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Whether or not this conceptual rendering of the iPhone 12 Pro from the ConceptsiPhone YouTube channel is accurate, the new iPhone is expected to support 5G connectivity.
ConceptsiPhone
It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a junk year for humans, but it has been a fruitful one for new phones, cameras, and game consoles. It’s only September and a host of new products have been released or announced, including the next Xbox Series X and PS5, the new Sony A7S iii mirrorless camera and the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. When we start “Techtember”, the most anticipated release is the next iPhone, which is rumored to be called iPhone 12.
Leaks and rumors point to a host of new features for Apple’s upcoming phone, including a high-refresh-rate display, more sizes, and LIDAR. But the most significant addition will not be the cameras or the expected A14 processor. It will be the support for 5G.
That means the most important feature of the iPhone 12 will be largely out of Apple’s control and firmly in the hands of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Depending on your carrier and where you live, your 5G experience on an iPhone 12 could vary greatly. It’s an unusual position for Apple, which is known for its insistence on creating virtually every aspect of its products, from hardware to software.
In contrast, the current state of 5G in the US is a mix of hype, hope, and whatever the opposite of harmony. Depending on the carrier, 5G comes in a variety of frequencies, some that offer really mind-blowing speeds but lack the range to connect to your phone all the time. Other frequencies have a long range and stable connectivity, but offer speeds that are not much faster than 4G LTE. Some parts of the US have 5G networks from the top three US carriers, others have absolutely zero coverage.
Does this mean that 5G will determine if the iPhone 12 is a failure or not? In terms of sales, of course not. Apple is likely to sell millions of new iPhones. But that doesn’t mean that everyone who buys an iPhone 12 will have a great experience connecting and working on a 5G network. And the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of new users connecting will generate a massive increase in traffic on 5G networks that are still in their infancy. There is great potential for many people to have a bad 5G experience on their new iPhone. Possibly even worse than if they stick with 4G.
In 2013, when the iPhone 5 was launched, its 4G LTE data connectivity generated massive spikes in traffic and network congestion.
Patrick Holland / CNET
I remember in 2013 when the iPhone 5 with 4G LTE support was released. I bought the phone in September when it first came out and I experienced lightning speed. But when Thanksgiving rolled around, many other people had an iPhone 5 and my 4G LTE speeds leveled off due to all the new traffic on the same network. Fortunately, over the years, 4G LTE became more robust and networks were able to handle more capacity on them.
When it comes to 5G, things get more complicated because not all 5G is the same. That blazing-fast 5G I mentioned earlier requires different antennas than mid- and low-band 5G. Those different antennas mean multiple models of the same iPhone. 5G suffers from fragmentation and even for someone like me, who is quite knowledgeable about these things, the subject can be overwhelming.
So why is Apple taking a chance on 5G? The company has to do it. Even if the road is not fully paved now, in a couple of years 5G will be the way most of us will get mobile data. The other reason is that 4G LTE is a great safety net. Someone on an iPhone 12 without a 5G radio in their neighborhood could still connect via 4G LTE. But it would be a shame if that same person paid a premium to get a 5G iPhone just to have no or spotty 5G coverage.
But if my friends and family are any indication, a 5G iPhone is something many of them crave. Not that iPhone 11 and 11 Pro not great or that my friends are particularly excited about 5G. For them, a 5G iPhone is all about readiness for the future, even if 5G connectivity isn’t ready to go right out of the box.
See this:
5G small cell sites are very different from 4G towers
11:40
If you’ve been waiting to buy an iPhone until it has 5G support, you’re likely to be rewarded this fall. But do your research on 5G connectivity in your area and what your carrier offers. If you don’t care about 5G and are in a year of upgrade for your iPhone, then you are in a great position. You’ll still be able to use the reliable and comfortable 4G LTE you’ve grown accustomed to, and in the coming years you may notice faster service as 5G and its many types of connectivity expand in the US.
That should offer a modicum of comfort in this horrible year.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
