Many thought Apple was a little behind the curve when it came to 5G connectivity. With so many competing cell phone manufacturers announcing 5G compatible cell phones, it was only a matter of time before Apple responded with one of their own. The first iPhone with 5G is here, and we're excited to tell you about it.
The iPhone 12: The First 5G iPhone
The first iPhone with 5G is going to be the iPhone 12. This will enable it to connect to the fastest mobile networks currently available.
To accomplish this, Apple has partnered with smartphone processor developer Qualcomm. Although Apple traditionally creates its own chips for its iPhones, last year they agreed to work with Qualcomm for a hefty $4.5 billion to bring 5G to their flagship lineup.
Apple often is a little behind with some innovations, but when they do catch up, they often are the first to do it right. Although smartwatches had been around for a few years, when Apple launched the Apple Watch in April 2015, it quickly overshadowed all other smartwatches available on the market.
Wait…What's 5G?
5G is the latest cutting edge connectivity technology that provides smartphones faster Internet speeds than ever before. You can download a whole movie in a couple of seconds with a 5G connection. You can learn more about the revolutionary new technology in our article about 5G.
In a nutshell, 5G brings lightning fast internet speeds to urban areas where available. You'll need to make sure that your cell phone has a 5G modem and that you have a wireless data plan allows you to use 5G. We'll talk more about that here in a minute.
The iPhone 12: What We Know
The iPhone 12 is a game-changer thanks to 5G connectivity. Although Android phones like the Samsung Galaxy S20 have had 5G for a little while now, Apple's first 5G iPhone already rivals even the most powerful Android phones.
Apple recently announced a generation of four new iPhones, all of which are capable of accessing 5G networks. The iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max are officially the fastest and most powerful iPhones ever created, and 5G is just the beginning!
Each of these devices runs on the new A14 processor, which is the fastest chip ever put into an iPhone. In conjunction with the recently released iOS 14, Apple has completely revamped iPhone speed and functionality with their new generation.
All four members of the iPhone 12 line feature a display made of Ceramic Shield glass. With 4x the durability of any previous display material included on an iPhone, these are the strongest cell phones released by Apple to date.
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini are the more basic of the four new iPhones. They each house dual rear facing cameras, and have bodies constructed of an aluminum alloy. The more premium iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are constructed of stainless steal, and feature triple rear cameras capable of wide, ultra wide, and telephoto photography.
In terms of storage, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini come in 64, 128, and 256 GB variants. The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max also have 3 storage options: 128, 256, and 512 GB. Since all four of these phones can record video in 4K, we recommend opting for one of the larger storage models if you plan on recording a lot of HD video with your device.
Another new feature available on all of the new iPhone models is MagSafe. MagSafe is a built-in magnetic structure that's meant to make wireless charging easier to use. While primarily designed for charging efficiency, it offers an array of possibilities for magnetic accessories like cases to help with security and durability.
When Are The iPhone 12 Release Dates?
Apple decided to stagger when each of the new iPhone 12 models will be available for pre-order, as well as when they'd actually ship. Earlier this year, Apple warned that there would be a slight delay in the release of their new iPhone generation, but we now have the official calendar available to us!
If you'd like to purchase the standard iPhone 12, it became available for preorder on Friday, October 16. Preorders for this model will ship exactly one week later, on Friday, October 23. The iPhone 12 Pro's release also follows this schedule.
For anyone interested in the iPhone 12 Mini or iPhone 12 Pro Max, you'll need to wait a little longer to get your hands on either of these devices. Both of these iPhone models become available for preorder on Friday, November 6. One week later, November 13, these phones will ship and hit the shelves.
What's The Best Network To Use The iPhone 12 5G On?
Major carriers in the United States have been working hard to expand existing 5G coverage. The problem is that the fastest variety of 5G, millimeter wave 5G, is difficult to build infrastructure for because it has a very low range. Many different towers have to be built in a city in order to give most of that area a 5G connection.
However, carriers are doing what they can to provide the best 5G coverage possible for users. It's best to check with your carrier to see if 5G is available in your area. Both T-Mobile and AT&T are offering “nationwide” low-band 5G, but that can sometimes be slower than 4G LTE. Right now, each of the major wireless carriers have high-band 5G in select cities across the country.
It appears that in the coming months, the general population's 5G access might grow notably. Every major carrier plans to release low-band 5G networks in addition to mid-band and high-band 5G soon. If you want to stay up to date about who has the best coverage in your area, check out our coverage map.
What's The Best Data Plan For the iPhone 12 5G?
Since data usage with 5G phones can use an absurd amount of data in a short period of time, you will want to check out unlimited data plans from different carriers. This will help you make sure that you stay covered without being throttled or having to pay pesky overage charges.
AT&T has added 5G capability to their AT&T Unlimited Starter wireless plan, and their other unlimited plans. The Starter Plan starts at $65 a month for one line. Unlimited Starter is a great no-contract unlimited plan with a number of helpful perks.
For example, anyone covered by Unlimited Starter can enjoy free spam and fraud blocking, as well as texting to more than 120 international locations. While this is already AT&T's most affordable unlimited plan, you can save even more by signing up for AutoPay!
Some of Verizon's Unlimited plans also now have 5G. The most basic plan with 5G access is Play More Unlimited. Notably, their Start Unlimited plan does not, so watch out! Their more premium data plans, Do More and Get More Unlimited, also have 5G access.
If you sign up for Play More Unlimited, you can access 15 GB of high speed mobile hotspot at no additional charge. For the first six months of your subscription to this plan, you can also access Apple Music completely free. If you're interested in international features, this plan also comes with unlimited calling and texting to Mexico and Canada.
Unfortunately, Verizon's Do More Unlimited plan requires an additional $10 per month to access its 5G data networks. If you're willing to make this investment, you can enjoy 50 GB of high speed data and 500 GB of Verizon Cloud storage at no additional cost. Do More Unlimited includes all of the same international features as Play More, plus free texting to 200 more countries!
Get More Unlimited is one of Verizon's most premium unlimited data plans. With access to Verizon's rewards program, plus virtually every perk included in their more basic unlimited options, this is a great way to experience Verizon's coverage to the maximum capacity.
T-Mobile's Magenta plan offers 5G access as well for your iPhone 12. This plan includes many great perks, such as a free Netflix subscription and access to T-Mobile's reliable customer service line.
How Much Will The iPhone 12 5G Cost?
It's really going to depend on which model you're looking at. For each of the four iPhone 12 models, Apple has released 3 versions with different storage capacities. Check out the table below to see which model is best for your budget!
| Variant | Price |
|---|---|
| iPhone 12 Mini (64 GB) | $699 |
| iPhone 12 Mini (128 GB) | $749 |
| iPhone 12 Mini (256 GB) | $849 |
| iPhone 12 (64 GB) | $799 |
| iPhone 12 (128 GB) | $849 |
| iPhone 12 (256 GB) | $949 |
| iPhone 12 Pro (128 GB) | $999 |
| iPhone 12 Pro (256 GB) | $1099 |
| iPhone 12 Pro (512 GB) | $1299 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max (128 GB) | $1099 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max (256 GB) | $1199 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max (512 GB) | $1399 |
Get Ready For The iPhone 12 5G!
If you're holding out for the iPhone 12 5G, you only have to wait a few more months until it eventually is launched. Even though it might be delayed, the device should launch by the end of the year unless there are other unforeseen circumstances.
Thank you for reading this article! Let us know in the comments what you think about the iPhone 12 5G. Will you get one?
