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Appleit is (NASDAQ: AAPL) The fall product showcase is right around the corner, although the event is likely to be held a little later than usual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s iPhone 12 is expected to drive a “super cycle” of updates thanks to the combination of a new design and the addition of 5G cellular technology. However, 5G focuses on two different types of spectrum: sub-6 GHz and mmWave (millimeter wave).
It can be extremely expensive to get full 5G support for both sub-6 GHz and mmWave frequencies.
Image source: Getty Images.
mmWave vs sub-6 GHz
Fast company reports that Apple only plans to include mmWave support in the higher-end model, which will apparently be called the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The current iPhone 11 Pro Max, the largest phone Apple sells, has a 6.5-inch screen and costs between $ 1,099 and $ 1,449. The new model could increase that screen size to 6.7 inches, according to Bloomberg.
The issue may be related to the physical space within the phone, as only the larger iPhone can accommodate the unique antenna design needed for mmWave, according to Fast companysource. Additionally, the mmWave-equipped iPhone will only support 5G mmWave networks in three markets: the US, South Korea, and Japan.
If you’ve watched online videos showing impressive data rates of up to 1,500 Mbps on 5G networks, that performance goes through mmWave. That spectrum facilitates incredible speeds but there are drawbacks. In other words, mmWave signals cannot penetrate objects such as buildings and the range is quite limited. In part, that is why providing robust millimeter wave coverage is so expensive, as the large number of millimeter wave small cell base stations required is extremely high.
By contrast, sub-6 GHz cannot deliver the same speeds, but those signals can travel much further to improve overall network coverage. Balancing those tradeoffs will be up to operators as they continue to roll out next-generation technology.
Will mmWave matter?
The real question will be whether mmWave compatibility is important to the average iPhone buyer, particularly since many consumers may not be familiar with the nuances of 5G. Operators have been rolling out 5G marketing blitz in recent years, and marketers are not known for their modesty.
Bloomberg noted that Apple’s 5G tests had shown only minor improvements in data speeds, likely due to the fact that carriers have so far prioritized sub-6 GHz as it is cheaper to implement. With mmWave coverage still relatively nascent, support for those signals may not be a deal breaker for most people if they can’t tell the difference or don’t know.
Last year, JPMorgan analysts predicted that both flagship iPhones would include mmWave compatibility, echoing a similar sentiment from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
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