3G vs 4G: What’s the difference?

Now that 3G has shut down in Australia, it's time to look at how 4G and 5G compare.

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Mariam Gabaji

Updated

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Key takeaways

  • Telstra, Optus and Vodafone have all turned off their 3G network. The final shutdown date was 28 October 2024.
  • This guide provides historical context to show how network advancements increase speeds, like 4G being twice as fast as 3G, or even faster.
  • 5G networks are continuing to expand across Australia. For example, Telstra's 5G coverage now reaches 91% of the population.

What is the difference between 3G and 4G?

3G and 4G both refer to different generations of wireless mobile network technology, with 3G being the third generation and 4G being the fourth.

Each new generation allows for increased bandwidth and faster data speeds in order to support various applications.

As the successor to 3G, the 4G network is capable of delivering significantly faster speeds within its coverage areas.

3G vs 4G speeds

4G speeds are way faster than what you had on 3G.

While 3G download speeds topped at around 20Mbps, 4G can hit over 100Mbps, depending on your network.

Just keep in mind, your everyday speeds on the mobile network won't always hit the max potential as speeds on a mobile network can be affected by such factors as:

  • How close you are to a mobile tower
  • Congestion on the mobile network
  • Weather conditions

What about 5G?

5G is the next generation of mobile networks after 4G. Once again there is another step up in speed and reliability.

Or to put it another way, the higher the generation of mobile network technology, the faster the speed, the capacity of the network to handle traffic and the latency (the time data takes to travel across the network).

5G has been rapidly expanding throughout the country, with Telstra at 91% coverage and Optus at 80.5%.

Vodafone doesn't exactly give its percentage reach but says it has 5G rolled out across 3,400 sites in Australia.

We have a dedicated guide comparing the 4G vs 5G networks if you're after more details.

Finder survey: How many Aussies have already adopted 5G?

Response
WA
VIC
SA
QLD
NSW
No45.95%48.97%51.85%46.82%47.35%
Yes39.64%41.1%34.57%44.09%42.06%
I don't know14.41%9.59%13.58%8.64%10.58%
I don't have a mobile phone/mobile phone plan0.34%0.45%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1110 Australians, December 2023
Data for ACT, NT, TAS not shown due to insufficient sample size. Some other states may also be excluded for this reason.

Do I need to upgrade my phone?

You should've gotten plenty of notices from Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone to upgrade your handset before the 3G shutdown.

The reason is simple. If you don't have a 4G or 5G compatible phone, you won't be able to use it, especially in an emergency when you need to dial Triple Zero.

Mariam Gabaji's headshot
Written by

Utilities Editor & Tech Expert

Mariam Gabaji is a journalist with 13 years of experience, specialising in consumer topics like mobile services and energy costs. Her work appears in the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, The Guardian, SBS, 7News, A Current Affair and Money Magazine. Mariam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and was a finalist for the 2024 IT Journalism Award for Best Telecommunications Journalist. See full bio

Mariam's expertise
Mariam has written 323 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Energy
  • Mobile
  • Broadband
  • Consumer tech
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6 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    MargaretDecember 14, 2017

    Can a 4G SIM be used in 3G mobile phone?

      AvatarFinder
      JasonDecember 15, 2017Finder

      Hi Margaret,

      Thank you for your enquiry.

      Whilst you can use a 4G SIM card on a 3G mobile phone, you’ll only be able to get and use 3G signal on the device. You won’t be able to enjoy the benefits and speed that is offered by 4G.

      Kind regards,
      Jason

    Default Gravatar
    brianJuly 29, 2017

    will a 3g sim card work on my 2g phone

      Default Gravatar
      DanielleJuly 30, 2017

      Hi Brian,

      Thank you for contacting finder. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.

      Yes, they work. A SIM is just a digital identification chip for cell phones and has nothing to do with 3G or 2G. The phone should have appropriate communication radios (chips) to receive and send data at 3G/2G speeds.

      I hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Danielle

    Default Gravatar
    MayJuly 8, 2017

    The 2G network is being switched off. Is this going to happen with 3G too?

      Default Gravatar
      JonathanJuly 8, 2017

      Hi May!

      Thanks for getting back!

      Not an impossible outcome. Technology is constantly evolving and some countries offer 5G now and we can expect this to move forward as time goes.

      Therefore, this may push the network to adapt and take-off its old network configuration.

      We may recommend that you stay-tuned of future network announcements and talk to your provider as necessary.

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Jonathan

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