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

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5G isn't everywhere, so you better check your area has coverage

Apple Event 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.

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.

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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.

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Tom Pritchard
Tom Pritchard
UK Phones Editor

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.