Anyone with T-Mobile as their carrier getting an X or 8 or 8+ this year? Or are you waiting?

[Starfyre]

Any T-Mobile customers that are getting the 8, 8+, or X even though they have no support for the new 600 Mhz band? I talked with a T-Mobile representative, and the 600 Mhz band is the only band T-Mobile is expanding on from now on and is live at multiple cities. Whatever exists in the other non-600 Mhz bands will stay the same and not be "expanded" further... June 2018 is when they plan to finish the 600 Mhz rollout, which is less than a year, which concerns me. If I weren't on a 6 I would have probably have waited... but I really want to get a new phone.

Is this not the slightest bit concerning to everyone? T-Mobile customers, please vote in the poll.

 

[eyoungren]

I don't understand why not having Band 71 concerns people on T-Mobile.

If Band 71 didn't exist for T-Mobile at all would there be concern?

T-Mobile has three other bands and people report blazing speeds on those bands. No one has reported (yet) a blazing speed on Band 71.

What is it you are missing when you have Band 2, 4 and 12 already?

 

[UltimateSyn]

I’m on T-Mobile, and I upgraded to the 8 Plus. I may also upgrade to the X. Not too concerned about the lack of Band 71, my last phone didn’t have it and I was fine. Next year’s phone will have it.

 

[0970373]

I'm on the Apple upgrade program so I've been upgrading every year. Lack of Band 71 didn't change anything for me this year as it'll likely be there next year when it will actually be available in more places.

 

[Mac Tyson]

There's no phone out now that supports band 71? This is a non-issue.

 

[eyoungren]

There's no phone out now that supports band 71? This is a non-issue.

LG V30 does. Only one.

 

[Starfyre]

I don't understand why not having Band 71 concerns people on T-Mobile.

If Band 71 didn't exist for T-Mobile at all would there be concern?

T-Mobile has three other bands and people report blazing speeds on those bands. No one has reported (yet) a blazing speed on Band 71.

What is it you are missing when you have Band 2, 4 and 12 already?

It wouldn't because T-Mobile would continue to expand on the other three bands. This is a big deal because T-Mobile has made the point that they are no longer expanding coverage on the other three bands and are going to exclusively expand on Band 71, this band is the only one that will be supporting 5G when they switch over in 2019 (which is not too far away). What comes in these Band 71 towers are also the newest Ericcson equipment that supports the 5G.

If your in an area that already has Band 71, which is quite a few areas across the US, you are already missing out on this new Band that will very likely be supported in next year's phone.

Sure you have coverage with the 3 bands that T-Mobile has all over, but your effectively not getting anything new as far as coverage either now and the future.

It won't matter if you plan to upgrade every year, but if your the type that wants that $1000 dollar phone to be as futureproof as possible (assuming your getting the X), well, your not getting 5G when it rolls out, or coverage in new areas, or better coverage in existing areas as Band 71 also has better penetration through walls. You better be prepared to spend $1000+ dollars again when a new phone comes out that supports the new band is available.

That's why it matters.
[doublepost=1506197323][/doublepost]

There's no phone out now that supports band 71? This is a non-issue.

There is no phone out there that supports band 71, but is the future, and T-Mobile is rapidly deploying it across the nation and there are already states that have it already deployed... this is literally more of a "complete rollout across US" by June 2018. This means phones will have access to it.

You buy the phone today, you are locked into the 3 "older" bands and you forget about getting 5G on your phone in the future when they activate it in 2019.

I thought this would be a "T-Mobile will take their time converting stuff until maybe 2020 when it will be usable", but it's not. There is already Band 71 operating now, and they are quickly rolling it out in more and more states that will be ready by WWDC in 2017. This is much more "near term" than what others thing. Depending where you live, you can take advantage of it now.

Sure the VX30 is the only phone that supports it, but that doesn't mean that if you buy phones that don't support it now, you won't have to upgrade next year if you want to take advantage of it. We already know it's here, its rolling out more, and your device is outdated the day you buy it.

