5G
By MacRumors Staff
5G Guides
mmWave vs. Sub-6GHz 5G iPhones: What's the Difference?
All of the iPhones in Apple's iPhone 12 lineup will have Qualcomm modems that support 5G, but potential buyers need to know that not all 5G networks are equal. There's the super fast mmWave (millimeter wave) 5G and the slower but more widespread Sub-6GHz 5G.
There have been mixed rumors about which iPhone 12 models will support which 5G spectrums, but it appears that the fastest 5G...
Read Full Article (204 comments)
5G Articles
iPhone 13 May Feature Faster mmWave 5G Connectivity in More Countries
The iPhone 13 lineup may expand faster mmWave 5G connectivity to more countries outside the United States, according to Taiwanese supply chain sources cited by Patently Apple.
The report claims that a Taiwanese company called Qiqi is in the process of receiving a "large order" for mmWave antennas destined for the iPhone 13 lineup, which may explain Qiqi chairman Xie Hongbo's announcement ...
iPhone 12 Became the World's Top 5G Smartphone Within Two Weeks of Launch
A new report published today by Counterpoint Research finds that the iPhone 12 became the world's bestselling 5G smartphone in October, in spite of its delayed launch. Although the iPhone 12 was only sold for two weeks in October, it was still able to top the rankings. These two weeks' worth of sales allowed the iPhone 12 to become the seventh-bestselling 5G device sold between...
iPhone 12 Demand Helps Boost Qualcomm's 5G Modem Revenue, But Apple Working on Own 'High-End' Modem
The popularity of iPhone 12 models has led to soaring demand for Qualcomm's 5G modems and RF chips, helping to propel the chipmaker's revenues past that of rival Broadcom in the third quarter of 2020, according to Taiwanese research firm TrendForce.
Qualcomm reported $4.9 billion revenue in the third quarter, a 37.6% increase over the year-ago quarter, compared to $4.6 billion for Broadcom....
Qualcomm Sees Strong Q4 Earnings Thanks to 5G iPhone 12
Qualcomm earned $8.3 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2020, according to the company's earnings report that was shared today. That's up 73 percent from the fourth quarter of 2019, with Qualcomm's strong performance due in part to the 5G chips used in the iPhone 12 and other smartphones on the market.
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf said that...
Apple Introduces Option to Download iOS Updates Over 5G on iPhone 12 Models
Apple has introduced the option to download iOS software updates using 5G cellular data on the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max, according to a support document published this week.
To download iOS updates over 5G, users will have to enable the "Allow More Data on 5G" mode in the Settings app under Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Mode. Apple says this...
Apple's Roadmap for Using Qualcomm's 5G Modems in Future Products Revealed, Including X60 in 2021
In April 2019, Apple and Qualcomm announced an agreement to dismiss a long-running legal battle between the two companies worldwide, paving the way for Apple to use Qualcomm's 5G modems for its iPhone 12 lineup and beyond.
Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon X60 modem is built on a 5nm process A teardown video shared earlier today revealed that Apple is using Qualcomm's Snapdragon X55 modem in...
5G Drains iPhone 12 Battery 20% Faster Than 4G in Benchmark
After the first reviews for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro emerged yesterday, a new report by Tom's Guide reveals the extent of battery life reductions when using 5G.
The report outlines a test wherein the iPhone surfs the web continuously at 150 nits of screen brightness, launching a new site every 30 seconds until the battery drains. Interestingly, the test was run on an iPhone 12 and...
Apple Plans to Enable 5G in Dual SIM Mode With Software Update Later This Year
iPhone XS models and newer feature 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.
5G will not be available in Dual SIM mode on the iPhone 12 and iPhone...
iPhone 12 Models in Dual SIM Mode May Not Run at 5G Speeds, At Least Initially [Update: Confirmed]
Using an iPhone 12 in Dual SIM mode throttles the cellular data speed to 4G LTE, according to an Apple Sales FAQ shared with retailers and carriers.
All 5G iPhone 12 models support Dual SIM mode, which refers to the ability to switch between a SIM card and an eSIM operating on independent numbers and/or carriers. However, an image of a training document from Apple's Sales Web resources...
