G LTE is too outdated for everyday use during a trip | Still enough for maps, chat, hailing rides, and typical video calls |
| Locking onto 4G always means the phone will be slower | In areas where 5G is unstable, locking onto 4G can make the connection steadier instead |
A checklist when unsure about the network mode
- Check whether the phone is connected via 4G or 5G through the status bar or settings menu
- Search for network mode in the settings search box if it is not found in the main menu
- Try locking onto 4G if the connection stutters often in an area with limited 5G
- Restart the phone or toggle airplane mode every time after changing the network mode
- Message the team on LINE or by email if the connection still fails after adjusting the mode
What to prepare about the network mode before departure
Before departure, it is worth opening the phone's mobile network settings once just to know where that menu sits, rather than hunting for it while actually stuck with a signal problem mid-trip, since some menus sit fairly deep and take a moment to find, especially on a phone model not used to.
If the phone runs multiple lines at once, also check that the network mode being adjusted applies to the eSIM's own line specifically, not the main SIM's line, which may already have roaming switched off — since some phones keep separate network mode menus for each line.
Anyone with an older phone that supports only 4G LTE need not worry about being unable to use an eSIM, since most eSIM plans already work normally over 4G LTE with no need for 5G at all. What is worth checking instead is whether that specific model supports eSIM, which is a separate question from whether it supports 5G.
If every step above has been tried and the connection still feels unsteady, sending the phone model, destination country, and the symptom seen to the team on LINE or by email gives a clearer picture than continuing to try things by trial and error alone.
Česta pitanja
Is 4G LTE still perfectly usable now that 5G is spreading?+
Yes, it remains perfectly usable, since 4G LTE is still the primary network in many countries and reaches further than 5G in many spots. It is enough for maps, chat, hailing rides, and typical video calls.
Why does a phone sometimes show a 4G connection instead of 5G, even though the phone supports 5G?+
Usually because 5G signal is not yet available in that area, not a device fault. The phone automatically falls back to 4G LTE instead so the connection keeps working.
How can a phone be locked to use only 4G?+
Open the mobile network settings for the line running the eSIM and look for the network mode or Preferred network type option. The menu position differs by brand and operating-system version; if it cannot be found, try searching network mode in the settings search box.
Does locking onto 4G genuinely help with battery life?+
In areas where 5G signal is unstable, locking onto 4G can help, since the phone no longer spends power constantly searching and switching between the two networks. The result varies by phone model and area, though, and is not something guaranteed to be identical on every device.
What should be done next if the connection still fails after adjusting the network mode?+
Try restarting the phone or toggling airplane mode again so it re-registers with a tower. If that still does not work, message us on LINE at https://lin.ee/skDPoNx or email esimonline.asia@gmail.com with the phone model and the symptom seen.
Is 5G required to use an eSIM for travel?+
No. Most eSIM plans work normally over 4G LTE, which is already enough for everyday use during a trip. 5G is simply a bonus where it is available, not a requirement for using an eSIM at all.