What was the first iPhone to support 4G LTE?

The iPhone 5 was the first iPhone to support 4G LTE. Apple unveiled it on September 12, 2012, and its LTE-capable models went on sale on September 21.

LTE support was a major networking upgrade over the iPhone 4S, allowing compatible users to access much faster cellular data. The iPhone 5 did not use one universal LTE modem configuration: different model numbers supported different frequency bands for carriers in North America, Europe, and other regions.

The phone’s LTE capability was sometimes misunderstood because coverage depended on both the carrier and the specific iPhone 5 model. Not every LTE network worldwide used a band supported by every version. Later models, including the iPhone 5C and iPhone 6, continued and expanded Apple’s LTE support, but they were not the first. The iPhone 5 also introduced Apple’s thinner aluminum design, taller four-inch display, and Lightning connector.