Buying iPhone 12 in the UK? Here's where you can use 5G

(Image credit: Apple)

5G first hit the UK back at the end of May 2019, with the launch of EE 5G services in six cities. Nearly 18 months later and eight different networks offer 5G connectivity — even if the rollout has been slow to expand to new areas.

5G phones are not new by any means, but the upcoming release of the iPhone 12 is also set to put 5G handsets into the hands of even more people. iPhones are popular, after all, and everyone who buys the devices are going to want to take full advantage of its capabilities — including the high speed, low latency connection of 5G.

Here are all the best 5G phones that aren't made by Apple
What you need to know whether your 5G phone will be futureproof
Plus: iPhone 12 just embarrassed all other 5G phones — here’s why

The issue is 5G isn’t everywhere, so we’ve compiled a list of locations that do offer 5G services — plus the networks that are running them.

Which UK networks have 5G?

A lot of the major networks are now offering some sort of 5G coverage, whether they’re the major networks that have their own mobile infrastructure or the virtual operators that rely on the bigger networks’ phone masts. All four major networks offer 5G coverage, which means EE, O2, Three, and Vodafone customers can sign onto a 5G contract and connect to 5G signals — assuming they’re in range.

Only a few virtual operators offer 5G right now, but so far we have BT (using EE signal), Voxi (using Vodafone’s), Sky Mobile, and Tesco (both connecting via O2). Of course only Sky Mobile and Tesco are actually independent networks, since VOXI is part of Vodafone and BT naturally owns EE.

Which areas of the UK have 5G?

