How will the lack of mmWave support affect the iPhone SE 4's performance in urban areas

Impact of Lack of mmWave Support

1. Speed Limitations: mmWave 5G can deliver peak download speeds significantly higher than sub-6 GHz networks, especially in congested urban areas. For instance, mmWave can achieve speeds up to 10 Gbps under optimal conditions, while the iPhone SE 4's modem, which supports only sub-6 GHz, may cap peak downloads around 4 Gbps[2][3]. This means that users in high-demand areas, such as stadiums or busy city centers, will experience slower data rates compared to those using devices with mmWave capabilities.

2. Performance in High-Density Areas: Urban settings often see a concentration of users, leading to network congestion. mmWave technology is designed to handle this by providing higher capacity and faster speeds in dense environments[4][6]. Without mmWave support, the iPhone SE 4 may struggle to maintain optimal performance during peak usage times, resulting in slower upload and download speeds compared to competitors like the iPhone 16 series that utilize Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75 modem[1][3].

3. Carrier Aggregation: The iPhone SE 4's modem reportedly supports fewer carrier aggregation features than Qualcomm's offerings. This limitation could further hinder its ability to combine multiple data streams for faster speeds, particularly in urban areas where multiple carriers are essential for maximizing throughput[2][3].

4. Real-World Usage: While the theoretical speeds of mmWave are impressive, real-world usage often reveals that many users may not notice a drastic difference unless they are located within close proximity to a mmWave tower. However, in urban environments where such infrastructure is available, users with mmWave-capable devices will benefit from superior performance during high-demand scenarios[5][7].

Conclusion

In summary, the lack of mmWave support in the iPhone SE 4 will likely result in reduced performance in urban areas compared to devices that do support this technology. Users may find that while everyday tasks are manageable on sub-6 GHz networks, they could miss out on the enhanced speeds and reliability offered by mmWave technology during peak usage times and in densely populated locations.