Apple’s iPhone 12 series is the first generation of the company’s mobile devices to feature 5G technology. This is critical for future-proofing your new phone for the next five years or so. It seems to have been key for 5G’s growth too, as Counterpoint Research proclaimed the iPhone 12 the best selling 5G smartphone within the first two weeks, accounting for nearly 25% of all smartphone sales in October 2020 and justifying the iPhone 12 Pro‘s position as the best 5G smartphone.
5G takes advantage of accelerated connection speeds. While support for the next-generation network becomes available in more locations, there are still plenty of places where 5G does not yet exist, as connectivity also depends on the carrier as well as the location, so you’ll want to use the current 5G selectively for now. In the U.S., Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile now offer 5G nationwide, but you’ll find most of the coverage in and around major metro areas with considerable population density.
Basically, you need to balance your need. Faster connection speeds, while unnecessary for scrolling through your Twitter feed, could prove extremely convenient for downloading a full-length movie. It’s up to you how you want to use the iPhone 12’s 5G capabilities, and Apple has made it flexible and easy to customize. While on Apple’s iPhone 12, 5G is on by default, governed by a Smart Data Mode designed to balance network speed and your battery, you can turn it off. Here’s how to turn off 5G in the iPhone 12.
These instructions will work on the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
It’s probably best to stick with the 5G Auto setting, so you can leverage faster speeds where it’s available and conserve battery life where it’s not. If extra speed is not critical, and you have long-term concerns about battery life, just leave 5G completely off for now. The 5G On setting automatically uses 5G wherever it’s available, without regard to battery life. Conversely, 5G Auto uses the network only when it doesn’t significantly impact battery life.
What should you do? Apple’s default choices are the most efficient for most people, so don’t feel compelled to monkey with the settings. Between the phone and carrier, network usage likely delivers the best combination of speed and battery usage. You can also set your data mode to Allow More Data on 5G from the default Standard, which lets the phone use 5G for everything possible, including maximizing streaming video quality or video chatting.
Whatever you do, be sure to double-check with your carrier to ensure your plan supports 5G, or whether you need to adjust your plan or even replace your SIM card to accommodate the new networking tech.
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.
I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.