3G on new iPhone

Question

Level 1

5 points

3G on new iPhone

In my area I have a choice of LTE or 3G. If I use LTE I basically cannot make phone calls as the voice keeps dropping out. If I switch to 3G the voice calls work fine but the data speed sucks. I just found out that the newer apple phones do not support switching to 3G and will probably default to LTE if set to Auto. This leaves me out for upgrading my two iphone8’s to the latest apple iPhone products. Does apple sell any new products that have 3G as an option. I know that in the long run this is a service provider issue but at least with my iPhone 8 I have a workaround. With a new iPhone I will not have a workaround.

Posted on Oct 13, 2023 7:21 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

IdrisSeabright

Level 10

186,773 points

Oct 13, 2023 7:39 AM in response to Ta2

It's not a question of newer phones not supporting 3G. It's that the carriers are starting to restrict access to 3G networks as they prepare to shut them down. One of the ways they do this is through the carrier settings they provide to Apple. It appears that many carriers have removed 3G access with the carrier settings for iOS 17. So, the fact that you got a new phone is not the issue. It's the fact that it's running iOS 17. Since your iPhone 8 doesn't support iOS 17, it hasn't gotten those carrier settings. Know though, that your carrier could decide to change the carrier settings for older versions of iOS if they so choose.

Reply

Answer 2

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,210 points

Oct 13, 2023 4:30 PM in response to Ta2

What country are you in and who is your carrier?

In the US, all of the major carriers have officially shut down their 3G networks. They no longer exist. (There are reportedly some small pockets of 3G coverage in the US left where it is the only signal available and is still required for emergency services, but these should be gone by the end of the year.)

Reply

Answer 3

Ta2 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 13, 2023 4:20 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

I was thinking that the carrier would actually set the providers available through the iPhone carrier settings but wasn’t sure. Thanks for clarifying that. Is there any way to know whether my carrier would still support 3G on a new iPhone (or iOS 17) without actually upgrading my iPhone first?

Reply