C-band 5G is here, and it’s available on every 5G iPhone and iPad. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Both AT&T and Verizon began rolling out a new 5G version on Wednesday. And getting access via C-band doesn’t require getting a new iPhone. If your iOS device supports 5G, it can use the new version.
The same goes for iPad. If it has built-in 5G, it supports C-band.
New renders of an “iPhone SE 3” show off a gorgeous design upgrade with an edge-to-edge display and no Home button. The device looks a lot like iPhone XR, but with the same dimensions as the current iPhone SE.
These images are said to be based on leaked CAD drawings, but before you get too excited, they’re probably not accurate. At least not for iPhone SE 3.
iPhone SE could go without a significant design upgrade until 2024, according to one tipster. This year’s refresh is expected to add 5G connectivity and beefier internals, but it probably won’t look any different to the last iPhone SE.
When Apple does finally get around to giving its most affordable smartphone a lick of paint, it is expected to look a lot like iPhone XR or iPhone 11, but with “a slightly smaller screen.”
AT&T and Verizon have agreed to postpone major 5G expansion plans at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Both carriers initially rejected a delay. They argued that it would be “an irresponsible abdication of the operating control required to deploy world-class and globally competitive communications networks.” But statements released Monday evening confirm they changed their minds.
Apple continues to beat Samsung in 5G handset sales. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
iPhone is the biggest, most profitable 5G smartphone in the world, according to the latest data from one research firm. As 5G adoption skyrockets, Apple continues to hold a lead over Samsung, Oppo, Vivo, and other vendors.
That’s despite an increase in demand for foldable devices and more affordable 5G handsets from brands like Honor.
iPhone component suppliers are preparing for the launch of a next-generation iPhone SE in early 2022, according to a new report. Industry sources also claim that there have been no cutbacks in orders for the latest iPhone models.
The new iPhone SE is not expected to deliver a big redesign. However, recent reports have suggested it will feature a faster chip and 5G connectivity.
Qualcomm is slowly but surely getting the boot. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Apple’s primary chip production partner, will start manufacturing custom 5G modem chips for iPhone in 2023, according to a new report, which cites four different sources familiar with the plan.
TSMC reportedly will build the chips using a 4-nanometer manufacturing process. The proprietary modems would allow Apple to reduce its reliability on rival chipmaker Qualcomm.
Qualcomm will eventually get the boot. Photo: Apple
Apple is expected to start shipping its own 5G modems for iPhone in 2023. The chips will reduce the company’s reliance on Qualcomm — which is currently a major supplier of cellular chips for Apple devices.
Sources say the modems won’t be integrated into Apple’s primary A-series chipsets for iPhone, but will instead be separate components.
We might be waiting until 2024 for an iPhone SE with an edge-to-edge display and hole-punch camera. Artists concept: Cult of Mac
The first iPhone SE with an edge-to-edge display won’t launch until 2024, according to a new report. And the third-generation model in the budget line, expected in 2022, supposedly will come with an unexpected name.
iPhone also made up 40% of all shipments. Photo: Apple
iPhone is responsible for a whopping three quarters of all profits earned in the global smartphone market, according to a new report. That’s despite Apple seeing fewer sales than Samsung and Xiaomi.
Cupertino’s handset business actually accounted for just 13% of all smartphone shipments during the second quarter of 2021. But thanks to the large profit margins it enjoys on almost all of its products, it is by far the biggest earner.
All iPhone models could have 5G capabilities in 2022. Photo: Apple
Apple will bring super-speedy 5G connectivity and its latest A15 Bionic chip to iPhone SE in 2022, but fans shouldn’t expect a new design, one report claims.
The new “budget” device is expected to carry the same look it borrows from iPhone 8, with the same 4.7-inch LCD display and a Home button with Touch ID. But it will mean every iPhone in Apple’s lineup features 5G capabilities.
