5G & LTE Speed Test — How fast is your phone really?
That little 5G icon doesn't always mean fast. Real-world 5G ranges from 30 Mbps on low-band to 1 Gbps+ on millimetre-wave. NetStartr runs in your mobile browser and gives you the actual numbers.
5G low-band
Wide coverage but only 30-150 Mbps. Most carrier "5G" markers fall here.
5G mid-band (C-band)
The sweet spot — typically 200-700 Mbps, increasingly common in cities.
5G mmWave
Up to 1-3 Gbps, but only within line of sight of a small-cell antenna.
LTE Advanced
20-100 Mbps in good signal — still good enough for most apps.
How to interpret your 5G speed test
Mobile speeds vary minute by minute as you move between cell sectors and load conditions change. Run the test 2-3 times in the same spot to see consistency, then move 50 metres and re-test. NetStartr stores your recent results locally so you can compare without an account.
Tips for accurate mobile testing
- Disable Wi-Fi entirely so you don't accidentally test home Wi-Fi instead of 5G.
- Make sure your phone is on the carrier band you want to test (lock to 5G in network settings if possible).
- Hold the phone normally — your hand can attenuate signal up to 10 dB.
- Avoid testing while moving in a car or train; handovers will skew results.
- Compare the same spot at different times — peak vs off-peak shows congestion.
Carrier comparison ideas
If you have multiple SIMs or eSIMs, run NetStartr on each carrier from the same location. Differences of 5-10x are normal — coverage maps don't match real-world performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NetStartr accurate on mobile networks?
Yes. We use Cloudflare's globally distributed edge to avoid cellular operator caching, so results reflect real internet throughput.
Why does my 5G feel slower than 4G LTE?
You may be on low-band 5G, which has wider coverage but barely beats LTE. Mid-band 5G (n41/n77/n78) is what most "true 5G" reviews show.
Does NetStartr work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Any modern mobile browser — Safari, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Samsung Internet — works without installing anything.
How much data does the speed test use?
Around 200-500 MB for a single fast test on 5G. Stick to Wi-Fi if you have a tight cellular cap.