Next-Generation iPhone XR Said to Feature 4x4 MIMO Antenna Design Enabling Faster Data Speeds

The next-generation iPhone XR will feature a 4x4 MIMO antenna design, according to a Barclays research note obtained by MacRumors.

yellowxr
4x4 MIMO, short for multiple-input, multiple-output, has the potential to significantly improve LTE transmission by increasing the number of data paths between cellular towers and a mobile device to four. Simply put, the next ‌iPhone‌ XR would feature four antennas, allowing for faster data speeds.

‌iPhone‌ XS and ‌iPhone‌ XS Max models feature Gigabit-class LTE with a 4x4 MIMO antenna design, while the current ‌iPhone‌ XR supports 2x2 MIMO.

A few months ago, PC Magazine reported that the ‌iPhone‌ XS and ‌iPhone‌ XS Max have "significantly better" LTE performance than the ‌iPhone‌ XR based on testing conducted by Cellular Insights and Rohde & Schwarz. The difference was especially noticeable in weak signal conditions, the results indicated.

Of course, regardless of how many antennas an ‌iPhone‌ has, data speeds can be affected by factors such as network congestion, distance from the tower, physical obstructions, environmental conditions, and interference.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
Apple Watch Ultra Night Mode Screen

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Launching Later This Year With Two Key Upgrades

Wednesday July 2, 2025 1:13 pm PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 appears to be nearly over, and it is rumored to feature both satellite connectivity and 5G support. Apple Watch Ultra's existing Night Mode In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on track to launch this year with "significant" new features, including satellite connectivity, which would let you...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Capacity Leaked

Thursday July 3, 2025 5:40 am PDT by
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature the biggest ever battery in an iPhone, according to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital." In a new post, the leaker listed the battery capacities of the iPhone 11 Pro Max through to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and added that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a battery capacity of 5,000mAh: iPhone 11 Pro Max: 3,969mAh iPhone 12 Pro Max: 3,687mAh...
airpods pro 2

AirPods Pro 3 to Help Maintain Apple's Place in Earbud Market Amid Increasing Low-Cost Competition

Thursday July 3, 2025 7:25 am PDT by
Apple's position as the dominant force in the global true wireless stereo (TWS) earbud market is expected to continue through 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. The forecast outlines a 3% year-over-year increase in global TWS unit shipments for 2025, signaling a transition from rapid growth to a more mature phase for the category. While Apple is set to remain the leading brand by...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple m5

Apple's Upcoming Macs Listed in New Report

Thursday July 3, 2025 9:09 am PDT by
AppleInsider's Marko Zivkovic today shared a list of alleged identifiers for future Mac models, which should roll out over the next year or so. The report does not reveal anything too surprising, but it does serve as further evidence that Apple is seemingly working on new models of every Mac, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. Apple is...

Top Rated Comments

TheFluffyDuck Avatar
84 months ago
I for one hope Apple get crushed in their next few quarterly reports with their price gouging.

-Budget iPhones more expensive than flagships a couple of years ago.
-"Entry level" Mac minis that cost as much as VR gaming rig or just a couple of hundred shy of an iMac.
-$500 Price hikes on MBP for no reason.
-99 Cent "Free trial" for Apple music.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
max.ine Avatar
84 months ago
Sounds nice and all, but I’d rather they keep improving Liquid Retina over anything else. As an epileptic, the OLED screens (especially with all the flickering) simply aren’t an option for me.

I’m thinking of replacing my 7 Plus this year, but I’m torn between getting the 8 Plus or the XR...
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aston441 Avatar
84 months ago
Sounds nice and all, but I’d rather they keep improving Liquid Retina over anything else. As an epileptic, the OLED screens (especially with all the flickering) simply aren’t an option for me.

I’m thinking of replacing my 7 Plus this year, but I’m torn between getting the 8 Plus or the XR...
Liquid Retina is marketing babble for rounded corners.

Apple could have easily specified the high PPI they've used in the plus series of phones for the last four years.

They cheaped out and jacked the price. You got ripped off.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stuey3D Avatar
84 months ago
Let’s hope it doesn’t bring a weaker signal like the XS/Max users are complaining about with the same antenna configuration.

The XR for me so far has been fantastic for signal even outperforming my X.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xpxp2002 Avatar
84 months ago
Sounds nice and all, but I’d rather they keep improving Liquid Retina over anything else. As an epileptic, the OLED screens (especially with all the flickering) simply aren’t an option for me.

I’m thinking of replacing my 7 Plus this year, but I’m torn between getting the 8 Plus or the XR...
Agree about the OLED. Wish there were an XS with an LCD like the XR.

If I were you, I’d go with the 8. It’s one generation older CPU, but 3D Touch and Touch ID outweigh the performance improvement you’ll never notice between the A11 and A12 IMO.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rmoliv Avatar
84 months ago
They keep insisting on this mediocre phone... unbelievable!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)