5G User Experience: Rethinking UX Design

5G technology is now the talk of the town, bringing exciting prospects like improved connectivity, lower latency, and faster internet. Experts believe that the newest generation of mobile connectivity will reach the 1.4 billion users mark by 2025.

However, the impact of 5G technology is not just on mobile computing or fostering the growth of IoT technology. According to experts, the effects of 5G on design thinking are the start of a new revolution as well.

Here’s why and how to prepare for the 5G user experience.

What is 5G?

5G is the fifth generation of mobile computing and global wireless standard, with speeds up to 100 times more than its predecessor, 4G. 5G has a design to connect virtually everything and everyone. The latest generation of mobile computing connects machines, objects, and devices to bring them closer, providing organizations with formerly unthinkable business prospects.

With the rise of OTT and media streaming platforms, people face the challenge of network congestion. Born out of a need to handle bulk volumes of data, 5G creates a more stable and efficient mobile internet.

With 5G comes peak speed capabilities, deeply reduced latencies, higher reliability, grander availability, massive network capacity, and smoother user experience. 5G functions on the same radio frequency we use for smartphones, wi-fi networks, and satellite communications.

What possibilities does 5G bring?

5G is much more advanced and drastically better than the previous 4G network, thus bringing a sea of opportunities and increased scope for growth. What are the benefits of 5G?

Experts believe the gaming sector, particularly AR/VR games, will get the most out of 5G networks. The new generation of mobile computing also fosters the growth of telemedicine. With a stable connection, doctors can provide consultation or perform complex procedures via robots from miles away.

5G will definitely change the way we interact with each other. With drastically reduced latency and improved speed, life-like video calls are becoming a reality, similar to how we interact with a friend or a family member by a window. Additionally, 5G will foster the evolution of the metaverse, facilitating the next big step in digital interaction.

5G boosts the efficiency of technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). With the transmission of data between interconnected devices and data centers becoming rapid, businesses leverage the speedy network and increased bandwidth of this 5th-generation wireless network to augment their productivity.

OTT platforms and streaming platforms will enjoy the best of 5G connectivity. Movie downloads would take just a few seconds. In addition, concepts like driverless cars, smart homes, and smart cities are now becoming a reality.

Impact of 5G on the UX design landscape

As designers constantly work on enhancing the user experience, 5G eliminates various barriers that 4G has, thanks to its low latency and high transmission speeds. The effects of 5G on design thinking augment UI/UX and render them more user-friendly. For example, a designer does not have to worry about the product slowing down when using animations, as 5G offers high-speed connectivity. 5G enables designers to create stunning user experiences in otherwise tedious cloud-based VR gaming apps and navigational apps, especially when businesses stress the need for captivating UI/UX for 5G data networks.

User-centered designs surrounding 5G

A UX designer’s role begins way before the organization rolls out the app or the device to customers. To create a stunning experience, the designer must consider all the requirements of the user at every stage, from branding to product design/development. The previous fourth generation of mobile connectivity had limitations in incorporating efficiency and user experience. However, with its ultimate speed and drastically reduced latency, the effects of the 5G user experience on design thinking are evident, boosting the interactivity with apps and maturing the storyline.

UX of web and mobile apps in this 5G era

The well-known benefits of the 5G network include high-speed connectivity, drastically low latency, and a reliable network. With 5G, the UI/UX of web and mobile apps gets a much-needed boost. Which aspect of the end user experience does 5G improve upon?

UI gets extreme clarity

As 5G takes video and audio streaming features and powers to the next level, UI/UX will have significant boosts. The designers get the potential to implement vital enhancements and upscale their apps to the next level.

Navigational apps get new UI opportunities

Experts believe that the tourism industry will make the most out of 5G connectivity, thanks to the high-speed, smooth-flowing networks of the technology. There are evident effects of 5G in UX, with the UI/UX of navigational apps leveraging the technology and finding new opportunities. The designers can come up with new user experience solutions for mobile apps and bring in new features. The scope for innovative solutions, like listing information about famous tourist places in a user-friendly way, is high.

3D models of higher quality

Immersive augmented reality (AR) / virtual reality (VR) apps and 3D gaming experiences will witness a spike as they get enhanced UX support. For example, with 5G backing up an immersive AR/VR, a fashion outlet could help customers try out their outfits virtually and get a better shopping experience. The possibilities to create revolutionary, immersive customer experiences with 5G are endless.

Haptic communication

Today, haptic communication is a need for any business. With 5G bringing new opportunities for instant feedback, app developers get greater control over receiving haptic communication. Haptic UX encourages the timely interchange of relevant information and leverages the sense of touch. For example, games that require haptic touch or unlocking a device with a gesture or fingerprint sensor will get smoother and more efficient.

Stunning gaming experiences

Video games are extremely popular among kids, teenagers, and young adults. With co-op games like Minecraft, Call Of Duty, and Fortnite entering the scene, people from all parts of the world grow closer via their consoles. 5G is a vital part of this gaming revolution, ending lags and reducing latencies, thus providing gamers with a smoother experience. With the enormous speed that 5G offers, players experience a much more appealing and innovative graphical user interface (GUI).

AR/VR gets a boost

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are making a sensation now, similar to what computers did in the early 2000s. With AR/VR yet to reach its peak, 5G will foster its growth and create experiences that seem impossible now.

With 3D platforms becoming the new norm, the pressure to produce content in 3D is soaring. Designers strive to deliver holistic experiences, including sound, motion, and interface, rather than just being a two-dimensional platform.

5G increases data transmission speeds tremendously, resulting in the standard utilization of the battery life of phones, hence, an increase in user engagement. With faster internet, developers do not have to worry about making the apps lighter. Users can make decisions or take action more swiftly. The designers must implement features and experiences that pivot the decision-making process. Also, highly captivating and attractive experiences foster user retention, which is crucial for businesses.

In today’s world, users look for personalized content and experiences. App or web developers can create experiences with personalization, like characters in a game or via chatbots.

What you must remember when you are designing for 5G

Indeed, 5G and its super swift connectivity help UI/UX designers in numerous ways. However, the designer or developer must ensure that the UX doesn’t fail. Here are a few checklists every UX designer must have when working with 5G:

Consistent design

Consistency in the design is the prima facie rule any designer must follow. The whole web or mobile app must maintain its consistency on all pages or screens. The designer can save time by unifying the design of the mobile app with its web counterpart.

Consistency in the journey

The developers must ensure that the user journey is consistent throughout the app and its different versions. The designer or the developers must implement their ideas across all screens or pages. Additionally, it’s ideal in order to simplify the user journey and avoid redesigning during the process.

All repetitive processes demand a structure

Businesses create various landing pages for marketing campaigns. It is optimal for designers to use a structure to handle repetitive processes. Creating such a  structure showcases the versatility of the designers when optimizing their UI and UX.

Conclusion

5G technology is already creating ripples in the world of design. In the coming years, designers will leverage the power of 5G to take UX design to the next level. Want to know more about how your business can maximize the potential of 5G? Let’s discuss this and take it a step further.