1163  5G Device Categories for IoT

1164 5G Device Categories: From NB-IoT to Full 5G NR

NoteLearning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

• Compare NB-IoT, LTE-M, RedCap, and full 5G NR device categories
• Understand RedCap (Reduced Capability 5G) specifications and use cases
• Select the appropriate 5G device category based on application requirements
• Evaluate cost-performance trade-offs across cellular IoT technologies

1164.1 Prerequisites

Before diving into this chapter, you should be familiar with:

• Cellular IoT Fundamentals: Basic cellular IoT concepts
• NB-IoT Fundamentals: Narrowband IoT technology
• 5G Advanced Overview: Introduction to 5G evolution

NoteRelated Chapters

5G Deep Dives: - 5G Advanced Overview - Evolution timeline - 5G Network Slicing - Virtual networks for IoT - 5G URLLC and Future - Critical IoT and 6G

Cellular IoT: - Cellular IoT Fundamentals - Basic concepts - NB-IoT Fundamentals - Narrowband IoT - Cellular IoT Applications - Use cases

NoteKey Takeaway

In one sentence: 5G offers a spectrum of device categories from NB-IoT ($3-5 modules) for ultra-low-power sensors to full 5G NR ($50-100) for high-performance applications, with RedCap ($15-25) filling the crucial mid-tier gap for wearables and industrial cameras.

Remember this: Match device category to requirements: NB-IoT for 10+ year battery sensors, LTE-M for mobile tracking with voice, RedCap for wearables and HD video, and full 5G NR for maximum performance.

1164.2 For Beginners: Understanding 5G Device Categories

TipWhat Are 5G Device Categories?

The Problem: Not all IoT devices need the same capabilities. A smart meter sending daily readings doesn’t need the same modem as an autonomous vehicle requiring real-time control.

The Solution: 3GPP defines different device categories, each optimized for specific use cases:

Category	Think of it as…	Best for
NB-IoT	A postcard	Simple messages, very long battery
LTE-M	A text message	Mobile devices, voice calls
RedCap	An email with attachments	HD video, industrial sensors
Full 5G	Video call + screen share	Everything, maximum performance

Why This Matters:

• Cost: NB-IoT module costs $3-5, full 5G costs $50-100
• Battery: NB-IoT lasts 10+ years, full 5G lasts days
• Capability: Choose the minimum needed to save money and power

Analogy: Think of it like airline tickets: - NB-IoT = Economy (cheap, basic, gets you there) - LTE-M = Premium Economy (better comfort, reasonable price) - RedCap = Business Class (good features, higher cost) - Full 5G = First Class (all features, highest cost)

1164.3 5G IoT Device Spectrum

The 5G ecosystem provides a complete spectrum of device capabilities, allowing designers to match technology to requirements:

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graph LR
    subgraph Spectrum["IoT Device Spectrum"]
        NBIOT[NB-IoT<br/>Ultra-low power<br/>Low data rate]
        LTEM[LTE-M<br/>Low power<br/>Voice/mobility]
        RedCap[RedCap<br/>Medium capability<br/>Balance]
        NR[Full 5G NR<br/>High performance<br/>All features]
    end

    NBIOT --> LTEM --> RedCap --> NR

    style NBIOT fill:#7F8C8D,stroke:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style LTEM fill:#E67E22,stroke:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style RedCap fill:#16A085,stroke:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style NR fill:#2C3E50,stroke:#16A085,color:#fff

Figure 1164.1: 5G IoT device spectrum from NB-IoT to Full 5G NR capability levels

{fig-alt=“5G IoT device spectrum showing progression from NB-IoT (ultra-low power, low data rate) in gray, to LTE-M (low power, voice/mobility) in orange, to RedCap (medium capability, balance) in teal, to Full 5G NR (high performance, all features) in navy. Arrows show increasing capability and cost.”}

