In recent years, 5G cellular service has grown significantly among U.S. carriers, and it’s now available for iPhones from the iPhone 12 to the iPhone 15, including the iPhone SE 3.
Apple has made “5G Auto” the default setting to balance network speed and battery life.
However, you can manually adjust these settings to prioritize either performance or battery preservation when needed. Here’s how to turn 5G on or off on your iPhone.
What 5G Performance Can You Expect?
The speed you experience with 5G depends on your location and your carrier. In the U.S., Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all offer nationwide 5G coverage.
While top speeds can exceed 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps), this is not typical for most users.
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models boast noticeably faster cellular speeds, with the 15 Pro Max showing 96% faster download speeds compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
What Are the Types of 5G?
There are different types of 5G technology. mmWave 5G offers faster speeds but has limited coverage.
Sub-6GHz 5G provides wider coverage, but the speeds are closer to 4G LTE.
The iPhone 12, 13, 14, and 15 support both mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G, while the iPhone SE 3 only supports sub-6GHz.
Does 5G Impact Battery Life?
Yes, 5G consumes more battery power than 4G LTE. Some tests show that iPhones can last 1 to 2.5 hours longer when using LTE instead of 5G.
What Is the Default 5G Setting on iPhone?
By default, iPhones compatible with 5G come with “5G Auto” enabled. This setting allows your phone to switch between 5G and LTE, balancing speed and battery life.
Apple’s “Smart Data Mode” also considers your data plan to optimize usage.
Apple says:
“The default settings for 5G on iPhone are optimized for battery life and data usage based on your data plan.”
If you want more control, you can manually toggle 5G to be on or off, depending on your preference.
How Can You Turn 5G On or Off on Your iPhone?
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Cellular.
- Select Cellular Data Options.
- Choose Voice & Data.
- You can choose 5G On to enable it whenever available for faster speeds, or select LTE if you want to disable 5G entirely for better battery life.
You can also adjust Data Mode in the same settings to allow more data on 5G for high-quality video or FaceTime, or enable Low Data Mode to conserve data.
What Do the Different 5G Icons Mean?
iPhones use various icons in the status bar to indicate the type of 5G connection. Here’s what the symbols mean:
- 5G UW (Verizon), 5G+ (AT&T), and 5G UC (T-Mobile) show you’re connected to higher-frequency 5G (mmWave).
- A plain 5G icon means you’re using the lower-frequency spectrum with broader coverage but slower speeds.
Note: iPhone SE 3 does not support mmWave 5G, only sub-6GHz. The iPhone 12, 13, 14, and 15 models support both types of 5G.