Which iPhone model was the first to support 5G?

The iPhone 12 was the first iPhone model to support 5G cellular networks. Apple introduced the iPhone 12 lineup in October 2020, including the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.

The new phones used Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X55 5G modem and supported both sub-6 GHz 5G and, on U.S. models, faster mmWave 5G. Apple also added Smart Data Mode, which could switch between 5G and LTE to preserve battery life when 5G speeds were not needed.

The iPhone 12 marked a major connectivity upgrade over the iPhone 11, which was limited to 4G LTE. The second-generation iPhone SE also supported LTE only, while the iPhone 13 arrived later and therefore could not be the first.

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini shared the same basic 5G capability as the Pro models, although regional support differed. In particular, mmWave compatibility was primarily offered on U.S. versions, while many other markets used sub-6 GHz bands.