Can phones be upgraded to 5G?

The support team confirmed that more 5G bands support can be unlocked via software and that it is not a hardware limitation.

Thankfully, Xiaomi has assured that 5G SA connectivity enhancements may be added via future OTA updates to the Mi 11X Pro as and when required .

Mobile carriers will use existing 4G LTE networks to provide their customers’ cell service well into the next decade. 5G networks will work with 4G — not outright replace it. The upshot is that 5G-capable cell phones will still use 4G technology .

This is also why 5G bands cannot just be enabled via OTA updates — because that upgrade will need specific hardware components which are absent in the first place.