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IPhone can help you track data about your health and activity patterns, start a bedtime routine, and more. Keep track of your health and wellness with iPhone To browse the iPhone User Guide, click Table of Contents at the top of the page. In China mainland, you can use Apple Pay on the web in Safari only on compatible iPhone and iPad models using iOS 11.2 or later. Trade-in values will vary based on the condition, year and configuration of your trade-in device and is computed on Maximum Retail Price. Update to iOS 14. IOS 14 brings a fresh new look to the Home Screen with helpful widgets, neatly-organized apps, and more. Learn how to get your new iPhone up and running. Our Apple Support Community can help you find answers. Ask the Apple Support Community.

iOS 11.4.1

iOS 11.4.1 includes bug fixes and improves the security of your iPhone or iPad. This update:

  • Fixes an issue that prevented some users from viewing the last known location of their AirPods in Find My iPhone
  • Improves reliability of syncing mail, contacts and notes with Exchange accounts

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 11.4

iOS 11.4 includes AirPlay 2 multi-room audio, support for HomePod stereo pairs, and Messages in iCloud. This update also includes bug fixes and improvements.

AirPlay 2

  • Control your home audio system and AirPlay 2-enabled speakers throughout your house
  • Play music at the same time on multiple AirPlay 2-enabled speakers in your house, all in sync
  • Control AirPlay 2-enabled speakers from Control Center, the Lock screen, or AirPlay controls within apps on your iPhone or iPad
  • Use your voice to control AirPlay 2-enabled speakers with Siri from your iPhone or iPad, HomePod, or Apple TV
  • Take a call or play a game on your iPhone or iPad without interrupting playback on your AirPlay 2-enabled speakers

HomePod stereo pair

  • This update supports setting up your HomePod stereo pair using your iPhone or iPad
  • HomePod pair automatically senses its location in the room and balances the sound based on the speakers' locations
  • Advanced beamforming provides wider soundstage than traditional stereo pair
  • HomePod will automatically update to support stereo pairs, unless auto updates are disabled in the Home app

Messages in iCloud

  • Store your messages, photos, and other attachments in iCloud and free up space on your devices
  • All your messages appear when you sign into a new device with the same iMessage account
  • When you delete messages and conversations they are instantly removed from all your devices
  • To turn on Messages in iCloud, enable Messages in iCloud settings (Settings > [your name] > iCloud)
  • Your conversations continue to be end-to-end encrypted

Other improvements and fixes

  • Enables teachers to assign their students reading activities in iBooks using the Schoolwork app
  • Fixes an issue where certain character sequences could cause Messages to crash
  • Addresses a Messages issue that could cause some messages to appear out of order
  • Addresses an issue that could prevent logging in or accessing files on Google Drive, Google Docs and Gmail in Safari
  • Fixes an issue that could prevent data syncing in Health
  • Fixes an issue that could prevent users from changing what apps can access Health data
  • Resolves an issue that could cause an app to appear in an incorrect location on the Home screen
  • Fixes an issue where CarPlay audio could become distorted
  • Fixes an issue where selecting music from your iPhone could fail when playing music over Bluetooth or when connected to USB on some vehicles

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 11.3.1

iOS 11.3.1 improves the security of your iPhone or iPad and addresses an issue where touch input was unresponsive on some iPhone 8 devices because they were serviced with non-genuine replacement displays.

Note: Non-genuine replacement displays may have compromised visual quality and may fail to work correctly. Apple-certified screen repairs are performed by trusted experts who use genuine Apple parts. See support.apple.com for more information.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 11.3

iOS 11.3 introduces new features including ARKit 1.5 with support for more immersive augmented reality experiences, iPhone Battery Health (Beta), new Animoji for iPhone X users, and more. This update also includes stability improvements and bug fixes.

