iPhone's management of network is silly

[Ultra AleM]

Hello guys, I have an iPhone 5. My question is simple and direct:

Why does my iPhone switch to 4G with 1 bar of signal when there's 3G with 4 bars?

This kills my battery with no interesting benefits...

Thanks.

 

[bluedukies8]

I believe they are suppose to switch to whichever connection is better, though can't imagine 1 bar of 4G is that much better than 4 bars of 3G - though I don't know the specifics.

Why not just turn 4G off when at that location? This would help save your battery.

 

[Ultra AleM]

I believe they are suppose to switch to whichever connection is better, though can't imagine 1 bar of 4G is that much better than 4 bars of 3G - though I don't know the specifics.

Why not just turn 4G off when at that location? This would help save your battery.

It's a pain to go to settings < cellular data every time. And it may happen when I don't notice it (like when I'm not using it). If there was a 4G toggle...

 

[Newtons Apple]

From what I understand it is the carrier who has Apple program their phones to do this.

 

[geoff5093]

All phones will prefer a weaker newer technology signal to a stronger older one. The phones prefer LTE over 4G, and 4G over 3G, and 3G over 2G, etc.

 

[2298754]

It's not Apple. It's the carrier programming the parameters into the carrier bundle.

 

[sunking101]

One bar of 4G gives me much better data speeds than four bars of 3G.

 

[JakeT85]

Not really a toggle but a workaround I've used that has worked pretty well is the Launcher Widget. You can put shortcuts in so that you just pull down notification center and click on the shortcut you made and you are in your carrier settings.