Buying iPhone 12? Here are 6 things to know about 5G - Tom's Guide

It's the first time the company has released a 5G phone — and it's releasing four of them, since every iPhone 12 model offers 5G connectivity.

With one of the most popular smartphones in the world now able to connect to 5G and every major US carrier offering nationwide coverage, this feels like the moment 5G will have arrived for most people, delivering the future of mobile connectivity.

Here's what to expect the first time you see that "5G" label appear next to the cellular bars on your iPhone 12 screen.

Peak 5G speeds on Verizon's network topped 4 Gbps under ideal conditions, while upload speeds can get as fast as 200 Mbps.

Another technology, millimeter Wave (mmWave) provides the faster speeds Verizon's Vestberg was touting, but those signals don't reach as far, and they have trouble penetrating physical obstructions like walls and windows.

To benefit from mmWave's faster performance, you have to be in sight of a mmWave node, which means you're either outside or in a building like an arena or airport where a 5G tower's been installed.

As of the iPhone 12's debut, Verizon has installed mmWave towers in 51 cities.

Verizon's percentage figures to improve now that it's launched nationwide 5G coverage timed to the iPhone 12's debut, but that coverage won't reach the speeds of mmWave.

The iPhone 12 launches at a time when T-Mobile 5G is in transition, as it works to incorporate the 5G spectrum it acquired when it merged with Sprint earlier this year.

But before you give T-Mobile a hard pass on providing the wireless coverage for your iPhone 12, realize that the carrier is now integrating Sprint's midband spectrum into its network.

In some cities, like New York and Philadelphia, T-Mobile has even incorporated layers of 5G coverage, from sub-6Ghz all the way to mmWave, which should also improve 5G performance on your iPhone.

That device is so compact — it's actually smaller than iPhone SE — we can't imagine there's a lot of room for a power pack in there.

The iPhone 12 lasted 8 hours and 25 minutes while the iPhone 12 Pro held out for 9:06.

Switching 5G off and retesting, each phone lasted nearly 2 hours longer — the iPhone 12 turned in a time of 10:23 over LTE while the iPhone 12 Pro lasted an impressive 11:24.

Each iPhone 12 model supports a Smart Data Mode where your phone can sense whether 5G's faster speeds are needed or not.

I imagine, as 5G becomes more widespread and performance improves, that app makers will find new ways to exploit those faster speeds and lower latency.

That includes the midband frequencies carriers are using to expand the reach and performance of their networks, so even as 5G evolves, the iPhone 12 shouldn't be left behind

There are lots of things to like about the iPhone 12, based on our time with both that model and the iPhone 12 Pro

Having 5G connectivity is nice, too, though at this point, it feels more like a bonus than an essential reason to pick up a new iPhone