Apparatuses, systems, and methods to dynamically indicate preference for self-contained slots and slot duration by a user equipment device (UE) in communication with a base station (e.g., a gNB) using a 5G NR radio access technology. A UE may determine to send an indication to a gNB indicating a preference for self-contained slots and slot duration for downlink and/or uplink communications utilizing one or more of the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), and/or acknowledgement messaging (ACK/NACK) for downlink communications, and utilizing one or more of the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), the PDCCH, and/or the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for uplink communications. The configuration of self-contained slots and slot duration for uplink and/or downlink may be based on one or more of average packet size, average packet rate, traffic type and UE processing capabilities.