An iPhone 8 does not have the hardware to use the 5G band. However it will still be able to use 4G/LTE so your phone will still work for years to come.
None of the earlier iPhone models supports 5G and will never be capable of. This is the case for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max and the iPhone SE 2020.
Contact your carrier if you're not sure. Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options or Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options. If you see this screen, your device is 5G capable.
With all the upgraded smartphone tech, you might prefer to buy a more recent iPhone model, but the iPhone 8 is still a perfectly good smartphone in 2023.
Currently, iPhone 8 and all other variants are running on iOS 16 and it is unlikely for the model to support iOS 17. But some experts say that the update can continue till 2024 or 2025 because they discontinued the production after three years of the launch. The iPhone 8 is still a pretty workable device for customers.
But since phones are not modular by nature, in reality, it is impossible to upgrade a 4G phone to support 5G. You'll be better served upgrading to a newer phone that natively supports the faster 5G networks.
There are a few ways to determine whether your iPhone 8 is 3G, 4G, or 5G. First, you can check the status bar at the top of the screen. If you see the LTE icon, then your phone is 4G. If you see the 5G E icon, then your phone is 5G.
The iPhone 14 range, iPhone SE (2022), iPhone 13 range and iPhone 12 range all support 5G, meaning you can get 5G with the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2022), iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 ...
With 5G, you can expect higher download speeds when using mobile data, lower latency (the time it takes for a device to respond to information or an action), increased reliability and more network capacity. Basically, 5G is faster and more stable than 4G, and it's capable of connecting a lot more devices.
The easy answer is no; You will not need a new SIM card for 5G. Most modern phones support both 4G and 5G, and switching to 5G is as easy as making sure your plan is 5G compatible.
The Apple iPhone 8 has now been configured for use of 4G networks.
iPhone 8 model A1863
The A1863 is the CDMA + GSM model that works on all US carriers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint and smaller MVNOs like Mint Mobile or Cricket Wireless.
iPhone 12 models or later work with the 5G mobile networks of certain service providers.
The Apple iPhone 8 Plus has now been configured for use of 4G networks.
Within the U.S., it's reasonable to assume that by the end of 2022 there will not be a single major carrier supporting 2G. The same fate awaits 3G. 4G LTE operates under a different scenario, and we can confidently say that 4G will be around for at least another decade.
No, not at all. 4G will be around for years to come as we have seen with 3G. Mobile service operators still — albeit in very few areas — offer 3G services. So 5G will not mean the end of 4G.
The growth of 5G networks doesn't mean 4G is going away. Mobile carriers will use existing 4G LTE networks to provide their customers' cell service well into the next decade. 5G networks will work with 4G — not outright replace it. The upshot is that 5G-capable cell phones will still use 4G technology.
On Tuesday, a separate source with a good track record for predicting the general release window of upcoming Apple software updates suggested that iOS 17 will drop support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, while iPadOS 17 will drop support for the first-generation 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and fifth ...
Fortunately, you can use your iPhone's serial number to help you figure out when it was manufactured. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap General > About > Serial Number. The fourth character in your serial number will tell you the year your iPhone was manufactured.