Why Your 5G Icon Doesn’t Always Mean Real 5G
August 24, 2025

The question is: Actual 5G or Icon-only 5G.

A study based on the mobile app SignalTracker shows that nearly 40% of 5G connections are actually 4G, as per PolicyTracker. Actual 5G is about twice as fast as icon-only connections, averaging 49 Mbps compared to 27 Mbps in the tests.

In UK tests, when the 5G icon was displaying, 38% of tests were, in fact, a 4G connection. The research is based on over 11,000 tests carried out in the UK over two months.

  • For Three, the 5G icon means real 5G 94% of the time.
  • For Vodafone, the figure is 93%.
  • For O2, 66% of 5G tests had a genuine 5G connection,
  • For EE, the figure was only 32%.

How it works

1. Use NSA (Non-Standalone) Architecture

  • In NSA, the control plane and anchor remain on LTE, while 5G NR is used for additional data bearers when available.
  • Some devices show the 5G icon as soon as EN-DC (E-UTRAN Dual Connectivity) is configured, even if NR bearers are not active.
  • How it works: The network broadcasts NR capability in SIB messages and RRC signaling → UE sees 5G capable cell → Displays 5G.

2. Override Network Type Field (Android)

  • Android uses a field called OverrideNetworkType to decide what to show in the status bar.
  • This is influenced by network configuration + RRC state.
  • OEMs or custom ROMs can tweak it so the icon appears when NR is available in the neighbour list, even without active NR traffic.

3. Enable 5G-Preferred or 5G-Only Mode

  • Some devices have developer options or field test menus to force 5G display mode.
  • Apps like Network Signal Guru or rooted modifications can make the phone show 5G as long as NR ARFCNs are broadcast.

4. Network Side “Icon-First” Marketing

  • Operators often configure NR broadcast even when the NR layer is down or heavily restricted.
  • This triggers UEs to show the 5G icon without guaranteeing throughput.
  • Vendors (e.g., Ericsson, Nokia) provide parameter settings for “icon behaviour” (e.g., NRAvailabilityIndicator).

Conclusion

The 5G icon on your device is not always a guarantee of an active 5G connection. In many cases, especially in NSA deployments, the icon appears as soon as the network signals NR availability, even if data continues on LTE. This leads to a perception gap between advertised coverage and real user experience. For true insight, performance tests or apps that check the active bearer are essential, rather than relying on the status bar alone.

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