The iPhone XR is not 5G compatible but you can get close to 5G speed on LTE when you are in 5G coverage. Just conduct a speed test.
The speeds available on the LTE network are unrelated to having 5g coverage. They are different networks. Speeds on the LTE network are only dependend on the LTE network quality and coverage.
The 5G speed that is used for marketing is different from the 5G network you can connect to. If you want the 5G network you'll need to upgrade your phone, but as far as your plan is concerned, just get the plan that gives you the amount of data that you need and don't worry too much about whether it's branded as 4G or 5G. If you're only getting 9Mbps down right now, I doubt a 5G connection will do much to help that. I actually leave my phone in 4G because I find 5G doesn't get as strong of a signal.
I just did speed test while using cell data. 9.2 d/l and 2.5 upload. Nowhere near 196 mbps. I’m in Newfoundland. Trying to use phone as hotspot to connect to firestick so I can stream tv at my cabin. Do u know if cell phone booster will help?
@versysRob1 As noted by @softech and @BKNS27 that model of iPhone is not 5G capable, the first iPhone to be able to gt 5G was the iPhone 12. However, I have an iPhone 13 which can get 5G when I'm out and about, but in my home the signal is not strong enough so the phone stays on LTE. Last speed test I did on LTE was 194Mbps download and 26Mbps upload, so being on a 5G plan does allow you to get much faster speeds than PM's 4G plans which are capped at 100Mbps.
iPhone XR does not support 5G, so you can only use the 4G LTE network. But with a 5G plan, you will still get close to the top speed offered on the 5G plans, close to 250Mbps, even on the 4G network
