iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro and 3G

[pw5a29]

True but both Verizon and Apple admit it should work on 3G the phone still supports it. For many areas 3G is still very much needed to fill in the gaps.

So if this article is correct our service instantly gets worse after 2020 in rural areas??

Technically, the spectrum 3G connection uses are re-framed into delivering 4G / 5G.

So you actually get better connection/speeds on 4G and 5G at the same area.

Just unsure how long is the transitional period

 

[sirMohsen]

Hi, Did anyone find resolution to this topic? I just called Apple and Verizon. Apple says the iPhone 12 should be 3G compatible with iOS 13, but not 14. And the Verizon rep. said that people were able to connect with the 12 to 3G after an "update" to the iPhone. I couldn't understand exactly which update. And Verizon says they're phasing out 3G on 12/31/20. So, as for now, it seems that you should be able to connect to 3G through iOS 13. Can someone confirm?

iPhone 12 comes with iOS 14. I don’t think we can downgrade to iOS 13

 

[Dr.J]

Technically, the spectrum 3G connection uses are re-framed into delivering 4G / 5G.

So you actually get better connection/speeds on 4G and 5G at the same area.

Just unsure how long is the transitional period

Yeah, the Verizon rep. told me that after phasing out 3G, instead of losing connection in those areas, they will now be receiving 4G strength. I would still like to hear from someone who is using iOS 13 on an iPhone Pro 12 and hear that they have connected with 3G, just to understand that the (lack of) 3G connectivity issues is due to the OS, not Apple hardware or Verizon network issues.

 

[wickkedd]

This is quite concerning that there's no option of selecting "3g only." There's a known issue with LTE and data leaks while roaming. Even if you switch off cellular data, if your phone connects to any LTE / 4G network while roaming, it leaks a few KB of data, which then triggers roaming charges. That is because LTE is purely packet based, and most roaming carriers can't distinguish this as a data request vs network registration. The only way to avoid these data leaks was to switch to 3G only, and then you could turn off cellular data and not have any leaks. Removing that option is pretty stupid in my opinion. I don't understand why Apple wouldn't offer the flexibility to choose to people's liking.

 

[SpotOnT]

I cannot access 2G/3G through Verizon on my new iPhone 12 mini.

I have an iPhone 11 Pro I carry for work and I just upgraded to the iPhone 12 mini for my personal phone. Both devices are on the Verizon network and running iOS 14. At certain job sites the only signal available is either 3G or 2G (displayed as 1X) through a local network. So in short I am dependent on 2G/3G roaming.

What I am finding is that the 11 Pro gets signal no problem, while the 12 Mini says “No Service”. Yet both devices support the same band frequencies according to Apple. I don’t think it is a signal strength issue, as I get 3 bars on my iPhone 11 Pro, but rather some sort of network compatibility issue.

Has anyone been able to get 2G or 3G on their new iPhone with Verizon at all?

 

[bajabettie]

I cannot access 2G/3G through Verizon on my new iPhone 12 mini.

I have an iPhone 11 Pro I carry for work and I just upgraded to the iPhone 12 mini for my personal phone. Both devices are on the Verizon network and running iOS 14. At certain job sites the only signal available is either 3G or 2G (displayed as 1X) through a local network. So in short I am dependent on 2G/3G roaming.

What I am finding is that the 11 Pro gets signal no problem, while the 12 Mini says “No Service”. Yet both devices support the same band frequencies according to Apple. I don’t think it is a signal strength issue, as I get 3 bars on my iPhone 11 Pro, but rather some sort of network compatibility issue.

Has anyone been able to get 2G or 3G on their new iPhone with Verizon at all?

No. I have iphone 11 and I can get 1X service but the iphone 12 does not get any service and I have both phones in my hand. Got new sim cards, got new phones and still can't use our iphone 12's in 1X service area.

 

[SpotOnT]

I am surprised this is not getting more media attention. Yes, I know Verizon is trying to phase out 2G and 3G, but if the iPhone 12 is a hard cutoff on their network, that is helpful to know.

Many people I know in rural areas still only get 2G or 3G, and the lack of publicity makes it hard to make an informed decision. Based on Apple’s specs for the 12, one is led to believe that it would operate on 2G & 3G on Verizon’s network.

 

[Geo979]

Verizon.... How about the rest of the world? If I want to travel to Marrakesh or somewhere in Sri Lanka where 3G was just introduced... Will I carry a piece of paperweight with me instead of a "world phone" ?!??

 

[SpotOnT]

Verizon.... How about the rest of the world? If I want to travel to Marrakesh or somewhere in Sri Lanka where 3G was just introduced... Will I carry a piece of paperweight with me instead of a "world phone" ?!??

Yes, there are so many questions about this issue that really need to be answered!

Best guess right now is that Apple’s Tech specs are correct and the phone does correctly support 3G. So if you can access 3G in Marakkesh or Shri Lanka, depends on if the local cell providers allow the iPhone 12 to access their network. If they only offer 3G, presumably the answer would be of course!

The bigger issue seems to be networks that are introducing 5G (in the US and parts of the EU) have decided to block 3G access on newly activated devices like the iPhone 12.

 

[Timmer4play]

I worked with Sprint for several months trying to get a 2G/3G signal on my iPhone 12 Pro Max in an area that had good signal previously on an iPhone 7 and iPhone 11. My iPhone 12 Pro Max would only connect to 4G and 5G.

I tried EVERYTHING to resolve the “no service” issue including backup/reset/restore and exchanging my iPhone and testing 3 different 5G SIMs (both Sprint and T-Mobile). I even tested a new iPhone 12 Pro Max with a new 5G T-Mobile SIM and no new applications installed.

The solution appeared when Apple Support asked me to try the SIM from my wife’s 4G iPhone 11 in my iPhone 12. I could now receive signal in the 2G/3G areas shown on the Sprint map marked as “voice roaming” and “data roaming” (voice tab). Sprint customer service did not seem to understand what roaming agreements are.

After visiting an Apple store for diagnosis, Apple supplied me with a new iPhone and a Sprint 4G SIM to activate if my replacement iPhone did not get service. The replacement iPhone made no difference until I swapped out the 5G SIM for the 4G SIM. I now have 2G/3G/4G/5G service on my iPhone 12 Pro Max.

I drove around my cabin in the mountains comparing signal between my wife’s iPhone 11 and my iPhone 12 Pro Max with the 4G SIM. My wife’s iPhone 11 would connect more frequently to LTE (4G) while my iPhone 12 with the 4G SIM would connect more frequently to the 1x (2G) extended voice network. I am just happy to be able to make calls but need more testing to determine the quality and ability to connect to LTE.