3GPP ยท ITU ยท Interactive
From SMS to what's next.
Explore how mobile networks changed from 2G through 5G, and what researchers are exploring for 6G. Compare the technology, performance trade-offs, and everyday use cases.
Performance Dashboard
Interactive charts comparing speed, latency, and device density across all generations. Toggle between theoretical and real-world data.
Explore โ ๐ฎUse Case Explorer
Pick a use case - SMS, cloud gaming, AR/VR - and see which generation first supports it, and why earlier ones fail.
Explore โ โ๏ธWhat-If Simulator
Dial in your network requirements and discover which generation and use cases are possible. Share your spec with a single link.
Explore โHow to read the comparisons
Mobile generations are standards families, not a single speed tier. Real performance depends on spectrum, coverage, network load, device capability, and the service being used. The figures here are curated comparisons intended to explain the engineering trade-offs; they are not a promise of what a carrier or phone will deliver in a particular place.
Peak values describe ideal or standards-level capabilities, while typical values are indicative examples. 6G has not been standardised or deployed, so its numbers and architecture are research targets and illustrative estimates. Each generation profile links to official standards bodies and the About page explains who maintains this guide.
Created by Stuart Mathieson, independent web developer in Scotland. Send a correction or question.
Illustrative download time for a 4 GB file
Idealised calculation from the downlink comparison figures above; it excludes protocol overhead and real-world variation from coverage and network congestion.