iPhone 15: mmWave 5G Remains Limited to U.S. Models

Apple's cellular band page confirms that only U.S. models of the new iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max support mmWave 5G bands, as has been the case since the iPhone 12 series was released in 2020.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro lineup Action button 230912
mmWave is a set of 5G frequencies that promise ultra-fast speeds at short distances, which is ideal for dense urban areas. By comparison, sub-6GHz 5G is generally slower than mmWave, but the signals travel further, better serving suburban and rural areas. All four iPhone 15 models support sub-6GHz 5G outside of the U.S., and sub-6GHz networks are still more common than mmWave networks in countries that have rolled out 5G.

Australia, China, Japan, and Singapore are some of the countries outside of the U.S. that have deployed mmWave networks so far.

Apple announced the iPhone 15 series on Tuesday during its "Wonderlust" event. All four new models are equipped with a USB-C port and the Dynamic Island, while the Pro models have many additional features, including the A17 Pro chip, a lightweight titanium frame, a customizable Action button, 5x optical zoom on the Pro Max model, Wi-Fi 6E support, an increased 8GB of RAM, and more. The devices are available to pre-order starting this Friday at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, and will be released on Friday, September 22.

Related Roundup: iPhone 15
Tags: 5G, mmWave
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...

Top Rated Comments

tangfish Avatar
26 months ago
I would trade the mmWave capability for a physical SIM card tray in a heartbeat.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IIGS User Avatar
26 months ago
MM wave in the US was pretty much a mistake. Wireless carriers didn’t see the C band coming as soon as it did.

Now there’s legacy infrastructure related to MM wave in certain densely populated areas that will require years of support to realize. ROI before they’re phased out.

MM wave is an odd branch on the wireless family tree that will die out.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
max2 Avatar
26 months ago
That is stupid.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kiranmk2 Avatar
26 months ago
It made sense when these mmWave networks had not rolled out (and likely not yet licensed), but when other countries have started their rollouts (and presumably devices are allowed that use that band) it seems strange not to sell into those markets.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GMShadow Avatar
26 months ago

It made sense when these mmWave networks had not rolled out (and likely not yet licensed), but when other countries have started their rollouts (and presumably devices are allowed that use that band) it seems strange not to sell into those markets.
I would imagine most of the rollouts are on paper, and not substantial enough to merit support in the phones yet.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Agent OrangeZ Avatar
26 months ago
Hmmm.... US gets mmWave but no physical SIM but the rest of the world doesn't get mmWave, but gets physical SIM.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)