Apple could be looking to play the waiting card until Intel gets its 5G modem ready, which implies Qualcomm is being given the slip. We might not be seeing a 5G enabled iPhone in 2019, although, Apple is already testing the technology.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/A-5G-capable-iPhone-in-2019-is-highly-unlikely.287364.0.html
I would expect nothing more. After all, they were the last to offer a 3G phone too.
Apple...holding back the mobile industry for a decade. It it weren't for them, we wouldn't see non-removable batteries or removal of 3.5mm jacks...or notches! It's a cancer to the industry. But of course, the insanity of Android phones' manufacturers is also to blame.
I know that whoever is first matters in the industry, but I don't really understand the rush here. 4G is fast enough for everything (that is, if you have a good implementation and coverage, I have 150mpbs download with Z3 compact from 4 years ago), so no need to get out a product which is 5G capable, but it is useless since there will be no networks for it for at least a few years on.
I admire Qualcomm but I think they are forcing things here, since the only reason I see them doing this is for more money. So good decision from Apple to wait. In the end, if I were to decide, I would just buy Intel only modems and forget about Qualcomm.