5G compatibility is a question on every buyer’s mind right now. Specifically due to the push manufacturers have made to help make the next generation of cellular connectivity mainstream. The iPhone is arguably one of the most popular devices, and this year’s iPhone 13 Series’ improved support for 5G (first available on iPhone 12 Series) pushes it further towards widespread adoption.

But the higher cost of entry posed by Apple devices often leads to customers buying older generation phones to save some cash. Now, if you’re in a similar situation but don’t want to miss out on any features that will make your device future-proof — 5G included. Hence, this article details every iPhone model currently on sale and whether it supports 5G or not to help you make the right decision.

Note: This article lists the iPhones currently sold by Apple on its website. Discontinued models are excluded, but they may still be available with your regional carriers.

iPhones that support 5G

iPhone 13 Pro Series

The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, in yearly fashion, are the latest and greatest iPhones available. The differentiating specification on this year’s model is the new Super Retina XDR display — with a smaller notch — which supports ProMotion Technology (first introduced on iPad Pro) that allows the device’s screen to refresh between 10Hz to 120Hz based on the content displayed.

Driving these OLED panels and the other components of the 13 Pro Series is the A15 Bionic, which now houses a 5-core GPU and batteries with undisclosed capacities. But, if battery longevity is part of your decision-making criteria, Apple claims an improvement of one and half hours and two and a half hours on the 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max, respectively, over their predecessors from the 12 Pro Series.

Speaking about 5G, iPhone 13 Series supports three additional network bands compared to its predecessors. The improvement will ensure you will have a chance at better connectivity as the technology continues to roll out and support increases.

iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini

The 6.1-inch iPhone 13 with a starting price of $799 and the smaller 5.4-inch iPhone 13 Mini, available for $699, are devices akin to the S upgrades Apple has made in the past. They are a more polished version of the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini, with better battery life, a higher level of performance, improved camera sensors (similar to last year’s 12 Pro lineup), increased base storage (128GB instead of 64GB), and display panels. The improved Super Retina XDR display on these models does not feature ProMotion; Although it does have a slightly increased viewable area and a greater peak level of brightness, 800 nits to be precise.

Compared to iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini, the new phones will last longer by a total of two and half hours for iPhone 13 and one and a half hours for iPhone 13 Mini. And as mentioned earlier, the additional 5G bands will help with improving connectivity.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini

With the launch of the iPhone 13 Series, we expected Apple to discontinue the entire iPhone 12 lineup in favor of the newly upgraded models; Though instead of removing the whole line, only the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max ended up on the chopping block.
The decision has left the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini with a reduced price tag, which makes them pretty value for money devices, in case you’re looking to get an iPhone for its long-lasting software support. The iPhone 12 now starts at $699, while the 12 Mini will be available for $599 — albeit they still ship with 64GB of storage, unlike the new iPhone 13 and 13 Mini.

Looking at the specifications, the A14 Bionic within these devices will ensure your purchase is still going strong a few years down the line, and the camera system on the device will continue to take photos that will remain competitive with other devices. And focusing on 5G compatibility, the phone still supports 20 out of the 23 network bands on the iPhone 13, meaning you will not be left out.

Now, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max also support connecting to 5G networks. Unfortunately, they are unavailable to purchase from Apple’s official website. Meaning you will have to buy them refurbished or from a carrier.

iPhones that do not support 5G

iPhone 11

A two-year-old device at this point, the iPhone 11 is the perfect device to experience Apple’s hardware that isn’t always the best on paper but provides an acceptable user experience. This model features a 6.1-inch LCD panel dubbed the Liquid Retina display, driven by the A13 Bionic and supported by a 3110mAh battery.

Now, as you may know from the title of this list, this model does not support 5G connectivity, but it features most of the bells and whistles of the newer iPhone models — albeit it does them in a slightly worse manner. The phone features a dedicated Night Mode, which can brighten up almost any dimly lit situation and has a 12MP front shooter to ensure the selfies you click are not lacking detail.

For $499, the iPhone 11’s high degree of performance and camera quality makes it a reasonable purchase. Although, it is not competitive in display quality and connectivity (due to lack of 5G).

iPhone SE 2020

Old-school design, moderately new hardware, and long-lasting support, are the three pillars that make up the iPhone SE 2020. This phone looks just like iPhones from before September 2018 but packs the internals of the iPhone 11 mixed and matched with camera optics from the iPhone 8.

Now, the iPhone SE still retails for $399 and is likely to be supported for the next three years. It’s also the only iPhone in Apple’s lineup that still features the TouchID sensor.
Amongst other specs, you will find a 4.7-inch LCD powered by a 1821mAh. Processing on this phone, as mentioned earlier, is handled by the iPhone 11’s A13 Bionic.

Should you buy an iPhone with 5G?

All right, so 5G networks are slowly and steadily developing. Slow is the word to focus upon here. But with seventy-five percent (six out of eight phones) of iPhones sold by Apple being 5G compatible, the question of whether you should buy an iPhone with 5G support or not feels a little irrelevant.

According to my thoughts, the answer is, if you can afford the premium that an iPhone 12 will charge, Yes! Get an iPhone with 5G. You don’t need to have a cellular plan with compatibility, but having a phone that supports it is a plus. Also, the screen on the iPhone 12 is a massive upgrade over the one on iPhone 11 — the best iPhone to get if you’re on a budget.

