iOS 16.4 will support faster 5G on T-Mobile

In August 2020, T-Mobile launched what it called a "standalone" 5G network across the US. Non-standalone networks, as used by most carriers, delivers 5G speeds but does so by leveraging existing LTE architecture.

That's sped up the rolling out of 5G to customers, but it hasn't provided the maximum speeds that 5G can offer. With 5G used for the core routing of the service, 5G Standalone should be quicker and, according to T-Mobile, be more robust.

Now France's Consomac site reports that the latest iOS 16.4 beta includes a 5G Standalone option in the iPhone's Settings. Reportedly, the setting defaults to on for T-Mobile users.

It's claimed that 5G Standalone can exceed 3Gbps. but as yet, T-Mobile is the only network supporting it.

"This is where it gets interesting," Neville Ray, President of Technology at T-Mobile, said at the 2020 launch, "opening the door for massive innovation in this country — and while the other guys continue to play catch up, we'll keep growing the world's most advanced 5G network."

It's not yet clear what the benefits for consumers will be, nor how wide the "standalone" network actually is.