Updated sources say that Apple plans to add support to 5G networks not connected to the Earth's surface, including satellites, in upcoming iPhone models, as early as next year. This will help the iPhone have complete internet access via satellite.
If it is in line with the earliest time frame of 2026, then the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the rumored foldable iPhone model could be the first devices to fully support 5G satellite internet, before this feature expands to the standard iPhone 18 series around March 2027.
Currently, there is no service that provides direct satellite 5G connection to smartphones. Apple's satellite features, starting with the iPhone 14, are now limited to SOS Northern Conference, Find My, messaging and Support when encountering problems on the road.
Apple's long-term vision is to allow the iPhone to connect directly to satellite 5G internet without the need for intermediary hardware.
If this plan comes true, the iPhone will become one of the first mobile devices in the world to be able to fully connect to 5G satellite internet, marking a major step forward in global telecommunications technology.
This not only helps users maintain communication in remote areas and islands but also creates a premise for the era of always-connected phones, not dependent on ground-based infrastructure.
However, to make that prospect a reality, Apple still has to overcome a series of technical, legal and commercial challenges. However, with the company's pioneering history in shaping mobile experiences, technology experts believe that the 5G satellite internet on the iPhone is just a matter of time.