Aryan Suren

A 21-year-old whose interest is peaked when someone says the word ‘Ecosystem’. When not doing any writing related to technology, you may find Aryan filming videos, doodling or diving into RPGs.

Apple has introduced a new service replacement program for iPhone 12 units with a faulty earpiece. According to Apple, the affected devices “may experience sound issues due to a component that might fail on the receiver module.” This is the first service program the Cupertino-giant has launched for the 5G iPhone.

Apple says the issue is faced by a “very small percentage” of iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro units manufactured between October 2020 and April 2021. iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max are not affected by the earpiece issue, according to the support document published by Apple. The company says the affected iPhone 12 units might be eligible for a free replacement if it “does not emit sound from the receiver when you make or receive calls.”

iPhone 12 was widely reported to be affected by the green tint issue when the first units started to roll out in the market. But the company has, since then, resolved the issues with forthcoming iOS updates.

If you think your iPhone 12 is faulty and comes under the description as specified by Apple, it may be eligible for replacement. But do note that if your iPhone 12 has “any damage which impairs the ability to complete the repair,” including a cracked screen or dented body, that issue will need to be resolved prior to the service.

Via: 9to5Mac

Sanuj Bhatia

An engineer by degree, news reporter by profession, and an avid sports lover. You’ll find me scrolling Football Twitter when I’m not writing about cutting-edge technology. Have a tip? Noted a mistake? You can reach out using the email given below.

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The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G is an expensive device that starts at $999, while the iPhone 12 starts at $799. Both smartphones feature a premium build quality, have unique features, have excellent cameras, and are powered by flagship chipsets. Today, we’ll compare the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs Apple iPhone 12.

Samsung also announced the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G at the Galaxy Unpacked event, alongside the Galaxy Watch 4 series and the Galaxy Buds 2 wireless earbuds. We’ve also written many versus guides to help you find the best devices and guides such as the best Galaxy Watch 4 chargers. In case you’re currently an Apple user thinking about giving the new Galaxy watches a try, we recommend you visit our Galaxy Watch 4 vs Apple Watch 6 article.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs Apple iPhone 12 Specifications

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs Apple iPhone 12: Design

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the iPhone 12 might not have a lot in common in terms of design, but both are comfortable to hold and are considered compact devices, especially the Z Flip 3 with its flip design. Although the iPhone 12 is smaller, the Z Flip 3 is still considered compact as it only weighs slightly more, and taller than the Apple device. In terms of thickness, the Z Flip can be 17.1 mm when folded, which is comparable to some laptops, but it takes up less space in your pocket. It can even fit in women’s jeans very easily – women’s jeans are often tighter, which makes devices such as the Galaxy S21 Ultra, or iPhone 12 Pro Max sized devices hard to fit, which is why the back pocket is often used instead.

The display is also much larger on the Z Flip 3 at 6.7 inches, and it also has an outer display that lets you use widgets to look at your notifications, messages and more, without even opening the device. The iPhone lights up the screen – if you set it up that way – when notifications arrive, so you’ll almost always have to unlock the device and pick it up to view notifications. It’s not a big issue by any means — most of us are already used to it — but the Z Flip 3 can indeed make everyday routines more streamlined and slightly easier in the long term.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs Apple iPhone 12: Performance

The Z Flip 3 and the iPhone 12 are equipped with flagship-level chipsets, so they’re both excellent for playing graphics-intensive games, using multiple applications simultaneously, and more. Both devices offer similar performance; despite the iPhone only having 4GB of RAM, iOS is known for managing apps exceptionally well with less memory, so the performance of the two devices is closer than ever.

However, one thing where the Z Flip 3 outright wins is productivity. Android offers a split-screen option that lets you divide the screen into two and use two apps at the same time. iOS still doesn’t have this built-in, so the Galaxy device will offer a much better experience if that’s something you’re looking for. The Flip design will further help make this experience more enjoyable.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs Apple iPhone 12: Camera

While we’re still waiting for the final camera results of the Galaxy Z Flip 3, we already know the camera is similar to what you see on the Galaxy S21 series. They offer flagship quality, even if the sensors themselves are from last year. The iPhone 12 on the other hand, is a true flagship device with an actual premium camera that can capture your most important moments in high quality. Both Samsung and Apple are known to be among the best manufacturers when it comes to image quality, and they’re both excellent. However, the iPhone 12 may offer slightly better performance when it gets to darker environments or night shots.

Both the Z Flip 3 and the iPhone 12 have 12MP sensors, and they both offer a normal wide and an ultrawide camera. There are some small differences between the sensors, but you’ll likely receive a similar experience. The only difference will be the image quality, as the color science and the algorithm will be different between the two devices due to the optimization techniques used by the companies.

Should you buy Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs Apple iPhone 12?

So which device should you buy? It’s kind of a tricky question, given that these devices are very different, and no, we’re not just talking about their operating systems. The iPhone 12 is one of the most compact, high-end, and affordable devices on the market today – yes, even with a price tag starting at $799. It’s cheaper, can excel at most things without a problem, and will continue to be updated for four to five more years.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is also an excellent device — it has flagship specifications, a premium and more durable design thanks to the new IPX8 rating, and it’s the cheapest modern Flip phone by Samsung to date with a starting price of $999. If you’re looking for a new experience and always liked Flip phones in the past, it’s a device worth trying out.

Roland Udvarlaki

Roland is a technology enthusiast and software engineer based in United Kingdom. He is also a content creator and writer, and is best known under the name “Techusiast”.