Most Android smartphones feature a 4×4 MIMO antenna design, and Apple finally joined the club this year with the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. MIMO stands for ‘multiple input, multiple output’, and a 4×4 MIMO supported smartphone has four antennas, allowing for four simultaneous data streams. The iPhone XR, on the other hand, is 2×2 MIMO, which means it has two antennas, hence it is priced lower. A new report indicates that the iPhone XR successor will also have a 4×4 MIMO antenna design, joining the big leagues.
iPhone XR Also Reported to Feature Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Adapter This Year
The difference between the LTE performance of this year’s iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR was pretty apparent, with Cellular Insights and Rohde Schwarz highlighting that the difference becomes more noticeable in weak signal areas. SpeedSmart tests revealed that iPhone XS has considerably improved over its predecessor, the iPhone X which only includes 2×2 MIMO.
Related Apple iPhone XR Is Still $94 Cheaper In US After Chinese Discounts
However, this stands to change, as a Barclays research note obtained by MacRumors allegedly says that the next-generation iPhone XR will have a 4×4 MIMO antenna design. This will noticeably improve LTE transmission as the number of data paths between the phone and cellular towers will increase from two to four. As a result, the iPhone XR successor will offer faster data speeds.
Unlike most other major manufacturers, Apple has reportedly decided not to jump the 5G bandwagon this year. Apple usually waits for newer cellular technologies to mature before adopting them and 5G isn’t going to become mainstream this year anyway. However, 5G is going to be a major USP this year and a lot of carriers are going start rolling out their 5G networks this year. This year’s iPhones are already not performing as expected, and omission of 5G from this year’s lineup might further exacerbate the situation.
In such a scenario, it will be a logical move for Apple to at least add the 4×4 MIMO design to the next generation iPhone XR. Do you think this will introduce a wide range of benefits for customers wanting to get the cheapest model this year? Tell us your thoughts down in the comments.
Source: MacRumors
