iOS 14.5 Enables 5G in Dual-SIM Mode on iPhone 12 Models

Apple today seeded the first beta of iOS 14.5 to developers for testing, and a key new feature is global support for 5G in Dual-SIM mode on iPhone 12 models, as noted by Rene Ritchie. This functionality was previously only available in mainland China.

iPhone 12 5G Dual Carrier Feature Blue
iPhone 12 models are equipped with both a physical SIM slot and a digital eSIM, allowing for a feature known as dual SIM, dual standby. This means you can have two lines of service on one iPhone, which is useful for purchasing data-only plans while traveling abroad or having personal and business lines on a single iPhone. Until now, Dual-SIM mode was limited to LTE, but iOS 14.5 introduces support for faster 5G on both lines.

Apple has previously said that iOS 14.5 will be released in the early spring, so the software update will likely become available in late March at the earliest. A public beta will likely be released within the next day or so.

An internal Verizon presentation obtained by MacRumors had indicated that Apple planned to enable 5G in Dual-SIM mode by the end of 2020, so the functionality is arriving a few months later than expected.

Tag: 5G
Related Forum: iOS 14

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Apple's 2026 Low-Cost A18 Pro MacBook: What We Know So Far

Friday January 2, 2026 4:33 pm PST by
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far. Size Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...

Top Rated Comments

swm Avatar
64 months ago
good for you. obviously i am the negative guy, but the first thing i did when i migrated to the 12pro was to switch off 5G. i use my phone a lot and i have great battery life now. i absolutely see no benefit for 5G, because the transmission speeds are pretty much on par what i get on LTE. and honestly, i'm not the one who flexes with speediest screenshots.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Justin Cymbal Avatar
64 months ago
Dual Sim works great!

I have my primary physical Sim as a T-Mobile Sim and the eSIM on Verizon so I’ll now be able to get 5G on Verizon on the eSIM! Awesome!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
64 months ago
Can't wait for this update to be released :)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gsmornot Avatar
64 months ago

Off topic but why do we still use physical SIM cards?
Carrier requirements but thats changing.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Futurix Avatar
64 months ago
I'm glad the support is coming, but I'm going to be disabling 5G the minute this update is installed ? (there's no noticeable speed benefits in my area yet).
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BlendedFrog Avatar
64 months ago
Has hell frozen over? I didn't think this would ever come.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)