5G SIM Only Deals

What is a 5G SIM?

5G is a relatively new network technology that is able to deliver faster download speeds and lower latency speeds, compared to existing 4G and 3G SIMs.

Theoretically, in perfect conditions, the maximum download speed you can achieve with a 5G SIM is 20 Gbps. However, in real world usage within the UK, you can expect to receive average download speeds of 200 Mbps on most 5G SIM networks.

Compared to 4G, this is 10 times faster, which achieves average download speeds of 20 Mbps.

Furthermore, with a 5G SIM, latency speeds are significantly reduced from 200ms to approximately 1ms. Within the context of SIMs, latency speed is the delay between your phone sending information to the nearest phone mast. A low latency speed is particularly crucial for online gaming, commonly referred to as ping.

In order to benefit from 5G, you’ll need to pair a 5G SIM with a 5G phone.

Are 5G SIMs more expensive?

No, 5G SIMs are identically priced to 4G SIMs.

When 5G initially launched, some networks only had 5G with more expensive SIM plans. However, since the technology has become more ubiquitous, this is no longer the case, with 5G being offered as the default connectivity speed.

Despite this, some networks such as Vodafone and Asda Mobile still have speed limits for their cheapest unlimited data SIM plans, which may negate the benefit of faster download speeds with a 5G SIM.

Which networks can I get a 5G SIM with?

Most of the major networks in the UK offer 5G with all SIMs.

Asda Mobile 5G SIM

Asda Mobile is the only network in the UK that limits which SIM plans have 5G.

You’ll need to purchase a SIM deal that is at least £10 per month. Any amount below this will receive a maximum 4G signal.

In addition, Asda Mobile’s £20 and £25 unlimited data SIM only plans have 2 Mbps and 10 Mbps speed limits, respectively. Although you will still be able to receive a 5G signal, you won’t be able to benefit from 5G speeds. However, their most expensive unlimited data SIM plan at £30 per month does not have any speed restrictions, allowing you to fully benefit from 5G speeds.

Asda Mobile uses Vodafone for its network.

You’ll also be able to receive a 5G signal when roaming abroad in Germany, Italy, Ireland and Spain.

BT Mobile 5G SIM

BT Mobile has 5G with all SIMs purchased on or after September 2020.

If you purchased a BT Mobile SIM before this date, you will need to contact BT for a replacement SIM before you can receive a 5G signal.

BT uses EE for its 5G network. EE has been a subsidiary of BT since January 2016.

EE 5G SIM

EE claims you can get 5G in more locations within the UK compared to any other network. In addition, they also claim they have the fastest average download speeds with an EE SIM, at 60.4 Mbps.

EE initially launched 5G SIM plans in 2019. 5G is available with all EE SIMs, however you may need to contact EE for a free replacement SIM if your SIM card is a few years old.

giffgaff 5G SIM

giffgaff launched 5G for all SIM plans starting October 2020, and is available for all customers at no additional cost.

giffgaff uses the same network as O2, so you can expect identical 5G coverage and speeds.

iD Mobile 5G SIM

iD Mobile added 5G for all SIM plans in August 2021, for both new and existing customers.

Using Three’s network, iD Mobile has over 400 5G locations in the UK, which equates to around 54% population coverage.

iD Mobile SIMs will automatically connect to 5G when available, even if you have an older SIM card.

Lebara 5G SIM

Since 2021, Lebara includes 5G with all SIM deals.

Lebara uses Vodafone for their 5G network, who added an additional 12 locations in April 2022, for a total of 124.

Unlike with a Vodafone SIM, you won’t be able to receive 5G when roaming abroad.

O2 5G SIM

O2 includes 5G with all their SIM plans at no additional cost, with coverage in over 500 towns and cities across the UK.

O2 has targeted 50% UK population 5G coverage by the end of 2023, which they are well on track to hit.

Plusnet 5G SIM

Although Plusnet use EE for their coverage, they are the only major network in the UK that does not currently offer 5G with their SIM deals.

Plusnet have not announced when they will launch 5G SIMs, although we expect them to within the next year.

Sky Mobile 5G SIM

To get 5G with a Sky Mobile SIM, you’ll need to choose the 5G add-on, which is selected by default.

The 5G add-on is free, being offered with all Sky Mobile SIMs at no additional cost.

You can enable or disable the 5G add-on through your Sky account settings.

Sky Mobile currently uses O2 for their network coverage.

