Five years since its debut, 5G has delivered transformative benefits to industries, despite its gradual adoption among consumers. This in-depth review covers 5G’s development journey, its key impacts on manufacturing, logistics, and IoT applications, and regional rollout trends. Explore the real-world use cases where 5G is enhancing productivity and safety, the cybersecurity considerations essential for widespread adoption, and the technology’s alignment with sustainability goals. With practical insights from 5G’s early years, this review also explores lessons that will shape the next generation of connectivity.