The iPhone 12 could embed a more complete 5G connectivity on the whole range than what the iPhone 13 would offer. A preliminary report taken up by the DigiTimes blog indeed confirms that the 5G of the iPhone 12 will include connectivity to the Sub-6 bands GHz and mmWave bands. As you know, 5G offers – to put it simply – two types of connectivity. The first uses frequencies below 6 GHz – and allows relays to be installed very far apart, as these frequencies cover a large area and penetrate well into buildings.
iPhone 13s could adapt to countries that have yet to roll out 5G to 100%
The problem with 6-GHz waves is that they don’t allow speeds as good as through mmWave. The mmWave (or millimeter waves) is indeed based, on the contrary, on very high frequencies (between 30 and 300 GHz) . The technology is the only one that really achieves the theoretical maximum speeds as well as the very low ping promised by 5G. However, these frequencies do not penetrate well through walls, which implies that mmWave networks will be more suitable for urban and dense areas.
The mmWave indeed requires the installation of many low-power relays, close to each other as well as the devices that connect to them. Around the world, the first 5G that consumers will be able to connect to is with few exceptions 5G Sub-6GHz – 5G mmWave is expected to come second. However, Apple has taken, according to Digitimes, the decision to offer the two 5G technologies on the entire iPhone 12 range which is to be launched in a few weeks: “The iPhone of 2020 will work on both 5G sub-6GHz networks and millimeter, ” the blog explains.
Before adding: “The seller is considering offering iPhones that support either mmWave or sub-6GHz for certain markets next year, according to industry sources in Taiwan.” Apple could thus adapt and offer models that are probably a little cheaper in countries where the two technologies are not available. It could also be that one or more of the cheaper models in the range lose compatibility with one of these technologies (presumably mmWave) to lower the prices.