RedCap (Reduced Capability), also called NR-Light, is a simplified version of 5G. It’s designed for devices that don’t need the full power of a regular 5G connection. If you’re thinking of small devices like smartwatches, health trackers, or industrial sensors, you’re already in the right direction. These tools don’t require high-speed internet all the time, but they still need to stay connected. That’s where RedCap comes in.
Companies like AT&T and T-Mobile are getting ready to bring RedCap devices to the market. Their focus is on energy-saving, low-bandwidth tools that can still benefit from the reliability and speed improvements of 5G—just scaled down for their specific needs.
Let’s break this down further, in simple terms, from a network engineer’s point of view. So, now let us Understand RedCap 5G along with User-friendly LTE RF drive test tools in telecom & Cellular RF drive test equipment and User-friendly Wireless Survey Software Tools & Wifi site survey software tools in detail.
What RedCap Is—and What It Isn’t
RedCap is not a different kind of 5G. It’s part of the same standard. The difference is in what it removes or simplifies. Full 5G (also called eMBB, or Enhanced Mobile Broadband) is designed for phones, tablets, laptops—things that need fast downloads and lots of bandwidth.
RedCap strips away features that smaller devices don’t use. For example:
- It uses lower power.
- It reduces peak data rates.
- It simplifies device design, which reduces cost.
By doing this, RedCap makes it easier to design small, battery-powered devices that can still connect to 5G without draining their batteries quickly or overheating.
Why We Need RedCap
You might ask: why not just use LTE for wearables and IoT sensors?
The short answer is that LTE is already becoming dated, and some older LTE networks will be phased out over time. RedCap gives manufacturers and operators a path forward—one that’s based on the same 5G infrastructure already being rolled out.
Also, RedCap fills a gap between two types of devices:
- On one side, we have full 5G smartphones.
- On the other side, we have low-power devices using NB-IoT or LTE-M.
RedCap sits in between. It supports more data than NB-IoT and LTE-M, but without going all the way to the complexity and power requirements of full 5G.
Types of Devices That Will Use RedCap
Some of the early device types expected to use RedCap include:
- Smartwatches
- Health monitors
- Industrial sensors
- Smart glasses
- Point-of-sale terminals
- Security cameras (low resolution)
- Utility meters
These devices often run on small batteries. They may only need to send data occasionally or in bursts. They’re not streaming video, but they still need a secure and reliable connection.
RedCap allows this type of device to live longer on a battery, reduce production cost, and still stay connected to a 5G network.
What Network Engineers Need to Know
From a deployment point of view, RedCap runs on the same 5G network you’re already building. There’s no need for separate infrastructure. However, some network features do need to be updated or configured to allow RedCap devices to connect properly.
Things we consider when supporting RedCap devices:
- Core network updates: RedCap needs to be supported in the 5G core (5GC). Many of the optimizations for power savings come from the network side.
- QoS (Quality of Service) adjustments: Because these devices are low-priority compared to phones, they can be put on a lower-priority slice or given lower-tier scheduling.
- Device identity and registration: RedCap devices must be clearly marked so the network doesn’t try to treat them like full 5G phones.
- Simplified scheduling: Since RedCap doesn’t support as many uplink/downlink channels, base stations need to be aware and not allocate unnecessary resources.
As engineers, we also need to monitor how RedCap devices affect overall traffic, especially in dense deployments like factories or smart campuses.
Spectrum and Coverage Considerations
However, most real-world deployments will use sub-6GHz, especially mid-band (like n77 or n78), because:
- mmWave coverage is limited.
- Power-saving is harder at high frequencies.
- Sub-6GHz is more suitable for wide-area use, including industrial and urban settings.
We also need to plan for how RedCap devices roam across cells, especially if they’re used in mobile environments. Things like handover timing and RRC state transitions are simplified, but that also means tuning needs to be specific for these devices.
What This Means for Operators
For mobile operators, RedCap opens up new revenue opportunities. Instead of just focusing on phone users, they can now support a wider range of devices—many of which are sold through B2B deals or large contracts.
Factories, smart buildings, logistics companies, and hospitals can all benefit from low-power devices that stay online without expensive data plans or frequent recharging. And RedCap lets those devices live on the same 5G network you already operate, reducing the cost to support them.
There’s also a long-term strategy here: as LTE networks get retired, RedCap is one of the solutions that will take over the work LTE-M and NB-IoT used to do. So preparing for RedCap now helps build a future-ready network.
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Device Makers
AT&T and T-Mobile have both announced plans to launch RedCap-enabled devices in 2025. These devices are expected to be introduced gradually, first in wearables like smartwatches and later in other categories like trackers and industrial tools.
Device makers are also stepping in. Companies like Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Samsung have started including RedCap-ready chipsets in their latest designs. This makes it easier for manufacturers to release RedCap devices without starting from scratch.
Some of the chipsets designed for RedCap are:
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X35 (first announced in 2023, with devices expected in 2025)
- MediaTek RedCap-ready platforms targeted for wearables and light sensors
- Unisoc chipsets tailored for cost-effective IoT devices
This momentum is important. Without chipset support, RedCap would just be another paper standard. But now, we’re seeing a clear ecosystem forming.
What’s Next?
The 3GPP Release 17 added RedCap to the 5G standard. The next updates in Release 18 will likely improve RedCap further by:
- Adding multicast/broadcast support
- Improving mobility features
- Enabling low-complexity positioning
- Enhancing power-saving options
As operators and vendors gain more experience, we’ll see RedCap being used in more sectors—beyond wearables and into smart utilities, public safety tools, and connected transport systems.
Final Thoughts
RedCap is not a gimmick. As someone working on telecom networks, I can say it fills a real need: how to connect smaller devices without overloading them with features they don’t need or power they can’t support. And since it works on the same 5G networks already being deployed, there’s no need for separate infrastructure or separate plans.
If you’re a developer, device maker, or operator looking to expand into IoT and wearables, RedCap is a serious tool to consider.
About RantCell
Looking to simplify mobile network testing? RantCell turns any Android phone into a powerful tool for measuring 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G performance. It’s ideal for telecom teams, system integrators, and enterprises who need to track signal quality, latency, and speeds without expensive tools. All test data is visible on a web dashboard for easy access and reporting. Also read similar articles from here.
