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Apple's iPhone 12 supports 5G connectivity,Complete Series Archives but under the hood there are actually two versions of 5G it comes with, and the faster, mmWave 5G is only available in the U.S.

This will change with the iPhone 13 which comes out later this year. According to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via MacRumors), the upcoming iPhone models will ship with mmWave 5G in more countries, likely including Canada, Japan, Australia, and European countries.

All in all, Kuo claims, shipment allocation of iPhone 13 mmWave models should increase to 55–60 percent overall.

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Outside of the U.S., Apple's iPhone 12 was only offered with the sub-6GHz variant of 5G, which is essentially a little faster than LTE. The mmWave 5G is a lot faster, with speeds ranging from 500Mbps to 1Gbps, but with shorter range, meaning cell towers must be positioned more densely to offer full coverage. Typically, you'll see mmWave 5G in tightly packed urban areas, as well as venues such as airports and stadiums.

SEE ALSO: How to change your iPhone's snooze time

The change might be visible on the outside — but just barely. Apple's mmWave 5G models have a visible antenna on the lower right side of the phone, unlike the models sold outside of the U.S.

See that slightly lighter, oval shape on the right side of the phone, below the power button? That's the mmWave 5G antenna. Credit: apple

Of course, the main benefit for mmWave 5G models will be faster upload and download speeds, but those will also depend on mmWave 5G availability where you live.

Topics Apple iPhone

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