T-Mobile users have noticed that their network icon sometimes displays 5G UC, whereas some carrier shows 5G UW. Well! If you are wondering if they have made a typo, you are wrong. Network carriers are expanding their 5G networks; the “UW” and “UC” logos represent different types of 5G. In this post, we will see the meaning of the 5G UC vs 5G UW icon on your T-Mobile smartphone.
5G UC vs 5G UW icon on T-Mobile smartphone
There is a difference between 5G UC and 5G UW icons on your T-mobile smartphone or other carrier.
5G UC or 5G Ultra Capacity
T-Mobile uses 5G UC or 5G Ultra Capacity as their fastest network. That is why, you see a 5G UC icon on top of your network icon when using Android or an iPhone. When you have the 5G UC icon on your smartphone, it means that your phone is using the fastest mmWave or mid-band frequencies offered by T-Mobile. This results in faster speeds than 4G LTE and better reliability in crowded areas. In fact, these frequencies can provide real-world 5G speeds of almost 1 Gbps and reduce the likelihood of congestion in densely populated areas. So, if you find yourself in an urban environment, your phone may switch to a 5G UC signal, providing an enhanced experience compared to regular 5G networks.
5G UW or 5G Ulta Wideband
However, Verizon with the help of their high-band and mid-band 5G networks has coined a new term, 5G Ultra Wideband, which is often referred to as 5G UW. When you see the 5G UW icon in your iPhone or Android phone’s status bar, it means you are connected to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network.
Read: What is the difference between 5G and 5GHz Wi-Fi?
Differences between 5G UC and 5G UW
Even though both these 5G acronyms are similar to one another, there are some differences that we need to go over.
- Brand: Verizon uses the term 5G UW or Ultra Wideband, whereas T-Mobile goes with 5G UC or Ultra Capacity.
- Bands: 5G UW and 5G UC include high-band and mid-band frequencies. 5G UC relies more on the 2.5 GHz mid-band spectrum.
- Network icon: When you’re connected to one of these networks, your phone will display an icon representing it. If you’re in range of Verizon’s towers, you’ll see the 5G UW icon, and if you’re in range of T-Mobile’s towers, you’ll see the 5G UC icon.
- Coverage: The quality of coverage can vary depending on the carrier’s infrastructure and the specific 5G band in use. However, in general, UW has a slightly shorter range, whereas UC has a slightly longer range.
Hopefully, now you know the basic difference between the two network symbols.
Read: What is 5G? Interesting facts about the 5G Network.
Why does my phone say 5G UC instead of 5G?
If you are using a T-Mobile Phone, your network icon will most likely say 5G UC instead of 5G. UC is a marketing term used by T-Mobile to refer to their fastest mmWave or mid-band frequencies. So, if you see 5G UC instead of 5G, there is nothing to worry about as you are in a good coverage region.
Read: How to change Wi-Fi band from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz in Windows?
Is 5Guw better than 5G?
The 5G ultra wideband technology has a latency of less than 30 milliseconds, while the regular 5G has a latency of around 30 milliseconds. This implies that 5G ultra-wideband is more responsive than 5G, making it an ideal choice for applications that require real-time communication, such as online gaming and video conferencing.
Also Read: Check if the Radio types support 5GHz on your Windows.
