Connectivity: smartphone terms explained

27 terms. Back to the full glossary.

5G: The fifth generation of mobile networks. In India, operators use mid-band (such as n78) and other bands; a phone must support the operator's bands to use 5G. Not all 5G phones support the same bands. Check for the bands your operator uses, because missing bands can mean slower speeds or no 5G at some places. Network coverage depends on location and operator. Related: 5G bands, n77 and n78, SA vs NSA 5G, VoNR.
5G bands: The radio frequency ranges used by 5G, named with an n prefix such as n28, n78 or n40. More supported bands means better chance of working well across operators and travel. Low bands travel further and penetrate buildings; mid bands are faster. Compare the band list with your operator's, not just the count. Related: 5G, n77 and n78, SA vs NSA 5G, mmWave.
n77 and n78: Mid-band 5G frequencies around 3.3 to 4.2GHz (n77) and 3.3 to 3.8GHz (n78) that deliver fast speeds with good coverage. n78 is widely used by operators in India for 5G. A phone without n78 can miss the main fast 5G. The two bands overlap, so n77 phones typically cover n78 range. Related: 5G, 5G bands, SA vs NSA 5G.
mmWave: Very high-frequency 5G that offers extreme speeds over short range. It is used in some countries but is not a practical factor for buyers in India at present. It does not decide whether a phone works on local 5G. Related: 5G bands, 5G.
SA vs NSA 5G: Standalone (SA) 5G uses a full 5G core network. Non-standalone (NSA) 5G uses 5G radio together with a 4G core. SA can offer lower delay and features like VoNR, and operators may run either. Phones should support both modes. Check what your operator uses and whether the phone supports it. Related: VoNR, 5G, VoLTE.
VoLTE: Voice over LTE: voice calls over 4G data, giving clear sound and fast call set-up. In India, most operators rely on VoLTE for calls, so a phone needs it. Check that both SIM slots can use it if you use two SIMs. Related: VoNR, Dual SIM, Wi-Fi calling.
VoNR: Voice over New Radio: voice calls carried directly over 5G rather than falling back to 4G. It needs SA 5G and support from both phone and operator. Without it, calls use VoLTE. Not a key buying point yet. Related: SA vs NSA 5G, VoLTE, 5G.
Wi-Fi calling (VoWiFi): Making calls over a Wi-Fi network instead of mobile signal. It helps indoors with weak signal. It needs support from both phone and operator. Check availability with your operator. Related: VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6.
Wi-Fi 6 (and 5): The 802.11ax Wi-Fi standard, faster and better in crowded networks than Wi-Fi 5. Your router must support it too to see the benefit. Phones with Wi-Fi 5 are still fine for most home use. Related: Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth version.
Wi-Fi 6E: Wi-Fi 6 extended to the 6GHz band, which has less congestion. The 6GHz band availability depends on local rules and on your router. Range is shorter than 5GHz. Related: Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 7.
Wi-Fi 7: The 802.11be Wi-Fi standard, offering higher peak speeds and lower delay, including the ability to use several bands at once. Benefits need a Wi-Fi 7 router and fast internet. For most Indian homes, Wi-Fi 6 is already enough, so do not pay extra just for it. Related: Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 6.
Bluetooth version: The version of Bluetooth, such as 5.0, 5.3 or 5.4. Newer versions improve range, efficiency and connection stability. The version matters less than the codecs and features both devices support. Any recent version works with most earbuds. Related: Bluetooth audio codecs, LE Audio, Wi-Fi 6.
Bluetooth audio codecs (SBC, AAC, aptX, LDAC): The methods used to compress audio over Bluetooth. SBC is the basic one every device supports; AAC, aptX and LDAC are higher quality options. You only get a better codec if both the phone and the earbuds support it. Differences are small for most listeners. LDAC and similar can use more battery. Related: Bluetooth version, LE Audio, Hi-Res Audio.
LE Audio (LC3): A newer Bluetooth audio system with a more efficient codec, LC3, aimed at better quality at lower power and features like broadcast audio. It needs support on both phone and earbuds. Adoption is still growing. Related: Bluetooth audio codecs, Bluetooth version.
NFC: Near-field communication: a short-range wireless link used for tap-to-pay, transit and transferring data. In India, NFC is useful for tap payments and some cards. Not all phones have it, especially at the lowest prices. Check if you want tap-to-pay. Related: eSIM, UWB.
eSIM: A SIM built into the phone that you activate digitally instead of inserting a physical card. Supported by Jio, Airtel and Vi in India on compatible phones. It makes switching operators easy and frees a physical slot. Check that your operator supports your phone and the process for activating or moving it. Moving an eSIM to a new phone may need operator steps. Related: Dual SIM, Dual 5G standby, NFC.
Dual SIM: The ability to use two SIM cards at once, usually two physical SIMs or one physical SIM and an eSIM. Check whether both SIMs support 5G and VoLTE. Some phones share the second slot with a microSD card. Related: Dual 5G standby, eSIM, microSD card slot, VoLTE.
Dual 5G standby: Whether both SIMs can stay on 5G and receive calls at the same time. On many phones only one SIM at a time can use 5G data, or the second falls back to 4G. If you use two operators, check this detail. Related: Dual SIM, eSIM, 5G.
UWB (ultra-wideband): A short-range radio that can measure the distance and direction to nearby devices precisely, used for trackers and digital keys. It is a niche feature that only matters if you have compatible trackers, car keys or accessories. Related: NFC, NavIC.
NavIC: India's regional satellite navigation system, run by ISRO, which some phones can use alongside GPS. It improves accuracy over India in some cases. Support depends on the chip and region. Dual-band GPS is more noticeable in daily use. Related: Dual-band GPS, Chipset.
Dual-band GPS (L1 + L5): Receiving GPS on two frequencies for better accuracy, especially among tall buildings. It helps navigation in dense cities. Without it, GPS is still fine for most journeys. Related: NavIC.
USB-C port: The reversible connector used for charging, data and video on modern phones. The shape does not tell you the speed. A USB-C port can be slow USB 2.0 or fast USB 3.x, and may or may not support video out. Related: USB 2.0 vs USB 3.x, DisplayPort over USB-C, USB Power Delivery.
USB 2.0 vs USB 3.x: USB 2.0 transfers data at up to 480Mbps. USB 3.x versions are much faster, from 5Gbps upward. Many phones, even expensive ones, use USB 2.0, which makes copying large videos slow. Check if file transfer speed matters to you. Related: USB-C port, DisplayPort over USB-C.
DisplayPort over USB-C: The ability to send video from the phone to a monitor or TV via the USB-C port. Not all USB-C phones support it. It enables desktop-style modes on some phones. Check the spec if you plan to use external screens. Related: USB-C port, USB 2.0 vs USB 3.x.
3.5mm headphone jack: A round socket for wired headphones. It is mostly found on budget and some mid-range phones. A USB-C adapter can serve phones without it, but check if the dongle is included. Related: Hi-Res Audio, USB-C port.
FM radio: A built-in radio receiver, usually needing wired headphones as an antenna. Only some phones have it enabled. It works without data, which can be useful. Related: 3.5mm headphone jack.
IR blaster: An infrared emitter that lets the phone act as a remote for TVs, ACs and other devices. Fairly common on some phones in India and handy for home appliances. It is not found on all phones. Related: NFC.