iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Dual SIM 5G

[screamace]

Anyone had success enabling 5G while using both eSIM and physical SIM? According the Apple 5G should work as long as one line is turned off, however I haven't been able to enable 5G. I'm on AT&T btw.

* I had iPhone 12 Pro with AT&T using PHYSICAL SIM first, and 5G was working fine.
* I went to AT&T today to move from physical SIM to eSIM. It moved over successfully but I forgot to check if 5G was working.
* I popped in my other SIM card in, set up dual SIM, then TURNED OFF this line.
* 5G option is nowhere to be found for my AT&T line even after reboot.

My other line is an oversea SIM only for receiving texts (2-factor and verification code, mostly) so I don't need to use it all the time. I was hoping I can keep the SIM in the slot and still get 5G for majority of the time.

Apple doc that shows turning off the second line should allow 5G to work:

 

[Sneakz]

If I recall from a Verizon support document, to get 5G with eSIM, any physical sim will have to be ejected. Not simply turned off.

 

[screamace]

If I recall from a Verizon support document, to get 5G with eSIM, any physical sim will have to be ejected. Not simply turned off.

Just tried it too, still doesn't work. Only see LTE and 4G under Cellular Data Options. Called AT&T support and waiting for a call back now.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

I am in the same boat so far. can't get 5G on eSim yet.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

Two minute call to At&t support has 5G working on the eSim now. And I can also now have another SIM card in and have 5G working as long as that line is turned off, like you wanted OP.

 

[screamace]

I just came back from AT&T store. We activated a different eSIM on the phone and was able to get the 5G option instantly. Then I was able to add second SIM and, while greyed out, still see 5G options for AT&T line. Not sure what's wrong with the first eSIM.

Btw for the past 2 iPhones I got charged $10 each time for getting an eSIM. I didn't get charged for the two eSIM cards I got today.

 

[JamesRubin]

This is a major disappointment. I wouldn't mind if you had to just disable cellular data on one line and could still get calls, but completely disabling the second line in order to use 5G is a real downer. It's unbelievable to me that Apple could make such a mistake. I'm glad to hear a software update will cure it. Otherwise I would return my iPhone 12 Pro Max and wait for next year.

 

[stylinexpat]

This is a major disappointment. I wouldn't mind if you had to just disable cellular data on one line and could still get calls, but completely disabling the second line in order to use 5G is a real downer. It's unbelievable to me that Apple could make such a mistake. I'm glad to hear a software update will cure it. Otherwise I would return my iPhone 12 Pro Max and wait for next year.

Chinese smartphones are way ahead when it comes down to stuff like this. In particular Huawei but others are now as well

 

[deadstockmarket]

It works on Verizon. I’ve got the esim connected to Verizon with 5G and my physics international sim is inside but turned off. 5G and UW works.

 

[Lost Hills]

This is how it looks on one line when both are switched on. iOS 14.2 12 pro max ATT. The 5G options are greyed out. If I switch off either line, the other can then do 5G

 

[ZipZap]

ATT seems to be the issue and its on Apple to fix. Frankly, I dont understand why this is missing unless ATT asked apple to block hoping people would get a second phone. Just seems odd. And Apple need to tell us when it will be fixed, not just say by the end of the year.

 

[stylinexpat]

This is how it looks on one line when both are switched on. iOS 14.2 12 pro max ATT. The 5G options are greyed out. If I switch off either line, the other can then do 5G

1 bar looks like poor cell data reception. Just about most new iPhones I have seen have 1-2 bars cell reception at max. I think they may have another antenna issue problem with this new iPhone.

 

[macrumours4568]

They claimed shortly after launch it was going to be a "software bug" that could be fixed but I wonder if they "stole" the dual sim antenna to make 5G work and it will be a hardware limitation but they didn't want to admit to that initially. It's got my 12 PRO order on hold for now until we find out if this is really a software problem or not

 

[Lammy]

ATT seems to be the issue and its on Apple to fix. Frankly, I dont understand why this is missing unless ATT asked apple to block hoping people would get a second phone. Just seems odd. And Apple need to tell us when it will be fixed, not just say by the end of the year.

Att isn’t the problem with dual sim and 5g. Qualcomm hasn’t shipped the update to enable it yet.

 

[JW313]

I have Tmobile ESIM and Verizon SIM:

If I turn off either of these SIMs, 5G is activated on the activated sim.

