Bell looks to be expanding its 5G Standalone network rollout, as a new voice feature is being seen by iPhone users running iOS 26 beta 5.
According to iPhone in Canada readers, once Bell has rolled out 5G Standalone to select accounts, within iOS 26 beta 5, you will see a toggle for on/off for 5G Standalone over Voice in select areas. Reader @JustNoOne is seeing availability in Mississauga and Brampton East.
With 5G Standalone networks, which Bell debuted two years ago, users get enhanced speeds, lower latency and improve reliability compared to non-standalone 5G.
Voice over New Radio (VoNR) is a tech that allows voice calls over 5G Standalone (SA) networks, offering higher call quality, lower latency, and improved reliability compared to VoLTE (Voice over LTE) on 4G networks. It uses the 5G core network to support HD voice and data usage at the same time, enhancing the calling experience (well, if you still talk on the phone).
The toggle under Voice & Data on iPhone says “Voice Over 5G Standalone uses 5G for phone calls. This may impact battery life and call quality.”
So what iPhones support VoNR? The iPhone 12 series (12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max) and newer, including iPhone 13, 14, 15, 16 series, and iPhone SE (3rd generation), have hardware capable of supporting VoNR due to their 5G Standalone (SA)-compatible modems (Qualcomm X55, X60, X65, X70, and newer). But (there’s always a but), VoNR functionality depends on carrier support from Bell, Rogers, or Telus, and software updates from Apple.
Let us know if you’re seeing Voice Over 5G Standalone on your iPhone with Bell (or Rogers and Telus) in the comments below.
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I have Voice Over 5G Standalone with Bell – Quebec
iPhone 16+ with IOS 26 Developer Beta v5
In practice, at this time 5G standalone is often slower speeds, higher latency and reduced reliability. The opposite of what this article claims (just bell marketing BS). Hopefully one day that will change, but that day is not now.