5G networks have been up and running around the world since early 2019, at least in some markets. The rollout so far is touted to be much faster than 4G LTE, with broader coverage, a wide range of carriers, and a plethora of 5G smartphones and other devices to pick from compared to the same point on 4G’s deployment.

That sounds like great news for the wireless networking industry’s big players, but what about us consumers? 5G promised us not only faster data speeds for streaming content but also brand new products and never-before-seen use cases based on the benefits of 5G.

Has 5G technology lived up to the hype so far? Let’s look at the evidence.

Mass Internet of Things (IoT), smart cities, autonomous vehicle networks, and zanier concoctions like remote surgery have, so far, remained firmly in the realm of ideas. Even mixed and augmented reality industries, which have had seen isolated success stories, are still waiting for their breakout 5G use case. Perhaps it wasn’t so wise to market 5G alongside so many unproven markets. Even initiatives that should benefit from basic faster data speeds and lower latency, such as cloud gaming initiatives like Google Stadia, have failed to make a dent in traditional markets.