Just one of the new iPhones Apple is set to announce will support the faster millimeter-wave flavor of 5G wireless service a source has revealed.
All the phones in the new iPhone 12 line will support the slower but more common Sub-6 type of 5G service, but only the largest, highest-end phone in the line, a 6.5-inch screen device likely called the iPhone Pro Max, will also support millimeter-wave spectrum.
What is Millimeter-wave 5G?
If Sub-6 5G is a Prius, millimeter-wave is a Mercedes S-Class. (PS. I know nothing about cars).
Millimeter-wave 5G travels over high-frequency radio spectrum, between 24 GHz and 39 GHz, and delivers download speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) and sometimes beyond.
On the other hand, the signal has trouble penetrating objects such as buildings and is more expensive for carriers to deploy than a lower-frequency service
Sub-6 uses a lower frequency spectrum below 6 GHz and produces speeds that are much more like a good 4G connection.
ALSO READ: Latest iPhone 12 Leaks Show Upgraded OLED displays
According to a number of leaks and reports, Apple will soon announce two high-end iPhones, including the Pro Max and a 6.1-inch iPhone Pro. The company is also expected to announce a pair of lower-price models, the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 and the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Max.
Apple may launch a new low-priced 4G iPhone in the iPhone 12 line next spring, a sequel to the iPhone SE.
