As the official iPhone 13 announcement draws closer, leaks keep coming. And the latest one, from well-sourced analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, suggests that this fall's iPhone will offer something for shoppers outside the US who crave faster 5G.

According to Kuo's research notes obtained by 9to5Mac, the iPhone 13 will feature 5G mmWave in versions shipped outside the US. Currently, 5G networks are built on two different technologies: sub-6GHz and mmWave. The first method is widely available worldwide, but can actually provide speeds only slightly faster than LTE. Indeed, it will never approach the 1 Gbps speeds we often hear about as one of 5G's major advantages. [Millimeter waves, on the other hand, are very fast. But the reach is not as long. It is currently used primarily in the U.S., where Verizon has built mmWave towers in some 64 cities. However, 5G networks around the world continue to develop, and soon other places will be able to benefit from cell phones with mmWave radios.

The iPhone 12 supports 5G in all countries where it is sold, but the mmWave-enabled version is only available in the United States. Countries like Canada, Japan, Europe, and Australia will receive the new model.

Of course, we have yet to receive any official word from Apple on its plans for the iPhone 13, and even if Apple does hold a press event today (April 20) where it is expected to announce a new iPad Pro model, it will not come soon enough. (Then again, we may get some insight there as to whether the iPad will support 5G connectivity.)

Key features of the iPhone 13 are expected to include a fast refresh display on the Pro model and a smaller notch on all four new iPhones. Expanded 5G connectivity is a minor addition, but certainly a welcome one if you are in a region that offers mmWave-based networks.