iPhone 13 may support faster 5G, but that could come at a cost

iPhone 12 mini
(Image credit: TechRadar)

If you have a recent phone then there’s a good chance you can connect to 5G networks, but on most phones, in most places, you won’t be getting the best possible speeds from 5G, and the iPhone 13 could take steps to fix that.

That’s according to a report from DigiTimes Asia, which states – citing industry sources - that over 50% of iPhone 13s will support mmWave 5G. It’s not talking about models here, but rather total numbers. So in other words, over 50% of the iPhone 13s sold across the world will apparently support mmWave.

That’s a big change, because with the iPhone 12 range only US models support mmWave, with the rest of the world just getting sub-6GHz 5G support (in the US you get both). DigiTimes also claims that Android phones are likely to follow Apple’s lead here, as currently most of them only support sub-6GHz too.

A higher frequency

For those who aren’t up to date on 5G lingo, these terms refer to the frequency of the radio bands that 5G signals are carried on. Sub-6GHz means frequencies below 6GHz, while mmWave (standing for millimeter wave) means higher frequency bands.

Those higher frequency bands have more data bandwidth and support for potentially much higher speeds, but they also don’t carry a signal as far (meaning more cell towers are needed), and they’re not as good at penetrating walls and other obstacles.

So there are upsides to sticking with lower frequencies, and that’s what most of the world – including the UK – has done so far. That in turn is why Apple didn’t offer mmWave 5G in the iPhone 12 range outside the US – because you wouldn’t be able to make use of it anyway.

It sounds like this could be changing with the iPhone 13 range though, and this is a claim we’ve heard more than once. The exact regions that could get mmWave models aren’t mentioned here, but it’s entirely possible that the UK and Australia will be among them.

Of course, we’ll still need mobile networks to start supporting mmWave before this is helpful, but at the very least it could future-proof the iPhone 13 range, as it’s likely only a matter of time before mmWave is made more widely available.

However, the downside to this move is that it could also mean price rises, as incorporating both mmWave and sub-6GHz support is more expensive than sub-6GHz alone. So it’s possible that Apple’s very expensive phones could get even more expensive this year.

Via Tom's Guide

TOPICS

James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.

Read more
Apple iPhone 16e REVIEW
The iPhone 16e’s 5G performance seemingly has the iPhone 16’s beat
a render image of the Apple C1 modem chip
Apple’s C1 chip could be a big deal for iPhones – here’s why
Apple iPhone 16 Review
The iPhone 17 might miss out on Apple’s latest new feature – but it’s not one you’d expect
Four iPhone SE 2022 phones on a pink and blue background
New iPhone SE 4 leak suggests it won't match the iPhone 16 in one key area
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max REVIEW
The iPhone 17 could launch with a display upgrade that makes the iPhone 17 Pro seem questionable
Apple iPhone 16 Review
New iPhone 17 report lends weight to rumors of major display and camera upgrades, and a pricey Apple foldable
Latest in iPhone
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Hands on
I'm actually glad the new Siri with Apple Intelligence is delayed, and here's why we've got Apple's AI problem backwards
The iPhone 16 Pro on a grey background
iPhone 17 Pro tipped to get 8K video recording – but I want these 3 video features instead
Apple iPhone 16 Pro REVIEW
The iPhone 17 Air looks impressively slim in this new comparison image, but that just makes me more worried about the specs
iPhone 16 Pro Desert Titanium in hand
I think the rumored iPhone 17 Pro redesign looks great – but is it Apple enough?
Apple iPhone 16 Review
New iPhone 17 report lends weight to rumors of major display and camera upgrades, and a pricey Apple foldable
Apple iPhone 16 Review
The latest iPhone 18 leak hints at a major chipset upgrade for all four models
Latest in News
Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin Rennovations
Disney’s giving a classic Buzz Lightyear ride a tech overhaul – here's everything you need to know
Hisense U8 series TV on wall in living room
Hisense announces 2025 mini-LED TV lineup, with screen sizes up to 100 inches – and a surprising smart TV switch
Nintendo Music teaser art
Nintendo Music expands its library with songs from Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Tetris
Opera AI Tabs
Opera's new AI feature brings order to your browser tab chaos
An image of Pro-Ject's Flatten it closed and opened
Pro-Ject’s new vinyl flattener will fix any warped LPs you inadvertently buy on Record Store Day
The iPhone 16 Pro on a grey background
iPhone 17 Pro tipped to get 8K video recording – but I want these 3 video features instead