This article compares the basic difference between 5G NR and 4G/LTE, which explains basics of and 5G NR and 4G/LTE including the definitions and working in order to derive difference between 4G/LTE and 5G NR.

The Differences between 5G NR and 4G LTE: 4G LTE stands for "Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution". So it's actually the sum of the two words. First of all, "4G" represents the fourth generation of mobile technology, which is another big step forward after 3G. 4G systems must provide the functions defined by ITU in IMT Advanced. "Long Term Evolution" or "LTE" is the industry term used to describe the specific type of 4G that provides the fastest mobile Internet experience. 4G LTE, like Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) and WiMax(IEEE 802.16), is one of several competitive 4G standards.

5G New Radio (NR) is the wireless standard that will form the basis of the next generation of mobile networks. 5G NR is part of the evolution of continuous mobile broadband to meet the 5G requirements outlined in IMT-2020, similar to the evolution of 3G and 4G wireless technologies. For the 3G and 4G connected people in the past, with the future 5G can connect everything, it means 5G NR will connect our smartphones, cars, meters, wearable devices and so on. The goal is to make wireless broadband the same as wired networks and have fiber-like performance, greatly reduced unit costs. With higher levels of latency, reliability and security, 5G NR will be expanded to effectively connect to the large-scale Internet of Things (IoT) and will provide new mission-critical services.

When choosing between 5G NR and 4G LTE, if one pursues extreme data rates, ultra-low latency, large-scale device connectivity, or emerging application scenarios (such as autonomous driving, telemedicine, and smart cities), 5G NR is the better choice; if one focuses on mature coverage, cost-effectiveness, or regular applications with low requirements for data rate/latency, 4G LTE still holds practical value. The following analysis is conducted from three dimensions: technical characteristics, application scenarios, and cost-effectiveness:

Technical Characteristics Comparison

Data Rate:

• 5G NR: The theoretical peak data rate can reach 20Gbps, which is about 20 times that of 4G LTE, capable of meeting the demands of high-bandwidth services such as ultra-high-definition video, virtual reality, etc.
• 4G LTE: Under ideal conditions, the downlink peak data rate can reach 100Mbps, and the uplink peak data rate can reach 50Mbps; after subsequent upgrades, LTE-Advanced introduces carrier aggregation technology, enabling the downlink rate to exceed 1Gbps.

Latency:

• 5G NR: The air interface technology can provide lower latency, reaching 1 millisecond, which is much lower than the 30 milliseconds of 4G LTE, suitable for applications with extremely high real-time requirements, such as autonomous driving and remote surgery.
• 4G LTE: The end-to-end latency can be reduced to below 10ms, suitable for scenarios with high real-time requirements such as VoIP voice calls and online gaming.

Network Capacity and Connection Density:

• 5G NR: Supports higher connection density, allowing for the connection of more devices to meet the needs of IoT development, with the capability to support millions of devices per square kilometer.
• 4G LTE: Also supports a large number of connections, but may face challenges in scenarios with extremely dense device deployments.

Spectrum Utilization and Coverage:

• 5G NR: Supports licensed spectrum operations from Sub 1GHz to 52.6GHz and is planning to expand to unlicensed spectrum, offering higher spectrum flexibility; at the same time, utilizing the millimeter-wave band can achieve extremely high data rates, but with limited coverage.
• 4G LTE: Mainly operates in frequency bands below 6GHz, providing good coverage, but data rates may be limited under certain circumstances.

Application Scenario Analysis
5G NR Applicable Scenarios:

• Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB): Such as high-speed internet access, high-definition video streaming, VR/AR, and gaming, requiring high data rates and higher capacity.
• Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC): Such as autonomous driving, remote surgery, industrial automation, and mission-critical applications, with extremely high requirements for latency and reliability.
• Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC): Such as IoT, smart cities, smart agriculture, and sensor networks, requiring scalability and energy efficiency.

4G LTE Applicable Scenarios:

• Regular mobile internet access needs: Such as mobile internet access for terminals like mobile phones and tablets, meeting daily browsing, social networking, and video needs.
• IoT applications: Such as remote meter reading for smart meters and logistics tracking, with low requirements for data rate and latency but requiring stable and reliable connections.
• Public safety communications: Such as high-definition video backhaul during emergency rescue, requiring certain data rates and real-time performance.
• Fixed broadband alternative: Can serve as a broadband access solution in remote areas without optical fiber.

Cost-Effectiveness Considerations
5G NR:

• Advantages: Provides higher data rates, lower latency, and higher connection density, supporting the development of emerging application scenarios and bringing long-term benefits to operators and users.
• Challenges: High construction costs, including base station construction and spectrum auctions; at the same time, the cost of terminal devices is also relatively high.

4G LTE:

• Advantages: Mature technology, wide coverage, relatively low construction costs; a wide variety of terminal devices with affordable prices.
• Challenges: With the growth of data traffic and the emergence of emerging application scenarios, 4G LTE may not be able to meet future demands.