Swipe to scroll horizontally

UK 5G Coverage by Location
Location	EE	O2	Three	Vodafone
Aberdeen	Yes	Yes	Yes	Row 0 - Cell 4
Abingdon-on-Thames	Row 1 - Cell 1	Row 1 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 1 - Cell 4
Aldershot	Yes	Row 2 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 2 - Cell 4
Altrincham	Yes	Row 3 - Cell 2	Row 3 - Cell 3	Row 3 - Cell 4
Ambleside	Row 4 - Cell 1	Row 4 - Cell 2	Row 4 - Cell 3	Yes
Ashford	Yes	Yes	Row 5 - Cell 3	Row 5 - Cell 4
Ashton-under-Lyne	Yes	Row 6 - Cell 2	Row 6 - Cell 3	Row 6 - Cell 4
Balloch	Row 7 - Cell 1	Row 7 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 7 - Cell 4
Barrhead	Yes	Row 8 - Cell 2	Row 8 - Cell 3	Row 8 - Cell 4
Barrow-in-Furness	Row 9 - Cell 1	Row 9 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 9 - Cell 4
Banstead	Row 10 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 10 - Cell 3	Row 10 - Cell 4
Bath	Yes	Row 11 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 11 - Cell 4
Basildon	Row 12 - Cell 1	Yes	Yes	Row 12 - Cell 4
Bebington	Row 13 - Cell 1	Row 13 - Cell 2	Row 13 - Cell 3	Yes
Bedford	Row 14 - Cell 1	Row 14 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 14 - Cell 4
Belfast	Yes	Yes	Row 15 - Cell 3	Yes
Belshill	Yes	Row 16 - Cell 2	Row 16 - Cell 3	Row 16 - Cell 4
Birkenhead	Yes	2020	Yes	Yes
Birmingham	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bishopbriggs	Row 19 - Cell 1	Row 19 - Cell 2	Row 19 - Cell 3	Yes
Blackpool	Yes	2020	Yes	2020
Blaydon	Row 21 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 21 - Cell 3	Row 21 - Cell 4
Bootle	Row 22 - Cell 1	Row 22 - Cell 2	Row 22 - Cell 3	Yes
Borehamwood	Yes	Row 23 - Cell 2	Row 23 - Cell 3	Row 23 - Cell 4
Bolton	Row 24 - Cell 1	Row 24 - Cell 2	Row 24 - Cell 3	Yes
Bournemouth	Row 25 - Cell 1	2020	Row 25 - Cell 3	2020
Bradford	Row 26 - Cell 1	Yes	Yes	Row 26 - Cell 4
Bransholme	Yes	Row 27 - Cell 2	Row 27 - Cell 3	Row 27 - Cell 4
Brentwood	Yes	Row 28 - Cell 2	Row 28 - Cell 3	Row 28 - Cell 4
Bridge of Don	Row 29 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 29 - Cell 3	Row 29 - Cell 4
Brookmans Park	Row 30 - Cell 1	Row 30 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 30 - Cell 4
Brighton	Row 31 - Cell 1	Yes	Yes	Row 31 - Cell 4
Bristol	Row 32 - Cell 1	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bury	Yes	Row 33 - Cell 2	Row 33 - Cell 3	Row 33 - Cell 4
Cardiff	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cambridge	2020	2020	Yes	Row 35 - Cell 4
Cannock	Row 36 - Cell 1	Row 36 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 36 - Cell 4
Castleford	Yes	Row 37 - Cell 2	Row 37 - Cell 3	Row 37 - Cell 4
Castlereagh	Yes	Row 38 - Cell 2	Row 38 - Cell 3	Row 38 - Cell 4
Chatham	Yes	Yes	Row 39 - Cell 3	Row 39 - Cell 4
Cheadle	Row 40 - Cell 1	Row 40 - Cell 2	Row 40 - Cell 3	Yes
Chelmsford	Yes	Row 41 - Cell 2	Row 41 - Cell 3	Row 41 - Cell 4
Cheltenham	Row 42 - Cell 1	Row 42 - Cell 2	Row 42 - Cell 3	Yes
Cheshunt	Yes	Row 43 - Cell 2	Row 43 - Cell 3	Row 43 - Cell 4
Chesterfield	Yes	Yes	Row 44 - Cell 3	Row 44 - Cell 4
Chester-le-Street	Yes	Row 45 - Cell 2	Row 45 - Cell 3	Row 45 - Cell 4
Chorley	Yes	Row 46 - Cell 2	Row 46 - Cell 3	Row 46 - Cell 4
Clayton-le-Woods	Row 47 - Cell 1	Row 47 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 47 - Cell 4
Clevedon	Yes	Row 48 - Cell 2	Row 48 - Cell 3	Row 48 - Cell 4
Clifton (Notts)	Yes	Row 49 - Cell 2	Row 49 - Cell 3	Row 49 - Cell 4
Clydebank	Yes	Row 50 - Cell 2	Row 50 - Cell 3	Row 50 - Cell 4
Crawley	Yes	Row 51 - Cell 2	Row 51 - Cell 3	Row 51 - Cell 4
Crosby	Row 52 - Cell 1	Row 52 - Cell 2	Row 52 - Cell 3	Yes
Coventry	Row 53 - Cell 1	Yes	Yes	Row 53 - Cell 4
Cullingworth	Row 54 - Cell 1	Row 54 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 54 - Cell 4
Cumbernauld	Yes	Row 55 - Cell 2	Row 55 - Cell 3	Row 55 - Cell 4
Dartford	Yes	Yes	Row 56 - Cell 3	Row 56 - Cell 4
Derby	2020	Yes	Yes	Row 57 - Cell 4
Dewsbury	Row 58 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 58 - Cell 3	Row 58 - Cell 4
Dinnington	Yes	Row 59 - Cell 2	Row 59 - Cell 3	Row 59 - Cell 4
Doncaster	Yes	Row 60 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 60 - Cell 4
Droylsden	Row 61 - Cell 1	Row 61 - Cell 2	Row 61 - Cell 3	Yes
Dudley	Yes	Row 62 - Cell 2	Row 62 - Cell 3	Row 62 - Cell 4
Dunbarton	Row 63 - Cell 1	Row 63 - Cell 2	Row 63 - Cell 3	Yes
Dundee	Row 64 - Cell 1	Yes	Yes	Row 64 - Cell 4
Dyce	Row 65 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 65 - Cell 3	Row 65 - Cell 4
Eastbourne	Row 66 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 66 - Cell 3	Row 66 - Cell 4
Eccles	Row 67 - Cell 1	Row 67 - Cell 2	Row 67 - Cell 3	Yes
Edinburgh	Yes	Yes	Row 68 - Cell 3	Yes
Epsom	Yes	Row 69 - Cell 2	Row 69 - Cell 3	Row 69 - Cell 4
Esher	Row 70 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 70 - Cell 3	Row 70 - Cell 4
