Is there a big difference between making calls on 2g versus 3g? iPhone 4 specs says talk time is 7 hours on 2g and 14 hours on 3g. I'm usually on WiFi, would disabling 3g reception help battery life?
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Talking on 2g versus 3g difference?
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The voice quality is not very different in my opinion, but on 2g, people will get dropouts - a lotta times the volume will shift for them talking to you, or you won't hear them. Also, if you get a push notification or text, it can drop your call very easily - this happened with my iphone 3g until i turned 3G service on.
3G definitely uses a lot more battery, but it's much better than the headache of many dropped calls on 2g.
3G definitely uses a lot more battery, but it's much better than the headache of many dropped calls on 2g.
In that case it seems keeping 3g on is the way to go.
Unfortunately, I'm also keeping wifi on all the time since I have the 200mb data plan. That is also draining a lot of batteries too. Trying to find ways to extend battery life 🙂
Unfortunately, I'm also keeping wifi on all the time since I have the 200mb data plan. That is also draining a lot of batteries too. Trying to find ways to extend battery life 🙂
Rodimus Prime
macrumors G4
Wrong on both accounts. 2G networks you are less likely to get dropped calls. Switching from 3G to 2G is very difficult on an active call. The iPhone never has been able to do it. It has to do with Edge and 3G are 2 very different singal types. Edge is TDMA based and 3G is W-CDMA. A phone can go from GPRS to Edge during an active call or the other way but going from Edge to 3G no so good.
On several phones that I have had on AT&T there was no voice quality difference if the phone was on Edge, GPRS what ever is below GPRS or 3G. It would sound the same on that phone. The factor that would control voice quality is what phone I was on and what the phone the other person was on. Higher end phones sounded a lot better plan and simple. The ones with noise cancellation software are great if you are on the other end of the line.
Voice wise it is a non issues. 2G has WAY WAY more bandwith that is needed for clear voice calls.
Now the draw back to being on 2G is you can not send and receive MMS while you are on it. Even if you are on WIFI. Other wise zero draw backs. Personally I would not bother with it. It just not worth the trouble. It is nice to be able to not deal with it. I for example leave WiFi turn on my phone no matter if I am in range of a wifi network or not. It is not worth it to turn it on or off. I come home and my phone will connect to the network as soon as it is in range. I go to school same thing. I do not mess with it.
If I had working bluetooth headset I would leave bluetooth turn on no matter if I was using a headset or not.
If I am using 2g and someone sends me a MMS, will they get the MMS bounced back indicating it cannot go thru? Or will it be sent and make it seem like I received it when in fact I cannot via 2g?
CubeHacker
macrumors 65816
If someone sends you an MMS while you are on 2g, you will receive the MMS. If you are on a call in 2G mode and someone sends you a MMS, you will receive the MMS when you hang up your call.
wait.. so Rodimus Prime said not being able to send/receive MMS is the only drawback on 2g, so that is not the case?