 

[George Knighton]

Any T-Mobile customers that are getting the 8, 8+, or X even though they have no support for the new 600 Mhz band?

It's not *just* the lack of Band 71 that makes me think about not upgrading. It's also the lack of support for Gigabit LTE.

Both Gigabit LTE and Band 71 should propagate much further before the next iPhone is revealed, so people who want to keep T-Mobile have some thinking to do.

Now, the funny thing is that there is evidence that the iPhone 8 has either the Intel or the Qualcomm modem, just like the iPhone 7 series had. It looks to me like they've turned off Gigabit LTE on the Qualcomm chip in order to keep people from thinking they had a somehow inferior iPhone if they got the Intel modem.

It doesn't put me off Apple, but I perceive personally that the iPhone X or 8 might not be the best upgrade for me.

This is the first time in many years that I have ever felt that I had a reason not to upgrade to a new iPhone.

 

[eyoungren]

It wouldn't because T-Mobile would continue to expand on the other three bands. This is a big deal because T-Mobile has made the point that they are no longer expanding coverage on the other three bands and are going to exclusively expand on Band 71, this band is the only one that will be supporting 5G when they switch over in 2019 (which is not too far away). What comes in these Band 71 towers are also the newest Ericcson equipment that supports the 5G.

If your in an area that already has Band 71, which is quite a few areas across the US, you are already missing out on this new Band that will very likely be supported in next year's phone.

Sure you have coverage with the 3 bands that T-Mobile has all over, but your effectively not getting anything new as far as coverage either now and the future.

It won't matter if you plan to upgrade every year, but if your the type that wants that $1000 dollar phone to be as futureproof as possible (assuming your getting the X), well, your not getting 5G when it rolls out, or coverage in new areas, or better coverage in existing areas as Band 71 also has better penetration through walls.

That's why it matters.

Sorry, I have to disagree.

Your points about what T-Mobile is doing with their network are valid of course.

I don't upgrade every year. Right now I average about 25 down on T-Mobile on Band 4. That's pretty damn useful to me and I have a two year old phone.

Band 12 is what is rolling out in Phoenix. That's what I have been waiting for. Band 71 is nice, but I won't see any of that until next year.

Personally, I think your concern is a year too early. I could understand this thread next year.

I know it matters to you, but I have to say you are probably in a minority here that cares about this at this moment.

 

[George Knighton]

I don't understand why not having Band 71 concerns people on T-Mobile.

T-Mobile bought huge swathes of bandwidth on Band 71 in order to fill in gaps in coverage outside metropolitan areas.

Right now, Band 71 does not make a big difference in T-Mobile coverage. But if you don't have Band 71, you will not have nearly the coverage you might have on T-Mobile as they start turning on more and more of their Band 71 spectrum later this year and through the first half of next year.

Bands 2 and 4 do not travel well.

When they rolled out Band 12 (700 MHz), T-Mobile coverage jumped out way ahead of where it was before, and T-Mobile suddenly became a viable alternative for people like me.

Moreover, T-Mobile made it clear that the purchase of Band 71 was to be sure they could show us a solid Gigabit LTE performance.
[doublepost=1506197644][/doublepost]

I know it matters to you, but I have to say you are probably in a minority here that cares about this at this moment.

I live, work and travel in an area of Virginia where T-Mobile bought Band 71 to extend the coverage and quality.

Band 12 helped a lot, but Band 71 completes it.

I might be in a minority, but it really does matter to me.

 

[eyoungren]

T-Mobile bought huge swathes of bandwidth on Band 71 in order to fill in gaps in coverage outside metropolitan areas.

Right now, Band 71 does not make a big difference in T-Mobile coverage. But if you don't have Band 71, you will not have nearly the coverage you might have on T-Mobile as they start turning on more and more of their Band 71 spectrum later this year and through the first half of next year.

Bands 2 and 4 do not travel well.

When they rolled out Band 12 (700 MHz), T-Mobile coverage jumped out way ahead of where it was before, and T-Mobile suddenly became a viable alternative for people like me.