Augmented Reality

  • ARKit 1.5 allows developers to place digital objects on vertical surfaces like walls and doors in addition to horizontal surfaces
  • Adds support for detecting and incorporating images like movie posters or artwork into AR experiences
  • Supports a higher resolution real world camera view when using AR experiences

iPhone Battery Health (Beta)

  • Displays information on iPhone maximum battery capacity and peak performance capability
  • Indicates if the performance management feature that dynamically manages maximum performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns is on and includes the option to disable it
  • Recommends if a battery needs to be replaced

iPad charge management

  • Maintains battery health when iPad is connected to power for prolonged periods of time, such as when it is used in kiosks, point of sale systems, or stored in charging carts

Animoji

  • Introduces four new Animoji on iPhone X: lion, bear, dragon and skull

Privacy

  • When an Apple feature asks to use your personal information, an icon now appears along with a link to detailed information explaining how your data will be used and protected

Business Chat - US only

  • Communicate with companies to easily ask questions, schedule appointments, and make purchases inside the built-in Messages app on iPhone and iPad

Health Records (Beta) - US only

  • Access health records and view lab results, immunizations, and more in a consolidated timeline in the Health app

Apple Music

  • Features a new music video experience, including an updated Music Videos section with exclusive video playlists
  • Find friends that have similar tastes using updated suggestions in Apple Music that reveal genres people enjoy and mutual friends that follow them

News

  • Top Stories now always appear first in For You
  • Watch Top Videos curated by News editors

App Store

  • Adds ability to sort customer reviews on product pages by Most Helpful, Most Favorable, Most Critical, or Most Recent
  • Improves Updates tab information with app version and file size

Safari

  • Helps protect privacy by only AutoFilling usernames and passwords after selecting them in a web form field
  • Includes warnings in the Smart Search Field when interacting with password or credit card forms on non-encrypted web pages
  • AutoFill for usernames and passwords is now available in web views within apps
  • Articles shared to Mail from Safari are now formatted using Reader mode by default when Reader is available
  • Folders in Favorites now show icons for the bookmarks contained within

Keyboards

  • Adds two new Shuangpin keyboard layouts
  • Adds support for connected hardware keyboards using the Turkish F keyboard layout
  • Improves Chinese and Japanese keyboards for better reachability on on 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch devices
  • Enables switching back to the keyboard after dictation with just one tap
  • Addresses an issue where auto-correct could incorrectly capitalize some words
  • Fixes an issue on iPad Pro that prevented the iPad Smart Keyboard from working after connecting to a captive Wi-Fi access point
  • Fixes an issue that could cause the Thai keyboard to incorrectly switch to the numeric layout when in landscape mode

Accessibility

  • App Store adds accessibility support for bold and large text for display customization
  • Smart Invert adds support for images on the web and in Mail messages
  • Improves RTT experience and adds RTT support for T-Mobile
  • Improves app switching on iPad for VoiceOver and Switch Control users
  • Addresses an issue where VoiceOver incorrectly described Bluetooth status and badge icons
  • Fixes an issue where end call button might not be presented in the Phone app when using VoiceOver
  • Fixes an issue where in-app app rating was not accessible with VoiceOver
  • Resolves an issue when using Live Listen that could distort audio playback

Other improvements and fixes

  • Introduces support for the AML standard which provides more accurate location data to emergency responders when SOS is triggered (in supported countries)
  • Adds support for software authentication as a new way for developers to create and enable HomeKit compatible accessories
  • Podcasts now plays episodes with a single tap, and you can tap Details to learn more about each episode
  • Improves search performance for users with long notes in Contacts
  • Improves performance of Handoff and Universal Clipboard when both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network
  • Fixes an issue that could prevent incoming calls from waking the display
  • Addresses an issue that could delay or prevent playback of Visual Voicemail
  • Resolves an issue that prevented opening a web link in Messages
  • Fixes an issue that could prevent users from returning to Mail after previewing a message attachment
  • Fixes an issue that could cause Mail notifications to reappear on the Lock screen after they had been cleared
  • Resolves an issue that could cause time and notifications to disappear from the Lock Screen
  • Resolves an issue that prevented parents from using Face ID to approve Ask to Buy requests
  • Fixes an issue in Weather where current weather conditions may not have been updated
  • Fixes an issue where contacts may not sync with a car’s phone book when connected over Bluetooth
  • Addresses an issue that could prevent audio apps from playing in cars when the app was in the background

