The Race to 5G - iPhones with a Custom Apple 5G Modem?

Surely, you’ve heard of 5G technology by now? While there’s been some serious ‘out there’ theories about how the installation of 5G towers and 5G mobile phone signals have brought about a slew of issues - the 5G network currently being rolled out around the world promises to deliver amazing benefits to us all.

Throughout this process, phone manufacturers are working hard too to produce and release their newest handsets. Not only outfitted with top-tier cameras, faster processing speeds, and the like, but also with 5G technology in mind. There is a long list of 5G phones already available, which enable users to connect to the 5G mobile network. In due time, when 5G is completely implemented, we imagine the tech in handsets will continue to evolve and blow our minds.

One such innovation is the rumoured Apple 5G modem. 

The Apple 5G Modem Rumour: Is it True?‎

Ever since Apple acquired Intel’s IP and modem business in 2019, there’s a lot of chatter that there’s a custom Apple 5G modem on the cards for the next iPhone - iPhone 13 - which is rumoured to be released in 2022. There are even a few speculations that this 5G Apple modem would be used in the upcoming 2021 iPad Pro.

Unfortunately, it looks as though the release of their own 5G technology has been estimated to be released in 2023 at the earliest, so we’ll have to wait a little longer to find out if this stands true. If Apple does indeed shift to a custom in-house 5G modem, why will it be a huge win for iPhone users?

Best user experience

From an improved battery life to faster data speeds, these are a few of the possible benefits of what could be, should Apple create its own modem. Just like how its move to in-house processors for the Mac has proven capable of delivering high performance despite power-intensive tasks, Apple fans are yearning for the same results with its modem.

Currently, iPhone 12 users are given 5G connection through a Qualcomm modem. Although this arrangement has been working fine, the thought of having the brand relying less on third parties for components is extremely appealing. Why? Because Apple will then have the power to design iPhones exactly how they want, giving them more opportunities to address customer needs. Since it is already designing its own proprietary chipsets, upgrading iOS software, and expanding the App Store day by day, taking control over its modem is the next logical step. Besides, this shift could even result in more reliable 5G connections.

‎The Features and Benefits of 5G Technology

It’s widely known that the Singapore 5G network will bring with it faster network speeds. But do you know just how much faster it will be than what we’re using now?

5G's fastest technology is what’s known as mmWave (millimetre wave). A high frequency, short-wavelength mobile network technology, it is essentially the next step in 5G, recording top speeds of up to 1.8Gbps (Gigabits per second) in the US. In simpler terms, this is equal to 225 Megabytes every second!

Besides faster network speeds, there are 2 other major benefits that 5G technology will bring. Firstly, there’s its exponentially lower latency rate. Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another. For example, when playing an online game, every time you tap a button or use a console command, pieces of data must travel to the gaming server for you to continue. Thus, if you have high latency, you’ll experience lag since the data will take longer to be sent through. The 5G network reduces latency substantially, which means less lag.

Then, there's bandwidth. Bandwidth is the data transfer capacity of a computer network, measured in Bps (bits per second). The following metaphor might help: think of mobile networks as a freeway, and each your connection to that network as a vehicle. With more vehicles using the freeway, there’ll be traffic jams. Similarly, if too many users are trying to transfer data on a computer network, the speed will be reduced. However, with 5G's increased bandwidth capacity, these jams will be a thing of the past.

Why is 5G important in today's world?

Increasingly, people are installing IoT (Internet of Things) devices in their homes. This means Smart TVs, tablets, doorbells, security systems, refrigerators, light switches and systems, wearables, hubs (Google Home, Amazon Echo, etc.), and more. If every home in the area has such devices, you can understand why the increased bandwidth brought about by 5G is so important.

Plus, when latency is low, as with the 5G network, there are further opportunities for technological development: autonomous cars that react almost instantly, remote surgical operations (telesurgery) as robots can act with complete precision. We’ll likely see instant translation technology enter the market, and VR/AR gaming experiences will be further enhanced.

But is it that much better than what we get with 4G?

What is the difference between 4G and 5G?

The short answer is yes. The 5G network is far superior to the 4G network that most of us use today.

Comparing 5G speeds with its 4G predecessor, there is a massive jump from 50 Megabits per second to 20 Gigabits per second. In fact, it’s been speculated that we may experience an improvement of 10 to 100 times.

The outstandingly low 1 millisecond (1/1000 of a second) latency we’ll see with 5G technology is in fact faster than the average reaction time of humans, at 250ms (i.e., 0.25 seconds). So, to use autonomous cars as an example, that means your car will be able to react 250 times faster than you!

Finally, with an estimated 1000x increase in bandwidth capacity, there’s room for up to 100 times as many devices connected to the network.

Singapore's 5G network

Do all the features and benefits of 5G technology get your heart racing? The rollout of the 5G network in Singapore is happening right now and continues to expand every single day! In fact, the 5G rollout is on schedule to be completed nationwide by 2025. From transforming your home digital experience to helping businesses grow, the creation of a city-wide 5G network will change the way we live and work for the better. As part of the Smart Nation initiative, the Singaporean government has even invested $40 million into this shift, in the hopes that it will drive economic growth.

Despite the many hopes placed on the mass adoption of this technology, early adoption has only been rolled out in key clusters around the island. If you live in these specific areas and would like to tap into 5G coverage, you’ll need to have the proper handset and a mobile network that offers 5G connectivity.

5G Phones Available in Singapore

There are plenty of 5G phones available for purchase right now if you’re keen to get yourself one.

Here’s a quick rundown of the top models from the world’s leading manufacturers:

1. Apple

- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Mini

2. Samsung

- Galaxy S21 Ultra
- Galaxy S21+
- Galaxy S21
- Galaxy Z Fold2
- Galaxy Z Flip
- Galaxy Note20 Ultra
- Galaxy S20 FE
- Galaxy A52
- Galaxy A42
- Galaxy A32

3. Huawei

- Mate 40 Pro
- P40 Pro

4. Xiaomi

- Mi 11
- Mi 10T Pro
- Mi 10T

5. OnePlus

- OnePlus 8T

6. Oppo

- Reno5 Pro
- Reno5 Z
- Reno5
- Find X3 Pro
- Find X2 Pro

7. Vivo

- X50E

How to Take Advantage of the Ultra-Fast 5G Speeds with M1

If you’d like to get onto the lightning-fast 5G network with low latency and increased bandwidth, you can do so with M1. As one of the few telcos with a licence for 5G, M1 promises to deliver the best service and connection speed to all its customers. But that’s not all!

Customisation is the new black

The current global trend is that of customisation, where brands are providing an advanced level of customisation and personalisation to their customers.

Such was the idea behind the latest bespoke plans offered by M1. Giving customers the ability to build a mobile plan as they see fit, ensuring the best possible value for money, and the freedom to make changes whenever they need.

If you haven’t already signed up for one of these plans, browse through the 5G phones list on offer - available from just $0 upfront on a Bespoke Flexi Plan - and once you’ve made your decision, add on the 5G Booster pack to your plan.

You then can either pick the phone and your new SIM card up at the M1 shop or have everything delivered to your doorstep at no additional cost.

Then it’s just a matter of popping the SIM into your new 5G phone and starting it up. Boom! You’re ready to enjoy the 5G network*!

*Note: While the 5G network continues to be rolled out across Singapore, you may not be 100% covered on the 5G network depending on where you live, in which case you will be automatically switched over to the 4G LTE network. Please check our coverage map on this page to determine which areas of Singapore our 5G network covers (this will continually grow with the rollout).