The UK Top 5 Fastest 5G Smartphones for Data are iPhones
New data from Ookla, which operates the popular broadband ISP and mobile network speed testing service – Speedtest.net, claims to have today revealed the top fastest 5G handsets in the UK for mobile broadband speed. Interestingly, they’re all Apple iPhones.
In order to be included in this table, a device had to have a market share of greater than or equal to 0.5% of all devices and a minimum sample size of at least 100 devices in a given market. Ookla also only included 5G samples, so the results shouldn’t be dragged down by older 4G and 3G technologies.
Naturally, there can be caveats with internet speed testing services like this, since we don’t know anything about the locations of different users, what mobile bands they were using to connect or whether their devices were performing any other background internet tasks while the test was being performed etc.
Advertisement
Network operators can also differ between locations by how much capacity they have available and what spectrum bands are being harnessed. Suffice to say that the results for the UK may not necessarily mirror what might be seen in other countries, as there are a lot of very changeable variables to consider. Nevertheless, iPhone owners should be pleased, but take this with a pinch of salt.
UK Top Five 5G Smartphones for Mobile Data Speed
- Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – Download (Mbps) 171.24 / Upload (Mbps) 16.59
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max – Download (Mbps) 165.49 / Upload (Mbps) 13.84
- Apple iPhone 14 Pro – Download (Mbps) 158.24 / Upload (Mbps) 15.06
- Apple iPhone 13 mini – Download (Mbps) 157.42 / Upload (Mbps) 11.91
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro – Download (Mbps) 154.50 / Upload (Mbps) 13.26
The iPhone 14 Pro Max and Pro also took the top spot in the USA (details), although Samsung handsets dominated the remaining three places (Z Fold 4, S21+ 5G and S22 Ultra).
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
« London ISP CommunityFibre Discounts 1-10Gbps Biz Full Fibre Plans
Haven’t all the recent iPhones that support 5G have the same chipset and support the same bands, so why such a varying difference on the newer phones?
The differences are fairly small, so it could be just statistical (issue of the data, rather than the device) or maybe slight differences in the antenna or physical case design. But I’m not familiar enough with iPhones to know.
I’m guessing it’s to do with the fact that the newer phones are probably more so in the hands of wealthier people that can take advantage of newer speeds. That is a farmer with terrible signal is not as likely to upgrade to the latest model Vs a banker in Canary wharf.
Selection bias I would suspect as apposed to the phones themselves.
Darren I was thinking the same thing. Like it or not you are more likely to get a better connection/speed in more affluent areas. Ok it’s not always the case but statistically speaking it’s true. Also if you live in one of those more affluent areas, and have better mobile speeds, you’re probably more likely to invest in a more expensive device to boot.
I don’t think this thing actually tells us that iPhone = faster. The problem with stats. Although it’s not wrong to say what the stats show, correlation and causation and all that.
All recent iPhones have modems from Qualcomm. Most Android flagships also use Qualcomm modems/SoC – with the exception of Google and some Samsung that use Samsung modems – so performance should be the same there. Band support should also be the same, at least at the higher end.
@Bingo: “You are more likely to get a better connection/speed in more affluent areas. Ok it’s not always the case but statistically speaking it’s true”
I’ve not seen any solid evidence in the UK to corroborate that to a high enough level of confidence, can you provide some?
You might also want to consider that less affluent areas are often associated with public ownership (e.g. council / social housing estates), but public ownership can sometimes also be easier for mobile operators to access via master wayleaves – once agreed – to deploy their infrastructure.
The S22 Ultra is (very nearly) as expensive as the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The Z Fold 4 is way more expensive. I guess the people who own these must live in the affluent areas with poor signal.
Well My Brother In Law Dave works for Root metrics which as we know is now owned by Ookla and he’s been testing 5SG speeds for the last few weeks so I will ask him.
It’s a dream job and I sometimes go and stay in the resorts where he stays with him -(free holiday basically) but I will ask him about this.
God, I hate Apple plc
My S21+ just did 144/25.6 Mbps on 4G (EE)… so yeah… taking it with a grain of salt.
650 down and 21 up, galaxy fold 3, dirty council estate.
Not sure this has anything to do with living in an impoverished area.
@Bert LMAO..
Handset: Huawei P20 Lite
Not 5G speed: 5.8 down 0.5 up
Location: The back seat of a 58 plate Type R outside a stinking greesyspoon cafe in the outskirts of nowhere, south Wales.
Personally, I definitly agree that there is some correlation relating to deprived & impoverished area’s Vs. handset & 4G/5G connection availability + speeds.
Xiaomi Mi 11 – Three 5G – 1300mbps down, 140mbps up… oh yeah
average for the device on all networks (including the shitty ones like EE and O2 that drag the number down)
I guess they didnt test HUAWEI Mate 50 Pro which is the most expensive pro model in the world and in photography it beats pixel 7 pro, only available in china Honor magic pro 4 ultimate and iPhone 14 pro max.
Its available to buy in the UK.
Looking to grab me a bargin with a new P50 or whatever is their flagship product and upgrade my P20 lite. Playstore embargo or not… This handset has prooer been in the trenches with me, replaced cracked screen like 4 times, i thought this time ill leave screen crack until it dies on me.. ITS STILL ROLLING STRONG like 12mo later.. Huawei devices have earned my trust, I can live with my hanset calling back home or a china man pinging my device every now and then, if it means value for money on a solid 5G capbile handset and quick speeds and is not Apple.