Abstract This study thoroughly investigates a two-port multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system tailored for 5G operation at 28 GHz. The proposed antenna is patched on a Rogers (RT5880) substrate with a relative permittivity of 2.2 and total size of 20×12×0.508 mm3. The mutual relationship between the radiating patches is refined using an H-shaped metamaterial structure to reduce the isolation to –55 dB. A MIMO configuration with attractive features is employed to reduce the envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) to about 0.00062 and the channel capacity loss (CCL) to about 0.006 bits/sec/Hz, while magnify the gain to about 9.39 dBi and the diversity gain (DG) to about 9.995. Additionally, it boasts a compact size with stable radiation pattern. The simulations of the MIMO antenna are executed using CST microwave studio, subsequently validated with Advanced Design System (ADS) for an equivalent circuit model, then measured using Vector Network Analyzer. Discrepancies between measured and simulated results were analyzed, with observed variations attributed to cable losses and manufacturing tolerances. Despite these challenges, a comprehensive comparison with prior research highlights the notable advantages of the proposed design, positioning it as a compelling solution for 5G applications.