It's because of the technology Sprint uses. (CDMA)
Not all Americans have to deal with this issue.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Sprint iPhone Users Complaining of Slow 3G Data Speeds
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
It's because of the technology Sprint uses. (CDMA)
Not all Americans have to deal with this issue.
Unscientific test in Colorado
The only iPhone 4S that wasn't mobbed by crowds of people was at the sprint store in Boulder, CO. I ran a little speed test. 3G seemed pretty snappy, with about 1.2Mbps down, don't remember what was the up speed.
Incidentally my iPad 3G appeared to of **** the bed in the same location ATT, perhaps due to all the activations.
Unscientific tests but interesting none the less.
The only iPhone 4S that wasn't mobbed by crowds of people was at the sprint store in Boulder, CO. I ran a little speed test. 3G seemed pretty snappy, with about 1.2Mbps down, don't remember what was the up speed.
Incidentally my iPad 3G appeared to of **** the bed in the same location ATT, perhaps due to all the activations.
Unscientific tests but interesting none the less.
I already posted this on another thread, but I got these last night. Not horrible. I've found Sprint's network to be very erratic so far. Right before I took these tests I was at like .5 mbps, then these, then like 1.3 mbps
![img0118k.png]()
![img0117y.png]()
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A334 Safari/7534.48.3)
It's people with Sprint having speed issues. Of course AT&T is fast, they have always been the fastest carrier with the iPhone and now it supports their 4G(HSPA+). My iPhone 4 on AT&T gets 2.3-3mbs all day.
Peace said:
It's people with Sprint having speed issues. Of course AT&T is fast, they have always been the fastest carrier with the iPhone and now it supports their 4G(HSPA+). My iPhone 4 on AT&T gets 2.3-3mbs all day.
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A334 Safari/7534.48.3)
The first thing I actually did yesterday was compare the speeds between my old iPhone 3GS on AT&T and my new iPhone 4s now on sprint. I was pulling about 1.3mbps on my 3GS and .19mps on my 4s. I tested again later in the evening on my 4s and got up to 1.2mbps but I'm back down to .3mbps just now. So it looks like sprint in general is going to be slower but I'll gladly take the extra savings on my monthly bill. I'm on wifi anyway 90% of the time
The first thing I actually did yesterday was compare the speeds between my old iPhone 3GS on AT&T and my new iPhone 4s now on sprint. I was pulling about 1.3mbps on my 3GS and .19mps on my 4s. I tested again later in the evening on my 4s and got up to 1.2mbps but I'm back down to .3mbps just now. So it looks like sprint in general is going to be slower but I'll gladly take the extra savings on my monthly bill. I'm on wifi anyway 90% of the time
This happened to AT&T three years ago when they first got the iPhone, you would think that other networks would have learned from that experience right?
Uh your verizon numbers aren't possible to be that high (you're above theoretical max, and WAY above many many nationwide tests), you sure you're testing correctly?
Yes, we can use SuckT&T which has great theoretical speeds in the 5 places which get reliable consistent connectivity -- Texas specifically. The rest of us deal with dropped calls, missed calls, and tons of internet time outs.
Sprint 3G Speeds
I live inside the Washington DC Beltway. We got two sprint phones last night. Speed was unimpressive and Siri couldn't contact the server from time to time. As of this evening things have improved to about 1.22Mbps-down 0.86Mbps-up.
I have the advantage of my test site being in my city, and while running around town I've noticed there are A LOT of places where my 3G logo is replaced with an O (I'm assuming this means no 3G, but I don't know what O actually means)
![img0008l.png]()
I live inside the Washington DC Beltway. We got two sprint phones last night. Speed was unimpressive and Siri couldn't contact the server from time to time. As of this evening things have improved to about 1.22Mbps-down 0.86Mbps-up.
I have the advantage of my test site being in my city, and while running around town I've noticed there are A LOT of places where my 3G logo is replaced with an O (I'm assuming this means no 3G, but I don't know what O actually means)
How are people doing with Sprint speeds in Chicago and the Chicago suburbs. Thinking of getting my wife one (I'm on AT&T). We all know speeds are very location specific (I rarely get over 1.0MB down on AT&T on my iPhone 4 and am often more like .6-.8).
As people complain about their speeds please let us know where you are. Thanks.
As people complain about their speeds please let us know where you are. Thanks.
Really comes down to this
Verizon - Reliable and slow
AT&T - Fast but unreliable (yes, I know there are 4 areas in the USA which everyone says it's the best thing in the world)
Sprint - Cheap, slowest, and reliability between Vierzon and At&T
Verizon - Reliable and slow
AT&T - Fast but unreliable (yes, I know there are 4 areas in the USA which everyone says it's the best thing in the world)
Sprint - Cheap, slowest, and reliability between Vierzon and At&T
That's what happens when iPhone users have unlimited data 
I'd totally abuse unlimited data. Wait, maybe everyone else is abusing it, and Sprint is throttling them?
----------
That's pretty good compared to Time Warner Cable in my cousin's area.
And the upload speed is nice.
I'd totally abuse unlimited data. Wait, maybe everyone else is abusing it, and Sprint is throttling them?
----------
That's pretty good compared to Time Warner Cable in my cousin's area.
And the upload speed is nice.
After seeing the OKC Sprint iPhone speeds in the OP, I think I'll stick with Verizon after all. I only left Sprint in the first place to get the iPhone 4.
My epic and EVO both had great 3G downstream here but I see the iPhone has problems.
My epic and EVO both had great 3G downstream here but I see the iPhone has problems.
I'm just going to put it out there. HSPA+ IS NOT 4G!!!! It's more like 3.5G. True 4G would be something like LTE.
In regards to the sprint thing. In Australia I'm on a HSPA+ Network on the 850MHz band that is incredibly robust. I regularly get 8Mbps down speeds. One of the other major mobile networks theoretically get's similar speeds (instead of the theoretical maximum of 21Mbps on the Telstra network, they have 14mbps), Problem being that these guys, Optus, have put too many people on their network without upgrading it.
Now in our biggest cities CBD there's a total blackspot for Optus. At the Melbourne Airport my brother and I both had our GS2's out, he kept getting network errors on his optus phone and I was getting great speeds.
Is it that sprint has too many people? Or is it some other problem.
BINGO... Unless you are getting a HUGE discount or are in some super remote area that little "v" has better coverage, the best choice BY FAR, is the AT&T Network. This shows the speed is about 60-70% faster than little "v" and it allows for simultaneous data and voice (little "v"does not) and does not have the 160 character like little "v" These are HUGE differences that are noticeable almost every time you use the phone.
I continue to be baffled that people would choose anyone but AT&T at this point.