I've just bought a second-hand iPhone 12 mini with a mysterious indentation in the side, which turns out to be for the 5G antenna on the US version. Anyone know if this is a problem in the UK?

(It's from one of the big vendors, so no problem with returning it.)
--
TimH
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On 16 Jul 2024 at 2:35:39 PM BST, "TimH" <[email protected]d> wrote:

I've just bought a second-hand iPhone 12 mini with a mysterious indentation in
the side, which turns out to be for the 5G antenna on the US version. Anyone know if this is a problem in the UK?

(It's from one of the big vendors, so no problem with returning it.)

Ok, I think I've found the answer: the US version shoud be compatible with all 5G networks, whereas the non-US phones aren't compatible with US networks. Unless anyone knows different?
--
TimH
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Am 16.07.24 um 16:58 schrieb TimH:

On 16 Jul 2024 at 3:37:22 PM BST, "Jörg Lorenz" <[email protected]> wrote:

Am 16.07.24 um 15:45 schrieb TimH:

whereas the non-US phones aren't compatible with US networks.

This is wrong.

https://www.apple.com/chde/iphone/cellular/

I'm all for brevity, but...

Anyway, for what it's worth, this page:

https://www.knowyourmobile.com/user-guides/which-iphones-have-5g/

claims to list all the frequencies supported by the iPhone 12 in the US and UK, and the UK list appears to be a subset of the US list. So that's encouraging, at least.

European iPhones can all roam in the US in the 5G networks.

--
"Gutta cavat lapidem." (Ovid)

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Am 16.07.24 um 15:45 schrieb TimH:

whereas the non-US phones aren't compatible with US networks.

This is wrong.

https://www.apple.com/chde/iphone/cellular/

--
"Gutta cavat lapidem." (Ovid)

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On 16 Jul 2024 at 3:37:22 PM BST, "Jörg Lorenz" <[email protected]> wrote:

Am 16.07.24 um 15:45 schrieb TimH:

whereas the non-US phones aren't compatible with US networks.

This is wrong.

https://www.apple.com/chde/iphone/cellular/

I'm all for brevity, but...

Anyway, for what it's worth, this page:

https://www.knowyourmobile.com/user-guides/which-iphones-have-5g/

claims to list all the frequencies supported by the iPhone 12 in the US and
UK, and the UK list appears to be a subset of the US list. So that's encouraging, at least.
--
TimH
pull tooth to reply by email

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On 16/07/2024 14:35:39, TimH wrote:

I've just bought a second-hand iPhone 12 mini with a mysterious indentation in
the side, which turns out to be for the 5G antenna on the US version. Anyone know if this is a problem in the UK?

(It's from one of the big vendors, so no problem with returning it.)

Don't know what you have there, I have a 12 Mini here, and no
indentations. There's only the SIM slot, and the three buttons on the sides.

I can confirm though, that the iPhone 12 Mini does work on 5G here. I
use GiffGaff (which is on the O2 network).

I did have to activate 5G in my account though, otherwise it doesn't use it.

FWIW, I bought my iPhone 12 from GiffGaff as a used one, although it
came in an 'as new' condition with 11 months warranty on, and zero
battery cycles.

I believe these can also use an eSIM. Yours isn't an eSIM only model,
without a physical SIM card slot is it? Don't know if they exist, but it
might explain the indentation - or is the SIM holder just missing?

--
Andy H

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On 16 Jul 2024 at 5:42:43 PM BST, "Andy H" <[email protected]> wrote:

On 16/07/2024 14:35:39, TimH wrote:

I've just bought a second-hand iPhone 12 mini with a mysterious indentation in
the side, which turns out to be for the 5G antenna on the US version. Anyone >> know if this is a problem in the UK?

(It's from one of the big vendors, so no problem with returning it.)

Don't know what you have there, I have a 12 Mini here, and no
indentations. There's only the SIM slot, and the three buttons on the sides.

Actually I already have a 'normal' 12 mini, which is why I noticed the difference; this page

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidphelan/2020/10/14/apple-iphone-12-has-an-unidentified-side-panel-mystery-solved-5g-mmwave-window-iphone-12-pro/

identifies the indentation/side panel as being a feature of the US model.

I can confirm though, that the iPhone 12 Mini does work on 5G here. I
use GiffGaff (which is on the O2 network).

Yep, me too :)

--
TimH
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On 16/07/2024 19:21:43, TimH wrote:

On 16 Jul 2024 at 5:42:43 PM BST, "Andy H" <[email protected]> wrote:

On 16/07/2024 14:35:39, TimH wrote:

I've just bought a second-hand iPhone 12 mini with a mysterious indentation in
the side, which turns out to be for the 5G antenna on the US version. Anyone
know if this is a problem in the UK?

(It's from one of the big vendors, so no problem with returning it.)

Don't know what you have there, I have a 12 Mini here, and no
indentations. There's only the SIM slot, and the three buttons on the sides.

Actually I already have a 'normal' 12 mini, which is why I noticed the difference; this page

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidphelan/2020/10/14/apple-iphone-12-has-an-unidentified-side-panel-mystery-solved-5g-mmwave-window-iphone-12-pro/

identifies the indentation/side panel as being a feature of the US model.

OK, wow, fair enough, that's why we've never seen it before then. I
guess you did get a US model then ;-)

As long as it works I suppose.

--
Andy H

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Am 17.07.24 um 12:25 schrieb TimH:

Just to wrap this up, in case anyone else is ever looking for the info. The waveband capabilities seem to be as follows:

iPhone 12 mini Model A2176 (US)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz)
FDD‑LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66, 71)
TD‑LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48)
5G NR (Bands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79)
5G NR mmWave (Bands n260, n261)

iPhone 12 mini Model A2399 (global)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
CDMA EV‑DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz) – for Hong Kong, Macao, and some other countries
FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 66)
TD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48)
5G Bands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n66, n77, n78, n79)

So the US model covers all the bands that the global one does, plus a few more.

*QED*

--
"Gutta cavat lapidem." (Ovid)

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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Just to wrap this up, in case anyone else is ever looking for the info. The waveband capabilities seem to be as follows:

iPhone 12 mini Model A2176 (US)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz)
FDD‑LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66, 71)
TD‑LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48)
5G NR (Bands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79)
5G NR mmWave (Bands n260, n261)

iPhone 12 mini Model A2399 (global)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
CDMA EV‑DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz) – for Hong Kong, Macao, and some other countries
FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30,
32, 66)
TD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48)
5G Bands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n66, n77, n78, n79)

So the US model covers all the bands that the global one does, plus a few
more.

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On 16 Jul 2024 at 8:24:07 PM BST, "Andy H" <[email protected]> wrote:

As long as it works I suppose.

Not looking forward to the next upgrade, mind. No small phones after the 13 mini :(
--
TimH
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