What Is Vo5G (VoNR) and How Does It Compare to VoLTE? (original) (raw)

Summary

The rise of faster network connections hasn't just led to faster internet. With the rise of 4G and 5G, changes have improved all aspects of our mobile experience. The best networks have even brought the power of these new technologies to our calls, so they sound better and clearer every time. In particular, two new technologies, Vo5G (also known as VoNR) and VoLTE, have changed the way we make calls. But what is VoNR, and what's different about it compared to VoLTE?

What Is Vo5G?

digital graphic of person using 5g on phone with multiple connection points

First off, we need to explain what Vo5G is. The term basically stands for "voice over 5G," and it's also known as VoNR or "voice over NR" (NR, or New Radio, is an alternative name for 5G, just like LTE is for 4G). And it's exactly what you think it is. It's a wireless standard that allows you to take calls and talk to others, making full use of your 5G network instead of having to drop down to an older standard.

Usually, when taking calls, your phone will drop down to an older standard to process the call. This could be VoLTE, which is already pretty widespread, or for some countries or regions, it could be plain old 3G or 2G. However, Vo5G keeps your phone on that same 5G connection, which has several advantages. Among those advantages are crystal clear voice quality for both ends of the call as well as reduced latency, so your calls flow as close as possible to an in-person conversation or as a call held over Wi-Fi.

At the core of it, it's just a call that's held over your data connection. When you make a call using Vo5G, your voice is converted into digital data packets and transmitted over the 5G network, similar to how data is transmitted when you browse the internet or use apps. It's very similar to something like a VoIP call made on a third-party app, but the fact that it's using 5G rather than just 4G allows your calls to have less latency and better quality than they would otherwise have. It's similar to calling someone on WhatsApp over a really good internet connection—you know that it's going to sound very good.

How Does Vo5G Differ From VoLTE?

Black Android phone on table

As we mentioned before, the main difference between Vo5G and VoLTE is the use of a 5G connection instead of LTE. The average speed of an LTE connection is around 12 to 30Mbps, which is decent but not really "fast" by today's standards. Using party tricks such as carrier aggregation, connection speeds can be increased to around 100Mbps. Still, though, this is nothing compared to what 5G can do. Over optimal conditions, 5G speeds can range from 200Mbps to 500Mbps, and many have seen real-life speeds nearing 1Gbps—although this is rare and needs 100% optimal conditions and everything to go absolutely right, it's certainly something that's possible.

That's a very important increase in bandwidth, and it's something Vo5G uses to make a difference. The increased bandwidth lets Vo5G use better codecs for increased call quality, as well as higher bitrates and calls also have lower latencies, so your calls are actually faster as well. In addition to this, it's possible for you to use 5G calls and high-speed data simultaneously, just like you can currently do with VoLTE, and in the event your 5G connection fails or otherwise drops, it also supports seamless handover to the older, but tried-and-tested VoLTE standard.

It's, basically, all of the advantages that you currently enjoy with your 5G connection, except brought to your everyday calls.

How Do You Use Vo5G/VoLTE?

unlocking an android phone

The thing with Vo5G, just like with VoLTE, is that you don't need to do much to use it. However, it's still in its infancy, and in some cases, it might still require some tweaking. To use Vo5G, you need a compatible device, a carrier that supports Vo5G, and you must be in an area covered by your carrier's 5G network.

To use Vo5G, make sure that it is enabled on your phone. Not all 5G smartphones are compatible with Vo5G as of the time we're writing this, so your mileage will vary, but as a general rule of thumb, if your phone was released after 2022 and it's compatible with 5G, it will probably support Vo5G. In most cases, VoNR should be enabled by default, but you can check your phone's settings to confirm.

Additionally, your carrier needs to support Vo5G services, and your mobile plan must include Vo5G calling. At the time of writing, only T-Mobile supports Vo5G in the US, but other carriers like Verizon and AT&T are also building out their capabilities. In the UK, EE carried out the first Vo5G call in September 2023, indicating extremely limited support (again, at the time of writing).

Carriers worldwide might have 5G connectivity but not support Vo5G just yet—you should definitely check with your carrier beforehand. If all the right conditions are met, however, your phone will automatically use Vo5G for voice calls when you are in an area with 5G coverage, providing you with a seamless and high-quality calling experience.

It's the same general principle as VoLTE, where it should really just work without doing anything, with the difference being that VoLTE is much more widespread by this point than Vo5G, and it's thus easier to make calls over VoLTE than Vo5G.

Should You Use Vo5G or VoLTE?

person on phone outside with green wifi symbol stemming outward from phone

There's really no reason not to use the faster call standard when available. Whether it's Vo5G or VoLTE, both technologies are able to provide you with higher-quality calls, with the added difference of Vo5G supporting even higher-quality calls and lower latencies than VoLTE. If you have 5G connectivity available, and you happen to be able to take advantage of Vo5G, then by all means, give it a shot—it'll drop down to VoLTE if it drops and can't keep up, anyway.

Vo5G is the Future of Calls

It's always good to see call technologies evolving with our networks. Vo5G is the natural evolution of calls that come as a part of the new 5G era, and we'll certainly see this term more often over the coming months and years as 5G keeps maturing and improving.