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 11.2.6

iOS 11.2.6 includes bug fixes for your iPhone or iPad. This update:

  • Fixes an issue where using certain character sequences could cause apps to crash
  • Fixes an issue where some third-party apps could fail to connect to external accessories

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 11.2.5

iOS 11.2.5 includes support for HomePod and introduces the ability for Siri to read the news (US, UK and Australia only). This update also includes bug fixes and improvements.

HomePod support

  • Setup and automatically transfer your Apple ID, Apple Music, Siri and Wi-Fi settings to HomePod.

Siri News

  • Siri can now read the news, just ask, 'Hey Siri, play the news'. You can also ask for specific news categories including Sports, Business or Music.

Other improvements and fixes

  • Addresses an issue that could cause the Phone app to display incomplete information in the call list
  • Fixes an issue that caused Mail notifications from some Exchange accounts to disappear from the Lock screen when unlocking iPhone X with Face ID
  • Addresses an issue that could cause Messages conversations to temporarily be listed out of order
  • Fixes an issue in CarPlay where Now Playing controls become unresponsive after multiple track changes
  • Adds ability for VoiceOver to announce playback destinations and AirPod battery level

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222

iOS 11.2.2

iOS 11.2.2 provides a security update and is recommended for all users.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 11.2.1

iOS 11.2.1 fixes bugs including an issue that could disable remote access to shared users of the Home app.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 11.2

iOS 11.2 introduces Apple Pay Cash to send, request, and receive money from friends and family with Apple Pay. This update also includes bug fixes and improvements.

Apple Pay Cash (US Only)

  • Send, request, and receive money from friends and family with Apple Pay in Messages or by asking Siri

Other improvements and fixes

  • Adds support for faster wireless charging on iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X with compatible third-party accessories
  • Introduces three new Live wallpapers for iPhone X
  • Improves video camera stabilization
  • Adds support in Podcasts to automatically advance to the next episode from the same show
  • Adds support in HealthKit for downhill snow sports distance as a data type
  • Fixes an issue that could cause Mail to appear to be checking for new messages even when a download is complete
  • Fixes an issue that could cause cleared Mail notifications from Exchange accounts to reappear
  • Improves stability in Calendar
  • Resolves an issue where Settings could open to a blank screen
  • Fixes an issue that could prevent swiping to Today View or Camera from the Lock Screen
  • Addresses an issue that could prevent Music controls from displaying on the Lock Screen
  • Fixes an issue that could cause app icons to be arranged incorrectly on the Home Screen
  • Addresses an issue that could prevent users from deleting recent photos when iCloud storage is exceeded
  • Addresses an issue where Find My iPhone sometimes wouldn’t display a map
  • Fixes an issue in Messages where the keyboard could overlap the most recent message
  • Fixes an issue in Calculator where typing numbers rapidly could lead to incorrect results
  • Addressed an issue where the keyboard could respond slowly
  • Adds support for real-time text (RTT) phone calls for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • Improves VoiceOver stability in Messages, Settings, App Store, and Music
  • Resolves an issue that prevented VoiceOver from announcing incoming Notifications

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 11.1.2

iOS 11.1.2 includes bug fixes for your iPhone and iPad. This update:

  • Fixes an issue where the iPhone X screen becomes temporarily unresponsive to touch after a rapid temperature drop
  • Addresses an issue that could cause distortion in Live Photos and videos captured with iPhone X

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 11.1.1

iOS 11.1.1 includes bug fixes for your iPhone or iPad. This update:

  • Fixes an issue with keyboard auto-correct
  • Fixes an issue where Hey Siri stops working

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 11.1

iOS 11.1 introduces over 70 new emoji and includes bug fixes and improvements.

