Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Verizon turns on its 5G networks in Chicago and Minneapolis a week early

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The world may not have seemed to have changed much between today and yesterday, but rest assured that something earth-shattering has occurred in the world of mobile tech. Verizon has officially flipped the switch and turned on 5G network access in Chicago and Minneapolis a full week ahead of schedule.

Verizon’s 5G network was due to come to life on April 11, alongside the launch of Motorola’s 5G Moto Mod for the Moto Z3. However, for an unknown reason, Verizon has decided to start the 5G revolution a week early, turning on 5G access in selected parts of Chicago and Minneapolis. Verizon has also pushed the release of the 5G Moto Mod forward to match, so users with a Moto Z3 with the mod will be able to access it immediately.

Related Videos

It’s an impressive technical feat. When customers are actually able to access the network, they’ll be rewarded with incredibly fast download speeds from their new mobile connection. According to Verizon, 450 Mbps can be expected as a typical download speed, while peak speeds could rise to as high as 1 Gbps, with latency as low as 30 milliseconds. That’s astoundingly fast, and rivals most, if not all, home internet connections.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to roam far from the hot spots to use it, as the range is currently extremely limited. In Chicago, you can expect to find 5G signal in the West Loop and South Loop, around landmarks like Union Station, Willis Tower, The Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, and the Chicago Theatre. Unsurprisingly, you’ll also find signal in Verizon stores in The Magnificent Mile and throughout The Gold Coast, Old Town, and River North.

Minneapolis is similarly limited. You’ll find 5G signal in the Downtown area, including Downtown West and Downtown East, as well as inside and around U.S. Bank Stadium. It will also be available around landmarks like the Minneapolis Convention Center, the Minneapolis Central Library, the Mill City Museum, Target Center and First Avenue venues, The Commons, areas of Elliot Park, and in the Verizon store in the Mall of America.

Of course, if you wander out of range of the 5G network, you’ll likely only bump down to 4G, which is still plenty fast. Verizon plans to add more than 30 new cities over the course of 2019, so don’t lose hope if your closest city hasn’t been upgraded yet. If you are within range of Verizon’s newest network, you’ll need a 5G-compatible phone to access it. At the moment, that means just the Moto Z3 with the 5G Moto Mod, but more 5G-capable phones are on the way, including Samsung’s Galaxy S10 5G.

You can buy the 5G Moto Mod for $200 from Verizon, though you’ll need to either order a Moto Z3 at the same time, or already own one on a Verizon account.

Editors' Recommendations

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 prototype may fix the Fold 4’s biggest flaws
Opening an app in split screen on the Galaxy Z Fold 4.

Samsung has ambitious plans for its next foldable phone, and if reports coming out of Korea are to be believed, the upgrades are quite significant. A Korean blog has shared an image of a prototype with a hinge design that Samsung reportedly showcased at CES 2023. 
A side-by-side comparison of this prototype (via Naver) rocking a reimagined hinge design and a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 device highlights two major differences. First, there is no wedge-like gap between the two halves of the phone. 

Second, thanks to the no-gap design, the prototype foldable phone looks considerably slimmer. Earlier this month, Naver also reported about a new droplet mechanism for the foldable panel that would essentially get rid of the crease on Samsung’s upcoming device. 
Now, this is predominantly good news, with a noteof caution. Let’s start with the hinge design. Samsung is reportedly going with a moving gap design for the hinge that will accommodate the “screen droplet” when the device is folded. 

Read more
T-Mobile is leaving AT&T and Verizon in the 5G dust
The T-Mobile logo on a smartphone.

Ookla has just published its latest market report revealing where U.S. mobile carriers and smartphone manufacturers stand in terms of providing the best 5G and 4G/LTE services.

Not surprisingly, T-Mobile remained in the top spot during the fourth quarter of 2022, eclipsing its rivals when it comes to median download speeds. What may be more surprising is that T-Mobile has increased its lead, clocking in at 151.37Mbps overall and 216.56Mbps for 5G, breaking the 200Mbps barrier for median 5G speeds across all bands for the first time.

Read more
CES 2023: Samsung’s new Galaxy A14 looks like a killer $200 Android deal
Samsung announces the Galaxy A14 5G at CES 2023.

Samsung today announced an update to one of its more popular phone lines -- the A-Series. It's updating the well-received Galaxy A13 with a new A14 this week. This new model comes with Android 13, a big screen and battery, 5G support, and a decent camera set-up for a price that won't break the bank.

Samsung highlights a few things over the A13 and A13 5G, including the more modern design with flatter edges popularised by the iPhone 12, support for fast charging, and high-resolution cameras.  The A1X series are low-priced phones, so each new feature comes with a compromise.

Read more