Apple has just unveiled the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, which come with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon X75 modem. This new modem brings several exciting improvements, including 5G Advanced support, lower power consumption, and enhanced 5G carrier aggregation for faster upload speeds. These upgrades should offer a noticeable boost in mobile connectivity for the iPhone 16.

Does this new modem = faster speed?

In simple terms, yes, we’ve seen positive results. By comparing speed test data from the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max with last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, we’ve observed an impressive average increase of 23.7% in download speeds across all three major US networks. Verizon stands out with a 26.4% improvement in average 5G download speeds.

Both T-Mobile and Verizon show strong network performance with the new iPhone, reaching average download speeds of over 400 Mbps. These speeds are likely to improve further as T-Mobile’s 5G UC and Verizon’s UW coverage continue to expand. AT&T also shows a healthy 25.7% increase in 5G download speeds with the new iPhone. Additionally, the Snapdragon X75 modem has made notable improvements in upload speeds, an often overlooked but important metric. Across all three networks, upload speeds have increased by 22.1%, with average speeds now comfortably over 30 Mbps.

With the addition of WiFi 7, this year's iPhone update appears to be a step forward in connectivity. We’ll be sure to provide an update later this year to see how 5G speeds are holding up across all three carriers.

Why take a speed test?

Internet Speed Testing is the process of measuring your internet connection’s performance, which includes download and upload speeds, latency, and more. This data helps you understand how efficiently your internet connection works.

In our fast-paced digital world, where everything is just a click away, having a reliable and speedy internet connection is essential. It affects your work, entertainment, and overall online experience. But how do you know if you’re getting the internet speed you’re paying for? The answer lies in Internet Speed Testing. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, significance, and how to make the most out of your internet connection.

Super important, an internet speed test provides a snapshot of your connection at a specific moment. Regularly checking your speeds helps you monitor performance, identify bottlenecks, and ensure you’re getting the most out of your ISP.

Understanding Speed Test Metrics:

Before diving into Internet Speed Testing, let’s clarify the metrics involved:

• Download Speed: This measures how fast data travels from the internet to your device. Higher download speeds mean quicker access to web pages and content.
• Upload Speed: This measures how quickly data is sent from your device to the internet. It’s crucial for activities like video conferencing and file uploads.
• Ping (Latency): This is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to a remote server and back. Low latency is essential for smooth online gaming and real-time applications.
• Jitter: This is the variation in response times. A good connection will have a reliable and consistent response time, which is represented as a lower jitter score.

Why Regular Speed Testing Is Essential:

Keep up on your ISP or mobile cellular service provider. Regularly checking your internet speed is essential for several reasons:

• Monitoring Performance: Conducting regular speed tests allows you to monitor the performance of your internet connection over time. By tracking your speeds, you can identify patterns, fluctuations, and potential issues that may affect your online experience.
• Optimizing Performance: Understanding your internet speed can help optimize your online experience. For example, if you frequently stream videos or play online games, knowing your internet speed can help you adjust settings or choose appropriate streaming resolutions for smoother playback and reduced buffering.
• Troubleshooting Connectivity Issues: If users experience slow internet speeds or intermittent connectivity issues, conducting speed tests can help identify the problem. It could be due to network congestion, hardware issues, or problems with the ISP. By analyzing the results of speed tests, users can troubleshoot and take appropriate actions to improve their connection.
• Detecting Throttling: Some ISPs may throttle internet speeds for certain types of traffic. By regularly testing their internet speed, users can detect if their ISP is throttling certain types of traffic and take appropriate action, or use a VPN to get around any throttling that may happen.
• Identifying Bottlenecks: Regular testing helps you find bottlenecks in your network. For example: If you’re paying for a 200 Mbps or faster internet plan but using older wireless N devices with a subpar router, you might struggle to reach consistent speeds even when close to the router. Wired gigabit ethernet connections should always max your plan’s speed; if not, there could be various issues, such as network congestion.

Conclusion:

Internet speed tests are a valuable tool for anyone seeking a reliable and high-speed internet connection. By monitoring performance, holding ISPs accountable, detecting network issues, and optimizing for specific activities, users can ensure a seamless online experience.

In summary, regular self-checks of your network provide confidence you are getting the fastest speeds possible and help troubleshoot any issues that may arise. So go ahead and test your internet speed. It’s a quick and easy way to ensure everything is running smoothly!

The iPhone 15 is one of the fastest performing cellphones in the world for 5G data speed but what US mobile network does it perform best on?

All 3 major US networks have come a long way in 5G performance in the last 12 months, and 5G performance is getting very fast. T-Mobile still has the highest average download speed across the nation with Verizon not far behind. When looking at the 10 largest metro areas in the US, T-Mobile has the fastest download speed in 6 out of 10 areas. Both Verizon and T-Mobile are impressive averaging over 200 Mbps in all 10 regions and over 300 Mbps in a few.

Upload Speed & Latency

When it comes to upload speed, it is much closer between the 3 networks. T-Mobile still has the highest overall upload speed, but AT&T has a significantly higher upload speed in some metro areas. Latency is where AT&T shines, it is a small difference between all 3 networks but AT&T consistently has lower latency. This can make things feel more snappy when browsing or lead to better gaming if you do that over a cellular connection.

It is always nice to see faster network speeds and to also see how each network performs across the country. For what network is the fastest for your iPhone 15? It still depends on where you are... If you live in a large city it is generally going to be T-Mobile today but in some locations, Verizon or AT&T will be faster. If you are thinking of switching carriers we highly recommend using an eSim trial to take the network for a test drive.

With September comes a new iPhone and just like years past, it also means a new cellular modem for iPhone users. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon X70 modem which offers significantly lower power consumption gains, provide better 5G carrier aggregation capabilities, and better connectivity when your iPhone is further away from a cell tower.

New Modem = Faster 5G Speed

This year's upgrade offers a nice bump in overall 5G network performance. As you can see from the chart above, we pulled speed test result data for just the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, comparing it against last year's iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. All 3 major networks in the US saw significant gains in download speed with minor bumps in upload speed.n we were expecting. An average download speed of 255 Mbps over 5G is very impressive.

Verizon had the biggest gain with the new phones being 24% faster, T-Mobile a close second at 22% faster but with 300 Mbps being the average download speed across the country. AT&T had a 14.6% faster average download speed. It is a very impressive showing all 3 networks averaging over 200 Mbps on 5G across the country.

Ping times, like upload speed, had mostly minor bumps in performance to unchanged between devices. It is always nice to see faster download speed, but going forward it would be great in future updates to see ping times and upload speed improve on 5G networks.

There is always next year for that...

iPhone 14 Pro + Snapdragon X65 Modem

The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon X65 modem for lower power consumption and most importantly, we are excited about faster 5G speeds. Up to 38% faster if you are on T-Mobile and 32% faster on Verizon in the US.

As you can see by the chart above, we pulled data for just the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max and compared it against the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max. The speed difference is a much more significant jump than we were expecting. An average download speed of 255 Mbps over 5G is very impressive.

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What about Latency?

Not only did 5G Download & Upload speeds improve. Latency (Ping Time) averages have also dropped. This helps to make your phone feel faster as you are browsing the web.

• T-Mobile iPhone 14 Pro avg. Ping: 52.88 ms
• T-Mobile iPhone 13 Pro avg. Ping: 62.20 ms
• Verizon iPhone 14 Pro avg. Ping: 37.09 ms
• Verizon iPhone 13 Pro avg. Ping: 52.24 ms

We will update this data in the coming weeks as our sample is only for a few days. But things are off to an impressive start.