WHY 2020 AND NOT 2021
4G is going to be fast and widespread over the
next several years. Apple has waited two years or
more after a network launch before, so it wouldn’t
lose much by waiting until 2021. Why would
Apple launch a 5G iPhone in 2020? China.Outside the US, Apple faces a brutal competitive
landscape, where specs matter more than they do
to US consumers. The three giant Chinese mobile
phone companies all plan to launch 5G by 2020,
and by that fall we should expect broad 5G
coverage there.For Apple to remain competitive in China, it has
to get with the program. Already, local
competitors like Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo are
outselling Apple by leading on price and
innovation. Xiaomi has more than 10 5G phones
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seen as a laggard by Chinese carriers or
consumers who will be proud of their country’s
level of innovation.5G is a big deal, and it’ll awaken unforeseen new
devices and applications. But it has to crawl
before it can walk—and walk before it can run. 5G
may not be really widespread in the US until
2021, and even in 2023, half of all North
American wireless subscriptions will be for 4G,
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to say that we’re keeping an eye on 5G, but for
now you can comfortably enjoy your 4G iPhone
without feeling left out.[email protected]S
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PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION (^) I SUBSCRIBE (^) I DECEMBER 2019
Already, local
competitors
like Huawei,
Oppo, and Vivo
are outselling
Apple by lead-
ing on price and
innovation.