Apple is in no rush to launch 5G supported iPhones

Apple has been a pioneer as well as an early adopter of technology in the past but it looks like the Cupertino giant will sit out the 5G wave which is supposed to hit next year. We have already seen rumours about 5G supported devices from Samsung and Google while other companies like OnePlus have already confirmed 5G support coming next year.

Apple, on the other hand, has decided that the company is not going to jump in and is rather going to wait before launching iPhones with 5G support. The reason which has been stated a couple of times is that Apple and Qualcomm are not on best of terms right now and this might interfere if the company decides to sign a deal for 5G modems. The other reason which has been cited a lot is that Apple doesn’t adopt new wireless technology unless the company is sure about it. For instance, iPhone 4S didn’t support 4G LTE and it wasn’t a deal breaker for Apple fans. Apple has always taken a step back when it comes to wireless technology. This is done to ensure there is proper support as well as spotless network to make sure customers don’t face issues with the connectivity.

Apple has always been a laggard in cellular technology. They weren’t impacted in the past, but 5G is going to be much easier to market. But if they wait beyond 2020, then I think they’ll be impacted.

– Mark Hung, Analyst, Gartner Inc

This year hasn’t been great for Apple overall considering the decline in iPhone sales which in turn forced Apple to push the new iPhones with price cuts and discounts. This might get worst if Apple doesn’t figure out the solution for 5G modems or patch up its relationship with Qualcomm. However, with Apple watching from the sidelines, this might be the perfect opportunity for companies like Samsung to get the first mover advantage as soon as 5G rolls out worldwide.

Via: Business Standard