Apple is expected to release iPhone 12 models with support for 5G connectivity in the last quarter of 2020, but the latest reports suggested the faster variants will not hit the market until the early parts of the following year. The slight delay could be caused by the company's decision to make the hardware in-house.
There will be two 5G-flavored iPhone 12s that Apple will debut - one will connect on the sub-6GHz band and the other on mmWave. The latter boasts of faster downlink connection, up to 1GBPS+, and the iPhone maker plans of making handset models compatible with the band.
However, this iPhone 12 versions will not be ready for shipment in time for Apple's usual iPhone release cycle, which is October or November 2020. Instead, the units with mmWave 5G modems will start selling possibly in late December although the more realistic release target is January 2021, AppleInsider reported.
Citing a note issued by financial analytics firm Susquehanna, the report said Apple has decided to take charge of manufacturing the required components for the iPhone 12 with mmWave 5G chip.
The delay in the launch stems from Apple's decision to in-source the Antenna-in-Package (AiP) modules instead of purchasing from the third party," the report quoted the Susquehanna note as saying.
If true, the move is in line with the recent reports that the Cupertino-based tech giant is planning to make its own 5G modems though the earliest that this can be achieved is thought to be in 2022. Still, such an effort is supported by Apple's recent purchase of Intel's 5G-focused technology.
Apple wanting to control the key components of its product releases is not out of character as this has been the case in most of the company's flagship products, WCCFTech said in a related report.
"The company is making its own antenna-in-package module, instead of using the ones already available, possibly to exercise better control over hardware and software. Apple making its own hardware could also ensure stable and faster iPhone 12 5G speeds," said the same report.
In any case, would-be buyers of the iPhone 12 don't need to wait out for the faster 5G variant of the upcoming model. As BGR noted, while mmWave 5G is certainly faster, the sub-6GHz 5G has its upsides. The latter has a broader range and able to process fast data transfer even when separated by thick walls.
So holding out for the iPhone 12 with mmWave 5G is not exactly recommended for users looking to experience super-fast wireless connectivity. If rumors are correct, such will be made available via the iPhone 12 with sub-6GHz 5G, which Apple will be unveiling in September this year and make available in October.
In a recent note, Apple-centric analyst Ming-chi Kuo predicted Apple is deploying four 5G models of the iPhone 12 this 2020, likely evenly split on the sub-6GHz and mmWave bands.
