If your handset supports 4G / VoLTE you don't require a 5G handset

Only 3G is getting turned off at the end of the year

OK now you have me wondering. I thought I looked my phone up and I would have to get a new one. But afaik my Redmi 9C supports 4g

The little icon on the top of the screen with the signal strength bars does not give any indication as to whether it is 3g or 4g as some phones do

VoLTE is the symbol you're looking for. Not necessarily the type of connection. Type limiting and volte settings are specified in the sim/network properties.

VoLTE and vowifi tend to go hand in hand. If it's not an nz market phone it may do one, or neither. Or if lucky, both. Online suggest that has VoLTE (4g) but may not have a nz profile. Mileage may vary 

When out and about and you place a voice call does the 4G icon change to 3G? You don't want the handset attached to Wi-Fi calling when doing this test

I'm leaning towards Tim's theory that Starlink is giving you a non-NZ IP address. For the Samsung phone you are testing, Spark wifi calling would only work with an NZ IP address. Maybe there are ways to obtain an NZ Starlink IP address.

For your Redmi, I think it will have zero chance of wifi calling working because the manufacturer does not program in any NZ telco's wifi calling software profiles in their Android build. 

If you have examples of some non-NZ starlink IP addresses [for connections that are based in NZ] feel free to DM me the IP details.

My Redmi phone doesnt seem to show any description not 3g or 4g or volte - just the bars

Yes it definitely does not have wifi calling on my phone

Was just wondering if it will work come the end of they year when 3G goes - but anyway a bit off topic - will see if wifi calling works on her samsung phone when she gets home with the change of prioirty setting to wifi. Would be surprised if starlink uses overseas IP address?

Forget the bars on yours "specified in the sim/network properties" there's not enough room these days up there to show you.

But the settings are present.

Like this. If handset doesn't it generally doesn't appear. But, it's still profile depending of band/config.

https://deviceguides.vodafone.ie/xiaomi/redmi-9-android-10-0/connectivity/select-network-mode/

Under Preferred Network type I only have LTE 3G and 2 G and it is set to LTE so looks like I dont have 4G?

juliant:

 

Under Preferred Network type I only have LTE 3G and 2 G and it is set to LTE so looks like I dont have 4G?

 

LTE = 4G Long Term Evolution

5G = NR New Radio

Forgot to mention tested the Samsung A24 and yes wifi calling is working - tested with airplane on and then off and both worked..so short answer is she needed to set the phone to prefer wifi under wifi calling options

Might be a reason for me to get a new phone so I have wifi calling too