Skip to Main Content

Next-Gen Handsets: Best New 5G Phones in Israel You Should Pick Up

Electronics and computer stores are pushing next-generation 5G phones in Israel. Prices for 5G mobile phones range from as little as ₪1,000 all the way up to ₪6,000 and beyond. We’ll take a look at the potential benefits of a 5G phone in this blog post. We’ll also evaluate a range of the most popular mobile phones in Israel. The final question will be whether it’s worth buying a 5G phone in 2021, or whether it’s better to wait for prices to fall and technology to improve.

5G Internet in Israel a Brief Overview

The internet has gone through several transformations over the last 30 years. It started as a niche technology on the fringes of defense research, and gradually evolved into a powerful communications tool. It is now a foundation of almost every aspect of our day-to-day lives. We mostly take the internet for granted. Unless you’re a technology enthusiast, you may only be partially aware of many of the latest developments and trends. 

If you want a full rundown on the history of the internet and its evolution through dial-up, broadband, fiber optics, and onto 6G, take a look here. A convenient definition of 5G internet is that it’s a new generation, hyper-fast, and has the potential to transform our lives. It’s sufficiently important that the Israeli government is investing in national 5G infrastructure. Strategic planners are incorporating 5G projections into every future project.

For ordinary consumers, 5G might mean the ability to download an entire HD movie in a single second. For businesses, health funds, government departments, and the IDF, we could be looking at a technological revolution. Although we (probably) won’t see full 5G coverage across all of Israel before 2025, next-generation 5G handsets are selling well. Israelis love cell phones and there’s some real enthusiasm for the new technology and advanced 5G phone features.

What are the Benefits of a 5G Phone in 2021?

It’s important to remember that 5G mobile phone technology is still new and handset designs are evolving. The first 5G cell phones were launched in 2019 and their flagship features may be almost obsolete in a few years' time. The current benefits of a 5G phone include:

Significantly greater transmission speed

The theoretical capability of 5G phones is 20Gbps. That may not mean much to you until you realize that it’s probably about 400 times faster than your current 4G phone. We’re talking optimal capabilities here, but the next-gen handsets are still seriously fast. 

  • Access cloud data almost instantaneously
  • Run programs and software remotely
  • Save all information securely on cloud 

Ultra low latency

Latency simply refers to the amount of time it takes the computer inside your phone to execute any order you give it. 5G phones will have an optimal latency that is around 10 times lower than 4G phones. Put simply, your 5G phone performs all kinds of tasks around 10 times faster. You might think that this isn’t really relevant and that your 4G phone does things quickly enough. Why pay more for a phone that executes a command in 1/10th of a second rather than 1 second?

The advantages of ultra-low latency are that a mobile phone easily becomes a remote handset for controlling precision equipment or machinery. It may soon be possible for a surgeon to connect to sophisticated cloud-stored software and carry out a remote medical procedure via a 5G phone. An engineer could soon be able to operate a range of complex machinery in a plant or factory via a 5G phone. On a more mundane level, you could easily control every electronic gadget in your home while you’re at work. 

Connect to Sub-Networks

The wider 5G network will allow network slicing. This means that the national - or even international - 5G infrastructure will permit interconnected sub-groups with different latencies and purposes. Your 5G phone should be able to switch between subgroups at needed. If there’s an emergency or a sudden massive surge in network demand, 5G services will continue without overload or interruption. A tragic example was in New York immediately after the 9/11 attacks and in Boston after the marathon attacks. Local cellphone networks experienced disruption due to the sudden volume of calls from anxious mobile users.

What’s the Best 5G Phone in Israel?

If you’re thinking about buying a 5G phone, you may be confused by the different brands, models, and specifications. If you’re just looking for a good, reliable mobile phone for day-to-day use, and don’t have any special requirements, there isn’t a single ‘best 5G phone’. It basically comes down to how much money you want to spend. Plenty of people regard their mobile phone as a useful, but slightly irritating pocket device. It’s just a tool for making calls and sending messages, occasionally taking photos, Googling some basic info, or using an app like Maps to get from A to B. 

Other people love their phones and depend on them for every aspect of their work and social life. The phone is a portable office, favorite toy, and media and entertainment device rolled into one. It’s also an instant antidote for boredom and an outlet for nervous energy and tension. If you’re part of this group, you probably have a good idea of your preferred brand and the tools and features you want.

1. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

It is the biggest, heaviest, most powerful, and most feature-rich iPhone Apple has made so far, and that's enough to make it the best-seller it was designed to become. Apple certainly tries to lead the way when it comes to getting new technology into devices and onto the high street. Apple fans love the distinctive designs and reckon that the operating systems are more intuitive, flexible, and user friendly than rival brands. 

If you want to buy an Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, don’t expect any change from a thousand dollars. Finally, even if the iPhone 12 Pro Max is one of the most expensive phones today, just like the rest of the iPhone 12's, it also comes accessory-free thanks to Apple's latest controversial endeavor to save the planet.

2. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is Samsung’s answer to Apple’s 5G iPhone range. It’s in the same league for design and features - and for prices. A top-of-the-range 512 GB model will also set you back at least ₪5,000. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is the only S21 model to come with a 1440p OLED screen, unlike the previous generation. And even better, it now supports 120Hz at that high resolution, so you don't need to choose between high res and high refresh rate.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G uses the Android 11 operating system with a fast and reliable Snapdragon 888 processor and either 12 or 16 GB RAM. Like Apple, Samsung has removed the chargers and headphones from the retail boxes and ships each Galaxy S21 only with a cable.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is a superbly designed phone with a sleek, elegant black finish. Photography fans will love this phone, which comes with a Quad camera that contains a 108MP main sensor.

3. Sony Xperia 1 III

The Sony Xperia 1 III is the world’s first smartphone to offer a 4K 120Hz screen display. This might seem like a pointless feature for a small phone screen, but there is a major improvement in the quality of 4K videos. There is also an adaptive telephoto camera with two lenses that allows for some great long-range shots. 

The Sony Xperia 1 III is one of the newest 5G smartphones to hit the market. It became widely available earlier this month and is earning mainly positive reviews. The Xperia 1 III has Sony’s distinctive long and narrow design but is wider than earlier models due to a larger battery. The Sony Xperia 1 III is on a par with Apple and Samsung and also sits in their price range. Budget a minimum of ₪5,000 if you plan to buy this phone in Israel. 

The Sony Xperia 1 III also uses the Android 11 operating system but Sony integrates its own user interface over Android, adding some additional user benefits. Overall the operating system is fast and reliable with either 12 or 16 GB RAM. 

4. Asus ROG Phone 5 UItimate

Released June 2021, ROG is short for the Republic of Gamers. If you didn’t guess, the Asus ROG Phone 5 UItimate is primarily designed for online gamers. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t relevant to non-gamers. There is some amazing technology and advanced features that are useful for general users too. The Asus ROG Phone 5 UItimate does have one significant drawback - its price. If you’re buying in Israel, expect a starting price of ₪6,000.

Suffice to say, Asus ROG Phone 5 UItimate is a specialist smartphone with some outstanding technology with Power Delivery 3.0 and Quick Charge 5 battery plus a Snapdragon 888 processor with robust internal systems designed for intensive use.

5. Huawei Mate 40 Pro Plus

Huawei has failed to impress reviewers with its Mate 40 Pro Plus. There are some well-thought-out designs and advanced features, but the bottom line is that you’ll be paying ₪6,000 plus for a phone that doesn’t accept Google apps. But in terms of speed, it has a 5G Super uplink so when you upload, send or share anything via 5G, you'll be amazed at how quickly it goes through. The innovative Steady Shot feature helps you record uncannily stable videos, even while running or skiing.

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro Plus is a hit-and-miss smartphone that is an irritating combination of some great hardware and serious deficiencies. It’s significantly more expensive than comparable Sony, Samsung, and Apple phones and doesn’t meet their overall standards.

Which 5G Phone Should I Buy?

The top tier 5G smartphones all retail at around the ₪5,000 marks in Israel, but there are cheaper models with lower specs. Prices will probably fall over the next few years and the technology will inevitably improve. If you’re looking for a high level of reliability, it may be worth splashing out on one of the ‘Big 3’ Sony, Samsung, or Apple.

We’d recommend looking for bargains during the upcoming holidays and seeing if stores in Israel slash prices in September. It may also be worth buying outside Israel if you have the opportunity. The next big events on the online shopping calendar are Black Friday (26th November) and Cyber Monday (29th November). There will be significant online discounts on all smartphones. 

  • Share