<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHand-drawn metropolitan city<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe first notable difference is how they transmit their internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As mentioned earlier, Starlink uses satellites to provide its internet. The satellites transfer data to the customer through a correctly positioned antenna dish and a router or modem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5G, on the other hand, uses radio frequencies. But unlike previous generations, 5G frequencies have broad spectrum coverages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are three versions of the 5G signal; mid-band 5G, low band 5G, and millimeter-wave 5G. Millimeter-waves 5G uses the highest frequencies but can only do so over short distances. The soft band isn’t as fast as millimeter waves but has a more extended range. Mid-band is a combo of the two. It is fast and covers a vast coverage area.<\/p>\n\n\n
Speed<\/h3>\n\n\n Starlink has download speeds of 100 to 200 Mbps and allows users to surf the web, play online games and make video calls without significant problems. This is significantly higher than other satellite internet providers, whose speed is around 20 Mbps. Starlink’s corresponding upload speed is about 5 to 25 Mbps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Theoretically, 5G has download speeds of up to 20 Gigabits per second (Gbps). This means that you can download a movie in seconds! Incredible, right? But in the real world, 5G speed is slightly over 200 Mbps. While this is significantly lower than promised, it is still faster than the previous 4G.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As things stand, 5G slightly outdoes Starlink in terms of speed. But both providers are high-speed and should see you surf the internet comfortably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cable internet is still the boss of speeds, with up to 500 Mbps download speeds.<\/p>\n\n\n
Reliability and Stability<\/h3>\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nModern city and rising arrow symbols. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nBoth 5G and Starlink are not highly reliable or stable. But this is understandable given that both are new to the market. However, the reliability of 5G internet is better than that of Starlink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s not common for 5G to be disconnected frequently, the only issue being its latency. Ping spikes are expected in 5G, ranging between 70 ms to over 500 ms, regardless of the provider. This becomes a massive problem for any latency-sensitive apps or online gaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starlink’s latency ranges between 40 to 70 ms. While it’s relatively low, it is smooth enough to play most online games, work remotely and make video calls. The only problem is that these drops can last for minutes disrupting everything you are doing online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you highly value a stable and reliable internet connection, fiber and cable services are the current best options. They are excellent for anyone working from home, playing an online game, or using real-time communication services.<\/p>\n\n\n
Pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n Of course, with great convenience comes a price tag. While setting up the Starlink Kit\u2013 base, Wi-Fi router, cables, and the Starlink app\u2013 is easy, enjoying the service is relatively pricey. You’ll need to pay a hardware fee of $599 and an additional $99 monthly subscription.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5G is way more affordable than this. All 5G providers in the U.S. have their monthly fees under $100.<\/p>\n\n\n
Starlink Vs. 5G: Which One Is Better?<\/h2>\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nGlobal communication technology and world network on earth<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nFrom our above comparison, although both services are fast, 5G bosses Starlink at its peak speeds. There is no winner when it comes to stability and reliability. 5G and Starlink are new to the market and still have a long way to go in this field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lastly, 5G is way cheaper than Starlink. Satellite internet is expensive due to the costs of equipment and the launching of satellites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, which of the two should you pick? Well, it depends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Choose 5G internet if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n