Should I wait for LTE?

[iTzKPanda]

I'm wondering if I should jump on best buy's deal today (free sgs2 with a new contract for new customers) or wait until LTE is in my area and get an LTE phones. Any thoughts?

 

[DonB]

I would wait if I were you

 

[paynekiller]

I'd wait, as painful as it is. I now have the Epic Touch, got it last November since I couldn't bare with the EVO anymore, it fixed my lack of storage issue, and gave me much faster operational speed.

But it cannot fix the network speeds issue, which for 4G I get 1 bar sometimes if I stand by my window, and 3G is just horrible I keep it off. I get a max of 150kbps, cant do anything on that, and once my 3G radio is on it drains my battery extremely quickly. I'm absolutely disgusted with Sprint's 3G, it was the exact same issues on my EvO 4G, and disappointed in 4G wimax cause they are not expanding it further. They need to hurry up with their new phones and LTE coverage, my upgrade is due next month.

 

[NYCHitman1]

Yes.

 

[Tommydaniel]

Depends on where you live in my opinion. If you live in an area that isn't going to have LTE for awhile I don't see why you would want to wait.

 

[iTzKPanda]

I live in Tampa, FL

 

[Tommydaniel]

I live in Tampa, FL

They definitely aren't on the first round and Community Blog List - Sprint 4G Rollout Updates hasn't mentioned anything about Tampa so I don't know.

 

[jasonacg]

Just a guess, but I'm thinking that cities with existing WiMAX service (I'm also in Tampa), will be lower on the list for LTE.

I've been faced with the same dilemma myself. I have an Epic, and I can take my last Premier upgrade whenever I'm ready to pull the trigger. I just haven't seen anything to make me change phones yet, since nothing currently for sale seems to be that much of an "upgrade" over what I have now.

I'm hoping for a slider in the LTE lineup, and hopefully something that performs better than the Epic does. I hate touch keyboards (yes, even Swype), but the Epic's physical keyboard has really been a disappointment.

 

[KOLIO]

It'd be nice to see a couple of phones that support both WIMAX & LTE. How much more expensive could it possibly be to build a phone w/both?

 

[paynekiller]

It'd be nice to see a couple of phones that support both WIMAX & LTE. How much more expensive could it possibly be to build a phone w/both?

I always wondered if that's what they'd do for the first couple LTE devices, I don't see why they shouldn't because LTE won't be everywhere and til then they'd basically be selling people 3G phones if they are in a Wimax area not getting LTE for a while.

 

[NYCHitman1]

It'd be nice to see a couple of phones that support both WIMAX & LTE. How much more expensive could it possibly be to build a phone w/both?

The radios would probably be fairly expensive on the OEM side, which will inevitably cost the provider a pretty penny when the orders are made. Personally, I would not want to have both on the same device. That only means there will be more things to drain my battery. I couldn't be happier with WiMAX being phased out within a few years while LTE builds up. LTE will be much better in the long run anyway.

I always wondered if that's what they'd do for the first couple LTE devices, I don't see why they shouldn't because LTE won't be everywhere and til then they'd basically be selling people 3G phones if they are in a Wimax area not getting LTE for a while.

Even as a "3G" capable device, these upcoming devices will be monsters. If Network Vision does what Sprint intends for it to do, then I will be a happy camper using the upgraded network and WiFi until LTE rolls out for my area (which will be in 2012 at some point).

 

[KitsapAndroid]

I was in the same boat as you. I spoke with a bunch of different Sprint Reps and decided that LTE would be a better option for me in me 2 more years. I am now the proud and satisfied owner of the SGS2ET4G. LTE is still a ways away. If you like the phone options, buy one, and then know that in 2 more years, this dilemma will be gone.

 

[DMajor239]

Wait for LTE

 

[Gary Friderichsohn]

"will likely begin Network Vision and LTE deployment in the West Washington and West Michigan markets in 2012" tommydaniel's linked article. I am in the inland NW. I think my area will likely get this sometime in 2014. I won't wait. Can't advise you.

 

[simcha]

Definitely wait for LTE. 3G sucks so bad on Sprint and Wimax is a joke. I'd wait to see if Network Vision really changes things and whether or not they do a better job rolling out LTE. If they do a crappy spotty job rolling out LTE like they did with Wimax, I might dump Sprint and I've been with Sprint for 12+ years. I'm not staying with Sprint if things are still crappy with their network after the Network Vision and LTE roll out.

