Confused: iPhone has 4G, iPad Pro has LTE - is it the same?

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Level 1

8 points

Confused: iPhone has 4G, iPad Pro has LTE - is it the same?

I own the iPhone 6S and I use it with a Nano SIM of my operator Swisscom in Switzerland. There is a little symbol "4G" next to the operator name, which means that data communication happens with 4G technology and speed.

I also own an iPad Pro which I use with a Nano SIM of the same operator, with the same "privileges" in terms of data access and speed, etc. However, on the iPad Pro it doesn't say "4G" but "LTE".

This is not a difference of using the two devices in different places (I have them lying next to each other and observed this problem in mauy different places), audit's not an issue of different subscriptions vith my operator.

My question is simply whether l have done something wrong or whether 4 G and LTE in fact exactly the same thing and data speeds are the same, it's just a different Way that it shows up on the two devices.

iPad Pro, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on May 11, 2016 4:51 AM

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Answer 1

May 11, 2016 4:58 AM in response to mozart77

Hi

Have a look in cellular settings on ipad you may need to activate 4G

The best way would be to phone your network provider .

Cheers

Brian

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Answer 2

Dave_cq

Level 1

8 points

May 11, 2016 5:00 AM in response to mozart77

4G = 4th Generation whilst LTE = Long Term Evolution. Have a look at this ...

http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/4g-vs-lte/

Dave

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Answer 3

ShagCA

Level 5

6,365 points

May 11, 2016 9:22 AM in response to mozart77

Take a look at link: http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

at the bottom of the page:

1. These carriers have certified their LTE network on iPhone to meet basic standards. Carriers not listed may also offer LTE for iPhone. Data roaming depends on supported bands and carrier policies. LTE roaming may not be available. Contact your carrier for more details. LTE may be referred to as “4G LTE” or “4G” in some countries.

Both of your devices are LTE compatible with Swisscom. Make sure LTE option (in cellular settings) is switched on. To me, it doesn't matter what shows up on display as long as the speed is fast. Download speedtest app and test your speed on both devices. Keep in mind that you're going to use approximately 50MB of mobile data for each test.

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Answer 4

mozart77 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 16, 2016 2:09 PM in response to ShagCA

Thankyou everybody !

l vas actually aware of the articles you referred to, but still remained confused.

Now l used Spœdtest, and to my Surprise the results were not at all the same (speedtest started on iPad Pro and iPhone 6s at same time, devices connected to same mobile network, lying next to each Other on a table) :

iPhone 6: download speed 22.57 Mbps, upload speed 2.26 Mbps

iPad Pro: download speed 67.01 Mbps, upload speed 34.07 Mbps

So, the "LTE" actually stands for a much faster transmission. I wasn't aware that the iPad Pro had a wireless transmission technology different from the latest iPhone.

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Answer 5

ShagCA

Level 5

6,365 points

May 16, 2016 2:43 PM in response to mozart77

What are you confused about?

Does Speedtest app connect to the same servers on both devices? It's possible that speedtest app on the iPhone connects to either a slower (or busy) test server and therefore gives you a much slower result.

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Answer 6

May 16, 2016 2:50 PM in response to mozart77

mozart77 wrote:

Thankyou everybody !

l vas actually aware of the articles you referred to, but still remained confused.

Now l used Spœdtest, and to my Surprise the results were not at all the same (speedtest started on iPad Pro and iPhone 6s at same time, devices connected to same mobile network, lying next to each Other on a table) :

iPhone 6: download speed 22.57 Mbps, upload speed 2.26 Mbps

iPad Pro: download speed 67.01 Mbps, upload speed 34.07 Mbps

So, the "LTE" actually stands for a much faster transmission. I wasn't aware that the iPad Pro had a wireless transmission technology different from the latest iPhone.

For what it's worth, one of the major carriers in the U.S. (AT&T) uses "4G" to mean HSPA+ which is slower than LTE.

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