The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro series promise many enhancements to compete with this year's Android flagships, from faster A14 Bionic chips and improved cameras to a wider range of models at lower prices.

However, new leaks related to the iPhone 12's 5G connectivity could give Apple a significant advantage over the Samsung Galaxy Note 20, Google Pixel 5, and other devices scheduled for release this year.

As we reported yesterday, the iPhone 12 will reportedly use the new Qualcomm X60 5G modem. This is according to a report from Digitimes, which has a varied track record regarding iPhone rumors. If true, however, the iPhone 12 could leapfrog the Note 20, which is expected to offer the older Qualcomm X55 modem.

So how is the X60 better? The Snapdragon X60 5G modem announced in February is based on a 5nm processor, so the modem itself should have a smaller footprint. iPhone 12 could be thinner than iPhone 11 I have seen reports that this may be one of the ways Apple can make this happen.

More importantly, users should expect higher power efficiency from this 5nm modem, which should result in longer battery life. iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone 11 have the best web surfing and battery life at 11 hours 54 minutes and 11 hours 16 minutes, respectively. battery life. However, these results are with 4G.

The 5G Samsung Galaxy S20 (9:31) and Galaxy S20 Plus (10:31) did not make the list, as neither could break 11 hours, but the Galaxy S20 Ultra (11:58) has a high capacity 5,000mAh battery The Galaxy S20 Ultra (11:58) has a 5,000mAh high-capacity battery. The Galaxy S20 Ultra (11:31), however, has a large 5,000 mAh battery. It will be interesting to see if Apple can extract more durability from the smaller battery. For example, the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max is rumored to have a 4,400 mAh battery.

Another major upgrade to the Snapdragon X60 modem is its ability to aggregate both mmWave and sub-6 GHz networks to achieve the "best of both worlds." In other words, the iPhone 12 should be able to utilize both bands simultaneously to maximize speed and coverage.

What is not clear from the Digitimes report is whether the new modem will be limited to the iPhone 12 Pro series or whether it will also be included in the regular iPhone 12. Previous reports indicate that the iPhone 12 will only support sub-6 GHz networks, while the iPhone 12 Pro series will work with both mmWave and sub-6 GHz.

When the Snapdragon X60 was announced in February, Qualcomm said that "5G smartphones powered by the Snapdragon X60 will be available in early 2021." However, sampling for customers was expected to begin in the first quarter of 2020, so Apple may have gained exclusivity on this part of the market.

With the iPhone 12 launch reportedly delayed until October or even November, Apple could be the first on this modem. And that would be a strong statement given that this is Apple's first foray into 5G phones.