 

[KitsapAndroid]

To the above poster, I find WiMax to be very serviceable, and a hell of a lot faster than 3G. But, I live in a pretty decent 4G area. I still hold firm that if you're not on the 2012 rollout list for LTE, then you might as well upgrade and not worry about it. WiMax isn't leaving just yet. LTE will take a while to get to everyone.

 

[UnixPimp]

I live in Tampa, FL

WiMax is supposed to be strong in most of Tampa. I do not have a WiMax device, but people I know who live in that area with WiMax 4G phones are satisfied with their service.

Now Sprint's 3G service is slow, slower, and slowest.

 

[iTzKPanda]

At my church my friend's E4GT only gets 1-3 bars of 3G and I ran a speedtest. He got an average of 200 ping, 75KB/s download, and 50KB/s upload (which was about the same speed as my previous house internet speed. We finally upgraded to 10Mb/s a month ago). What's Sprint's WiMax speed with a few bars of coverage?

 

[NYCHitman1]

At my church my friend's E4GT only gets 1-3 bars of 3G and I ran a speedtest. He got an average of 200 ping, 75KB/s download, and 50KB/s upload (which was about the same speed as my previous house internet speed. We finally upgraded to 10Mb/s a month ago). What's Sprint's WiMax speed with a few bars of coverage?

I avg somewhere in the 10-11mbps area on the downstream in NYC/Long Island.

 

[simcha]

At my church my friend's E4GT only gets 1-3 bars of 3G and I ran a speedtest. He got an average of 200 ping, 75KB/s download, and 50KB/s upload (which was about the same speed as my previous house internet speed. We finally upgraded to 10Mb/s a month ago). What's Sprint's WiMax speed with a few bars of coverage?

Here in Oakland, CA 4G Wimax download has never tested faster than 4mbps. My average at home where I'm most likely to use 4G downloads from 350kbps to 1750kbps. Upload on 4G at home varies between 50kbps to 150kbps. The truck at home is to hold onto a signal. 4G here cuts in and out.

Sprint. Welcome to the "Later" Network. We're full of big promises but we cant deliver consistently. So if you get a smart phone with us you'll be lucky to get a 4G signal. If you can get a 4G signal you'll be lucky to remain locked on it and you'll be super duper extra lucky to find speeds on 4G that are even as fast as our competition's 3G. But, give us a break. We're rolling out Network Vision and LTE later so keep your fingers and toes crossed that we'll roll them out in such a way that you will benefit at all in your area.

 

[iTzKPanda]

Amazon is having a sale through march... Alll sprint phones are a penny.
I know it's to get rid of the old stock to bring in the new LTE phones, but I don't really think LTE is going to come to Tampa soon because it'll take them a while to roll out LTE for the MAJOR cities. Should I jump on this deal?

 

[NYCHitman1]

Amazon is having a sale through march... Alll sprint phones are a penny.
I know it's to get rid of the old stock to bring in the new LTE phones, but I don't really think LTE is going to come to Tampa soon because it'll take them a while to roll out LTE for the MAJOR cities. Should I jump on this deal?

For a penny, you can't go wrong with a E4GT/3VO.

 

[iTzKPanda]

Yeah, Im going to take this deal. I'm gonna get a E4GT, my sister's getting the MoPho and my mom's getting the Nexus S (she likes smaller phones). Thanks guys In two years, I'll hopefully be a proud owner of a Sprint LTE phone. Haha

 

[KitsapAndroid]

Yeah, Im going to take this deal. I'm gonna get a E4GT, my sister's getting the MoPho and my mom's getting the Nexus S (she likes smaller phones). Thanks guys In two years, I'll hopefully be a proud owner of a Sprint LTE phone. Haha

I don't think you will be disappointed at all. As a fairly new ET4G owner myself, I can say that it is a great phone.

 

[NYCHitman1]

Yeah, Im going to take this deal. I'm gonna get a E4GT, my sister's getting the MoPho and my mom's getting the Nexus S (she likes smaller phones). Thanks guys In two years, I'll hopefully be a proud owner of a Sprint LTE phone. Haha

The wait will be worthwhile, especially if you don't live in an area that is in the first LTE roll out phase.