All iPhones in Apple’s iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups have Qualcomm modems that support 5G, but potential buyers should know that not all 5G networks are created equal. is needed. There’s ultra-fast mmWave 5G and slower but more popular Sub-6GHz 5G.
In the United States, all iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models support both mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G connectivity, but mmWave technology is not available worldwide. The 2022 iPhone SE is also limited to sub-6GHz 5G connectivity. This guide focuses on the differences between mmWave and Sub-6GHz 5G and provides an overview of how 5G works on the iPhone.
Explanation of millimeter wave and Sub6GHz
5G is the fifth generation of cellular radio, replacing the 4G LTE networks that have been in use since 2010. There are two types of 5G networks: mmWave, the ultra-fast 5G sub-6GHz that most people talk about when talking about 5G speeds, and the 5G that most people will experience for some time.
Smartphones transmit voice and data wirelessly using electromagnetic radio frequencies. These frequencies are organized into different frequency bands. Some of these bands have higher capacity than others and can deliver information faster. This is true for millimeter waves.
Millimeter wave refers to high frequency radio bands ranging from 24 GHz to 40 GHz, and sub-6GHz refers to low to medium frequency bands below 6 GHz. Low frequency bands are below 1 GHz, while mid-band ranges from 3.4 GHz to 6 GHz and is not considered “mmWave.”
Millimeter wave 5G networks are extremely fast, but also have extremely short ranges. To use mmWave technology, you need to be within about a block of a 5G tower, which isn’t possible in suburban or rural areas. Additionally, the mmWave spectrum can be blocked or hidden by doors, windows, trees, and walls, further limiting the available range. It is also expensive for carriers to deploy because it requires so many towers to cover the mmWave spectrum.
Due to its limited range, access to the mmWave spectrum has only become possible in the last few years due to technological advances such as Massive MIMO, adaptive beamforming, and miniaturization of complex antenna processing functions. Millimeter wave is an early technology still in development. To be hired.
Due to the limitations of mmWave, it is ideal for dense urban areas or specific target spots such as airports or concerts. In rural and suburban areas, mmWave technology does not have sufficient range to be practical. That’s where sub-6GHz networks come into play. Sub-6GHz 5G is faster than 4G, but it doesn’t offer lightning-fast speeds. Speeds obtained with millimeter waves. Aircraft carriers are much more affordable to implement due to their longer range and better ability to penetrate objects.
It is worth noting that mmWave 5G provides higher bandwidth and reduces network congestion. In congested areas, LTE speeds can slow down due to the number of devices connecting, but mmWave technology can handle more connections without significantly reducing speeds. As a result, you can often see mmWave installed not only in urban areas but also in crowded places where network congestion is an issue, such as sporting events, airports, concerts, and other places where many people gather.
With both mmWave and sub-6GHz support, iPhone allows you to take advantage of super-fast 5G speeds when mmWave technology is available, but otherwise 5G coverage is similar to modern LTE networks. Sub-6GHz-only iPhones can use the most widely available 5G networks, but block the high-speed mmWave available in urban areas.
Over time, low- and mid-band 5G speeds should get even faster, similar to the evolution of LTE, but the incredibly fast speeds people expect from 5G are mmWave speeds, and The possible speeds are much more limited.
difference in speed
Millimeter wave spectrum can theoretically achieve speeds as high as 5Gb/s, which is much faster than what can be achieved with LTE connections.
In practice, early mmWave networks have achieved speeds of up to about 2Gb/s, but as we found when we tested Verizon’s mmWave network using Samsung smartphones in Chicago in mid-2019. , the speed varies significantly depending on the user’s location and distance. Nearest 5G tower.
LTE networks are much slower. in fact, tom’s guide When I checked LTE speeds recently, Verizon’s top download speed was 53Mb/s, while most carriers were closer to 35Mb/s.
Sub-6GHz networks sit between mmWave and LTE speeds. For example, Sprint’s Sub-6GHz network (now T-Mobile’s) has a maximum speed of about 200Mb/s. While it’s possible to reach these speeds with a good LTE connection, the reality is that Sub-6GHz 5G won’t reach the incredible speeds possible with mmWave, but most people will probably want to use their LTE It’s faster than it feels.
OpenSignal analyzed real-world 5G speeds in multiple countries in August 2020 (using smartphones that currently support 5G). The U.S. speed results may come as a surprise to those expecting significant speed improvements from 5G. The average download speed for the 5 GHz network was approximately 50.9 Mb/s, compared to 28.9 Mb/s for LTE. This is because most coverage in the US is currently Sub-6GHz.
Other countries have more advanced 5G networks, giving us insight into the speed increases we could realistically see within the next few years. OpenSignal found that on average, 5G connections are 1.4x to 14.3x faster than 4G, but this data does not differentiate mmWave 5G from Sub-6GHz 5G.
Another interesting metric that OpenSignal pointed out was the connection time to the 5G network. In the US, smartphone owners with devices that support 5G were connected to a 5G network only 19.3% of the time due to limited availability.
Millimeter wave availability
In the US, AT&T and Verizon have implemented mmWave support, but limited capacity is still available. It is found in some major cities and is usually limited to a few areas rather than the entire city.
Sub-6GHz is already gaining traction with AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile rolling out low-spectrum and mid-band 5G networks that are becoming available to more customers.
Which iPhones support mmWave?
All iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models in the U.S. support mmWave 5G networks. Outside the US, only sub-6GHz 5G networks are supported.
Do I need mmWave 5G connectivity?
In short, no, most people don’t need mmWave connectivity, and most people won’t even have access to mmWave connectivity on a regular basis for the next few years.
Full mmWave 5G connectivity is still being rolled out and its range remains limited. It is only available in major cities in the United States, and in most of those major cities, it is not available everywhere, but in some areas.
The transition from 4G to 5G began in 2019, and there’s still a ways to go, so most people can get by without mmWave speeds. To find out if mmWave technology is worth it for you personally, we recommend checking with your carrier to see if they also have mmWave spectrum deployed in your area.
5G information for major U.S. carriers is linked below so you can see coverage for a specific carrier in your area.
If you don’t spend a lot of time in a particular area of a city where your carrier offers 5G technology, you won’t benefit from mmWave speeds and purchasing a mmWave iPhone isn’t a big concern. At this time. If you live in a metropolitan area with many mmWave 5G towers, you may benefit from an iPhone that supports faster technology.
Of course, carriers will continue to build out mmWave networks, which could become even more prevalent in the years ahead. This is something to consider for those considering future-proofing when purchasing an iPhone. But even years from now, mmWave will still have limited range and will likely only be available in more urban areas, and sub-6GHz is the 5G that most people know and connect to.
Please note that some carriers are currently charging additional fees for 5G. For example, Verizon prices his 5G plan $10 more than his comparable 4G unlimited plan. AT&T and T-Mobile aren’t charging high rates yet, but that could change as 5G expands further.
Apple’s future 5G plans
Apple is working on developing its own in-house designed modem chips, similar to Apple Silicon and A-series chips, which will allow the company to reduce its dependence on modem chip vendors.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said that Apple could move to its own 5G modem as early as 2023. If Apple releases its own modem design, Qualcomm will no longer be needed. However, the timeline is subject to change, as 2023 is the “earliest” date.
Guide feedback
Have questions about mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G connectivity or want to provide feedback on this guide? Send us an email here. If you want to learn more about Apple’s 5G iPhone plans, be sure to check out our 5G iPhone guide.