Eton	Row 71 - Cell 1	2020	Row 71 - Cell 3	Row 71 - Cell 4
Gateshead	Row 72 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 72 - Cell 3	Row 72 - Cell 4
Gatwick	Row 73 - Cell 1	Row 73 - Cell 2	Row 73 - Cell 3	Yes
Gillingham	Yes	Yes	Row 74 - Cell 3	Row 74 - Cell 4
Glasgow	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Gloucester	2020	Row 76 - Cell 2	Row 76 - Cell 3	Row 76 - Cell 4
Gorebridge	Row 77 - Cell 1	Row 77 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 77 - Cell 4
Grays	Yes	Yes	Row 78 - Cell 3	Row 78 - Cell 4
Great Shelford	Row 79 - Cell 1	Row 79 - Cell 2	Row 79 - Cell 3	Yes
Grimsby	Row 80 - Cell 1	Row 80 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 80 - Cell 4
Guildford	Yes	2020	Yes	Yes
Hamilton	Yes	Row 82 - Cell 2	Row 82 - Cell 3	Row 82 - Cell 4
Harlow	Yes	Row 83 - Cell 2	Row 83 - Cell 3	Row 83 - Cell 4
Heanor	Row 84 - Cell 1	Row 84 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 84 - Cell 4
Hedge End	Row 85 - Cell 1	Row 85 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 85 - Cell 4
Hemel Hempsted	Row 86 - Cell 1	Yes	Yes	Row 86 - Cell 4
Hoddesdon	Row 87 - Cell 1	Row 87 - Cell 2	Row 87 - Cell 3	Row 87 - Cell 4
Horwich	Row 88 - Cell 1	Row 88 - Cell 2	Row 88 - Cell 3	Yes
Hove	Row 89 - Cell 1	2020	Row 89 - Cell 3	Row 89 - Cell 4
Huyton-with-Roby	Row 90 - Cell 1	Row 90 - Cell 2	Row 90 - Cell 3	Yes
Huddersfield	Yes	Yes	Yes	Row 91 - Cell 4
Hull	Yes	Yes	Row 92 - Cell 3	Row 92 - Cell 4
Ilkeston	Yes	Row 93 - Cell 2	Row 93 - Cell 3	Row 93 - Cell 4
Ipswich	Row 94 - Cell 1	Row 94 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 94 - Cell 4
Inchinnan	Yes	Row 95 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 95 - Cell 4
Isle of Scilly	Row 96 - Cell 1	Row 96 - Cell 2	Row 96 - Cell 3	Yes
Jarrow	Yes	Yes	Row 97 - Cell 3	Row 97 - Cell 4
Kimberley	Yes	Row 98 - Cell 2	Row 98 - Cell 3	Row 98 - Cell 4
Kingston Upon Thames	Yes	2020	Row 99 - Cell 3	Row 99 - Cell 4
Kingswood (Bristol)	Row 100 - Cell 1	Row 100 - Cell 2	Row 100 - Cell 3	Yes
Lancaster	Row 101 - Cell 1	Row 101 - Cell 2	Row 101 - Cell 3	Yes
Leeds	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Leicester	Yes	Yes	Yes	Row 103 - Cell 4
Leyland	Row 104 - Cell 1	Row 104 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 104 - Cell 4
Lichfield	Yes	Row 105 - Cell 2	Row 105 - Cell 3	Row 105 - Cell 4
Lincoln	Row 106 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 106 - Cell 3	Row 106 - Cell 4
Lisburn	Yes	Yes	Row 107 - Cell 3	Row 107 - Cell 4
Liverpool	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Llandudno	Row 109 - Cell 1	Row 109 - Cell 2	Row 109 - Cell 3	Yes
Loughborough	Yes	Row 110 - Cell 2	Row 110 - Cell 3	Row 110 - Cell 4
Loughton	Yes	Row 111 - Cell 2	Row 111 - Cell 3	Row 111 - Cell 4
London	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lower Stondon	Row 113 - Cell 1	Row 113 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 113 - Cell 4
Luton	Row 114 - Cell 1	Yes	Yes	Row 114 - Cell 4
Maidstone	Yes	Row 115 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 115 - Cell 4
Manchester	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mangotsfield	Row 117 - Cell 1	Row 117 - Cell 2	Row 117 - Cell 3	Yes
Mansfield	Row 118 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 118 - Cell 3	Row 118 - Cell 4
Middlesbrough	Row 119 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 119 - Cell 3	Row 119 - Cell 4
Milnrow	Yes	Row 120 - Cell 2	Row 120 - Cell 3	Row 120 - Cell 4
Milton Keynes	Row 121 - Cell 1	2020	2020	Row 121 - Cell 4
Minster	Yes	Row 122 - Cell 2	Row 122 - Cell 3	Row 122 - Cell 4
Mirfield	Yes	Row 123 - Cell 2	Row 123 - Cell 3	Row 123 - Cell 4
Morley	Row 124 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 124 - Cell 3	Row 124 - Cell 4
Motherwell	Yes	Row 125 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 125 - Cell 4
Neston	Row 126 - Cell 1	Row 126 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 126 - Cell 4
Newbury	Row 127 - Cell 1	2020	Row 127 - Cell 3	Yes
Newcastle	Yes	Yes	Row 128 - Cell 3	Row 128 - Cell 4
Newtownabbey	Row 129 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 129 - Cell 3	Row 129 - Cell 4
Newton-le-Willows	Yes	Row 130 - Cell 2	Row 130 - Cell 3	Row 130 - Cell 4
Northampton	Yes	Yes	Row 131 - Cell 3	Row 131 - Cell 4
North Shields	Yes	Yes	Row 132 - Cell 3	Row 132 - Cell 4
Norwich	Row 133 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 133 - Cell 3	Row 133 - Cell 4
Nottingham	Yes	Yes	Yes	Row 134 - Cell 4
Nuneaton	Yes	Row 135 - Cell 2	Row 135 - Cell 3	Row 135 - Cell 4
Oldbury/Smethwick	Row 136 - Cell 1	Row 136 - Cell 2	Row 136 - Cell 3	Yes
Oldham	Yes	Row 137 - Cell 2	Row 137 - Cell 3	Row 137 - Cell 4
Orpington	Row 138 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 138 - Cell 3	Row 138 - Cell 4
Oxford	Yes	Yes	Row 139 - Cell 3	Row 139 - Cell 4
