Mobile technologies have advanced enormously; one of the main developments is the emergence of 4G technology. It’s a term that you’ve certainly faced in your daily life, but what is 4G? And is Sony Xperia E3 4G enabled? We will answer these and other questions related to Sony Xperia E3 4G technology in the following article.
Does the Sony Xperia E3 have 4G?
Yes. Sony Xperia E3 has all the requirements to use 4G networks.
How do you tell whether Sony Xperia E3 is 4G-capable or not?
It is important to check whether your device is 4G-capable before purchasing it. The easiest option is to verify your device specifications in your phone package, or in the user guide. If you don’t have the box or lost the user guide, you can read your phone specifications on the official website of the manufacturer or any other trustworthy website.
The second option is verifying the indication bar. If the Sony Xperia E3 4G data is running, you will find a 4G (or an LTE) icon at the top of the device’s screen. Note that the absence of that icon doesn’t necessarily mean that your phone doesn’t support 4G.
Another way is to check the settings: Go to your settings and fetch network mode, usually as follows: Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > Cellular Data Options (or Mobile Data Options). If your phone is 4G-enabled you will find a 4G or an LTE option. If you don’t see either of them, then your smartphone isn’t 4G-enabled.
How to switch to 4G on Sony Xperia E3?
If you need to switch on your Sony Xperia E3 4G network, then follow the instructions (it might vary a bit from the settings on your own device):
1- From Home screen, tap Apps.
2- From the Apps tab, select Settings.
3- Under Wireless & networks choose “More…”.
4- Tap Mobile networks.
5- Make sure the Mobile data traffic is checked.
6- Tap Network Mode.
7- Choose 4G or LTE option.
Note: If you need to turn off 4G then choose a lower network type (such as 3G) or tap Only 5G if it’s possible.
Introduction to 4G technology on Sony Xperia E3
4G is the fourth generation of cellular communication technologies, it comes just after 3G and before 5G. Although 5G is the highest technology available in the world, 4G is still the fastest most diffused technology.
4G comes with fast uploading and downloading speeds, overtaking the previous 3G technology, and it also has better latency, allowing users to try much more things using their phones, things such as live conferencing.
To be more precise, 4G is a term assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and it is also a commercial word used by mobile network operators to express a set of protocols used in their networks.
One of the most famous protocols is LTE and LTE-Advanced, So for Sony Xperia E3 4G to be useful, it should be correspondent with the protocols used by local mobile network operators.
What are the advantages of 4G on Sony Xperia E3?
4G is an evolved technology that enabled a lot of possibilities for users. It has much more speed than 3G network. While the average speed of 3G is 3Mbit/s, 4G offers an average of 10 Mbit/s.
Another advantage is the low latency. Although the difference in Latency is very small, 4G latency made HD web streaming attainable, and a much more suitable video games experience.
4G also has clearer voice calls, thanks to the VoLTE standard. It also enables you to browse the internet while making voice calls. All of these advantages are within your reach with Sony Xperia E3 4G technology.
Get to know 4G bands in the Sony Xperia E3
Before talking about 4G bands, you should find out what the frequency is. Frequency is the repetition of an event, and it is quantified in radio communication by hertz (Hz).
Since radio waves are used for several uses besides 4G (radio broadcasting and Aeronautics as examples), it is essential to identify which frequencies must be used for what reason. Otherwise, radio waves will contradict, and it would be a mess.
Governments and ITU allocated each range of frequencies (called bands) to certain uses.
What you should consider as a user of Sony Xperia E3, is whether it supports the bands provided in your area by your local mobile operator or not. The Sony Xperia E34G-enabled bands are :
1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 – D2203;2, 4, 7, 17 – D2206;4, 7, 17 – D2243;.
Sony Xperia E3 4G Technology Frequently Asked Questions
How to know if 4G coverage is available in my area?
Before choosing your mobile operator you need to make sure it has 4G coverage in your zone. The easiest method to do so is by calling them and asking. Another option is to check their official website or any dependable coverage map website.
Why I’m not connected to 4G although the settings are right?
If you have a phone that supports 4G, and you don’t have a 4G connection, the reason might be that you didn’t activate a 4G package. Check your internet operator plans, or call them to activate it. If they don’t have a 4G package, then you might need to change your mobile provider.
What is 4G LTE?
4G LTE is a word used indistinctly with 4G and LTE, which creates confusion for users. technically speaking, LTE is different than 4G. LTE is a short name for “Long Term Evolution”, a communication standard that evolved from 3G but is still not as fast as 4G. However, some companies commercialize it as 4G.
The difference between 4G and LTE became more ambiguous when LTE-A (LTE – Advanced) evolved. LTE-A has almost the same speed as 4G technology.
What are GSM and CDMA? are they related to 4G LTE?
Before the development of 4G LTE, the most endorsed standards were GSM (2G/3G) and CDMA (2G/3G). GSM stands for “Global System for Mobile communication” and as its name suggests, it’s a standard that is used broadly by most mobile carriers.
CDMA on the other hand stands for “Code-Division Multiple Access”, don’t get concerned by the name it’s just another standard. what you need to comprehend about it is that it’s less common than GSM, and CDMA devices are often locked to a single provider and can’t be transferred.
When considering getting either a GSM or CDMA mobile, you should consider the operator coverage in your area. Some operators support only GSM and others support only CDMA.
You should also consider whether you need roaming or not, if you move a lot then CDMA might be a hurdle. Not to mention that the perfect option is a phone that is compatible with both.
4G network didn’t support voice calls when it was first made public, so it was dependent on GSM and CDMA standards, but with the rise of VoLTE standard it became independent, so you don’t have to care a lot about GSM/CDMA.
Will 4G phones stop working?
2G and 3G networks are being turned off across the globe because 4G is everywhere and has all the past generations’ features at better speeds. So it is a valid question to ask if the development of 5G networks will provoke the shutdown of 4G.
The short answer to that is: No. Your Sony Xperia E3 4G technology will stay valuable for a few more years.
4G Networks will stay available for at least a decade or two, depending on the area and other factors. As things were for previous generations, 4G and 5G will coexist and stay running together, meaning phones supporting 5G will support 4G too as a fallback.
Is 4G still worth it these days?
Yes, it is. Although the high speeds of 5G, 4G is still acceptable and provides sufficient speed for most of the use cases. 4G network is bigger than 5G, meaning you can use it almost all around the world. Another advantage of 4G is cost-effectiveness. Because 5G is still too pricey to be a better alternative.