Apple has unveiled its latest iPhones, and as industry watchers expected, they are the first iPhones to have 5G network connectivity. The cheapest iPhone 12 is the 5,4-inch iPhone mini, which has a starting price of $ 699.
The 6,1-inch version has a starting price of $ 799. Both phones have dual cameras. The company also announced two high-end “pro” models, the iPhone 12 Pro, which starts at $ 999 and the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which has a starting price of $ 1099.
The allure of a high-speed 5G connection might be tempting, but it's not the only thing to consider before buying your new iPhone or any other smartphone that can connect to the network.
“It really depends on your patience, your perspective and your desire to have the latest,” said Bob O'Donnell, president and chief analyst of TECHnalysis Research, a consulting and market research firm.
What does the 5G network offer?
Faster speeds and a more responsive network, experts say. But it also depends on factors such as where you are connecting from and the mobile network operator. This is because the 5G network is made up of three different bands: the low, middle and high bands, according to Dan Hays, Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Corporate Strategy Leader at PwC, a consulting and auditing firm.
The higher band can provide service 50 times faster than the current 4G network, O'Donnell said, but geographic coverage is currently very limited. The mid-band spectrum is between 10 and 15 times faster, while the low band is up to twice as fast, O'Donnell said. In a year, “the exact same phone will have better service because the networks will have improved in the meantime.
What does faster 5G speeds mean?
During the event, Apple announced better gaming experiences, stating that 5G connectivity would allow users to play games like "League of Legends". And these are just the technological developments that experts can predict.
"There will be things we can't even think about," O'Donnell said. But is it worth spending that much on a 5G-enabled device now? The new Apple iPhones (Apple shares at NASDAQ: AAPL) enabled for 5G are not the first phones to operate on the 5G network. Samsung, Google and LG are some of the companies that already offer 5G-enabled smartphones. Samsung's line of 5G-enabled smartphones starts with a Galaxy A51 5G, which has a starting price of $ 399,99.
The Google Pixel 4a with 5G is priced at $ 499. The LG Velvet for T-Mobile customers costs $ 588. "We expect 5G to become a standard feature in most new smartphones in the next year or two," said Hays. Apple shares have risen 63% year to date. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) rose 0,45% and the S&P 500 (SPX) rose 8,86% over the same period.
