Q: How do I turn off 3G on the iPhone 4S?

If you haven't read through this already, it might help:

http://www.macworld.com/article/165768/2012/03/ios_5_1_update_brings_4g_label_to _iphone_4s_on_atandts_network.html

Nice find. Thanks for posting the link.

aneagle wrote:

 

It's safe to update to 5.1, ENABLE 3G is back.

This does not appear to be universal.  Of course, it will not appear on any CDMA iPhone, because the chipset doesn't support it. I'm on AT&T and do not have this option after updating. AT&T is an HSPA+ carrier, and gets a "4G" indicator when connected to an HSPA+ node. This may have something to do with it. It may also be carrier specific.

Did you read the macworld link that nashikens posted?

UNFORTUNATELY...and I just got off the phone with APPLE..It's true..ATT requested not to have the 3G toggle included. SO if you're on ATT where they have HSPA+, your phone will say 4G (it reeally won't be 4G) and you still don't have the option to turn off 3G and go to EDGE becasue ATT wants to get everyone off EDGE.

F*n ******!!!!!

If you are in an area where HSPA+ is already present then you probably are also in an area that has 4G LTE or will have it soon. If that is the case AT&T will be surrendering the frequencies that use EDGE in your area so it would not be abailable to you even if you had the switch. All it would do in that case is turn off cellular data which you can already do.

If you are getting a poor signal with AT&T perhaps you need to look into going with Verizon or Sprint, depending on who has better coverage in your area. You will not have the switch for 2G on those phones either though.

perryfromcamas wrote:

 

(it reeally won't be 4G)

I know it's picking nits, but there isn't a carrier on the planet right now with a "4G" network that meets the specification for 4G.

The specification is for 100Mbps downstream when mobile and 1Gbps downstream when stationary.  The carriers whined and complained and started advertising their networks, HSPA+, WiMax, and LTE as 4G and the standards body basically threw up their hands and said 'fine, call it whatever you want'.

To people like us, it's a point of contention. To the average consumer... they don't care.

Android HSPA+ phones on AT&T are labeled as "4G" phones, so it's only fair that the iPhone 4S, which supports the same standard and the same speeds, should be on equal footing when it comes to marketing.

Man it's a shame I just found this discussion thread or I would have backed up tinybear about the restore option to get the WORKING 3G toggle .. I had to help a friend do that for his 4S

My 4S with ios5 had it out of the box.. that's right, factory shipped from apple with a 3g toggle.. because I bought a factory unlocked phone.. those who bought their phones directly with a carrier, perhaps primarily AT&T .. do not have that option.

I bought my 4S specifically fo use with t-mobile because I can't stand AT&T .. I paid a lot more for my toy, but as I said - the option was always there for me.

As he also said there's an easier way to do it .. but I'm not going to go into that since posts seem to all too easilly get removed here.

oh, and in my experience.. disabling 3G makes a big difference.. when I have 3G enabled on tmobile, it seems like it's constantly polling for 3G connectivity .. I get a substantial gain in battery life using 2G only ..

"UNFORTUNATELY...and I just got off the phone with APPLE..It's true..ATT requested not to have the 3G toggle included. SO if you're on ATT where they have HSPA+, your phone will say 4G (it reeally won't be 4G) and you still don't have the option to turn off 3G and go to EDGE becasue ATT wants to get everyone off EDGE."

This is exactly why my factory unlocked 4s has it...

oneduality wrote:

 

your phone will say 4G (it reeally won't be 4G)

Actually, since the ITC says it is, it is.

AT&T wants everyone off EDGE because they are shutting down the EDGE network. It's already begun. The lack of a 3G toggle is irrelevant in the US. AT&T is the only supported GSM carrier. If your phone doesn't work as satisfactorilly on an unsupported network (e.g. T-Mobile), you're welcome to take it up with them, switch carriers, or use a different phone.  T-Mobile's US network is out of step with pretty much every 3G GSM carrier on the face of the planet.