1164.4 Device Category Comparison Matrix

1164.4.1 Technical Specifications

Feature	NB-IoT	LTE-M	RedCap	Full 5G NR
Peak DL	250 kbps	1 Mbps	150 Mbps	10+ Gbps
Peak UL	250 kbps	1 Mbps	50 Mbps	1+ Gbps
Latency	1-10 s	10-15 ms	5-10 ms	<1 ms (URLLC)
Bandwidth	200 kHz	1.4 MHz	20 MHz	100+ MHz
Modem Cost	$3-5	$5-10	$15-25	$50-100
Battery	10+ years	5-10 years	1-5 years	Days-weeks
Use Case	Sensors, meters	Asset tracking	Wearables, cameras	Phones, FWA

1164.4.2 Power Consumption Comparison

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graph LR
    subgraph Power["Average Power Consumption"]
        NB[NB-IoT<br/>10-50 μW]
        LTE[LTE-M<br/>50-200 μW]
        RC[RedCap<br/>1-10 mW]
        NR[Full 5G NR<br/>100-500 mW]
    end

    NB --> LTE --> RC --> NR

    style NB fill:#16A085,stroke:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style LTE fill:#16A085,stroke:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style RC fill:#E67E22,stroke:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style NR fill:#2C3E50,stroke:#16A085,color:#fff

Figure 1164.2: Power consumption comparison across 5G IoT device categories

{fig-alt=“Power consumption spectrum showing average power for IoT device categories: NB-IoT (10-50 μW) and LTE-M (50-200 μW) in teal as ultra-low power, RedCap (1-10 mW) in orange as medium, Full 5G NR (100-500 mW) in navy as highest power. Shows trade-off between capability and power consumption.”}

1164.4.3 When to Choose Each Category

Category	Choose When…	Avoid When…
NB-IoT	Battery must last 10+ years; Data < 250 kbps; Latency >1s OK	Need mobility; Need real-time response
LTE-M	Need handover/mobility; Voice support required; Moderate latency OK	Need video streaming; Ultra-low latency required
RedCap	HD video required; $50+ module cost too high; 5G-native preferred	Battery must last >5 years; Data < 1 Mbps sufficient
Full 5G	Maximum performance needed; URLLC required; Cost is secondary	Battery-powered; Simple sensor application

1164.5 RedCap (Reduced Capability 5G)

1164.5.1 What is RedCap?

RedCap (3GPP Release 17) creates a new device category between full 5G and LTE-M:

Design Goals: - 5G native (no LTE fallback needed) - Reduced complexity (lower modem cost) - Reasonable data rates (HD video possible) - Better battery life than full 5G

1164.5.2 RedCap Specifications by Release

Parameter	Full 5G NR	RedCap (R17)	eRedCap (R18)
Max Bandwidth	100-400 MHz	20 MHz (FR1)	5 MHz (FR1)
MIMO Layers	4-8	1-2	1
Antennas	2-4 Rx	1 Rx	1 Rx
DL Data Rate	10+ Gbps	150 Mbps	10 Mbps
Target Cost	$50-100	$15-25	$8-15

1164.5.3 RedCap Architecture Simplifications

RedCap reduces modem complexity through:

1. Reduced Bandwidth: 20 MHz vs 100+ MHz
   • Simpler RF frontend
   • Lower ADC/DAC requirements
   • Reduced baseband processing
2. Single Receive Antenna: 1 Rx vs 2-4 Rx
   • Smaller device form factor
   • Lower power consumption
   • Reduced cost
3. Fewer MIMO Layers: 1-2 vs 4-8
   • Simpler signal processing
   • Lower computational requirements

1164.5.4 RedCap Use Cases

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mindmap
    root((RedCap<br/>Use Cases))
        Wearables
            Smartwatches
            AR/VR glasses
            Health monitors
        Industrial
            Wireless sensors
            Machine vision
            AGVs
        Smart City
            Video surveillance
            Smart meters
            Traffic monitors
        Consumer
            Security cameras
            Connected appliances
            E-bikes

Figure 1164.3: RedCap use cases mind map: wearables, industrial, smart city, and consumer applications

