You can connect over 5G when all three of these apply:

  • The partner network covers that area with 5G
  • Your plan supports 5G (check the plan details at purchase)
  • Your device supports 5G

Otherwise you'll connect over 4G/LTE, which is still perfectly comfortable for maps, social media, and video.

Common reasons you don't see 5G:

  • The area isn't within 5G coverage (many countries only cover central urban areas)
  • Your phone is set to prefer 4G (change under Settings → Cellular → Voice & Data)
  • The signal is unstable, so your phone falls back to 4G automatically

Where 5G is patchy, forcing 4G can actually be more stable (see slow data speed).