Moreover, T-Mobile made it clear that the purchase of Band 71 was to be sure they could show us a solid Gigabit LTE performance.

I get all that. And I get that T-Mobile is trying to roll it out as fast as they can.

But expecting device manufacturers who have locked in their designs several months ago to have Band 71 when it wasn't even at auction when they locked in their designs is a bit much I think.

Especially, when even at the best T-Mob is going to be able to do by the end of the year is only cover a small portion of their current network.
[doublepost=1506197860][/doublepost]

I live, work and travel in an area of Virginia where T-Mobile bought Band 71 to extend the coverage and quality.

Band 12 helped a lot, but Band 71 completes it.

I might be in a minority, but it really does matter to me.

Again, I understand.

I just think the expectation is a bit much considering where all the factors were earlier this year.

I could totally understand this if we were here at the same point next year.

 

[George Knighton]

But expecting device manufacturers who have locked in their designs several months ago to have Band 71 when it wasn't even at auction when they locked in their designs is a bit much I think.

The way that you phrased this, it sounds like you might be afraid that I'm blaming Apple for not having Band 71.

I'm not.

I believe they'd have supported it if they had the time to do it.

The original poster's query was about whether or not I will get an X or 8 in view of the lack of support, and my honest answer is that I will probably wait.

I've been able to resist the 8 for this reason, but I also have to admit that I might succumb to the X because it is so very different. I might not be able to resist.

But, please, rest assured I do not blame Apple for not having Band 71 on a device rolling out right now.

Those darned Intel modems, though...I dunno. If I could, I might have a talk with them about that.

 

[eyoungren]

The way that you phrased this, it sounds like you might be afraid that I'm blaming Apple for not having Band 71.

I'm not.

I believe they'd have supported it if they had the time to do it.

The original poster's query was about whether or not I will get an X or 8 in view of the lack of support, and my honest answer is that I will probably wait.

I've been able to resist the 8 for this reason, but I also have to admit that I might succumb to the X because it is so very different. I might not be able to resist.

But, please, rest assured I do not blame Apple for not having Band 71 on a device rolling out right now.

Those darned Intel modems, though...I dunno. If I could, I might have a talk with them about that.

That's very reasonable, I agree.

As far as the Intel modems, no idea what Apple was thinking other than immediacy.

 

[Starfyre]

The way that you phrased this, it sounds like you might be afraid that I'm blaming Apple for not having Band 71.

I'm not.

I believe they'd have supported it if they had the time to do it.

The original poster's query was about whether or not I will get an X or 8 in view of the lack of support, and my honest answer is that I will probably wait.

I've been able to resist the 8 for this reason, but I also have to admit that I might succumb to the X because it is so very different. I might not be able to resist.

But, please, rest assured I do not blame Apple for not having Band 71 on a device rolling out right now.

Those darned Intel modems, though...I dunno. If I could, I might have a talk with them about that.

When is the V30 coming out? October right? If the iPhone X is coming out in November, I see no reason why Apple could not have included it.

 

[George Knighton]

When is the V30 coming out? October right? If the iPhone X is coming out in November, I see no reason why Apple could not have included it.

Apple might have been trapped because they have to use two different modems instead of one.

I heard that the Qualcomm modem supports Gigabit LTE, but they turned it off because they also had to use Intel modems.

I would not be too surprised to learn that the Qualcomm modem had Band 71 but they turned it off because of the Intel modems.

This is sheer conjecture on my part, and I do not have any information about this.

 

[videojanitor]

Ironic to find this thread, as I am upgrading to the 8 because my current 6 has compatibility problems with T-Mobile. At least from what I was able to find on the "interwebs," anything older that the 6s doesn't support Band 12. My 6 works, and in some locations gets great LTE speeds, but in other places, it is a dog. Crossing my fingers that the 8 is better.

 

[MacintoshDan]

I live outside Philadelphia so the new spectrum isn’t a big concern for me. I upgrade every year on JOD as well.

