Contemplating an EP 4G, is Sprint's data speed really that bad?

[Androidcurious]

I know coverage varies greatly area to area but I've been reading some really discouraging things about Sprint's 3G lately. This is a little shocking because I thought their speeds were supposed to be excellent.

Have those of you using the EP Touch (A phone I'm drooling over) found 3G to be bad?

 

[churro7]

depends on your location

 

[alnova1]

I know coverage varies greatly area to area but I've been reading some really discouraging things about Sprint's 3G lately. This is a little shocking because I thought their speeds were supposed to be excellent.

Have those of you using the EP Touch (A phone I'm drooling over) found 3G to be bad?

I live in Virginia and do not have 4G and the 3g is not bad but not anything to right home about. In my house I get maybe 480 kps and better in other areas but I have had no streaming problems as far as internet radio or things like that. The sad thing is where I live the only place you can by t-mobile now is at walmart and they have the fastest speeds as long as you are intown...go out and it sucks. The phone is great and I'm not sure where your at but I recommend it.

 

[tenyc424]

If you have a friend that has sprint why don't you try it out. That might give you an idea if the speed is fast enough for you. Like churro said it depends where your located.

 

[cary328is]

Here from San Francisco to pleasanton, CA I can stream Netflix with HQ video using only 3g. So its great for me. Like everyone says, ask folks around you who use 3g data a lot..its best to hear first hand experience instead of reading about it from folks who aren't even in your area

 

[Acapella75]

I know coverage varies greatly area to area but I've been reading some really discouraging things about Sprint's 3G lately. This is a little shocking because I thought their speeds were supposed to be excellent.

Have those of you using the EP Touch (A phone I'm drooling over) found 3G to be bad?

Long story short, yes it is that bad. If Sprint keeps up with all these recent changes that take stuff away, I'll move to a network like verizon with much, much better speed.

 

[Kori_Tamashii]

I've only been with them for about two months, but so far, it's just like others have said: depends on your location. Sometimes it's total shit, sometimes it's smooth.

 

[Androidcurious]

Here from San Francisco to pleasanton, CA I can stream Netflix with HQ video using only 3g. So its great for me. Like everyone says, ask folks around you who use 3g data a lot..its best to hear first hand experience instead of reading about it from folks who aren't even in your area

I'm in and around SF myself, so this is encouraging.

I appreciate all of your feedback. I guess there's no way to know other than to give it a test drive. I know Sprint changed its return policy but out here in CA I still have 30 days to try it out.

 

[BenChase7]

This is what I've been getting in and around various locations of the Phoenix suburbs on Sprints 3G. Coverage is very solid here; speeds are Nothing to write home about, but usually pretty good... Definitely no problems streaming media, and apps download quick.

 

[cary328is]

Oh another thing is that Sprint will be upgrading their 3g ev-do to Rev B which means even faster speeds (they're saying 9 mbps) and the epic 4g touch is rev B ready with its hardware

 

[Cobravision]

3G isn't that great in my part of NJ and really bad in midtown Manhattan. But I get 4G in both places and 95% of the time I'm on wifi anyway, so I rarely have data issues. But if I didn't have the wifi at home and work, I'd really be hurting. My coworkers give me their Android phones to set up Marketplace and install basic apps lot, and the AT&T and Verizon phones blow away the Sprint 3G speeds.

 

[sean76]

Previously ...like last year, I'd say its pretty darn good! Especially for the price!!!

However, as of late...i'll speak for my friends that have it out here in NYC!

TERRIBLE...

Sprint better fix whatever they have going on right now with they're data, because I've seen some speed tests that are just absolutely pathetic!

They have 2 of the best phones on the market right now...The GS2 and the Photon! But without decent data speeds, they're paper weights.

Anyway...u have 14 days, give em a try in your area and decide for yourself.

 

[paynekiller]

on my EVO 4G I get a pathetic 300kbps max with 3G, and turning it on also kills my battery triple fast or faster, so I just keep that worthless connection off unless it's necessary. I average about 9mbps when I turn 4G on tho, and 4G doesn't use half as much power on my phone

 

[SmoothGuy84]

I live in the DC metro area and 3G is OK nothing to rave about. 3G and 4G works perfect when Im traveling into Washington, DC but I live in the suburbs of Maryland. 4G works off and on out there, but the 3G works fine for me

 

[apinkel]

This is what I've been getting in and around various locations of the Phoenix suburbs on Sprints 3G. Coverage is very solid here; speeds are Nothing to write home about, but usually pretty good... Definitely no problems streaming media, and apps download quick.

