Tim Cook introduced Apple's new 5G iPhone models at an event last week
Credit: Reuters
What is 5G?
In essence, 5G is new mobile radio wavelengths that have been added to current mobile networks.
This new spectrum increases the overall capacity of the network with upgrades to current base stations, in most cases simply bolting on new network gear to current 4G infrastructure, as well as entirely new antennas being built on streets and buildings.
With more capacity, comes more speed. In some cases, new 5G base stations will also tap into extremely shortwave signal lengths — known as “millimeter wave” or “ultra-wideband”. These high frequency waves can cut the time needed for signals to travel to and from a smartphone.
5G reality vs hype
Key network partners in the US for Apple include companies like Verizon. Verizon has aggressively marketed its own 5G network with this ultra-wideband technology.
In some places in the US you can get download speeds of between 1 gigabit and 2 gigabits per second. But phone users have had to hunt around to find them, and these super fast speeds may be confined to a single street, or even a street corner.
As James Titcomb, our Silicon Valley chief, wrote in his review: “The fastest “ultra wideband” speeds are confined to a handful of streets. After a little hunting around I managed to find a blistering 600 megabit connection.”
Our review found speeds in excess of 500mbps, but not 4 gigabits
Credit: James Titcomb/Telegraph
Apple’s new iPhones are all able to tap into this fastest band of 5G. But while super fast speeds are achievable, even the US they are in extremely limited locations. In the UK, our networks have not even begun to build these millimeter wave networks.
Britain’s networks are build on a spectrum known as “sub six”. While the extra capacity will mean most people can enjoy much faster download speeds, it will not be the speeds promised.
These millimeter waves may sound like a no-brainer, but they have extremely short range, in some cases less than 10 metres. This is why some reviewers testing iPhones in the US have only found these super fast waves on random street corners and not all across town.
CCS’s Wood adds that “not all 5G networks are created equal” — for several reasons.
First, coverage varies between networks. Right now in the UK, EE has the most coverage in London and other major cities. Vodafone is a close second, but others have more patchy coverage. Overall, 5G is in around 200 towns and cities, but in very few rural locations.
Plus, UK networks are still building something known as “non-standalone” 5G — this is essentially a bolt on to older 4G networks, so you are only getting that extra speed at the very edge of the network.
According to Wood, despite these variations, if you are able to get a 5G signal in the UK on your iPhone 12, you should still experience much faster speeds than on regular 4G.
“If you are getting 100mbps plus that is still a game changer. It is faster than most people’s broadband,” he says.
Explained: Apple’s new iPhone 12 range
Battery life and 5G
One area that 5G may be worth factoring in to your phone purchase is its impact on battery life. According to some reviews, leaving the new iPhone 12 or 12 Pro running while having 5G permanently enabled can cause an added drain on its battery life.
In a test by reviewers Tom’s Guide, the iPhone 12 last eight hours and 25 minutes when using 5G, while the iPhone 12 Pro lasted just over nine hours. But when they were locked to using 4G signals, the 12 lasted 10 hours 23 minutes and the 12 Pro lasted 11 hours 24 minutes.
This suggests that under some conditions, you might get 20pc more battery by sticking your phone on 4G.
It therefore may explain why Apple decided to include a “Smart Data” mode on the new iPhones. This keeps your phone in 4G mode, but only switches into 5G mode for data intensive tasks.
Apple has said smart data mod "extends battery life by intelligently assessing 5G needs".
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