iPhone 12 Models Might Not Offer The Same 5G Experience, Here's Why
According to recent rumors, only one model from the upcoming iPhone 12 line will support mmWave, the fastest form of 5G connectivity on the market.
Apple is slated to introduce four new iPhone 12 models later this year. As part of this rollout, at least one phone is meant to be the larger, "premium" offering, or what will likely be known as the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Rumors currently indicate that only the iPhone 12 Pro Max will support the fastest form of 5G connectivity known as mmWave. While the rest of the iPhone 12 lineup is said to support sub-6GHz, a slower but more widespread form of 5G, buyers may find themselves forced to purchase an iPhone 12 Pro Max if they want the fastest 5G available for their device. mmWave offers download speeds of up to 1Gbps on supported devices. Unfortunately, it has a shorter range and is more expensive on average to deploy. There's still sub-6GHz connections, but those are slower than mmWave, even though they're speedier than 4G LTE.
It's going be a fairly big year for Apple. The tech giant is expected to debut the new iPhone 12 models as early as next month. There will be one with a 5.4-inch screen, two with 6.1-inch screens, and one with a 6.7-inch display as well. It's unknown what the final naming conventions will be for each phone, but one 6.1-inch will likely be the iPhone 12 Pro and the 6.7-inch model is thought to be the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
According to a new report from Fast Company, only the iPhone 12 Pro Max will support mmWave technology. Citing an anonymous source, Fast Company claims only the iPhone 12 Pro Max is large enough to accommodate the antenna required to utilize mmWave support. The sources also notes the Pro Max is the only iPhone out of the bunch with a battery large enough to support the antenna and the amount of power it needs to run. Beyond that, the iPhone 12 Pro Max will reportedly only support mmWave with iPhone 12 models sold in certain locations, such as the United States, Japan, and Korea. This is likely due to the underdeveloped mmWave networks elsewhere.
The idea that only the iPhone 12 Pro Max will support mmWave 5G is still a rumor, so it must be taken with a grain of salt. There's been no official confirmation that only the largest model will have this capability. However, if it is indicative of what's to come from Apple, it's a good idea to start preparing an alternative choice for a phone that offers the mmWave option. Not every smartphone user is keen on spending what will undoubtedly be extra money for the largest iPhone, and there are other phones on the market that will support mmWave connectivity.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is a highly-rated 5G phone that supports mmWave connectivity, and it's generally found to be a great overall phone as well. It's a bit pricey but includes excellent specs. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra follows suit and includes support for the S Pen. Additionally, Verizon's pricier version of the OnePlus 8 supports mmWave, but will of course cost extra for the privilege. In fact, there are several different Android phones that will do the trick when it comes to offering the fastest 5G connectivity possible.
Most information currently surrounding the upcoming iPhone 12 models is unconfirmed at the moment. Though it's a good idea to shop around for compatible 5G phones, making a final decision on what works should undoubtedly be reserved for when and if Apple confirms or denies the rumors about mmWave connectivity. If the rumors do happen to be true, Apple consumers may be waiting until the next crop of iPhones for the 5G speeds they're hoping for.
Source: Apple Insider