This is pretty similar to my experiences with 3G. Around 750kbps on average. Coverage is good, speeds are just OK.

I'm hoping sprint will announce a near-term rollout of EVDO rev B along with a long-term move to LTE during the October 7th strategy update... but we'll have to wait and see.

This strategy update is overdue... Sprint's current high speed data plans need to be clarified with the wimax rollout stalled, no formal announcements of EVDO rev b or LTE transitions. They need to get something moving forward to give people a reason to stay with/move to them. I really like sprint but this is a pretty glaring issue right now.

I'm kinda ticked off about the iphone coming to sprint... I have nothing bad to say about the technology of the iphone but everytime the iphone comes to a carrier it bumps up costs for all smartphone users on that carrier. I like most apple products I just hate the apple tax.

 

[jbsg02]

I think the network is overtaxed having to support cricket and virgin (boost too?) as well as all the sprint users. Verizon towers pretty much only support Verizon users (and those of us that hack our PRLs). Sprint really needs to improve their network within a few years or I think there are going to suffer the consequences

 

[unplugged1]

I think the network is overtaxed having to support cricket and virgin (boost too?) as well as all the sprint users. Verizon towers pretty much only support Verizon users (and those of us that hack our PRLs). Sprint really needs to improve their network within a few years or I think there are going to suffer the consequences

Sprint owns Virgin and Boost. Sprint does not own Cricket, and Cricket uses its own network.* Also, Cox Communications wireless phones use the Sprint network. A new company called TruConnect has just announced data plans that use the Sprint network.

In the past, some companies like Helio, Disney and ESPN tried to establish their own cell carriers using the Sprint network.

*UPDATE: Cricket did reach what is called an MVNO deal with Sprint that allows Cricket to use Sprint 3G service outside of Cricket's coverage area.

 

[HotInEER]

It all depends on your location. Where I live it's ok, not the greatest, but far from horrible. I have some pockets of 4g which is super fast, but, I always seem to be around a hotspot so it doesn't bother me.

 

[cary328is]

There's a discussion now on XDA on whether or not our phone is indeed rev B compatible. It sounds discouraging:

EVDO Rev. B Capable? - xda-developers

 

[jbsg02]

There's a discussion now on XDA on whether or not our phone is indeed rev B compatible. It sounds discouraging:

EVDO Rev. B Capable? - xda-developers

Wow, I was considering going to buy one, but I'm gonna wait til I know about the Rev B for sure now

 

[William T Riker]

If you live in the Central Pennsylvania area, steer clear... I tried Sprint while I was waiting for the Bionic to drop with the EVO3D. Typical 3G I got between 200-400k down, best I saw was 700k. I live in the "best coverage" area as well where I should be seeing according to them at least 600k but it was slow as molasses. 4G best I saw was about 7.5m. I absolutely loved the phone but coming from vzw where on 3G I average about 1-1.5m down I had to take it back. And now I heard they dropped the 30 day money back guarantee. I wanted the SGSII but around here I'm gonna have to wait for it to drop on T-Mobile because Sprints just too slow for the price whats the point of unlimited data if its slower than 56k?

 

[viber]

It really depends on your location...just like every carrier.

My 4G coverage is really good over all. 3G is iffy at home, but outstanding at work.

 

[rdillz]

3g is pretty good for me in Chicago.

4g is excellent also.

No complaints from me at all. Downloaded a movie from the media hub, (1.06GB), over 4g in under 20min. I was able to watch it at the same time. The video quality was flawless.

 

[Androidcurious]

Well, I jumped in and got the phone. I absolutely LOVE it. I've walked all over my area and my sprint 3G and 4G speeds have been fantastic. Obviously I need more time with it in other areas but I think I'm good to go. We have pretty good coverage from all 4 carriers here in the bay area.

Amazing, amazing phone.

 

[Harmsie]

3g is pretty good for me in Chicago.
4g is excellent also.

No complaints from me at all. Downloaded a movie from the media hub, (1.06GB), over 4g in under 20min. I was able to watch it at the same time. The video quality was flawless.

Wow, your download speeds for 4g are twice as fast as mine. I'm in Minneapolis and have a good 4g signal where I live. Why the big difference?