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Our guides
Can I get a 5G SIM card with unlimited data?
One way of making sure you never run out of data on 5G is by getting a deal that offers unlimited data, and thankfully there are unlimited 5G data deals from the likes of Vodafone, Three and more.
These deals tend to be more expensive than limited options, however. So it's good to use a mobile data calculator to figure out how much data you usually use, and therefore what budget you can keep to.
What’s the cheapest 5G SIM deal?
There's a wide range of cheap 5G SIM only deals to choose from.
One thing to remember is, if you do use 5G to stream and download, you might end up using a lot of data quite quickly. And charges for going over your data cap can sometimes be expensive.
So it's worth looking out for a deal that has enough mobile data to suit your needs.
When is 5G coming to my area?
The 5G era is well under way, most major 5G networks up and running throughout the UK, so let's see how they all stack up.
EE
EE's 5G network launched in the UK on 30 May 2019 in six just cities - Belfast, London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham. It’s now available in 188 UK locations including major cities like Bristol, Coventry, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield.
Vodafone
Vodafone's 5G launched on 3 July 2019, with its service available at first in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and London. It’s now available in around 138UK locations including places like Birkenhead, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Guildford, Newbury, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Reading, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Warrington and Wolverhampton. It's also available in 240 different EU roaming locations.
Vodafone has made a big statement with its 5G offering by shaking up the traditional 'data allowance' system and instead offering unlimited data in a tiered speed system, similar to what you might get your broadband
Vodafone has also now launched 5G and unlimited data for all its pay-as-you-go customers too. This enables people to benefit from the blistering speeds of 5G without the confines of a monthly contract.
Three
After a bit of a delay, Three's 5G was launched in February 2020, with the rollout initially covering 66 UK locations including London, Leeds, Glasgow, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Aberdeen and many more. It’s now extended to 303 locations at the time of writing so that’s great coverage.
Three has dubbed its 5G as the ‘real 5G’ because it has up to twice the 5G spectrum of other networks. In theory, that means downloading movies and music and gaming online will be far faster on Three than on its competitors.
Three’s 5G also comes at no extra cost, all of Three’s SIMs are 5G ready as standard so all you’ll need is a 5G smartphone and you’re be good to go.
The company has also launched a 5G home broadband service in London. EE and Vodafone are offering home routers utilising 5G, as the need for traditional landline connections looks set to dissipate in the next few years.
O2
O2 began its 5G rollout in October 2019. It initially launched in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Slough. It now spans over 200 UK locations.
Giffgaff
Giffgaff currently has 5G switched on around 200 UK cities and towns. Giffgaff's bundles and packages allow you to pick and choose how much data you use, making its 5G offering one of the most flexible on the market.
Sky Mobile
Sky Mobile's 5G is now officially switched on in 2000 locations throughout the UK, such as London, Belfast, Leeds, Edinburgh and more. Sky Mobile’s 5G is available to its customers for free providing they sign up to the Sky VIP programme - which is free to join.
Without a Sky VIP membership, adding 5G to a Sky Mobile plan will cost an additional £5 a month.
Check out our Sky Mobile deals
Tesco Mobile
Tesco Mobile has launched the start of its 5G offering - and it’s live in 2000 cities around the UK.
Tesco Mobile customers in cities and towns including Bournemouth, Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Glasgow, Leeds and London can now access super fast 5G connection speeds.
FAQs
Do I need a 5G SIM card?
To get connected to 5G, the fastest type of mobile internet connection, you need to be in an area that has 5G coverage. You'll also need a 5G-compatible smartphone, and yes, a 5G SIM card.
A 5G SIM card does what it says on the tin - it’s a SIM card that you put in your smartphone, that will enable you to connect to 5G.
Getting a cheap 5G SIM is easy, just compare our best deals and you'll soon find the perfect plan. From super-low cost deals to unlimited data bundles, there are a range of 5G SIMs to suit all user needs.
Need a 5G mobile phone too? Check out our best deals on 5G pay monthly plans.
Can I get a 5G SIM only deal?
You can get a 5G SIM only deal on all the major networks here at Uswitch. SIM only 5G deals can get you connected to super fast downloads, lag-free gaming and smooth web browsing.
With a 5G SIM only deal, you'll get a data allowance, calls, texts and minutes. All you'll need is a 5G enabled smartphone.
Does my current SIM support 5G?
Existing 4G or 3G SIM cards can’t connect you to 5G.
So unless you already have a 5G SIM card, you’ll need to get a new SIM if you want to get connected to 5G on your smartphone.
How do I know if I have 5G in my area?
5G is available in a wide range of UK locations, but it’s not quite everywhere. Networks have switched on their 5G services in different locations all over the country.
For instance, EE has switched on in 125 UK towns, Vodafone has 100 locations, O2 offers 5G in 108 towns and cities and Three’s 5G network covers 193 UK spots.
Depending on where you are in the UK and which provider you go with, you’ll have to check if your area is 5G connected.
Each network provider has a 'coverage map', where you can search with your postcode to check the signal strength in your location.
Is 5G available in the UK?
Yes, 5G is available in the UK in a number of towns and cities. Not all areas are fully connected, but the following cities should offer 5G in at least some areas.
- Aberdeen
- Barnsley
- Basildon
- Bath
- Bedford
- Belfast City
- Birmingham
- Blackburn
- Blackpool
- Bournemouth
- Bradford
- Brighton
- Brimington
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- Carlisle
- Colchester
- Coventry
- Derby
- Doncaster
- Dundee
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Ipswich
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Lincoln
- Liverpool
- London
- Luton
- Manchester
- Middlesbrough
- Milton Keynes
- Newcastle
- Northampton
- Nottingham
- Oxford
- Peterborough
- Plymouth
- Portsmouth
- Preston
- Reading
- Sheffield
- Slough
- Southampton
- Southend-on-Sea
- Sunderland
- Swindon
- Wigan
- York
Will a 5G SIM card work in a 4G phone?
Yes, a 5G SIM card will work in a 4G phone, but it won't connect you to 5G.
You’ll still be able to use your phone as normal on 4G, but to get access to 5G, you’ll need to pop the 5G SIM into a 5G smartphone, like the iPhone 13 or the Samsung Galaxy S22.
Are 5G SIMs more expensive than 4G?
What are your 5G SIM only plans?
A 5G SIM only plan is just like a regular SIM only plan - you get a SIM card to use in your mobile phone that includes calls, texts and data. The only differing factor of a 5G SIM is that it can connect you to 5G, providing you have a 5G-enabled phone and live in a 5G area.
All the major networks - including EE, Vodafone, Three and O2 - offer 5G SIM only plans, and you can find all sorts of offers ranging from low data deals to unlimited data deals.
Can you get 5G SIM only?
Do I need a new SIM for 5G?
Can I order a 5G SIM card?
Yes. If you want to upgrade to 5G, just find a data plan from any one of the major networks, such as Three or Vodafone, and order your new 5G SIM card.
Just remember, you'll need a 5G smartphone too, and you'll need to live in an area that has already switched on to 5G.
Do I need a 5G SIM for iPhone 13?
How do I get 5G on my iPhone 13?
Which netowrks offer 5G SIM cards?
You can get a 5G SIM only deal on a range of networks. In fact, most major networks (and some smaller ones too) are all offering 5G SIM only deals along with their 5G pay monthly offerings.
Here are some networks that are offering 5G SIM only deals:
- Vodafone
- EE
- Three
- O2
- Sky Mobile
- Virgin Mobile
- VOXI
- Tesco Mobile
- BT
- giffgaff