Paisley	Yes	Row 140 - Cell 2	Row 140 - Cell 3	Yes
Penarth	Row 141 - Cell 1	Row 141 - Cell 2	Row 141 - Cell 3	Yes
Peterborough	2020	Yes	Yes	Row 142 - Cell 4
Plymouth	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pontefract	Yes	Row 144 - Cell 2	Row 144 - Cell 3	Row 144 - Cell 4
Portsmouth	2020	Row 145 - Cell 2	2020	Yes
Porthcawl	Yes	Row 146 - Cell 2	Row 146 - Cell 3	Row 146 - Cell 4
Potters Bar	Yes	Row 147 - Cell 2	Row 147 - Cell 3	Row 147 - Cell 4
Preston	Row 148 - Cell 1	Row 148 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 148 - Cell 4
Prestwish	Row 149 - Cell 1	Row 149 - Cell 2	Row 149 - Cell 3	Yes
Rainham	Row 150 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 150 - Cell 3	Row 150 - Cell 4
Reading	Row 151 - Cell 1	2020	Yes	Yes
Redcar	Row 152 - Cell 1	Row 152 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 152 - Cell 4
Redhill	Row 153 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 153 - Cell 3	Row 153 - Cell 4
Rochdale	Yes	Row 154 - Cell 2	Row 154 - Cell 3	Yes
Rochester	Yes	Row 155 - Cell 2	Row 155 - Cell 3	Row 155 - Cell 4
Romford	Yes	Row 156 - Cell 2	Row 156 - Cell 3	Row 156 - Cell 4
Rotherham	Yes	Yes	2020	Row 157 - Cell 4
Royston	Row 158 - Cell 1	Row 158 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 158 - Cell 4
Rugeley (West Mids)	Yes	Row 159 - Cell 2	Row 159 - Cell 3	Row 159 - Cell 4
Salford	Yes	Row 160 - Cell 2	Row 160 - Cell 3	Yes
Sheffield	Yes	Yes	Yes	Row 161 - Cell 4
Shelly Green	Row 162 - Cell 1	Row 162 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 162 - Cell 4
Shipley	Yes	Row 163 - Cell 2	Row 163 - Cell 3	Row 163 - Cell 4
Slough	Row 164 - Cell 1	Yes	Yes	Row 164 - Cell 4
Solihull	Yes	Row 165 - Cell 2	Row 165 - Cell 3	Yes
Southampton	2020	2020	2020	Yes
Southend on Sea	Yes	Row 167 - Cell 2	Row 167 - Cell 3	Row 167 - Cell 4
South Shields	Yes	Yes	Row 168 - Cell 3	Row 168 - Cell 4
St. Albans	Row 169 - Cell 1	Row 169 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 169 - Cell 4
Staines-upon-Thames	Yes	Yes	Row 170 - Cell 3	Row 170 - Cell 4
Stafford	Yes	Row 171 - Cell 2	Row 171 - Cell 3	Row 171 - Cell 4
Stevenage	Yes	Row 172 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 172 - Cell 4
Stirling	Yes	Row 173 - Cell 2	Row 173 - Cell 3	Row 173 - Cell 4
Stockport	Row 174 - Cell 1	Row 174 - Cell 2	Row 174 - Cell 3	Yes
Stoke-on-Trent	Row 175 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 175 - Cell 3	Yes
Stranraer	Row 176 - Cell 1	Row 176 - Cell 2	Row 176 - Cell 3	Yes
Stretford	Row 177 - Cell 1	Row 177 - Cell 2	Row 177 - Cell 3	Yes
Sunbury	Row 178 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 178 - Cell 3	Row 178 - Cell 4
Sunderland	Yes	Yes	Yes	Row 179 - Cell 4
Sutton Coaldield	Yes	Row 180 - Cell 2	Row 180 - Cell 3	Yes
Swansea	Row 181 - Cell 1	Row 181 - Cell 2	Yes	Yes
Swadlincote	Yes	Row 182 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 182 - Cell 4
Swindon	Row 183 - Cell 1	Row 183 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 183 - Cell 4
Swinton and PendleburyUrmston	Row 184 - Cell 1	Row 184 - Cell 2	Row 184 - Cell 3	Yes
Sydenham	Yes	Row 185 - Cell 2	Row 185 - Cell 3	Row 185 - Cell 4
Thundersley	Row 186 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 186 - Cell 3	Row 186 - Cell 4
Tynemouth	Row 187 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 187 - Cell 3	Row 187 - Cell 4
Wakefield	Yes	Row 188 - Cell 2	Row 188 - Cell 3	Row 188 - Cell 4
Wallasey	Row 189 - Cell 1	Row 189 - Cell 2	Row 189 - Cell 3	Yes
Walsall	Yes	Row 190 - Cell 2	Row 190 - Cell 3	Row 190 - Cell 4
Waltham Abbey	Yes	Row 191 - Cell 2	Row 191 - Cell 3	Row 191 - Cell 4
Waltham Cross	Yes	Row 192 - Cell 2	Row 192 - Cell 3	Row 192 - Cell 4
Walton-on-Thames	Yes	Row 193 - Cell 2	Row 193 - Cell 3	Row 193 - Cell 4
Warwick	Yes	Row 194 - Cell 2	Row 194 - Cell 3	Row 194 - Cell 4
Washington	Yes	Yes	Row 195 - Cell 3	Row 195 - Cell 4
Warrington	Row 196 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 196 - Cell 3	Yes
Watford	Yes	Row 197 - Cell 2	Row 197 - Cell 3	Row 197 - Cell 4
West Bromwich	Yes	Row 198 - Cell 2	Row 198 - Cell 3	Row 198 - Cell 4
Westhoughton	Yes	Row 199 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 199 - Cell 4
Weston-Super-Mare	Yes	Row 200 - Cell 2	Row 200 - Cell 3	Row 200 - Cell 4
Weybridge	Yes	Yes	Row 201 - Cell 3	Row 201 - Cell 4
Wickford	Yes	Row 202 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 202 - Cell 4
Wigan	Row 203 - Cell 1	Row 203 - Cell 2	Yes	Row 203 - Cell 4
Windsor	Row 204 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 204 - Cell 3	Row 204 - Cell 4
Wolverhampton	Yes	2020	2020	Yes
Worcester	2020	Row 206 - Cell 2	Row 206 - Cell 3	Row 206 - Cell 4
Worthing	Row 207 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 207 - Cell 3	Row 207 - Cell 4
York	Row 208 - Cell 1	Yes	Row 208 - Cell 3	Row 208 - Cell 4

