The idea of a 5G iPhone excites many users who can’t wait to enjoy the fastest network speeds possible. Others worry that 5G technology isn’t quite ready for prime time. The one thing that’s for sure is that the topic of a 5G iPhone is one of the most discussed prospects in the tech world.
What does 5G actually mean, though? How will it improve your life, and will it make iPhones more expensive? Most importantly of all, will an iPhone actually support 5G technology sometime in the near future?
To help answer those questions, we’ve assembled this brief guide that should help answer most of your questions about 5G technology and your iPhone.
What is 5G?
5G is the fifth generation of standardized wireless network technology.
5G uses Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) as the basis of this exciting technological revolution. OFDM allows 5G connections to better moderate and regulate digital signals across multiple channels. That means that it drastically reduces instances of signal interference.
While 5G technology has technically been available for a few years, it’s only been refined over the last few years. Apple and other companies have previously held off on adopting the technology, but recent innovations have made it much more desirable.
How Much Faster is 5G?
In terms of speed, 5G is significantly faster than 4G alternatives.
It’s currently believed that even early 5G iPhone technology may be 100 times faster than existing 4G technology. However, some believe that it could grow to be 1000 times faster than peak 4G connections. While there is some variation in those estimates (and they’re based on many variables), the consensus is that 5G will be a massive improvement.
Early 5G estimates suggest that it will be the first standardized gigabit download speed network connection. As exciting as that is, it’s not the real reason everyone is so excited about 5G. That honor is reserved for 5G’s much-improved upload times and reduced latency.
Initial analytics suggest that 5G will strive for 50 MBPS upload speeds at a minimum. That’s a significant improvement which opens up new mobile network possibilities. On top of that, it’s believed that 5G will reduce latency to anywhere from 1 MS to 10 MS. That’s incredible news for everyone from mobile gamers to technicians.
Simply put, 5G brings wireless networks closer to the standards offered by wired fiber connections. What was once thought to be impossible may soon become the new normal.
How to Enable 5G on Your iPhone
Simply put, there is no currently available 5G iPhone option.
Why? Well, as we noted, Apple and other companies haven’t yet made the 5G leap. Apple has indicated in the past that they don’t believe that existing 5G technology is in a place where it’s able to keep up with their expectations.
The lack of a 5G iPhone option has proven to be a source of controversy. Some defend Apple for not jumping on the 5G bandwagon. After all, 5G isn’t standardized yet, and there are still many people who don’t have access to it. There are also some who think that early adoption of 5G may have driven up iPhone costs.
On the other hand, most other major phone companies do offer 5G options. With more and more major cities across the world offering 5G support, iPhone users can sometimes feel like they’ve been left in the cold. Indeed, the lack of a 5G iPhone is one of Apple’s biggest current shortcomings from a market perspective.
Even if you believe that’s the case, just be warned again that there is no official way to enable 5G on your iPhone. As such, you should ignore any peripherals or jailbreaks that suggest you could utilize the 5G on iPhone.
Will iPhone 12 Have 5G?
This is really the big question at the moment for iPhone fans across the world.
As we covered in our look at the top iPhone 12 rumors, the quickest answer to this question is “probably.” Evolutions in 5G technology have made 5G much more reliable than it used to be. On top of that, there are more and more locations across the globe that are enabling 5G options.
The point is that 2020 is most certainly the time for Apple to start offering 5G iPhone options.
However, we have to emphasize the word “options.” It’s highly unlikely that every new iPhone will ship with 5G support. 4G is still considered to be the standard for millions of people across the world. While 5G is an appealing premium option, we have a feeling that Apple won’t make it available to everyone quite yet.
How Can I Make My iPhone Network Connection Faster?
While there may not be an official way to set-up a 5G iPhone, there are many ways to improve your existing iPhone connection. Here are just a few of our favorite techniques.
Connect to a WiFi Network
If your iPhone’s network speed just isn’t up to par, then your best bet is to connect to a reliable WiFi source. For the moment, most WiFi sources will almost always be faster than network connections. As we noted above, though, 5G may challenge that perception.
Clear Your Cookies/Cache/Browsing Data
It may sound simple, but clearing up your digital backlog is a great way to improve your overall iPhone network speed. If you don’t regularly clear this information, then you’ll consistently encounter slower download and browsing speeds.
Disable Auto Downloads
Disabling auto-downloads is one of the quickest ways to drastically improve your iPhone network speed. That being said, be sure that you stay on top of all iOS updates as failing to update your software can also negatively impact your network speed.
Make Sure You Maintain a 4G Connection
5G iPhone connections may not be an option, but 4G certainly is. Make sure to check your settings to ensure that you’re always connected to 4G whenever it is available and that your iPhone isn’t defaulting to 3G connections.
Change Your Web Browser
Some web browsers (like Google Chrome) can use a lot of resources that will slow your phone down. By using a web browser such as Opera, you can drastically improve your iPhone network speed. Just know that some of these alternate browsers may offer few overall features.
Always Use a Mobile Site Option
Many websites offer desktop and mobile view options. You can typically swap between the two via your browser’s interface. With few exceptions, you’re better off choosing the mobile browsing option. They’re typically much better optimized for ideal (and fast) mobile browsing experiences.
Leave a Reply