Which iPhones Have 5G?

For some time, cell phone carriers have been touting 5G—a wireless connection standard that allows for faster internet—but you may be wondering which Apple iPhones support it. Is your iPhone capable of receiving the fastest wireless data speeds? Here’s a list of them.

What Exactly Is 5G?

5G is an industry catch-all term for a set of 5th-generation wireless technologies that theoretically enable mobile devices to operate at much faster data transfer speeds on cellular phone networks than the previous 4G LTE standard. The tech press has been suspicious of 5G at times, owing to an uneven rollout and lofty promises that have not always been fulfilled.

Still, if your local cell towers support 5G, an iPhone with 5G can potentially download data from the internet at much higher rates. Of course, there are exceptions and caveats, such as how close you are to a 5G-enabled cell tower and how many obstacles stand between your iPhone and the tower—for example, metal roofs, thick walls, or hills.

Which iPhone models are 5G capable?
Nine iPhone models support true 5G cellular connections:

iPhone 12*
iPhone 12 mini*
iPhone 12 Pro*
iPhone 12 Pro Max*
iPhone 13*
iPhone 13 mini*
iPhone 13 Pro*
iPhone 13 Pro Max*
iPhone SE (3rd Generation, 2022)

* Currently, only the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 families in the United States support millimeter wave (“mmWave”) 5G technology, which allows for the fastest wireless data speeds. Also, see the note below.

The iPhone SE (3rd Generation) has no support for millimeter-wave 5G. As we noted in our SE review, it’s not a significant loss because mmWave speed isn’t realistic in many real-world scenarios. It only works if you’re very close to a 5G cell tower with few objects in the way of the signal.

What About the “5GE” on Older iPhones?
If you have an older iPhone model (such as the iPhone XS or iPhone 11) that is connected to the AT&T mobile network, you may notice a “5GE” in the upper right corner of your screen. Previously, “LTE” would have appeared in the same location.

Regrettably, just to see “5GE” on your iPhone does not imply that your older iPhone is capable of receiving 5G speeds. AT&T is attempting to rebrand existing 4G LTE technology in order to avoid the appearance that its mobile data services are falling behind competitors. Because the iPhone 11 and earlier phones lack the hardware required to connect to true 5G networks, there is no way to upgrade to 5G via software updates in the future. To take advantage of 5G speeds, you must purchase an iPhone 12 or later.

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