The full form of 4G is the fourth generation. It is the most popular and the widest spread network in the world in present times. Many countries have already introduced the 5G network, which is faster and more secure than the 4G. A 4G SIM card is a kind of SIM card designed to be compatible with 4G networks. You surely need a 4G SIM card if you want to have a next-level mobile internet experience. Simply put, it provides a substantially faster mobile data speed and wider network coverage compared to its predecessors.
Why use a 4G SIM card?
In recent times, mobile service providers are offering 4G services cheaply, which is why the use of the 4G network has increased. Moreover, the availability of 4G mobile handsets at cheap rates has triggered the trend further. You can use 4G SIM cards even in a 3G or 2G handset, and it will work fine, however, the data speed will depend upon whether the handset is 4G, 3G, or 2G. High-speed 4G data can be used only using a fourth-gen SIM card in a 4G handset. Luckily, it will not affect the voice call quality noticeably, no matter which SIM cards you use in a handset.
Difference between 4G and 3G SIM cards
A 4G network can do everything a 3G can but at a much faster speed. With 4G, you can load web pages quickly, stream videos with no or minimal buffering, and download heavy files at lightning-fast speed. You can also make crystal clear video and voice calls without freezing, and much more. To reap the benefits of a 4G network, you are required to have a 4G SIM card.
Though 3G SIM cards can undoubtedly work with a 4G device if the device allows downgrade compatibility, the speed and performance wouldn’t be as fast or as smooth as with 4G SIM cards. Therefore, if you are using a 3G SIM card but have a 4G device, you should upgrade the former to get the benefits of faster data speed and better connectivity. Otherwise, a 4G phone using 3G SIM cards gives the speed, coverage, and performance of a 3G network alone.
How to know if your SIM card is 4G?
Although there are a few ways to know whether your SIM card is 4G, the most common one is to look at it from all sides, and if necessary, flip it around. The goal is to discover what is written over it. If 128K is noted on it, it is a SIM card from the fourth generation. Moreover, many telecom companies label their SIM cards as 5G, 4G, or 3G.
Some mobile operators only issue 4G SIM cards, such as Reliance Jio in India because it operates solely on the 4G network. In such cases, you don’t need to verify if it is a 4G SIM card or not. Usually, 4G SIM cards are available as a 3-in-1 combo package i.e., nano-SIM, micro SIM card, and standard or mini-SIM cards.
If your SIM card is 4G, and it is inserted in a 4G smartphone, you can see either an LTE or 4G icon on the notification bar when your mobile data is on. One more way to know if your SIM card is 4G is to go to the Settings on your smartphone. Then, head to Connections → Mobile networks. If it shows LTE/VoLTE, it is 4G. Remember that all the 4G SIM cards can work on 4G, 3G, and 2G networks. However, the reverse situation may or may not be possible.
Using these SIM cards in a laptop
There are LTE laptops available in the market these days that have a special inbuilt module, allowing mobile internet via a 4G SIM card. That means you don’t need a dongle to use 4G SIM cards. Instead, you should insert the fourth generation SIM card in the slot of the laptop. Then, use its data bundle directly, as you do with your smartphone or tablet. Laptops with a fourth-gen SIM card are an essential commodity from a business point of view. They undoubtedly save time and are easily manageable whenever or wherever you require an internet connection.
Conclusion
Your smartphone can operate without a SIM card by using Wi-Fi networks. But still, it is essential to have an active SIM card to stay connected when there are no wireless network connections around. SIM cards have different versions like 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G. The difference among them primarily lies in performance and speed. With 2G and 3G nearly being obsolete, 4G is the most used and popular network in the world today. 5G network infrastructure is still in progress, and it will be a big thing in the future. Hence, presently, 4G SIMs are the most widely used SIM cards.