Emoji

  • Over 70 new emoji characters including new food types, animals, mythical creatures, clothing options, more expressive smiley faces, gender-neutral characters and more

Photos

  • Resolves an issue that could cause some photos to appear blurry
  • Addresses an issue that could cause Live Photo effects to playback slowly
  • Fixes an issue that could cause some photos to not display in the People album when restoring from an iCloud Backup
  • Fixes an issue that could impact performance when swiping between screenshots

Accessibility

  • Improves braille support for Grade 2 input
  • Improves VoiceOver access to multi-page PDFs
  • Improves VoiceOver rotor actions for announcing incoming notifications
  • Improves VoiceOver rotor actions menu when removing an app from the App Switcher
  • Fixes an issue for some users where alternative keys would not display when using VoiceOver with Touch Typing
  • Fixes an issue where VoiceOver rotor would always return to default action in Mail
  • Fixes an issue where VoiceOver rotor would not delete messages

Other improvements and fixes

  • Adds back support for accessing the app switcher by pressing on edge of display with 3D Touch
  • Fixes an issue that caused cleared Mail notifications to reappear on Lock screen
  • Fixes an issue in enterprise environments that prevented data from being moved between managed apps
  • Fixes an issue with some 3rd-party GPS accessories that caused inaccuracies in location data
  • Resolves an issue where settings for Heart Rate notifications were appearing in Apple Watch app (1st generation)
  • Fixes an issue where app icons were not appearing in notifications on Apple Watch

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 11.0.3

iOS 11.0.3 includes bug fixes for your iPhone or iPad. This update:

  • Fixes an issue where audio and haptic feedback would not work on some iPhone 7 and 7 Plus devices
  • Addresses an issue where touch input was unresponsive on some iPhone 6s displays because they were not serviced with genuine Apple parts

Note: Non-genuine replacement displays may have compromised visual quality and may fail to work correctly. Apple-certified screen repairs are performed by trusted experts who use genuine Apple parts. See support.apple.com for more information.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 11.0.2

iOS 11.0.2 includes bug fixes and improvements for your iPhone or iPad. This update:

  • Fixes an issue where crackling sounds may occur during calls for a small number of iPhone 8 and 8 Plus devices
  • Addresses an issue that could cause some photos to become hidden
  • Fixes an issue where attachments in S/MIME encrypted emails would not open

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 11.0.1

iOS 11.0.1 includes bug fixes and improvements for your iPhone or iPad.

Apple Help Ios 11 Download

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 11

App Store

  • All-new App Store designed for discovering great apps and games everyday
  • New Today tab helps you discover new apps and games with stories, how-to guides, and more
  • New Games tab to find new games and see what's most popular with top game charts
  • Dedicated Apps tab with top picks, dedicated app charts, and app categories
  • App pages include more video previews, Editors' Choice badges, easier access to user ratings, and information about in-app purchases

Siri

  • New Siri voice is more natural and expressive
  • Translate English words and phrases into Chinese, French, German, Italian or Spanish (beta)
  • Siri suggestions based on your usage of Safari, News, Mail, and Messages
  • Works with notes apps to create to-do lists, notes and reminders
  • Works with banking apps for account transfer and balances
  • Works with apps that display QR codes
  • Hindi and Shanghainese dictation

Camera

  • Portrait mode now supports optical image stabilization, HDR and True Tone flash
  • Photos and videos will take up half the space with the new HEIF and HEVC image and video formats
  • Redesigned set of nine filters optimized for natural skin tones
  • Automatically identify and scan QR codes

Photos

  • Loop, Bounce, and Long Exposure Live Photo effects
  • Mute, trim, or choose a new key photo for Live Photos
  • Memory Movies automatically adapt content for portrait and landscape orientation
  • More than a dozen new memory types including pets, babies, weddings, and sporting events
  • People album is more accurate and stays up to date across devices with iCloud Photo Library
  • Animated GIF support

Maps

  • Indoor maps for major airports and shopping centers
  • Lane guidance and speed limit information with Turn-by-turn directions
  • One-handed zoom with double tap and swipe
  • Interact with Flyover by moving your device