Chris Rock Sells iPhone 12 and mmWave 5G in New Verizon Ad
During its iPhone 12 event this week, Apple expended an unusually long amount of talk time on pressing home the benefits of 5G, and even gave the chairman and CEO of Verizon, Hans Vestberg, a segment to explain how "5G just got real." "The power of Verizon 5G meets the first iPhone with 5G." That same slogan is at the heart of Verizon's marketing campaign for mmWave 5G on iPhone 12, as...
iPhone 12 May See 5G Connectivity Issues in the UK
The upcoming iPhone 12 may have serious issues connecting to 5G in the United Kingdom, reports The Telegraph.
The report cites "industry insiders" who say that iPhone 12 models may not support the 700MHz 5G band. Lower-spectrum bands such as 700MHz are crucial to 5G coverage since they are far-reaching and penetrate well through walls and buildings, and 700MHz is expected to be the most...
Kuo: mmWave 5G iPhone Shipments Likely to Be Weaker Than Expected in 2020-21
Apple's upcoming iPhone 12 models will all include 5G support, and several rumors have suggested that some if not all the new iPhones coming this fall will support both sub-6GHz and mmWave networks, which are two different 5G technologies that carriers are rolling out. The fastest technology, mmWave, will be used in dense areas like major cities. The longer-distance sub-6GHz networks will be...
Apple Shipped 15 Million iPhones in the U.S. in Q2 2020, a New Domestic Record
Apple shipped approximately 15 million iPhones in the United States in the second quarter of 2020, according to a new report shared by Canalys, setting a new domestic record. Apple shipped 15 percent more iPhone 11 devices than last year's equivalent, iPhone XR. Most strikingly, iPhone SE was responsible for growing Apple's quarterly market share to 47 percent. Overall, Apple shipped 10...
T-Mobile Launches First Nationwide Standalone 5G Network in U.S.
T-Mobile today announced that it has launched the first nationwide standalone 5G network in the United States, with the carrier's 5G footprint expanding by 30 percent across the country effective immediately.
Whereas non-standalone 5G relies on mid-band 4G LTE architecture, standalone 5G allows signals to travel further, covering hundreds of square miles from a single tower and going deeper...
AT&T Says Its 5G Network Is Now Available Nationwide
AT&T today announced that its 5G network is now live nationwide, following a slow rollout that began with tests in major U.S. cities back in 2017. Specifically, today marks the addition of 40 new markets added to support 5G, making it available to more than 205 million customers in 395 markets across the United States.
If you are on AT&T and have a 5G-capable smartphone, like Samsung's...
Apple's 2020 5G iPhones to Support Both Sub-6GHz and mmWave, But That Might Change in 2021
Apple's 2020 iPhone lineup will feature 5G support for the first time, and several rumors have suggested that the new iPhones coming this year are expected to support both sub-6GHz and mmWave networks, which are two different 5G technologies that carriers are rolling out.
mmWave, the fastest 5G technology, will be used in dense urban areas like major cities, while sub-6GHz networks will be...
iPad Pro With A14X Chip, 5G, and Mini-LED Display Expected in First Half of 2021
Apple plans to launch new iPad Pro models with an A14X chip, 5G connectivity, and a Mini-LED display in the first or second quarter of 2021, according to the increasingly reliable Twitter account L0vetodream.
The leaker claims that the new iPad Pro models will be equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X55 modem, which supports both mmWave and sub-6GHz. mmWave is a set of 5G frequencies that...
Kuo: mmWave 5G iPhones Have 'Potential Delay Risk,' Production on 6.7-Inch iPhone Delayed to October
Some of Apple's upcoming 5G iPhones could see a delay in production, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in a note shared with investors. mmWave models, which will feature the fastest 5G functionality, have a "potential delay risk" and may launch outside of the normal timeline.
Production on the mmWave iPhone may be pushed back because of changes to the antenna package that were made in...
Report: 12.9-Inch iPad Pro With 5G and Mini-LED Display Delayed Until 2021
Apple's 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 5G and a Mini-LED display has been delayed until 2021 because of the impact the coronavirus outbreak has had on Apple's supply chain partners, according to a new Chinese-language report by United Daily News.
Last week, analyst Jeff Pu told investors that the rumored high-end iPad Pro may be delayed until early next year due to the device's "complex panel...
FCC Opens Up 3.5GHz Spectrum for Full Commercial Use, Apple's Newest iPhones Already Offer Support
The United States Federal Communications Commission today cleared the way for OnGo [PDF], a wireless product spearheaded by the Citizens Broadcast Radio Service Alliance (CBRS) that aims to use the 3.5GHz band for a range of applications, including improving data speeds and connectivity across the United States on both 4G and 5G networks.
The CBRS Alliance announced that the FCC has allowed...
