Skip to main content

American consumers think Apple is leading the way in 5G — but it’s not

Finally, 5G is well and truly on the way, with carriers around the country pouring billions into the development of their 5G networks and smartphone manufacturers planning when they’ll release their first 5G phones. When it comes to those manufacturers, however, it seems as though the likes of Samsung and Huawei are a little ahead of some of the other companies. Despite that, a recent study suggests that most American consumers think that Apple is in the lead when it comes to 5G development, and by a substantial amount.

The survey was conducted by PCMag, involved 2,500 U.S. consumers, and was surprising for a number of reasons. When it comes to the results of the survey, 42 percent believe Apple is leading the way in 5G, while 29 percent of consumers believe Samsung is. In third place is LG, with 12 percent, followed by Google with 7 percent, and Huawei with 5 percent.

Recommended Videos

Most experts believe Apple will introduce a 5G-compatible smartphone almost a full year after the likes of Samsung. Apple is reportedly working with Intel for the 5G modem in the 2020 iPhone. The delay could be due to any number of reasons, but it’s likely partially because Qualcomm is one of the few companies with an actual 5G modem, while Intel is still working on one.

Of course, as PCMag’s report notes, being a little late to adopt new wireless networks hasn’t really slowed iPhone sales before. The original iPhone only had 2G support despite the fact that 3G was available. The first 4G iPhone also came a few years later than most other manufacturers. And now, Apple will be in a similar situation for the first 5G iPhone.

It’s also interesting that Huawei was in fifth place in the survey. The company has already announced that it will unveil a 5G-compatible folding phone at Mobile World Congress later this month.

Ultimately, it may not matter when manufacturers adopt 5G. Compatible smartphones will launch this year, but 5G networks are still in their infancy, so the vast majority of users will find themselves unable to take advantage of the 5G chips in their phones. Initial 5G network rollout is expected to last well into 2020 and beyond.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
The iPhone 16e hints at 5G limits for the iPhone 17 Air
Apple C1 modem

Apple announced the iPhone 16e earlier this week. As expected, the company's latest budget smartphone features its first custom-designed modem chip, known as the C1. However, this chip does not support ultra-fast mmWave 5G technology, indicating that another upcoming iPhone model may also lack this capability.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, expected to launch this fall alongside the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup, is also likely to include the C1 chip. This suggests that it too will probably not support mmWave 5G.

Read more
TCL is finally launching a phone in the U.S. with its unique Nxtpaper display
TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G display

If you’ve ever wanted a smartphone with a display that isn't uncomfortable to look at for extended periods, then good news! TCL has announced the TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G at CES 2025, and while this is not the first Nxtpaper phone, it is the first one to launch in the U.S., which is a big deal.

For those who haven’t seen a Nxtpaper device, TCL’s innovative display technology blends advanced screen capabilities with digital health and comfort. Handsets like the TCL 50 Pro Nxtpaper 5G have previously offered Nxtpaper tech on smartphones, but now this advanced display tech is coming to North America for the first time, allowing consumers in the U.S. to experience a display that protects their eyes from the harsh effects of blue light and glare during extended viewing periods.

Read more
Apple insider leaks future plans for a significant iPhone spec change
iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max close up of the cameras

Apple has long followed a strategy of consolidating the hardware supply chain within its own circle. Shifting away from Intel to in-house M-series processors was one of the biggest bets in recent memory. Now, the company is eyeing the same strategy for a critical part that allows iPhones to, well, act like phones.

According to Apple tipster Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple will finally put its own cellular modem inside iPhones and iPads starting next year. The plans will be executed over three years, spanning three generations of modems, as part of a plan to end Apple’s reliance on Qualcomm for the part.

Read more