Wireless communication systems have become essential in various areas such as health, agriculture, finance, education, the Internet of Things, media, and entertainment [
1,
2,
3,
4,
5]. Mobile communication generations must be updated approximately every ten years as the demand for faster and more reliable connections grows [
6]. The latest generation of wireless communication systems, 5G technology, offers several advantages over previous generations, including higher data rates, reliable connections, and reduced latency in three different usage scenarios (eMBB, uRLLC, and mMTC) [
7]. In addition, 5G technology can decrease energy consumption by up to 90% [
8,
9]. However, the use of a single antenna in the millimeter wave region, such as the 26 GHz band, results in signal quality degradation due to atmospheric conditions and path loss attenuation [
10]. These challenges need to be addressed to ensure the optimal performance of wireless communication systems in the millimeter wave region. MIMO technology employs spatial multiplexing techniques that enable high data transfer rates while maintaining signal quality, even in challenging environments [
11,
12]. Using MIMO antennas provides the high data transmission rate that 5G technology is expected to offer using spatial multiplexing [
13,
14,
15]. Nevertheless, in MIMO antenna design, since the antenna elements share a single dielectric layer, the mutual coupling between antenna elements caused by their close proximity in MIMO systems is a challenge that needs to be addressed [
16,
17]. EBG structures are commonly used in 5G millimeter wave applications to increase isolation between MIMO antenna elements by restricting the movement of surface current waves [
18,
19]. Studies have reported EBG structures providing isolation values of over 25 dB [
20], with other studies achieving 23 dB isolation values between radiating antennas [
21]. However, the complexity and production difficulties of EBG designs, low bandwidth, and low gain values have limited the use of this method. Decoupling networks (DNs) have been proposed to reduce mutual coupling between antenna elements, offering enhanced gain and reduced interference [
22]. However, they also have significant drawbacks, requiring more space between radiating elements and potentially increasing power losses. In MIMO antenna systems, DNs have been shown to reduce mutual interaction between elements, achieving an isolation level of 20 dB [
23]. Nonetheless, ensuring the stability of the DN is crucial, as any instability can severely impact the antenna’s performance and bandwidth. Using parasitic elements (PE) can improve isolation levels [
24]. An asymptotic structure to reduce the connection between antenna elements achieves an isolation value of 16.4 dB [
25]. It is stated that using C-shaped parasitic elements between MIMO antenna elements improves mutual coupling by 8.58 dB to reduce the connection between antennas [
26]. Although PE successfully improves the isolation level, adding PE between the elements causes a shift in the antenna’s frequency and requires redesigning the antenna. Therefore, using different parasitic elements for antennas operating at different frequencies is impractical. Neutralization lines are preferred in MIMO antenna designs due to their ability to facilitate easy impedance matching. Using NL in a MIMO antenna designed using characteristic mode analysis results in an isolation value of 16 dB [
27]. NL used in two and four-port MIMO antennas achieve an isolation value of over 22 dB and 23 dB, respectively [
28]. The length of the NL, which is preferred at low frequencies, depends on the antenna frequency, and as the bandwidth increases, the length of the line also increases, causing additional cost problems. In addition, it is crucial to install NL correctly. More installation is needed to maintain the efficiency of the lines. Additionally, hybrid isolation development techniques emerge with the combined use of these methods. Various hybrid methods exist, such as the use of EBG and DGS together [
29], L-shaped stubs, defective ground, and chip resistors used together [
30], the use of the DGS method on the ground plane and epsilon-and-mu-near-zero-based metasurface superstrate [
31], and the use of slot and parasitic element structures [
32]. Also, various techniques have been employed to enhance the isolation levels in MIMO antennas by mitigating mutual coupling effects, such as the integration of vias [
33], a zigzag-shaped slotted structure in the ground plane [
34], a partially reflecting surface [
35], a partial ground surface [
36], a partial ground surface combined with metasurface [
37], a slot in the ground plane [
38,
39,
40,
41,
42,
43,
44,
45], decoupling branches [
46], and a stub in the ground plane [
47]. The techniques for enhancing isolation used in prior research are known to be expensive and involve several processing steps. As antenna dimensions decrease in the millimeter waveband, producing complex designs becomes increasingly challenging. To address these difficulties, this article introduces a novel 4-port MIMO antenna design that operates in the millimeter waveband and exhibits a low profile, small size, wide bandwidth, and high isolation value compared to the studies in the literature. The incorporation of two rectangular slots in the ground plane, positioned immediately behind the junction of the transmission line and the patch as well as the circular slot integrated in the ground plane, facilitates coverage of the frequency band spectrum designated for 5G millimeter-wave applications by optimizing the center frequency within the bandwidth. In addition, proposed design features orthogonally placed radiating patches that minimize the physical size of the antenna and enhance isolation. In addition, a semicircular DGS is incorporated at the edges of the ground plane to further improve isolation between antenna elements. This is due to the fact that the curved geometry of the semi-circular slots help to redirect the coupling effect away from the antenna elements and reduce the coupling between adjacent antenna elements, resulting in a stronger isolation between the ports. Overall, the proposed design employs the defected ground structure to reduce the envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), a critical parameter for MIMO antennas. The proposed antenna design is cost-effective, easy to manufacture, and a good candidate for use in 5G systems with improved isolation levels.