Oliver Haslam on December 4, 2018, 2:20 am

Report: iPhone With 5G Support Not Coming Until At Least 2020

Apple already has something of a reputation for not jumping onto the bandwagon when a new technology arrives, preferring to let the market make sure everything is as it should be before joining in.

It did the same with 3G, and then the move to 4G, and now it sounds like it might be getting ready to do the same with 5G, with Bloomberg reporting that the iPhone will not get 5G support until at least 2020.

Bloomberg’s report cites the infamous people who are apparently familiar with the matter, with the claim being that Apple isn’t going to follow the lead of some of its competitors by launching a 5G handset as soon as early next year. Instead, it would appear that 2019’s iPhone will remain a 4G device, with the 2020 iPhone potentially seeing Apple jump onto the 5G bandwagon.

Speeds of devices that support 5G are dramatically faster than 4G, although it’s doubtful that the average user with a good 4G connection struggles for speed at this point.

We’d imagine that will prevent most people from jumping ship to a competing Android product just to get 5G capabilities, but we’d also imagine it will be something that the makers of those Android products will laud over Apple during 2019.

Ultimately, when Apple’s iPhone gains 5G support will likely depend on when Intel can get a 5G modem ready. Apple’s relationship with Qualcomm is dire right now, and with Intel currently unable to get a 5G modem to market it may simply be a case that Apple can’t jump to 5G until that happens.

Whether we’re too bothered about 5G potentially being another year away, we’re not really sure.

(Source: Bloomberg)