Disclosed herein are apparatuses, systems, and methods for reference signal design for initial acquisition, by receiving a first primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a first secondary synchronization signal (SSS) from a first transmit (Tx) beam, in first contiguous orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of a downlink subframe. A UE can receive at least a second PSS and a second SSS from a second Tx beam in contiguous OFDM symbols of the downlink subframe. A UE can then detect beamforming reference signals (BRSs) corresponding to the first Tx beam and the second Tx beam, based on identification of physical cell ID information and timing information processed from the first PSS, the second PSS, the first SSS, and the second SSS. The UE can select the first Tx beam or the second Tx beam that was received with the highest power, based on the BRSs. Other embodiments are described.