 

[George Knighton]

Ironic to find this thread, as I am upgrading to the 8 because my current 6 has compatibility problems with T-Mobile. At least from what I was able to find on the "interwebs," anything older that the 6s doesn't support Band 12. My 6 works, and in some locations gets great LTE speeds, but in other places, it is a dog. Crossing my fingers that the 8 is better.

If you're sure that Band 12 is the holdup, then the 8 will work.

If you have a friend with an iPhone, and he gets good service, use Field Test Mode to see if he's on Band 12 while you're stuck on 2 or 4.

 

[Strelok]

When is the V30 coming out? October right? If the iPhone X is coming out in November, I see no reason why Apple could not have included it.

The V30 probably won’t sell even 10% of what the iPhone8/X sell, so it’s much easier to incorporate these things later in the development cycle for them.

Look, if small things like this bother you, then don’t get the iPhone 8/X. You’ve been posting so many threads lately, and I think the answer you want is that the iPhone 8 isn’t worth it for you.

 

[George Knighton]

.... I think the answer you want is that the iPhone 8 isn’t worth it for you.

Ha ha ha ha ha.....

I think I'm in the same place she is. I really *want* the X to be worth it, but I can really see that this is the first time in a long time I need to just suck it up and wait a year.

 

[protoxx]

Some people so overthink a simple decision.

 

[videojanitor]

If you're sure that Band 12 is the holdup, then the 8 will work.

If you have a friend with an iPhone, and he gets good service, use Field Test Mode to see if he's on Band 12 while you're stuck on 2 or 4.

Thanks. Just checked my phone and I am on 4. I don’t know anyone else with an iPhone that is on T-Mobile — my wife has a newer Samsung phone though, and consistently get better LTE performance than I do, so thinking my lack of Band 12 support on my 6+ is the big difference.

 

[Starfyre]

The original poster's query was about whether or not I will get an X or 8 in view of the lack of support, and my honest answer is that I will probably wait.

I've been able to resist the 8 for this reason, but I also have to admit that I might succumb to the X because it is so very different. I might not be able to resist.

But, please, rest assured I do not blame Apple for not having Band 71 on a device rolling out right now.

Those darned Intel modems, though...I dunno. If I could, I might have a talk with them about that.

What phone do do you have now?

Ironic to find this thread, as I am upgrading to the 8 because my current 6 has compatibility problems with T-Mobile. At least from what I was able to find on the "interwebs," anything older that the 6s doesn't support Band 12. My 6 works, and in some locations gets great LTE speeds, but in other places, it is a dog. Crossing my fingers that the 8 is better.

Your post has me excited, I did not know the 6 is missing Band 12. Will definitely be upgrading. For me, I would rather wait, but Augmented Reality requires 6S or higher, forcing me to be inclined to upgrade. I don't want to wait a whole year for me to play with AR.

I guess the big question is, when T-Mobile buys spectrum, like Band 71, do they stop expanding all the other bands like 12? Or is it that they are still expanding others including these new bands they acquire? The T-Mobile rep I talked to today said they are expanding Band 71 now, and have put a halt to other ones so there is not going to be any new coverage areas for older bands. Is that a true statement or is the rep wrong?

 

[Phasism]

What phone do do you have now?


Your post has me excited, I did not know the 6 is missing Band 12. Will definitely be upgrading. For me, I would rather wait, but Augmented Reality requires 6S or higher, forcing me to be inclined to upgrade. I don't want to wait a whole year for me to play with AR.

I guess the big question is, when T-Mobile buys spectrum, like Band 71, do they stop expanding all the other bands like 12? Or is it that they are still expanding others including these new bands they acquire? The T-Mobile rep I talked to today said they are expanding Band 71 now, and have put a halt to other ones so there is not going to be any new coverage areas for older bands. Is that a true statement or is the rep wrong?

Oh the complexities of believing a rep

 

[Phasism]

https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/co...o_see_band_71_phones/?st=J7YC8YKB&sh=7cea52f7

Good read on the subject