OpenSignal, 5G Smartphone Data Download Speed Test in the US
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Ranks 1st
New Apple iPhone 12 and LG Velvet Also Outperform
Encouraging Reduction in Speed Gap Compared to 4G Competitors
[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] Samsung Electronics and Apple, rivals in the premium smartphone market, received contrasting results for 5G speeds in the United States. The top 5G device in terms of speed was the Samsung Galaxy S21, while Apple's iPhone 12 failed to enter the top 25 rankings. However, it is encouraging that Apple’s use of Qualcomm’s modem chip in its 5G iPhones has reduced the speed gap compared to other brands, unlike during the 4G service era.
According to IT specialist media PhoneArena and AppleInsider on the 17th, internet speed measurement company Opensignal measured the data download speeds of 5G smartphone models in the U.S., revealing these results.
According to the Opensignal report, the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G ranked first with an average speed of 56 Mbps, followed by the TCL Revvl 5G and OnePlus 8T Plus with average speeds of 49.8 Mbps and 49.3 Mbps, respectively, ranking second and third. The LG Velvet 5G ranked 25th with a speed of 37.9 Mbps.
Apple’s first 5G smartphone series, the iPhone 12, remained outside the ranking. The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max recorded average speeds of 36.9 Mbps and 36.2 Mbps, respectively, while the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini recorded speeds of 29.6 Mbps and 32.9 Mbps, respectively.
Apple is also expected to equip its new tablet PC, the iPad Pro, with 5G functionality for the first time. Previous models supported 4G. Opensignal predicted that applying 5G compared to its own 4G service could provide data speeds that are 36% faster.
Opensignal also analyzed that the competition for 5G service speeds has become fiercer compared to the 4G era. This is because Apple introduced 5G models using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X55 5G modem chip, which is used by most Android phones. It added that the speed difference with Samsung is only about 18%. This is an improvement compared to the 4G iPhones, which lagged about twice behind Google and OnePlus smartphones.
Opensignal expects the 5G speed competition to accelerate this year. The report stated, "When new spectrum is released in the U.S. by the end of this year, additional capacity will be added to increase speeds," and "carriers are continuing to expand 5G service coverage and are developing new elements of 5G standards such as standalone 5G access."
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