SMARTY 5G SIM

All SMARTY SIMs include 5G connectivity at no additional cost.

SMARTY is a virtual network powered by Three, with 5G in over 400 locations across the UK, with more being added every month.

SMARTY launched 5G in January 2022. If you purchased your SIM before this date, it will still be 5G compatible. However, you will need a 5G phone in order to receive a 5G signal.

Talkmobile 5G SIM

Talkmobile introduced 5G SIMs in early 2022 for all customers, at no additional cost.

Talkmobile SIMs purchased before 2022 will also work with 5G.

Talkmobile 5G is powered by Vodafone, with 5G locations reaching over 50% of the UK population.

Tesco Mobile 5G SIM

Launched in March 2022, 5G is included with all Tesco Mobile SIMs.

Tesco Mobile uses O2 for coverage, with 5G available in 164 towns and cities across the UK.

Three 5G SIM

Three is available with all Three SIMs at no additional charge.

Three claims to be the fastest 5G network in the UK, achieving 248.16 Mbps average download speeds based on independent tests from Ookla in 2022.

Virgin Mobile 5G SIM

Virgin Mobile includes 5G with all SIM plans at no additional cost, with 5G locations in over 100 towns and cities across the UK.

In May 2021, O2 and Virgin Media merged to become Virgin Media O2. Despite this, Virgin Mobile still piggybacks off the Vodafone network for 5G coverage. However, Virgin Mobile is gradually moving to O2’s existing network.

Vodafone 5G SIM

Vodafone includes 5G with all SIM plans, with coverage in over 125 major towns and cities across the UK.

However, if you’re on an Unlimited SIM plan or Unlimited Lite SIM plan, your speed will be restricted, which negates the benefit of faster 5G download speeds. Unlimited Max plans will not have any speed restrictions.

Vodafone is one of the few networks where SIMs will also be able to connect to 5G when roaming in Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland.

VOXI 5G SIM

Since 2022, all VOXI SIMs include 5G connectivity at no additional cost.

VOXI is a subsidiary of Vodafone, and uses Vodafone for their 5G coverage, which is available in over 125 locations across the UK. However, unlike Vodafone, you won’t receive a 5G signal when roaming abroad.

What’s the best network for 5G?

In terms of download and upload speeds, independent tests by Ookla and RootMetrics show Three is currently the fastest 5G network, with average download speeds hovering around 250 Mbps.

However, EE currently has 5G in more locations than any other network, including over 160 major towns and cities across the UK.

Lebara and Talkmobile are both the cheapest 5G networks in the UK, who both use Vodafone for coverage.

Vodafone and Asda Mobile are the best 5G networks for roaming, with 5G for UK customers in Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland.

Benefits of a 5G SIM

There are several benefits for 5G over existing 4G technology.

The main benefit is faster download speeds, which is up to 20 times quicker when compared to 4G. Average download speeds for 5G in the UK hover around 200 Mbps, with 4G reaching averages around 20 Mbps.

With faster download speeds, you’ll be able to watch Netflix, YouTube and other video streaming platforms in full 4K resolution, without any delays or buffering. Video calling will also benefit, with improved quality and quicker responses.

In addition to faster download speeds, you can expect lower latency speeds. This is essentially the delay it takes for your phone to communicate with the nearest phone mast or receiver. Lower latency speeds are essential for online gaming, as they can reduce your ping dramatically. Compared to 200 millisecond latency speed with 4G, you can expect 5G to achieve an impressive 1 millisecond latency speed.

5G also has the added benefit of greater capacity. With an increase in radio spectrum, more devices can connect to the closest phone mast when compared to 4G. This means you’re more likely to receive a signal in crowded places, such as a football stadium.

Do I need a 5G SIM?

Depending on how you use your phone, not everyone will be able to notice the faster download speeds when connected to a 5G SIM.

5G really shines with 4K video streaming and online gaming. You’ll be able to watch the latest films and play all the latest online games without buffering or lag.

If you use your phone for social media and web browsing, you’re far less likely to notice the benefits of a 5G SIM. 4G is already very fast, and is more than capable to keep up with average phone usage.

However, if you live in a large city that is densely populated, you will be more likely to receive a stronger signal with 5G over 4G, thanks to the increased spectrum.

Regardless, 5G is ubiquitous with all the major networks in the UK. As 5G is generally the same price as 4G, there’s no benefit for not choosing a 5G SIM.

