3G Tech vs 4G Tech

• Muhammad Rasheed

The word "G" means a generation of cell phone technology, installed in mobile phones and on cellular systems. Each "G" generally requires you to secure a new phone, and for networks for making expensive upgrades. The first two were analog cellular phones (1G) and digital mobile phones (2G). Then it bought complicated.

Third-generation mobile systems, or 3G, came to the U. S. in 2003. Along with minimum consistent Internet speeds of 144Kbps, 3G was likely to bring "mobile broadband. " Nowadays there are so many varieties regarding 3G, though, that a "3G" connection could get you Internet speeds anywhere from 400Kbps to more when compared with ten times that.

New generations usually bring completely new base technologies, more network capacity for more data per consumer, and the potential regarding better voice quality, as well.

4G phones are said to be even faster, but it's not always the case. There are so many technologies termed "4G, " and countless ways to implement them, that the term is nearly meaningless. The International Telecoms Union, a standards system, tried to issue specifications to call a network 4G however they were ignored by providers, and eventually the ITU backed down. 4G technologies contain HSPA+ 21/42, WiMAX, and LTE (although some consider LTE the sole true 4G of in which bunch, and some people say not one of them are fast enough for you to qualify. )

There are numerous ways to implement LTE, as well, so you can't assume all LTE speeds are the same. Carriers with additional available radio spectrum regarding LTE can typically manage faster networks than providers with less spectrum, for example.

This confusion is the reason why we run our once-a-year Fastest Mobile Networks history, which tests 3G in addition to 4G networks in 30 cities nationwide. In this kind of year's tests, we typically found that on speed alone AT&T's 4G LTE network was the fastest, as well as T-Mobile LTE, Verizon LTE, T-Mobile HSPA+, Run LTE, AT&T HSPA, Verizon 3G lastly Sprint 3G. As Run ramps up its swifter "Spark" LTE network, we expect its LTE speeds to to competitive levels.

Would you like to know more about LTE, this global standard for 4G? Examine our primer, What Will be LTE? over at ExtremeTech.

When to opt For 4G

In 2014, almost everyone should have a 4G telephone. Verizon now has national 4G LTE coverage. T-Mobile in addition to MetroPCS have nationwide HSPA+ 49 and growing LTE systems. AT&T has broad LTE insurance. Sprint is still making out LTE, but by next calendar year the carrier aims for being comprehensive.

There's one thing to consider, though. Some carriers, like FreedomPop, are still selling phones that run using Sprint's old WiMAX technique. That system is deteriorating and you will be turned off at the final of 2015. The new LTE system will only expand. So we recommend buying LTE devices via Sprint, not WiMAX devices. If possible, the devices also need to support Sprint's new, swifter "Spark" LTE system, don't assume all of Sprint's LTE mobile phones do.

If you like to browse the web and especially stream online video, 4G can be heaven. If you connect a laptop on your mobile link, 4G makes a huge difference. In general, anything involving transferring huge amounts of data gets a large boost from 4G. Watch out for the data limits with your service plan, though; it's easy to use up a lot of data very quickly along with 4G.

If you possess a 3G phone and you've got been frustrated with slow-moving data, 4G may be the solution. 4G won't remedy any dropped call troubles, though, as all calls will be made over older systems until carriers switch to voice-over-LTE throughout the next few years.

Ultimately, if you want for you to future-proof yourself, get any 4G phone. 4G coverage will still only get better, and that's in which the carriers are spending nearly all of their money right now. You can assume that most 4G phones also assistance your carrier's 3G and 2G networks too.

There are some reasons you might still be satisfied with a 3G phone.

If the phone is mostly regarding voice use, you don't have a need for 4G files. Save money and save battery life by deciding on a device without the high-speed network.

If you live within an area that doesn't have 4G coverage, there's no advantage to a 4G phone. In fact, you'll have serious battery life problems when you buy an LTE phone and don't disable 4G LTE, as the radio's visit a non-existent signal will strain your battery quickly.

If you're strapped for cash and purchasing a phone off contract, you may have to stay for 3G to cut costs. In that case, be sure to get the fastest 3G telephone possible. On Verizon in addition to Sprint, you want to check that it supports "EVDO Rev The. " On T-Mobile in addition to AT&T, you want the greatest class of HSPA+ achievable: if not 42 as well as 21, then 14. 4.