{fig-alt=“RedCap use cases mind map branching into four categories: Wearables (smartwatches, AR/VR glasses, health monitors), Industrial (wireless sensors, machine vision, AGVs), Smart City (video surveillance, smart meters, traffic monitors), Consumer (security cameras, connected appliances, e-bikes).”}

1164.5.5 RedCap vs LTE-M: When to Choose Which?

Factor	Choose RedCap	Choose LTE-M
Data Rate	Need 1-150 Mbps	<1 Mbps sufficient
Future-proofing	5G network required	LTE network acceptable
Battery	1-5 years OK	5-10 years needed
Voice	VoNR if needed	VoLTE native
Cost	$15-25 acceptable	Need <$10 module
Availability	2024+ deployment	Already deployed

1164.6 Understanding Check

WarningKnowledge Check

Scenario: You’re designing connectivity for three different IoT products: 1. A smart electricity meter that reports hourly readings for 15 years 2. A delivery drone requiring real-time control 3. A security camera streaming 4K video

Questions: 1. Which device category would you choose for each? 2. What are the cost implications of each choice? 3. How would battery/power constraints affect your decision?

NoteAuto-Gradable Quick Check

Question: For a smart meter requiring 15-year battery life and sending hourly readings of a few kilobytes, which device category is most appropriate?

Explanation: A. NB-IoT is designed for ultra-low power, infrequent transmissions, and 10+ year battery life. Its 250 kbps is more than sufficient for hourly meter readings.

Question: For a delivery drone requiring sub-10ms latency for real-time control commands, which device category provides the necessary performance?

Explanation: D. Only Full 5G NR with URLLC can achieve sub-10ms latency with the reliability needed for real-time drone control. NB-IoT has 1-10 second latency, LTE-M has 10-15ms, and even RedCap’s 5-10ms may be marginal for safety-critical control.

Question: For a 4K security camera requiring 25 Mbps sustained streaming, which is the most cost-effective device category that meets requirements?

Explanation: C. RedCap provides 150 Mbps (6x headroom for 25 Mbps) at $15-25 per module, compared to $50-100 for full 5G NR which would be overkill. NB-IoT and LTE-M cannot meet the data rate requirement.

NoteSolution

1. Device Category Selection: | Device | Category | Reasoning | |——–|———-|———–| | Smart meter | NB-IoT | 15-year battery, hourly readings (very low data), cost-sensitive | | Delivery drone | Full 5G NR + URLLC | Real-time control requires <10ms latency, 99.999% reliability | | 4K camera | RedCap | 25 Mbps streaming, cost-effective vs full 5G |

2. Cost Implications: | Device | Module Cost | Volume (10K units) | Total | |——–|————-|——————-|——-| | Smart meters | $4 | 10,000 | $40,000 | | Drones | $75 | 100 | $7,500 | | Cameras | $20 | 1,000 | $20,000 |

3. Power Constraints: - Meter: Battery-powered, must last 15 years → NB-IoT’s PSM essential - Drone: Battery-powered but charged after each flight → power less critical than latency - Camera: Mains-powered → power not a constraint, can use RedCap’s higher power consumption

1164.7 Worked Example: Device Category Selection for Smart Factory

NoteWorked Example: Selecting 5G Device Categories

Scenario: A manufacturing plant needs connectivity for three IoT use cases: - 500 quality inspection cameras (25 Mbps each) - 100 AGVs requiring real-time control (<10 ms latency) - 10,000 environmental sensors (5-year battery life)

Given: - Cameras: 500 units, 4K video at 25 Mbps - AGVs: 100 units, safety-critical control - Sensors: 10,000 units, temperature/humidity readings every 5 minutes

Steps:

1. Match cameras to device category:
   • Data rate: 25 Mbps per camera
   • NB-IoT: 250 kbps (100x insufficient)
   • LTE-M: 1 Mbps (25x insufficient)
   • RedCap: 150 Mbps (6x headroom, $15-25/module)
   • Full 5G NR: 10+ Gbps (overkill at $50-100/module)
   • Selection: RedCap
2. Match AGVs to device category:
   • Latency: <10 ms (safety-critical)
   • Reliability: 99.999% required
   • Only Full 5G NR with URLLC meets requirements
   • Selection: Full 5G NR with URLLC
3. Match sensors to device category:
   • Data rate: ~100 bytes every 5 minutes = 3 bps average
   • Battery: 5+ years required
   • NB-IoT: 10+ year battery with PSM
   • Selection: NB-IoT

