Wireless mobile technologies have developed enormously; one of the main developments is the emergence of 4G technology. It’s a term that you’ve surely faced in your daily life, but what is 4G? And is Sony Xperia ion LTE 4G enabled? We will answer these and other questions related to Sony Xperia ion LTE 4G technology in the following article.
Does the Sony Xperia ion LTE have 4G?
Yes. Sony Xperia ion LTE is compatible with 4G networks.
How do you tell whether Sony Xperia ion LTE is 4G-enabled or not?
Nowadays, it is unavoidable to buy a 4G-enabled device, since most internet users need a good internet connection. To know whether the phone is 4G-enabledor not, you can use multiple ways.
An easy method when you hold the device in your hand is just switching on the mobile data, if the Sony Xperia ion LTE 4G data is activated, then you will notice a symbol at the top of the display, in the status bar. It might be 4G, 4G+, LTE, or LTE+ according to your carrier.
The absence of that icon means that you are not connected to 4G at that particular moment, and it doesn’t obligatorily signify that your device doesn’t enable 4G. And that leads us to the second method.
Check your phone criteria on the user guide, or in the device package. If you don’t have any of them, you can still check that on the official site (or any other trustworthy website) using the device name or model number.
Another way is to check the settings: open your settings and look for network mode, usually as follows: Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > Cellular Data Options (or Mobile Data Options). If your phone supports 4G you will find a 4G or an LTE option. If you don’t see 4G or LTE, then your smartphone doesn’t support the standard.
How to switch to 4G on Sony Xperia ion LTE?
If you would like to turn on your Sony Xperia ion LTE 4G network, then follow the instructions (it might change slightly from the settings on your own device):
1- From Home screen, select Apps.
2- From the Apps tab, tap Settings.
3- Under Wireless & networks select “More…”.
4- Tap Mobile networks.
5- Verify that Mobile data traffic is checked.
6- Select Network Mode.
7- Select 4G or LTE option.
Note: If you want to switch off 4G then choose an inferior network type (e.g. 3G) or tap Only 5G if it’s possible.
Definition of 4G on Sony Xperia ion LTE
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the entity that defined 4G in the first place, 4G is the fourth generation of wireless technologies. It comes just after 3G and preceding 5G.
4G has very high internet uploading/downloading speeds, ten times more than 3G, Which is enormous. It also has 50ms latency, much less than 3G.
4G is not just one technology, but a set of technologies compatible with ITU specifications. It includes LTE, LTE+, and HSPA+.
Advantages of 4G on Sony Xperia ion LTE
4G was created to grant a more reliable internet connection on phones, and that’s truly what it did. 4G technology allows much enhanced downloading and uploading speeds than 3G.
The average 3G speed ranges from 1.5 to 9 Mbit/s, while the average 4G internet speed ranges between 15 to 90 Mbit/s, it can reach as high as 900 Mbit/s.
Another prominent criterion of 4G, is its low latency. We can simplify latency and say it’s the time needed to send data or the delay between the action and the actual execution. Reduced latency means a better user experience. 4G has 100% better latency than 3G. The average 4G latency is 50 ms.
With the help of the VoLTE standard, 4G now grants better voice quality in phone calls and gives users the capability to browse the internet while making calls.
All of these advantages combined with the low cost of 4G extended the use of Sony Xperia ion LTE 4G technology, to include better video conferencing, online gaming, and other real-time interactions.
Get to know 4G bands in your Sony Xperia ion LTE
A 4G band is an interval of frequencies used by cellular carriers. Why this matters to you? It matters because each telecommunications company uses different bands corresponding to the area. And not all mobiles support all 4G bands, so you should assure that your Sony Xperia ion LTE supports the bands offered in your area.
It’s hard to formalize the bands internationally, because each government uses different bands for different radio transactions aside from 4g (such as aeronautics and radio broadcasts). Despite this, the ITU segmented the world into 3 regions and bands for each region.
The Sony Xperia ion LTE4G-enabled bands are:
4, 17;.
Sony Xperia ion LTE 4G Technology Questions & Answers
How to know if 4G coverage is obtainable 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 way is to check their official website or any reliable 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 plan, then you might need to change your mobile provider.
What is 4G LTE?
4G LTE is a word used interchangeably with 4G and LTE, which creates confusion for users. technically speaking, LTE is different than 4G. LTE is an acronym 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 obscure when LTE-A (LTE – Advanced) evolved. LTE-A has almost the same speed as 4G technology.
Are GSM and CDMA the same as 4G LTE?
Before the rise of 4G LTE, the most adopted standards were GSM (2G/3G) and CDMA (2G/3G). GSM is an initialism for “Global System for Mobile communication” and as its name suggests, it’s a standard that is used worldwide by most mobile providers.
CDMA on the other hand stands for “Code-Division Multiple Access”, don’t get annoyed 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 mobiles are often locked to a single operator and can’t be transferred.
When considering purchasing either a GSM or CDMA phone, you should consider the provider 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 best option is a phone that is compatible with both.
4G network didn’t support voice calls when it was first launched, 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 concern a lot about GSM/CDMA.
Will 4G phones stop working?
2G and 3G networks are being withdrawn all over the world because 4G is everywhere and has all the preceding generations’ features at better speeds. So it is a valid question to ask if the appearance of 5G networks will lead to the shutdown of 4G.
The short answer to that is: No. Your Sony Xperia ion LTE 4G technology will stay valuable for a few more years.
4G Networks will stay existing 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 enough 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 reliable alternative.