If your iPhone 13 won‘t connect to Verizon 5G, you’re not alone. But there’s a fix. Graphic: Cult of Mac
Verizon customers with a new iPhone 13 model might notice something missing: 5G. The faster cellular networking is a signature feature of the handset, and one nobody wants to live without. Fortunately, the answer is fairly simple. But it’s not something you’ll be able to fix all on your own.
Apple’s new 2021 iPad mini is available with 5G cellular connectivity — just like the newest iPad Pro. But unlike its larger siblings, the sleek and slender iPad mini misses out on faster mmWave technology in the U.S.
Making the 5G rollout as easy as possible. Photo: Mike Carney CC
The U.K. could get a major 5G coverage boost from bus shelters, street lamps, CCTV poles, and traffic signals. The government is exploring novel ways to integrate 5G radio equipment in existing street furniture in an effort to “make it simpler and quicker for mobile companies” to expand the reach of 5G.
T-Mobile leapt ahead of its competition in 5G. Photo: T-Mobile
T-Mobile is the carrier to go to for the fastest 5G speeds. A cross-country study of cellular data by PCMag found that AT&T and Verizon couldn’t match their rival’s average download speed. Not even close.
Lots of people bought an iPhone 12 for the 5G. And T-Mobile the carrier that lets users get the most benefit from it.
Apple wants developers to take advantage of speedy 5G connectivity. Photo: Apple
Apple is offering developers a new tool that allows them to test automatic 5G switching in their apps. iOS 15, which makes its public debut this fall, will prioritize 5G over Wi-Fi connectivity when available on compatible devices.
Apple's ditching the "mini" iPhone lineup. Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple is looking to phase out the iPhone mini line in favor of its next-gen iPhone SE, a Wednesday report by Nikkei Asia suggests.
Apple debuted its first iPhone mini with last year’s iPhone 12 generation. However, sales have never materialized to match its bigger siblings like the regular iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. While Apple will release an iPhone 13 mini this year, expect that to be its last.
In its place? More emphasis on Apple’s other low-cost handset: The iPhone SE.
Even faster connectivity for some iPhone owners could be on the way. Photo: Apple
Apple is adding new 5G component suppliers to bring faster mmWave connectivity to more countries with iPhone 13, according to a new report. The technology is currently available only in the United States.
Sources say Cupertino is now working with five antenna-in-package (AiP) manufacturers after adding AT&S to its roster.
The third-gen iPhone SE could be Apple most affordable 5G handset. Photo: Apple
An iPhone SE updated with 5G is less than a year away, according to a trusted Apple analyst. Because of its lower price, the model could put high-speed cellular wireless connectivity in the hands of far more people.
Apple is encouraging iPhone and iPad app developers to up their 5G game and embrace super-speedy connectivity.
In a new guide titled “Optimize your app for 5G,” Apple says “5G networking can provide even more opportunities to take advantage of high-bandwidth and low-latency connections in your app.”
It also outlines the benefits the technology can bring to things like games, streaming, machine learning, and augmented reality.
Giving you the best possible download and upload speeds. Photo: Apple
If you’re lucky enough to get strong and speedy 5G coverage where you live, you’ll be pleased that it gets prioritized over Wi-Fi in iOS and iPadOS 15 when your usual network is slow.
The new feature expands your 5G capabilities on iPhone 12 and M1 iPad Pro and could make certain tasks — like downloading high-resolution movies and music or uploading data to iCloud — significantly faster.
5G has been a killer feature in Japan. Photo: Apple
The iPhone 12 series has led a massive boom in smartphone shipments, particularly 5G models, in Japan.
According to a new report, Japan was the recipient of a 17% boost in smartphone shipments over the past 12 months. There was also a massive 40-fold increase in 5G handset shipments. Of the 5G smartphones, the iPhone 12 series made up almost half.
An Apple 5G modem is allegedly in development, and could be in iPhones in a few years. Artists concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple’s transition from using Qualcomm modems to its own 5G designs could roll out as soon as the next couple of years, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests, in a research note seen by Cult of Mac.