As you can see it’s quite the mishmash of locations, ranging from big cities to small towns you probably won’t have heard of if you don’t live nearby. EE is clearly winning in terms of number of locations, though it’s also facing some stiff competition from O2 and Three.

So if you’re looking for the most comprehensive 5G coverage, EE (or BT) is clearly the way to go. Of course O2 has quite the reach too, and its availability on Sky and Tesco gives you more choice on contracts and data plans.

Of course 5G coverage isn’t universal, even in places where the network is available. It can change from one end of town to the other, street to street, or even depending on whether you’re inside or not. So make sure to check out coverage maps before you commit to a network.

EE, O2, Three, and Vodafone all have their own maps, but if you’d rather not have to keep switching between different network websites check out nperf’s map. That map doesn’t let you toggle off 2G, 3G, or 4G, but it does let you swap between networks at the click of a button — which could prove very useful.

What about iPhone 12 and 700MHz?

Thankfully buying the iPhone 12 shouldn’t be an issue. There had been some pre-launch rumours that the phone wouldn’t support the 700Mhz 5G band, which while not in use in the UK just yet is still expected to play a key role in expanding 5G coverage — on account of its long range. Fortunately Apple’s specs tell a different story, and promise that all four iPhone 12 models will support 700Mhz (along with several other layers of the 5G spectrum) in the U.K.

Tom is the Tom's Guide's UK Phones Editor, tackling the latest smartphone news and vocally expressing his opinions about upcoming features or changes. It's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He’s usually found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining about how terrible his Smart TV is.