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Apple Will Wait Until at Least 2020 To Release a 5G iPhone: Report (bloomberg.com)
Apple plans to hold off until at least 2020 before offering an iPhone that can connect to the next generation of high-speed phone services coming next year, Bloomberg reported Monday. From the report: The delay may make it easier for rivals like Samsung Electronics to win over consumers to phones that connect to 5G networks, which will provide a leap forward in mobile data speeds when they are introduced in 2019. As with 3G and 4G, the two previous generations of mobile technology, Apple will wait as long as a year after the initial deployment of the new networks before its main product gets the capability to access them, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing the company's plans.
Apple's previous calculations -- proven correct -- were that the new networks and the first versions of rival smartphones would come with problems such as spotty coverage, making consumers less compelled to immediately make the jump. This time, 5G boosters argue the switch is a much bigger speed upgrade, making Apple's decision to wait riskier. The networks will open the floodgates to new types of mobile computing, 5G advocates say.
Apple's previous calculations -- proven correct -- were that the new networks and the first versions of rival smartphones would come with problems such as spotty coverage, making consumers less compelled to immediately make the jump. This time, 5G boosters argue the switch is a much bigger speed upgrade, making Apple's decision to wait riskier. The networks will open the floodgates to new types of mobile computing, 5G advocates say.
Apple is right, coverage will be spotty at first, deployment will take time.
However, it won't take long before it becomes an essential feature. And only then, Apple will release a 5G iPhone, and those who bought last year model will buy the new one for that reason.
Smartphone are starting to face the same problem as PCs, people don't need to upgrade because the old one is good enough for just about everything, and things are slowing down even more. 5G will be a real upgrade, and apple will make sure to time it well in order to maximize their sales.