More Americans than ever say 5G improves their digital experiences, but young people and those with higher incomes are more likely to say 5G makes a difference.
That’s according to a new report from YouGov, which tracks sentiment figures using a rolling survey. The report cites data collected between November 2024 and November 2025.
Respondents between the ages of 18 and 44 were the most likely to say 5G improves their digital experiences, agreeing with the sentiment at a rate of 67%. Those ages 45 to 64 agreed at a rate of 61% while those 65 and older agreed at a rate of 49%.
The report also separated results by income. Respondents who earned at least 200% of the median income reported a benefit from 5G at a rate of 69%, while those with average income saw a benefit at a rate of 65%. Those with lower incomes reported a benefit from 5G at a rate of 59%.
Across the board, the report found that many respondents said they were unsure whether they were benefiting from 5G. The rate overall hovered around 25%. Older and lower-income respondents were most likely to say they were unsure about the benefits of 5G.
The results track with adoption rates, as well. People between the ages of 18 and 24 were the most likely to report using 5G fixed wireless in a May 2025 study from Horowitz Research.
Parsing the benefits of 5G can be hard for experts and users alike, though. Mobile phone and fixed wireless providers make it hard to tell which technology is being used at any given time, but 4G LTE is still the backbone of connectivity throughout the US.
According to data from the Federal Communications Commission, 4G networks reach 67.56% of areas, while the fastest 5G reaches only 35.62%.
The YouGov report comes just months after the Mobile Experts group made projections about how 5G and 6G would benefit from the “Big Beautiful Bill,” signed into law in July. Results were mixed, but the industry had been hoping more spectrum would be allocated to mobile traffic.
