Actually, Apple is fairly late. Major competitors such as Samsung, Huawei, OnePlus and Motorola are continuing to move into the fifth generation of mobile communications. Their flagship devices have been broadcasting 5G networks for months.

However: Apple customers haven’t missed a lot so far. Because the 5G networks of the mobile phone providers in Germany were still very full of holes. The expansion of the networks has only made noticeable progress since this summer. Against this background, Apple has now caught a good time to make its four new iPhone – 12 – models fit for 5G data transmission. This strategy is not new: Even with UMTS, Apple took its time for a year, the first iPhone only radioed at EDGE speed.

Don’t expect too much Users of the new iPhones – and all other 5G smartphones – shouldn’t expect too much at the beginning. At the presentation from Apple Park in Cupertino, CEO Tim Cook promised download speeds of up to 3.5 gigabits per second “under perfect conditions”. Even in the USA, however, this will only be available on a few street corners.

In Germany, under good framework conditions, maximum speeds of one gigabit per second will be achievable, expect experts. In the area this value will halve again. But that’s still blazingly fast – faster than any DSL landline connection.

iPhone puts 5G in the spotlight With the iPhone, the performance of the 5G networks will be in the public eye even more than before. Already with LTE, the iPhone had helped the new wireless technology to break through. The providers can do new business, but will also have to respond to complaints if the 5G network falls short of expectations.

There you seem to be prepared for the new iPhone – after all there was time between the first activation of the 5G networks and its launch. You can initially only get 5G directly from the big providers – and here the network operators Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and O2 – later also 1 & 1 Drillisch – hope to be particularly lucrative