Do Not Disturb while Driving

  • Automatically silences notifications while driving and keeps iPhone silent and display off
  • Optional iMessage auto reply to alert selected contacts that you're driving

New features designed for iPad

  • An all new Dock provides quick access to your favorite and recently used apps and can even be shown on top of active apps
    • Dock resizes so you can add all of your favorite apps
    • Recently used and Continuity apps are available on the right
  • Enhanced Slide Over and Split View
    • Apps can be easily started in Slide Over and Split View from the Dock
    • Slide Over and background apps now run simultaneously
    • Apps in Slide Over and Split View can now be placed on the left side of the screen
  • Drag and drop
    • Move text, images, and files between apps on iPad
    • Multi-Touch to move multiple items at the same time
    • Spring-loading to move content between apps
  • Markup
    • Markup works across documents, PDFs, webpages, photos and more
    • Instant markup anything in iOS - just place Apple Pencil on what you want to mark
    • Create a PDF and markup anything that can be printed
  • Notes
    • Instantly create a new note by tapping on Lock Screen with Apple Pencil
    • Inline drawing available by simply placing Apple Pencil in body of a note
    • Search handwritten text
    • Document scanner autocorrects for skewing and uses image filters to remove shadows
    • Table support to organize and display information
    • Pin important notes to the top of the list
  • Files
    • All-new Files app to browse, search and organize files
    • Works with iCloud Drive and 3rd party cloud file providers
    • Recents view for quick access to recently used files across all apps and cloud services
    • Create folders and sort files by name, date, size and tags

QuickType

  • Flick down on letter keys to enter numbers, symbols and punctuation marks on iPad
  • One-handed keyboard support on iPhone
  • New keyboards for Armenian, Azerbaijani, Belarusian, Georgian, Irish, Kannada, Malayalam, Maori, Odia, Swahili, and Welsh
  • English input on the 10-key Pinyin keyboard
  • English input on the Japanese Romaji keyboard
Pro

HomeKit

  • New accessory types including AirPlay 2 speakers, sprinklers and faucets
  • Expanded occupancy, time and accessory based triggers
  • QR code and tap to pair accessory setup support

Augmented Reality

  • Augmented reality technologies that apps from the App Store can use to deliver content on top of real-world scenes for interactive gaming, immersive shopping experiences, industrial design and more

Machine Learning

  • Core machine learning technologies that apps from the App Store can use to deliver intelligent features with machine learning data processed on device for high performance and user privacy

Other features and improvements

  • Control Center redesign brings all controls on one page
  • Control Center custom controls including accessibility, guided access, magnifier, text size, screen recording and Wallet
  • Apple Music now helps you discover music with friends. Create a profile so friends can listen to playlists you've shared and see the music you listen to most
  • Apple News now includes Top Stories picked just for you, recommendations from Siri, the best videos of the day in Today View, and great stories selected by our editors in the new Spotlight tab
  • Apple Podcasts has an all-new design. Use Listen Now to easily play new episodes or continue where you left off. Shows can now also contain seasons, trailers and bonus episodes.
  • Automatic Setup signs you in to iCloud, Keychain, iTunes, App Store, iMessage, and FaceTime with your Apple ID
  • Automatic Setup restores device settings including language, region, network, keyboard preferences, places you frequently visit, how you talk to Siri, home and health data
  • Easily share access to your Wi-Fi networks
  • Storage optimization notifications and free up space in Settings for apps like Photos, Messages, and more
  • Emergency SOS calls emergency services based on your current location and automatically notifies emergency contacts, shares your location, and displays your Medical ID
  • FaceTime lets you capture Live Photos from the other person's Mac or iPhone camera
  • Easily check Flight status in Spotlight and Safari
  • Definitions, conversions and math support in Safari
  • Russian and English bilingual dictionary
  • Portuguese and English bilingual dictionary
  • Arabic system font support

Accessibility

  • VoiceOver descriptions support for images
  • VoiceOver tables and lists support in PDFs
  • Type to Siri support for basic search queries
  • Spoken and braille caption support for videos
  • Dynamic Type increases text and app UI to larger sizes
  • Redesigned Invert Colors make media content easier to view
  • Highlight Colors improvements in Speak Selection and Speak Screen
  • Switch Control typing can scan and type whole words at a time

iOS 11 is performance optimized for 64-bit apps. 32-bit apps will need to be updated by the app developer to work with this version of iOS.