 

[fr4c]

I have Tmobile ESIM and Verizon SIM:

If I turn off either of these SIMs, 5G is activated on the activated sim.

I have this setup on my 11 Pro currently. So if I understand correctly, to use 5G on either service I would have to disable one SIM completely?

 

[JW313]

I have this setup on my 11 Pro currently. So if I understand correctly, to use 5G on either service I would have to disable one SIM completely?

There is a slider in the cellular menu to turn off one of the lines, when I do that 5G connects on the line that isn't turned off.

 

[yticolev]

Just for reference, this is one of the several limitations of Qualcomm's X55 modem. Their X60 modem (already being manufactured) is why I think next year's iPhone 13 (or whatever the name) is a must upgrade. For me, it is more about the efficiency. Dual SIM for me will only be for overseas trips which isn't happening anytime soon.

 

[eric65]

I have Tmobile ESIM and Verizon SIM:

If I turn off either of these SIMs, 5G is activated on the activated sim.

In which phone do you have Tmobile 5G ESIM working? I cannot make Tmobile ESIM work on my iPhone 12 Pro Max on any network I tried: “5G on”, “5G Auto” and “LTE” and spent all day on 12/5/2020 with Tmobile level2 support without success, now waiting for "engineering" to contact me. My radio is showing 1-2 bars 5G, LTE and 4G alternating but without any connectivity which can be tested for data speed ("Check your internet connection and try again”).

 

[pw5a29]

Just for reference, this is one of the several limitations of Qualcomm's X55 modem. Their X60 modem (already being manufactured) is why I think next year's iPhone 13 (or whatever the name) is a must upgrade. For me, it is more about the efficiency. Dual SIM for me will only be for overseas trips which isn't happening anytime soon.

Samsung phones (also using x55) supports DSDS 5G & 4G, heard OnePlus also, not sure if Apple needs to update or Qualcomm needs to provide sth to apple

 

[wickkedd]

Just for reference, this is one of the several limitations of Qualcomm's X55 modem. Their X60 modem (already being manufactured) is why I think next year's iPhone 13 (or whatever the name) is a must upgrade. For me, it is more about the efficiency. Dual SIM for me will only be for overseas trips which isn't happening anytime soon.

I don't think this is the reason, because Apple documentation mentions that iPhones sold in China with dual physical sims can use 5g on both lines. Those phones have the same modem, I believe.

 

[JW313]

In which phone do you have Tmobile 5G ESIM working? I cannot make Tmobile ESIM work on my iPhone 12 Pro Max on any network I tried: “5G on”, “5G Auto” and “LTE” and spent all day on 12/5/2020 with Tmobile level2 support without success, now waiting for "engineering" to contact me. My radio is showing 1-2 bars 5G, LTE and 4G alternating but without any connectivity which can be tested for data speed ("Check your internet connection and try again”).

I have used dual sim on 11 Pro, and 12 Pro and also 12 mini.

I did nothing to activate 5G. I didnt even use a new SIM, just transferred ESIM to new device on activation and 5G worked.

 

[eric65]

transferred ESIM to new device on activation and 5G worked

Thank you for confirming mobile 5G works on ESIM on iPhone12. Can you do "standalone 5G" on ESIM as well?

 

[JW313]

Thank you for confirming mobile 5G works on ESIM on iPhone12. Can you do "standalone 5G" on ESIM as well?

Not sure what you mean. I can do 5G on either ESIM or SIM if the other is turned off.

 

[eric65]

Not sure what you mean. I can do 5G on either ESIM or SIM if the other is turned off.

Description of "Standalone 5G" by Tmobile: https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/standalone-5g-launch.
The 3rd Tmobile level2 tech support could not make my new virgin ESIM work in my iPhone 12 pro max and on 12/11/2020 wrote a ticket for engineering (again) to work on. She managed to activate 5G/LTE on my new R15 SIM in my iPhone 12 pro max. All 3 settings “5G on”, “5G Auto” and "LTE" work for me with very little if any difference in speed (I'm in the middle of Silicon Valley). I'm not sure if "5G on" is equivalent to "Standalone 5G", but now I care less as I do not see any meaningful difference in speed. The level2 tech informed that later this year Apple is coming with a software update to support dual SIM. As of this time I'm waiting for Tmobile to fix my ESIM, while using R15 SIM in my iPhone 12 pro max.