Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

beerseagulls

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 18, 2021
831
620
Apple, Google Fi or T-Mobile. Who's fault is is that iPhones can't get 5G service when using Google Fi?
 
Apple, Google Fi or T-Mobile. Who's fault is is that iPhones can't get 5G service when using Google Fi?
Apple hasn’t whitelisted them and unsure they ever will. It’s up to Google to meet requirements for this to happen. Hope it does. Switching my business line as soon as it happens.
 
Google makes money off of data mining. So why offer all features on a competitor’s smartphone?
They want you to use a Pixel or Android phone first and foremost.

Google wants you to use as much of their services as possible. There’s a reason why their products and services are cheaper and/or even free.
 
I’m an existing Fi customer switching to iPhone and I asked Fi support about iPhone 5G while my 14 Pro was in transit. They initially said it is not supported, but then put me on hold to check something. Then came back and told me they were happy to be able to let me know that 5G for iPhone 14 would be coming very soon, and that there would be no issues using iPhone 14 with 5G on Fi once that was fully released.

They seemed quite clear of both what I was asking and what they were conveying back in response. So we may very well have 5G quite soon. Who knows, maybe it is one of the other things coming in the 16.1 update.

I also asked about a cellular plan for Apple Watch, sadly, no news on that front.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jha and Whyy
I’m an existing Fi customer switching to iPhone and I asked Fi support about iPhone 5G while my 14 Pro was in transit. They initially said it is not supported, but then put me on hold to check something. Then came back and told me they were happy to be able to let me know that 5G for iPhone 14 would be coming very soon, and that there would be no issues using iPhone 14 with 5G on Fi once that was fully released.

They seemed quite clear of both what I was asking and what they were conveying back in response. So we may very well have 5G quite soon. Who knows, maybe it is one of the other things coming in the 16.1 update.

I also asked about a cellular plan for Apple Watch, sadly, no news on that front.
Really looking forward to this!
 
Apparently Fi now has 5G support on iPhones. Haven't confirmed personally - can anyone confirm?
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2022-10-02 at 1.18.44 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2022-10-02 at 1.18.44 PM.png
    84.2 KB · Views: 767
Apparently Fi now has 5G support on iPhones. Haven't confirmed personally - can anyone confirm?
I can confirm it is not available yet. I just asked support again after seeing your message. I only have LTE showing up, but thought maybe I needed to reprovision the eSIM, so figured I would ask them again to find out. They say that it is still in progress and there will be an update soon.
 

Attachments

  • 1CDB0249-72DB-4A9A-BD1C-4D529FFA141F.png
    1CDB0249-72DB-4A9A-BD1C-4D529FFA141F.png
    361.2 KB · Views: 466
I can confirm it is not available yet. I just asked support again after seeing your message. I only have LTE showing up, but thought maybe I needed to reprovision the eSIM, so figured I would ask them again to find out. They say that it is still in progress and there will be an update soon.
I was given false information by a few reps. It's not yet available.
 
It’s an issue on Google’s part, not Apple’s or T-Mobile’s. I don’t know the exact correct wording/phrasing but it would have to do with how they provision devices to the network.
 
I wouldn’t trust anything a Fi rep says, my experience with them has been universally awful. As with all Google things, if you can’t do it yourself it can’t be done.

Google has not paid Apple to certify them for inclusion in the vendors list. They are still in there as a generic vendor. It’s on Google to fix this. Being Google, it’s just as likely they’ll abruptly cancel Fi as it is that they will ever do this.
 
I’m an existing Fi customer switching to iPhone and I asked Fi support about iPhone 5G while my 14 Pro was in transit. They initially said it is not supported, but then put me on hold to check something. Then came back and told me they were happy to be able to let me know that 5G for iPhone 14 would be coming very soon, and that there would be no issues using iPhone 14 with 5G on Fi once that was fully released.

They seemed quite clear of both what I was asking and what they were conveying back in response. So we may very well have 5G quite soon. Who knows, maybe it is one of the other things coming in the 16.1 update.

I also asked about a cellular plan for Apple Watch, sadly, no news on that front.

Honestly, I'd switch to another service. Why buy an expensive phone that's crippled by a service to save a few bucks?
 
  • Like
Reactions: NoBoMac
Honestly, I'd switch to another service. Why buy an expensive phone that's crippled by a service to save a few bucks?

Heck! Quick glance at Fi's current rates vs T-Mobile and Fi is not much different price-wise so no real savings there. And if going with cheapest Fi option ($20 + $10/GB), can get a pre-paid plan that will give more GB/$.

Fi was an interesting option when they first introduced it 10+(?) years ago, but today, looks pretty average and would be easiest to move to a "real" service.
 
Heck! Quick glance at Fi's current rates vs T-Mobile and Fi is not much different price-wise so no real savings there. And if going with cheapest Fi option ($20 + $10/GB), can get a pre-paid plan that will give more GB/$.

Fi was an interesting option when they first introduced it 10+(?) years ago, but today, looks pretty average and would be easiest to move to a "real" service.
Resurrecting a dead thread here.

As of 16.4, Google FI now has 5G on iPhones (Can confirm this personally), as well as wifi calling, and Google's VPN all working. I just switched back to FI from T-Mobile for several reasons:

  • YubiKey: Google accounts can be locked down with their "advanced protection" scheme. Meaning you can only log in with your Yubikey. I love this as T-Mobile has breaches and sim-swap scandals about once a month. Often corrupt T-Mo employees are complicit in sim swap attacks. Since many sites (and banks) insist on using SMS for 2FA,I want my phone provider's account to have proper security.
  • International Roaming: While not a big a deal as it used to be in the age of cheap eSims... Google FI still has hands down the best hassle free global roaming for travelers. Pre-pandemic I was overseas at least 2x per month and being able to land and have my phone just work without fear of huge bills was great. On my current plan I can roam at full speed data in over 200 countries up to 50GB/month (slow after that).
  • Free international calling: Also less of a big deal in the age of WhatsApp, but it is nice to be able to call family overseas without worrying about additional fees.
  • Free Data only sim: With my FI plan, I can order up to 4 Data Only sims for my devices. I ordered one for my iPad Pro... which will save me $20/month I was paying for this on T-Mobile. Why not just tether? Well my iPad Pro has WAAY better reception/throughput than my iPhone 12 Pro Max.
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.