LTE stands for Long Term Evolution, and it is the latest standard of wireless communication for mobile devices. With LTE, users can experience significantly faster internet speeds compared to previous generations of cellular networks. As technology advances, so do the capabilities of LTE. In this article, we will compare the LTE speeds of different iPhone models to see how they stack up against each other.
Before we dive into the speeds of different iPhone models, let’s first understand the basics of LTE. LTE uses a technology called Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) that allows for more efficient data transmission. This means that more data can be transferred in the same amount of time compared to older networks like 3G.
Now, let’s take a look at the LTE speeds of different iPhone models. The first iPhone to feature LTE was the iPhone 5, and it supported LTE Cat 3, which could reach theoretical download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. However, in real-world scenarios, the average download speed was around 22 Mbps. This was a significant improvement from the iPhone 4S, which only supported 3G and had an average download speed of 1.5 Mbps.
With each new iPhone release, Apple has improved its LTE capabilities. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, released in 2014, featured LTE Cat 4, which could reach theoretical download speeds of up to 150 Mbps. In real-world tests, the average download speed was around 41 Mbps. This was a significant jump from the iPhone 5’s speeds and made for a noticeable difference in web browsing, streaming, and other data-intensive tasks.
In 2015, Apple released the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, which featured LTE Cat 6, with theoretical download speeds of up to 300 Mbps. Real-world tests showed an average download speed of 76 Mbps, making it the fastest iPhone up to that point. The iPhone 6S also introduced Carrier Aggregation, which allows the phone to use multiple bands of LTE simultaneously, further increasing its speeds.
The following year, Apple released the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, and it was the first iPhone to support LTE Cat 9, with theoretical download speeds of up to 450 Mbps. In real-world tests, the average download speed was around 86 Mbps. The iPhone 7 also introduced 256-QAM modulation, which increases the amount of data that can be transmitted in each signal, further improving its speeds.
In 2017, the iPhone X, 8, and 8 Plus were released, and they all featured LTE Cat 12, with theoretical download speeds of up to 600 Mbps. The real-world tests showed an average download speed of 85 Mbps, which was only slightly faster than the previous year’s models. However, the iPhone X also introduced 4×4 MIMO, which allows for better signal reception and faster speeds in areas with weak coverage.
Finally, the latest iPhone models, the Xs, Xs Max, and XR, all support LTE Cat 16, with theoretical download speeds of up to 1 Gbps. Real-world tests have shown average speeds of around 310 Mbps, making them the fastest iPhones to date. These phones also support 4×4 MIMO and 256-QAM, making for an even faster and more reliable LTE experience.
In conclusion, LTE speeds have significantly improved with each new iPhone release. From the iPhone 5’s average download speed of 22 Mbps to the latest iPhone models’ average speed of 310 Mbps, the difference is quite remarkable. With each new generation of iPhone, not only do we see improvements in design and features, but also in LTE capabilities. As technology continues to advance, we can expect even faster LTE speeds on future iPhone models.