Some features may not be available for all countries or all areas, for more information visit: https://www.apple.com/ios/feature-availability and https://www.apple.com/ios/whats-new

For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

It’s easy to describe early 5G networks right now as messy: under-built, inconsistently performant, and quite likely to confuse potential users. All of the major carriers now portray 5G as a journey, not a destination, and since customers won’t necessarily find 5G signals wherever they go, initial attempts to squeeze them for extra monthly 5G access fees have mostly gone away, at least for now. As such, when the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro officially hit stores this week, many customers will switch from 4G to hybrid 4G/5G use without much friction.

While Google’s 5G updates to Android have been public for quite some time — dating back to Android 10 and continuing with Android 11 — Apple’s work on 5G has been cloaked in secrecy, at least on the software side. Although the company made a highly public deal in April 2019 to secure Qualcomm modems for its first 5G iPhones, it offered no clues as to how its iOS operating system would handle emerging challenges, such as connecting to low, mid, and high band 5G networks or issues over limited versus unlimited 5G data. Improperly executed, the impact to businesses and end users alike might have been immeasurably high, including everything from unexpectedly poor network speeds to massive monthly bills.

This week, Apple officially revealed its user-facing approach to 5G in a new support document for iOS 14.1, and while the details aren’t hugely different from what Google’s doing in Android 11, they’re more interesting than might be expected. Here are some of the high-level takeaways.

Apple is definitely working with and covering for the carriers

Back when AT&T announced it was going to market late-stage 4G as “5G Evolution” by adding a “5GE” icon to Android phones, some people hoped Apple wouldn’t play the misleading game that ultimately got AT&T sued and censured by a national advertising watchdog. But Apple did, adding 5GE to the iPhone 11. Now iOS 14.1 shows it’s going a step further, adding three new icons to the iPhone 12: “5G,” “5G+,” and “5GUW.” Google did the same thing with Android earlier this year, allowing carriers to differentiate their low and mid band “5G” from whatever marketing names they use for high band millimeter wave 5G (AT&T’s “5G+” or Verizon’s “5GUW”).

Clear? Not especially, but it could be worse. Most U.S. users will now see their phones flip between 4G, 5G, and either 5G+ or 5GUW, depending on locally available networks, with only three possible states (excluding older 3G and EDGE) to worry about. Based on the watchdog group’s ruling, it’s unclear whether AT&T’s 5GE icon will also disappear, leaving one fewer thing to confuse users.

Apple is going further than Google, however. Starting with iOS 14.1, iPhones will display these icons not just when they’re actually using those connections, but whenever they’re determined to be available. Apple calls this a feature of “Smart Data mode,” explaining that if your phone is on “5G Auto,” it will check whether your current 5G connection provides a “noticeably better experience” than 4G, and if not, it will use 4G instead of 5G.

In other words, “Smart Data” exists entirely to keep iPhone users from seeing and suffering from their mediocre low band 5G service. iPhones will keep showing “5G” icons but will not actually use non-performant 5G connections. For users, the only thing worse than this is the Android status quo — henceforth known as “stupid data”?– where phones sometimes connect to shaky 5G and either slow down or completely stall out.

A feature like “Smart Data” wouldn’t be necessary if carriers were consistently delivering the high-speed 5G performance they’ve been promising for the last two years. But that’s where we are right now.

Unlimited or limited 5G data?

