The iPhone 16 series, released just a few months ago, is already making waves for its impressive 5G download speeds. Packed with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon X75 5G modem, the iPhone 16 lineup is beating out rivals, including Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series, which features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 5G capabilities.
A report by Ookla, a prominent network intelligence company, has crowned the iPhone 16 series the global champion in 5G performance, revealing its superiority in numerous countries.
Global speed test results
According to the Ookla report, published on November 17, Apple’s iPhone 16 is ahead of the Galaxy S24 series in 5G download speeds across 11 countries spanning Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
While the performance difference varies by region, the iPhone 16 consistently outperforms Samsung’s flagship device in most markets. Notable exceptions include the Philippines and Brazil, where the Galaxy S24 holds a slight edge.
In India, the iPhone 16 series boasts an average 5G download speed of 261 Mbps, compared to the Galaxy S24’s 251 Mbps. However, Samsung’s flagship does have a minor advantage when it comes to upload speeds, clocking in at 19 Mbps, while the iPhone 16 lags slightly behind at 17 Mbps. As for latency, Apple’s latest device proves a bit faster than both the Galaxy S24 and previous iPhone models.
Day-to-day differences are slim
Despite Apple’s dominance in 5G download speeds, the difference between the iPhone 16 and the Galaxy S24 is quite subtle. For the average user, the real-world experience may not feel dramatically different.
Those focused on absolute performance and cutting-edge tech may appreciate the iPhone’s edge, but casual users likely won’t notice significant disparities in daily use. Nevertheless, Apple’s new flagship has certainly set the bar for 5G performance.
The future of 5G competition
However, the competition is far from over. With a fresh wave of Android smartphones on the horizon, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC and the next-gen Snapdragon X80 5G modem, the tables could turn.
These upcoming devices are expected to surpass the iPhone 16 in both networking speeds and latency, keeping the 5G race exciting. For now, though, the iPhone 16 holds the crown, setting the standard for what top-tier 5G performance should look like.
