The quick answer

• Calls on US carriers: unlikely for most versions
• Software: stuck on Android 6, with no security updates for years
• Many current apps no longer install
• Best use now: a Wi-Fi music or camera device

Calls after the 3G shutdown

US carriers shut down 3G in 2022, so phones now need VoLTE (calls over 4G) approved by the carrier. Some carrier versions of the S5 supported VoLTE when new, but carriers have trimmed their approved-device lists, and most S5s can no longer place calls. If you want to try, check the IMEI with your carrier first rather than buying a SIM.

How to check yours

1. Find the IMEI: dial *#06# or look in Settings > About phone.
2. Enter it in your carrier's compatibility checker (every major carrier and most prepaid brands have one).
3. If it says the phone isn't supported, it usually means no VoLTE approval for that model. A different version of the same phone may still work.

The software limit: Android 6

The S5 tops out at Android 6 and hasn't had security updates in years. Many apps, including most banking apps, no longer support it. Don't use it for anything sensitive.

Who it still works for

As a phone, very few people. It still works on Wi-Fi as a music player, offline camera or a simple device for a child, and its removable battery makes it easy to keep running.

If you're replacing it

A new Galaxy A17 or moto g 2026 costs far less than an old flagship did, gets years of updates, and several carriers give them away when you switch. Pair it with a low-cost plan such as Mint Mobile ($15 a month for 6GB on a 12-month term) or Visible ($25 for unlimited, taxes included).