One benefit of Apple’s belated arrival in the 5G phone market is that some early carrier squabbles over charging premiums for 5G access or unlimited data have largely been resolved in consumers’ favor. As Android 5G phones began to hit stores, the Chinese and South Korean governments pushed carriers to make 5G service as affordable as possible. Even absent government pressure, top U.S. carriers ultimately decided to offer unlimited 5G access at the same prices as unlimited 4G plans, with the caveat that currently hard-to-find “5G+” or “5GUW” access might be restricted to more deluxe unlimited bundles.

Since there isn’t a one-size-fits-all 5G plan across the world, iOS 14.1 has added a new Data Mode selection: “Allow more data on 5G.” Selecting this option increases the data bandwidth for two-way FaceTime video calling, videos in the TV app, and music, as well as third-party apps. Users will also be able to download iOS updates over cellular for the first time, as 5G networks (probably) won’t be choked by the multi-gigabyte transfers even when millions of people request them simultaneously.

Android 11 gives developers the ability to check whether the current network is “metered” or “unmetered” for data consumption, which it refers to as “meteredness.” If the network is “temporarily or permanently unmetered,” developers can deliver 4K video, proactive/prefetched downloads of content, and other features that might previously have been reserved for Wi-Fi connections. Google refers to this as turning “indoor use cases into outdoor use cases” and “niche use cases into mainstream use cases,” terms that may have seemed less ambitious before COVID-19 lockdowns.

Apple Ios 11 Update

Apple continues to offer “standard” and “low” data modes, reducing FaceTime and video quality for “standard” cellular connections and disabling background tasks and other updates in “low” usage conditions. Users unlucky enough to be on data-capped 5G plans will likely need to keep “standard” on at all times, as a fast 5G connection could eat through the entirety of a 10GB monthly data plan in minutes.

Roaming and dual-SIM concerns

Apple suggests that 5G data roaming is still in an early deployment stage, which is why turning on the Data Roaming switch will only deliver cellular data “through 4G or LTE networks when you travel.” That’s only partially true. Vodafone U.K. announced 5G roaming support across Germany, Italy, and Spain in July 2019, with a promise to rapidly expand to other European countries, while Korea Telecom offered 5G roaming in China, Finland, Italy, and Switzerland starting in September 2019. Put another way, international 5G roaming has been around for more than a year, so Apple appears to be lagging behind in support there.

Additionally, Apple is apparently still working on its 5G Dual SIM implementation, as it disclosed that using SIMs for two lines will for some reason prevent 5G from working on either line in countries other than China, a limitation that could prove problematic for some business travelers in the future. The company suggests that customers needing 5G should “obtain a local SIM card or eSIM and use it as a single line with 5G where available,” a workaround that will hopefully not be necessary for long.

In China, Apple says the Dual SIM capability only works fully with the initial “non-standalone” version of 5G, not the newer standalone version. Turning 5G Standalone mode on will activate 5G solely on one SIM and disable it on the other. Without getting deeper into the weeds and potential confusion there, there’s clearly still work to be done on the software side to make the new iPhones connect properly to all 5G networks, regardless of the hardware they’re sporting.

More to come

The 5G era is just beginning, so there’s every chance Apple, Google, and their carrier partners will address the current indicators, bandwidth challenges, and international issues over the next year or two, making 5G less confusing (and hopefully more performant) for users. Based on past class action lawsuits, my suspicion is that Apple’s retention of a “5G” icon regardless of actual use of the 5G connection may rile up some users and their attorneys — to say nothing of the 4G-like performance of some low band 5G connections. It remains to be seen whether this practice will continue over time, even if it leads to less 4G/5G icon flipping at the top of the screen.

The biggest positive takeaway from the current state of both mobile operating systems is that users should expect to start having at least somewhat better experiences with nascent 5G networks: fewer concerns about 5G performance, even if it’s unimpressive, and better use of legitimate 5G connections to deliver next-generation service quality. Real change will depend on future improvements on the carrier side, but at least it’s clear that businesses and end users will be able to count on their Android and iOS devices, whenever the 5G networks are ready.

Apple Ios 11

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