5G will finally get its U.S. spotlight with the expected debut of Apple’s next-generation iPhones on Tuesday. However, the faster speeds 5G of which is capable will not materialize for most people right away.
The device, dubbed the iPhone 12 by analysts, can tap into 5G, or fifth generation wireless technology, that theoretically operates as much as 10 to 20 times faster than current 4G wireless networks.
Current 5G U.S. networks mostly use low-band wireless spectrum, or airspace, that is slower than high-band spectrum, but more reliable over longer distances. It will likely take years before the massive speed boost phone carriers promise will make augmented reality and real-time cloud gaming seamless.
Several U.S. telecom operators have deployed networks based on lower spectrum bands, with slightly higher speeds than 4G. A noticeably faster variant of “mid-band” 5G is also being rolled out, but it is unlikely to reach three-quarters of Americans until 2025, estimated longtime Apple analyst Gene Munster of venture capitalist firm Loup Ventures.
The fastest speeds touted by carriers are a type of 5G called millimeter Wave, or mmWave, that work over shorter distances. Verizon Communications Inc has the largest current mmWave network, available only in limited areas.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple will have to keep people’s expectations in the proper range, but even slower 5G (30-250 megabits per second) has the advantages of being more robust in capacity and lower in latency. Mid-band 5G allows for speeds of 100-900 Mbit/s, with each cell tower providing service up to several miles in radius. This level of service is the most widely deployed. mmWave can deliver over a gigabit per second, but have a short range and are therefore most likely to be used in places like sports stadiums, convention centers, and hotels.
Although iPhone 11 was first to have it, those of us who skipped upgrading last year are looking forward to 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 in the iPhone 12 models.
What I have heard about 5G sounds a lot like it is just re-branded WiFi. It’s faster than 4G, but only if you are very close to the tower, and so they need far more towers closer together to get that speed.
I had assumed that the safety issues were just hysteria, but I was surprised that Scientific American is criticising the lack of testing. Most pro-5G articles are actually Ad-hominem attacks. Is the media just focusing on the least articulate people they can find, in order to delegitimize legitimate concerns?
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/we-have-no-reason-to-believe-5g-is-safe/
I think yes and yes to your two paragraphs.
Funny how its only with an iPhone launch that these qualifications are widely spoken of in the media… with unsurprisingly Reuters at the forefront I notice.
Apple follows and finally gets 5G out to the market. Apple will also try and persuade its fanboy base that they were the first to bring out 5G handsets and they will also say they invented 5G along with radio waves etc. Next year Apple may try to be innovative and who knows…my money will be on the much rumoured iToaster. Not only will iToaster be able to toast but it will also update you on Apple Inc share price and has two small speakers to play back your favourite songs and not forgetting a touchscreen to control the toaster.