Kuo: All 5G iPhones on Track to Launch in Fall 2020, Including Both Sub-6GHz and mmWave Models

Last month, reputable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expected four 5G-enabled iPhones to launch in the second half of 2020, including models with both sub-6GHz and mmWave support depending on the region.

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Kuo said iPhone models with mmWave would be available in five markets, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea, and the United Kingdom, adding that Apple may disable 5G functionality in countries that do not offer 5G service or have a shallow 5G penetration rate to reduce production costs.

Kuo has now doubled down on his prediction. In a follow-up research note today, viewed by MacRumors, he said Apple is still on track to release both sub-6GHz and sub-6GHz-plus-mmWave iPhone models simultaneously in the second half of 2020, with shipments beginning in the late third quarter or early fourth quarter.

Last week, analyst Mehdi Hosseini had disagreed with Kuo's timeframe, claiming that sub-6GHz models would launch in September 2020 and mmWave models would follow in December 2020 or January 2021.

Kuo says development of 5G iPhones with both sub-6GHz and mmWave support is progressing as scheduled, however, and he has the more reputable track record as it relates to forecasting Apple's roadmap. So, as of now, it looks like the entire 5G iPhone lineup will be announced in September as usual.

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Top Rated Comments

Agent OrangeZ Avatar
76 months ago
Oh my gawd man! why do people insist that they want USB-C on the iPhone? Lightning is a better, more durable connector!
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Dee Avatar
76 months ago
My X seems to do just fine and connect to WiFi most of the time, so this is not gonna make much a difference. Besides, how much faster can you post a reply on Macrumors?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Red Oak Avatar
76 months ago
5G is over-hyped. It will take years still before there is widespread coverage with material speed increases. You literally need to be within 100 yards line of site of a tower to see the advertised speeds. Anything in the way of that (eg a tree, a wall, in your car, etc...) will dramatically slow it down

The T-Mobile rollout is especially a joke
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
827538 Avatar
76 months ago
“Apple may disable sub-6GHz functionality in countries that do not offer 5G service or have a shallow 5G penetration rate to reduce production costs.”

Shouldn't this be disable mm-wave 5G? Standard sub 6GHz 5G is the pretty run of the mill updates to LTE using normal antennas. It’s the high frequency mm-wave that’s the difficult and expensive part (and also pretty useless).


If they have USB-C, fix the atrocious Mail app, and at least reduce the notch, I might, MIGHT be tempted back.

Then again, it also depends on what Samsung does between now and then as well.

Given that I'm not invested in wearables or an ecosystem (too much, I have 3 Macs and LOVE macOS), Sammy gives me the best single-device-in-my-pocket experience. I can't stand to use my wife's iPhone (although I've been getting trained up...quite unintuitive OS it has become).
What’s wrong with the Mail app? I use it for 5 different accounts without issue.

I tried out a friends Samsung Galaxy recently and it felt like the most kludged together scattergun approach. I love the slick, vertically integrated approach of iPhone’s so I am of the opposite opinion. Everything from airdrop, to hand off and integrated personal hotspot with my Mac just works.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GoodWheaties Avatar
76 months ago

Based on what?

USB-C not only has better transfer speeds.... it’s more efficient at charging devices

USB-C FTW!
Lightning is a much better connector for “iPhones”. Manufacturers have been playing fast and loose with the USB standard to get these crazy charging speeds and now it can be difficult to know what cable will do what. Will this cable charge at 5W, 18W, or 30W? Most of the time it’s just trial and error. With Pixel 4 it won’t even charge with some cables. And don't get me started on USB-C to 3.5mm adapters. With Lightning you know it’s gonna work.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PickUrPoison Avatar
76 months ago

A new Airpods will come with the purchase of iPhone 12 and the people are sick of the terrible notch screen.
iPhone 12 won’t be bundled with airpods, that would add another $100 to the selling price unnecessarily, since many already have them or don’t want them. And relatively few care about the notch or think it’s “terrible” ?

Apple doesn’t care what a couple hundred trolls or members of the Apple hate club think. They’ve sold upwards of a couple hundred million iPhones with the notch; the people have spoken.

The notch, though likely smaller in the coming years, could easily be around for another 5-10 years. Get over it, or get a different phone ?‍♂️
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)