Ookla has analyzed the performance of the freshly launched iPhone 16 from Apple, focusing on speed and latency measurements. The data collection spanned from September 20 to October 20 across 11 countries. The iPhone 16 models were compared to the iPhone 14, 15 families, and Samsung’s latest Galaxy S24 models.
While these findings are preliminary, Ookla highlights the holiday season as a peak time for device upgrades. Notably, pre-sales for the new iPhone have been slower than expected. This hesitation is attributed to consumers retaining their devices longer due to high upgrade costs and trade issues like Indonesia’s ban on non-local components.
The study discovered the iPhone 16 series outperformed its predecessors in 5G performance in several regions analyzed. Significant speed advantages were seen in markets like the United States, Canada, France, and Taiwan. However, the decision to upgrade should consider more than just network performance; price and features are also critical factors.
The iPhone 16 models recorded a marked improvement in median 5G download speeds in five of the countries surveyed. However, the Galaxy S24 outperformed in latency and median 5G upload speeds in eight countries. In the U.S., the iPhone 16 achieved 324.23 Mbps in downlink speeds, exceeding both the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S24. All tested devices attained a solid 5G latency under 53 milliseconds.
Despite all devices delivering good speeds, the iPhone 16’s performance is compelling for users seeking the fastest 5G experience. Yet, Ookla urges users to weigh various factors before deciding to upgrade.
In Canada, the iPhone 16 excelled with speeds 45 Mbps faster than earlier models, though the top speed was 182 Mbps. Meanwhile, in India, the iPhone 16’s median 5G download speed surpassed 260 Mbps, with older models slightly exceeding 230 Mbps. France witnessed nearly 60 Mbps better performance from the new iPhone.
