Apple finally revealed the iPhone 5 today. In addition to battery life improvements, camera improvements, and a thinner, lighter body, the device comes with LTE connectivity, as rumors have suggested.
There is also new Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n, 802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz, Up to 150 Mbps).
It comes with “Ultrafast Wireless,” as Apple puts it. Here’s what Apple says in the release:
iPhone 5 supports ultrafast wireless standards including LTE and DC-HSDPA, so you can browse, download and stream content even faster. To support the latest LTE technology, Apple has pioneered a unique single-radio LTE solution that provides blazing fast speeds while fitting perfectly into the new remarkably thin design. iPhone 5 features dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi support for a wireless experience up to 150 Mbps.
Apple is careful to note in the fine print that this is based on “theoretical speeds,” and that “actual speeds may vary.”
“There’s now a single chip for voice and data, and a single radio chip. And we have a unique Apple advantage with a dynamic antenna,” said Apple’s Phil Schiller, showing off the device.
It’s going to be available from a whole lot of carriers around the world. In the US, AT&T, Sprint and Verizon will all support 4G.
In Canada, it will be Rogers,Telus and Bell. In Europe, EE and Deutsch Telekom will support LTE, and in Asia, it will be KDDI, Softbank, KT, SK Telecom and SmartTone.
“You rely on your iPhone,” says Apple. “So a thin, light design and outstanding battery life are important to you. But so is a fast data connection. LTE wireless technology is built for speed, but adding it to a phone can create bulk and drain battery life quickly. iPhone 5 does LTE the right way — optimized for better battery life and designed for ultrafast connectivity in a thin profile. The very things you want most from your smartphone.”
“iPhone 5 supports more networks all over the world,” the company says. “That includes advanced networks such as HSPA, HSPA+, and DC-HSDPA. Browse, download, and stream content at ultrafast speeds. Dual-band 802.11n wireless connectivity accelerates your Wi-Fi experience, too — up to 150 Mbps.”
More details of the device here.