Will I receive a 5G signal?

All the major networks deliver 5G to popular towns and cities across the UK.

However, if you live in a quieter or rural area, you may not be able to receive a 5G signal, depending on which SIM you pick.

Before purchasing a SIM, you should enter your postcode into the network’s coverage checker tool. You’ll be able to see if you will receive a 5G signal, and the strength you can expect (if any).

• Asda Mobile coverage checker
• BT Mobile coverage checker
• EE coverage checker
• giffgaff coverage checker
• iD Mobile coverage checker
• Lebara coverage checker
• O2 coverage checker
• Plusnet coverage checker
• Sky mobile coverage checker
• SMARTY coverage checker
• Talkmobile coverage checker
• Tesco Mobile coverage checker
• Three coverage checker
• Virgin Mobile coverage checker
• Vodafone coverage checker
• VOXI coverage checker

When will 5G come to my area?

5G is still a relatively new technology, with coverage still patchy in more rural areas.

As a result, if you don’t live in a major town or city, you’re less likely to have 5G coverage where you live.

However, this is rapidly changing, with networks continuously adding additional 5G coverage, with a target of reaching 99% of the UK population, similar to 4G coverage.

Networks tend not to announce exact locations for where they plan to add 5G. However, once 5G hits a new area, networks tend to announce the new locations via a press release. Keep an eye on the websites of the major networks (Vodafone, O2, EE and Three) for updates.

Do I need a contract for a 5G SIM?

No, 5G SIMs are available for 1 month plans on most UK networks.

However, longer term 5G SIM contracts tend to have a lower monthly cost, which can save you money in the long run.

Will a 5G SIM use more data?

No, a 5G SIM will not use more data compared to a 4G SIM.

However, because 5G SIMs deliver much faster speeds, you will be able to download more data in shorter periods.

This means apps such as Netflix and Disney+ will be able to auto detect the speed you can currently receive. If you have a strong 5G signal, they may opt to send you 4K video quality as opposed to lower quality, such as 1080p or 720p. This may inadvertently use more data, as higher quality resolution video has a much larger file size.

How fast is a 5G SIM?

Compared to 4G, a 5G SIM is up to 20 times faster. You can expect average download speeds of 200 Mbps, with a theoretical maximum speed up to 20 Gbps.

This means you’ll be able to stream video in higher quality, and have a faster connection when gaming online.

The following table shows a comparison between 4G and 5G download speeds.

Do I need a new SIM card to get 5G?

5G SIM cards are the same size as 4G SIM cards.

In most cases, if your SIM card is a few years old, you will not require a new SIM card to receive a 5G signal. You should be able to receive a full 5G signal as long as you pair it with a 5G phone.

However, some networks may require you to replace your SIM before you can receive 5G. SIM replacements are free of charge. Your network should contact you about this if you need a replacement SIM.

Will I get 5G when roaming abroad?

Currently, only Asda Mobile and Vodafone customers can receive a 5G signal when roaming abroad. 5G will be available in major towns and cities in Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland.

For all other networks, the maximum signal you can receive when roaming is currently 4G. However, we expect more networks to add 5G locations when roaming abroad in the near future.

Will a 5G SIM work with a 4G phone?

Yes, a 5G SIM will work with a 4G phone. However, you will only be able to receive a 4G signal, and not the faster 5G signal.

You can find the best 5G phones by using our comparison tools.

Will a 5G SIM work with an iPhone?

In order to receive a 5G signal with an iPhone, you must have an iPhone 12 or later.

If you have an earlier iPhone, you can still use a 5G SIM, however you will only be able to receive a maximum 4G signal.

The following table shows which iPhone models support 5G:

Can I get unlimited data with a 5G SIM?

Yes, unlimited data SIMs with 5G are currently offered by the following networks:

• Asda Mobile (£30 plan only)
• EE
• iD Mobile
• Lebara
• O2
• SMARTY
• Tesco Mobile
• Three
• Virgin Mobile
• Vodafone (Unlimited Max plan only)
• VOXI

Does a 5G SIM use more battery?

Studies have shown 5G can have up to a 10% impact on battery life when compared to 4G.

However, the latest phones running updated software, such as the iPhone 13, tend to perform identically in battery life when compared to 4G. This is because of improved technology and increased power efficiency.

In conclusion, any battery usage differences will be negligible. The latest phones have almost closed the gap entirely.

FAQs