Result: | Device | Category | Unit Cost | Quantity | Total | |——–|———-|———–|———-|——-| | Cameras | RedCap | $20 | 500 | $10,000 | | AGVs | Full 5G NR | $75 | 100 | $7,500 | | Sensors | NB-IoT | $4 | 10,000 | $40,000 | | Total | | | 10,600 | $57,500 |

Key Insight: Using the appropriate device category for each use case saves significant cost compared to using full 5G NR for everything ($50 x 10,600 = $530,000 vs $57,500).

1164.8 5G IoT Device Category Selection Decision Tree

This decision framework guides the selection of the optimal 5G device category:

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flowchart TD
    START(["5G IoT Device<br/>Category Selection"])
    Q1{"Latency<br/>requirement?"}
    Q2{"Data rate<br/>requirement?"}
    Q3{"Battery life<br/>priority?"}
    Q4{"Mobility/<br/>handover needed?"}
    Q5{"Device density<br/>per km2?"}

    NBIOT["NB-IoT<br/>mMTC Optimized"]
    LTEM["LTE-M (Cat-M1)<br/>Mobility + Voice"]
    REDCAP["RedCap (R17)<br/>Balanced Capability"]
    FULL5G["Full 5G NR<br/>Maximum Performance"]
    URLLC["5G URLLC<br/>Mission Critical"]

    START --> Q1
    Q1 -->|"<1ms critical"| URLLC
    Q1 -->|"1-10ms"| Q2
    Q1 -->|">100ms OK"| Q3

    Q2 -->|">100 Mbps"| FULL5G
    Q2 -->|"1-100 Mbps"| REDCAP
    Q2 -->|"<1 Mbps"| Q4

    Q3 -->|"10+ years"| Q5
    Q3 -->|"1-5 years"| REDCAP

    Q4 -->|"Yes"| LTEM
    Q4 -->|"No"| NBIOT

    Q5 -->|"High (>10K)"| NBIOT
    Q5 -->|"Moderate"| LTEM

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    style Q1 fill:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style Q2 fill:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style Q3 fill:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style Q4 fill:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style Q5 fill:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style NBIOT fill:#7F8C8D,color:#fff
    style LTEM fill:#E67E22,color:#fff
    style REDCAP fill:#16A085,color:#fff
    style FULL5G fill:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style URLLC fill:#c0392b,color:#fff

Figure 1164.4: 5G IoT device category selection decision tree based on latency, data rate, battery, and mobility requirements

{fig-alt=“5G device selection flowchart. Latency <1ms critical: 5G URLLC. Latency 1-10ms: if data rate >100 Mbps use Full 5G NR, if 1-100 Mbps use RedCap. Latency >100ms OK: if 10+ year battery needed and high density use NB-IoT, if mobility needed use LTE-M.”}

1164.9 Summary

TipKey Takeaways

1. Four device categories span the 5G IoT spectrum: NB-IoT, LTE-M, RedCap, Full 5G NR

2. NB-IoT ($3-5): Best for ultra-low-power sensors needing 10+ year battery life

3. LTE-M ($5-10): Best for mobile tracking with handover and optional voice

4. RedCap ($15-25): New mid-tier category for wearables, cameras, and industrial sensors

5. Full 5G NR ($50-100): Maximum performance for URLLC and high-bandwidth applications

6. Match category to requirements: Using NB-IoT instead of full 5G can reduce costs by 95%

1164.10 What’s Next

Continue exploring 5G for IoT:

• 5G Network Slicing - Virtual networks for diverse IoT requirements
• 5G URLLC and Future - Mission-critical IoT and 6G vision
• Private 5G Networks - Enterprise deployment guide