My TMobile 4S suddenly shows 4G on top left

[petalino]

I have a factory unlocked Iphone 4S, originally used with ATT.

Using it now with a Tmobile SIM card on a prepaid account.
The Phone is not 4G (or is it?), but since the latest settings update from TMobile, which I just did 2 days ago, suddenly I get the 4G indicator on top left.

This has always either been 3G or E, but now I occasionally get 4G even though the phone has no 4G.

Why is it like this?
Any ideas?

 

[Satnam1989]

I have a factory unlocked Iphone 4S, originally used with ATT.

Using it now with a Tmobile SIM card on a prepaid account.
The Phone is not 4G (or is it?), but since the latest settings update from TMobile, which I just did 2 days ago, suddenly I get the 4G indicator on top left.

This has always either been 3G or E, but now I occasionally get 4G even though the phone has no 4G.

Why is it like this?
Any ideas?

Faux 4G...T-Mobile did what AT&T with 4S launch....they just replaced the "3G" indicator with "4G"....you still have access to the same network as you did before..now you will only see "E" or "4G" that too only in the 1900MHz refarmed areas

 

[ThatsMeRight]

Faux 4G...T-Mobile did what AT&T with 4S launch....they just replaced the "3G" indicator with "4G"....you still have access to the same network as you did before..now you will only see "E" or "4G" that too only in the 1900MHz refarmed areas

Partly correct. You currently can get five icons on iPhone:

- "o" which is GPRS, '2G'
- "E" which indicates an EDGE-connection (basically 8x GPRS), '2G'
- "3G", UMTS-connection ,'3G'
- "4G", HSPA+-connection which allows for data speeds similar to current existing LTE networks, '3.5G'
- "LTE", widely considered to be '4G', but this still actually is an extremely enhanced'3G network', '3.9G'

The true successor of 3G networks is "LTE Advanced". Current LTE networks are considered "beyond 3G but pre-4G", or "3.9G".

At this point, only LTE Advanced is 'true' "4G".

 

[CEmajr]

With carrier update the 4S will no longer show 3G. It will show:

4G for HSPA+
E for 2G/Edge
O for GPRS

 

[chestvrg]

At this point, only LTE Advanced is 'true' "4G".

How fast can LTE advanced run?

 

[osofast240sx]

How fast can LTE advanced run?

3G can run 600mps using the proper equipment. The technology is still evolving. LTEa has been tested at 5 Gps.

 

[Intell]

You currently can get five icons on iPhone:

- "o" which is GPRS, '2G'
- "E" which indicates an EDGE-connection (basically 8x GPRS), '2G'
- "3G", UMTS-connection ,'3G'
- "4G", HSPA+-connection which allows for data speeds similar to current existing LTE networks, '3.5G'
- "LTE", widely considered to be '4G', but this still actually is an extremely enhanced'3G network', '3.9G'

An iPhone 4S with an updated US T-Mobile carrier bundle on US T-Mobile or AT&T will never show '3G'.

 

[osofast240sx]

An iPhone 4S with an updated US T-Mobile carrier bundle on US T-Mobile or AT&T will never show '3G'.

Unless you are roaming on a AT&T network which will be rare.

 

[Intell]

Unless you are roaming on a AT&T network which will be rare.

Even then it wouldn't. When an US T-Mobile 4S roams on AT&T, it still shows only 4G because of how the carrier bundles are setup.