In 2020, 5G became a global buzzword when Apple announced its first lineup of iPhones with 5G connectivity! From then onward, everyone just doesn’t want to settle for a 4G phone anymore.
Among all the iPhones released, the iPhone SE is still popular for being compact while offering great performance. However, do iPhone SE models support 5G?
Among the 3 iPhone SE released so far, only the iPhone SE 3rd Gen (2022) supports 5G connectivity. Apple introduced the 5G modem in its SOC after 2020. So, all the iPhones released before that do not support any 5G connection or fast data speeds.
If you are still eager to learn more about the iPhone SE models and 5G connection benefits, stay with us till the end!
A Quick Overview of the All iPhone with 5G Connectivity
If you are considering whether you should buy an iPhone SE or other models for 5G connection, follow this table:
| iPhone Model | 5G Connectivity | Max Cellular Speeds | Released Date |
| iPhone 16 | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 20, 2024 |
| iPhone 16 Plus | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 20, 2024 |
| iPhone 16 Pro | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 20, 2024 |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 20, 2024 |
| iPhone 15 | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 22, 2023 |
| iPhone 15 Plus | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 22, 2023 |
| iPhone 15 Pro | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 22, 2023 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 22, 2023 |
| iPhone 14 | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 16, 2022 |
| iPhone 14 Plus | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 16, 2022 |
| iPhone 14 Pro | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 16, 2022 |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 16, 2022 |
| iPhone SE (2022) | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
March 18, 2022 |
| iPhone 13 | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 24, 2021 |
| iPhone 13 Mini | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 24, 2021 |
| iPhone 13 Pro | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 24, 2021 |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
September 24, 2021 |
| iPhone 12 | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
October 23, 2020 |
| iPhone 12 Mini | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
October 23, 2020 |
| iPhone 12 Pro | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
October 23, 2020 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | Yes | 5G
Max speeds 4Gbps |
October 23, 2020 |
| iPhone SE 2020 | No | Cat 19 LTE
Max speeds 1600 Mbit/s |
April 24, 2020 |
| iPhone 11 | No | Cat 19 LTE
Max speeds 1600 Mbit/s |
September 20, 2019 |
| iPhone 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max | No | Cat 19 LTE
Max speeds 1600 Mbit/s |
September 20, 2019 |
| iPhone SE | No | Cat 4
Max speeds 150/50 Mbps |
March 31, 2016 |
Do you find your favorite iPhone model in this list? While not all iPhones support 5G, most modern iPhones support 5G connectivity. Now, let’s dig deeper into the iPhone SE models and see what difference those have in terms of specs & connectivity.
Which iPhone SE supports 5G Connectivity?
Apple has launched a total of 3 SE models from its inception to this date. However, not all iPhone SE models were created equally.
As the first iPhone SE model was launched right after the iPhone 5 series, it mostly shared the specs of those old chipsets & did not include any 5G modem. However, you also need to understand that the 5G connectivity was not even created back then.
The next iPhone SE was launched in Q2 2020, and by then, 5G was developed but not massively commercialized yet. That’s why Apple did not include the 5G modem back then.
Finally, in 2022, with the launch of the iPhone SE 3rd Gen, Apple introduced 5G connectivity in the budget segment. Those who were eagerly waiting for Apple to include the 5G connection.
Now, let’s check what difference the iPhone SE (2020) & iPhone SE (2022) have:
| Features | iPhone SE (2020) | iPhone SE (2022) |
| 5G Bands | N/A | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 – A2783, A2784, A2785, A2782 |
| Cellular Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE (CA), 5G
Max 4 Gbps |
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) |
As you can see, the addition of a new chipset along with a better cellular modem improves the overall performance & experience.
However, even with the 5G modem inclusion, the cellular data speeds were less than other high-end or flagship 5G modems.
The reason behind this is the reused iPhone 8 case & body frame for iPhone SE 3rd Gen. The iPhone 8 body which is the foundation of the SE model has no room for mmWave antenna modules. That’s why the speed is not fast enough compared to other 5G phones.
Still, the launch of a budget 5G from the iPhone was definitely a fan-favorite of both common consumers & critics.
Why Should You Choose iPhone SE 5G Version over Others?
There are several reasons to choose the newer iPhone SE version, from performance to firmware updates. Here’s what you will get from buying the iPhone SE 5G version:
- Increased performance with Apple A15 bionic SOC
- Better cellular data speed with 5G connectivity
- Longer battery life & improved charging speed
- More OS updates & security patches in the future
Moreover, you get good quality water resistance with iPhone SE as well!
Now, you might be thinking, should you buy the iPhone SE (1st Gen) in 2024?
No, the iPhone SE was launched back in 2016 and we don’t recommend it to buy in 2024. The chipset, build quality, size & battery are not up to mark when compared to the newer iPhone SE models. That’s why we did not mention it here as it does not offer a good price-to-performance ratio.
Furthermore, you won’t be able to fix most of the technical issues with troubleshooting methods. Because the last software update the iPhone SE received was back in 2021, iOS 15.8.1. So, there will be no more major OS updates from iPhone SE 1st Gen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Which iPhone model can support 5G?
From iPhone 12 and onwards, all iPhone models now support a 5G connection. Any model dated back to 2019 does not support any 5G connectivity.
Is 5G or LTE better?
5G is the superior cellular technology that can offer up to 20 Gbps download speed. On the other hand, 4G or LTE can only support up to 100 Mbps at max.
Is the iPhone 11 5G capable?
No, similar to the iPhone SE (2016) & iPhone SE (2020) models, the iPhone 11 does not support 5G. It does not have the 5G modem to use the 5G frequency which was added later in iPhone 12 series.
Conclusion
Now, you have a clear picture of which iPhone SE models support 5G connection and which ones don’t! If you want to consider a 5G iPhone, then you have to consider anything starting from the iPhone 12 series and up.
Feel free to let us know which iPhone SE you like the most!
