Pakistan’s 5G journey has been a long time coming — years of spectrum auctions, regulatory approvals, and quiet frustration from users watching Chinese phone owners enjoy blazing speeds while their premium iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices stayed stubbornly stuck on 4G. That wait is now over. Zong has officially confirmed 5G support for iPhones and a wide range of Samsung devices, with Jazz following closely behind on both fronts. Here is the full picture of what is working, on which network, and how to get it running on your phone today.
Why iPhones and Samsung Phones Took Longer Than Chinese Brands
This is worth understanding before jumping to device lists, because the answer isn’t what most people assume.
Chinese smartphone brands supported 5G in Pakistan almost from the start of the rollout. iPhones and Samsung devices didn’t — not because of any hardware limitation, but because of a deliberate process called country whitelisting. Apple and Samsung both require a formal approval step before activating 5G on their devices in any new country. Pakistan simply wasn’t on that list yet.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority formally authorised Jazz, Zong, and Ufone to launch commercial 5G services following a spectrum auction in March 2026, which raised $507 million across the 700 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz bands. Jazz secured spectrum across all four bands — the only operator to do so. But the PTA licence alone wasn’t enough to unlock iPhones and Samsung devices. That required Apple and Samsung to independently add Pakistan to their network approval lists, push carrier settings through software updates, and confirm compatibility with local frequency bands.
Both have now done it. The 5G toggle that was greyed out on Pakistani iPhones and Samsung devices for months is live.
Zong: The Furthest Ahead
Right now, Zong is leading Pakistan’s 5G rollout by a clear margin, particularly when it comes to iPhone support.
iPhones on Zong: All iPhones from the iPhone 12 onward — including the 13, 14, 15, 16, and 16e — are officially supported. There is one important practical step: Zong currently requires users to install iOS 26.5. This is delivered through Apple’s Public Beta Software Program, accessible via Safari on your iPhone. Once installed, the 5G toggle becomes available in your Cellular settings.
Samsung on Zong: Zong’s Samsung compatibility list runs from the Galaxy S20 through the S25. Most Galaxy A-series phones from recent years and several M-series models are included. The Galaxy S26 series is not yet on Zong’s list — worth noting for anyone who recently upgraded to Samsung’s latest flagship.
Zong has launched 5G services across 21 cities: Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Hyderabad, Bahawalpur, Sargodha, Sukkur, Abbottabad, Mardan, Larkana, Sheikhupura, Okara, Wah Cantt, and Dera Ghazi Khan. The company has committed to deploying over 1,000 5G sites nationwide in 2026. Speed tests near Zong towers in covered areas have recorded download speeds between 244 Mbps and 290 Mbps.
Jazz: Now Supporting iPhones and the Galaxy S26
Jazz has also crossed the iPhone milestone — later than Zong, but now fully confirmed.
Jazz’s own website states that 5G is now available on all compatible iPhone devices, with one requirement: your iPhone must be updated to iOS 26.5. Jazz is currently operating approximately 180 pilot 5G sites across major Pakistani cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, and Faisalabad.
One detail Jazz has that Zong currently doesn’t: the Galaxy S26 series is confirmed as supported on Jazz’s network. Samsung’s own site confirms that many mainstream handsets — local and international variants — are receiving firmware updates enabling Jazz 5G compatibility, with more on the way.
No new SIM card needed. Jazz has specifically confirmed that existing Jazz SIMs that work on 4G will also work on 5G, as long as your device is compatible and you are in a covered area. No special 5G data bundle is required either. Your current data package works as-is.
Ufone: Licensed But Not Yet Live
Ufone received PTA approval to roll out 5G services following the March 2026 spectrum auction. As of now, there is no confirmed launch date and no published device compatibility list. Ufone customers will need to wait — the licence is in place, but the network infrastructure and device compatibility work still need to be completed.
How to Enable 5G on Your iPhone Right Now
If you are on Zong or Jazz and have an iPhone 12 or later, the process takes under a minute — but requires iOS 26.5 first.
Step 1: Enroll in Apple’s Beta Software Program via Safari on your iPhone at beta.apple.com. Install the iOS 26.5 Public Beta profile. Update your device.
Step 2: Once updated, go to Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Options → Voice & Data and select 5G Auto.
5G Auto is the recommended setting for most users. Your iPhone will connect to 5G when available and fall back to LTE when it isn’t, striking the right balance between speed and battery life. If you want maximum performance and don’t mind the battery trade-off, select 5G On instead.
How to Enable 5G on Your Samsung Galaxy Phone
For Samsung users on Zong or Jazz with a supported device, the steps are straightforward.
Go to Settings → Connections → Mobile Networks. You will see an option labelled Allow 5G Service — toggle it on. Your phone will connect to 5G automatically when you enter a covered area.
Samsung has confirmed that Galaxy S24 FE devices support 5G service from May 2026. Users with Galaxy S25 Edge devices have confirmed Zong 5G is working, though coverage is currently limited to select areas.
The Bigger Picture: What This Actually Changes
Pakistan’s 5G story is about more than faster Instagram loads, though the real-world difference between 5G and 4G is significant enough on its own — download speeds that took a minute on 4G can happen in seconds on 5G, video calls are sharper and more stable, and gaming latency drops to levels that make online multiplayer genuinely competitive.
For businesses, the low-latency nature of 5G opens up practical applications in remote monitoring, logistics, and real-time data processing that mobile networks previously couldn’t support reliably.
The deeper shift is structural. Pakistan completing country whitelisting with both Apple and Samsung closes a gap that kept two of the world’s most widely owned smartphone families locked out of a network that was technically running beneath them. For millions of iPhone and Samsung users across 21 cities who have been waiting patiently through the Chinese-brand-only phase of this rollout, that wait is officially over.
Coverage will expand, more devices will be added, and the experience will improve as more towers come online through 2026 and beyond. But the milestone — iPhones and Samsung phones connecting to 5G in Pakistan on both major live networks — is real, it is confirmed, and it is available today.