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Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher

By | November 8, 2011, 7:15am PST

Summary: Network speed matters and a 4G iPhone would have changed the Consumer Reports rating equation. For now the land of 4G remains with Android.

Consumer Reports said that Apple has fixed its antenna issues with the iPhone 4S and now recommends the device. The review organization, however, kept the iPhone 4 off its recommended list.

In testing, Consumer Reports said that the iPhone 4S doesn’t have the call reception problem that its predecessor had.

Perhaps more notable is that Consumer Reports still has higher scores for Android devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S II and Motorola Bionic. These ratings largely rode on the back of speedy 4G access.

Also: CNET iPhone 4S review

Consumer Reports gave the iPhone 4S props for the Siri voice activation technology, faster processor and upgraded camera, but added:

These pluses were not enough, however, to allow the iPhone 4S to outscore the best new Android-based phones in our Ratings. Those top scorers included the Samsung Galaxy S II phones, the Motorola Droid Bionic, and several other phones that boast larger displays than the iPhone 4S and run on faster 4G networks.

According to Consumer Reports’ testing three phones scored higher than the iPhone 4S at AT&T—Samsung Galaxy S II, Samsung Galaxy Infuse 4G and LG Thrill 4G. At Sprint, Consumer Reports put the Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch, Motorola Photon 4G, Samsung Epic 4G and HTC Evo 3D ahead of the iPhone 4S. The top 5 smartphone Sprint scores were all in the 73 to 76 on a scale of 100. At Verizon, Motorola’s Droid Bionic, HTC Thunderbolt, LG Revolution and Samsung Droid Charge all rated higher than the iPhone 4S.

The message: Network speed matters and a 4G iPhone would have changed the rating equation. For now the land of 4G remains with Android.

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Topics

Apple iPhone, 4G, Consumer Reports, Apple iPhone 4S, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Cellular Phones, Wireless And Mobility, Smart Phones, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Larry Dignan

Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet as well as Editorial Director of ZDNet's sister site TechRepublic.

Disclosure

Larry Dignan

Larry Dignan has nothing to disclose. He doesn’t hold investments in the technology companies he covers.

Biography

Larry Dignan

Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet as well as Editorial Director of ZDNet's sister site TechRepublic. He was most recently Executive Editor of News and Blogs at ZDNet. Prior to that he was executive news editor at eWeek and news editor at Baseline. He also served as the East Coast news editor and finance editor at CNET News.com. Larry has covered the technology and financial services industry since 1995, publishing articles in WallStreetWeek.com, Inter@ctive Week, The New York Times, and Financial Planning magazine. He's a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism and the University of Delaware.

For daily updates, follow Larry on Twitter.

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0 Votes
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
_vJo 8th Nov
so bad no Windows Phone was included here sad
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Did they even test WP7 devices?
dderss Updated - 8th Nov
@_vJo:

As to speed matter, for now "4G" is only accessible to single digit percentage of country's territory; these networks will not fully unfold until 2013.

So this CR's "equation" has very weird weight coefficients in certain areas.

Citing huge displays as advantage is another weird judgement. iPhone has 3.5" screen size not out of the blue, but because Apple tested ergonomics: with such screen size average user can cover 90% of the screen surface with his/her thumb -- using the device without need of second hand. Also, iPhone's width is already maximum of what can be considered relatively convenient to use actual phone. Finally, not everyone has lot of space in pockets for these almost VHS-cassette sized devices.

Thus, CR fails multiple times with their methodology.
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Single Digits? Really?
30otnix Updated - 8th Nov
@dderss http://www.rootmetrics.com/pr/news/2011/20110818_Verizon_4G_LTE_Now_Reaches_More_Than_Half.php
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Nothing wrong with being a fan!
James Quinn Updated - 8th Nov
@30otnix... As long as one has good reasons for being a fan that us:). Now me I'm an Apple fan BECAUSE of the walled garden or plush jail if you will. I see Appe as doing "the work" for me so I can spend my time doing stuff I want to... Not need to. Like farmers who grow the food I consume so I don't have to. Heck I eat out a lot because I don't want to take the time to cook. Apple provides me the same service. It (Apple does what I have no interest in doing) so yeah I'm a fan:). Nothing wrong with that....

Pagan jim
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
Axsimulate 8th Nov
@dderss
Yep, there is no 4g were I live, just a mere 7 miles from downtown St. Louis.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
Peter Perry 8th Nov
@dderss That is a lie as usual LTE reaches more than 100 Million People and that is roughly 1/3 of the population so I think you need to check your math as it is wrong!
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
paul.hinz@... 8th Nov
@dderss
Excellent comments. You could also mention that the larger screens cause shortened battery life. The MOST important thing to me is not size of screen nor even the data rate but the battery life and the usability of the device. The android phones, while I love their openness, are not even in the same technological generation as the iphone 4S.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
evilkillerwhale@... 8th Nov
@dderss I have to disagree. I'm right at the average height for a male in the US, and have pretty standard-sized hands. I've had a Droid Incredible for over a year and have felt, consistently, that the only problems with it are the size and Internet speeds. When I got it, it was one of the fastest phones (both in processing power and download speed) there was. My roommate has the Thunderbolt, and I use it one-handed from time to time. The thing's setup so that when you TYPE, you use two hands (and usually in landscape mode, because typing on a portrait keyboard is stupid), but when you're searching for an app, or dialing a number, one hand is fine.

Who wants to do EVERYTHING in portrait?

As far as 90% being accessible, so what? That's still 10% you can't access. They make a game with the top left corner being a button, too bad, right handers! Top right? Too bad lefties!

TL,DR: dderss likes eye strain and dial-up.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
CyberGuerilla Updated - 8th Nov
@dderss

Fact is, the "single digit percentage of country's territory" happen to be major urban centres. If you check the total percentage of phone subscribers living in this "single digit percentage of country's territory" it is way more than that.

The weighting for network speed is absolutely accurate. When one buys a phone now, one shouldn't be so shortsighted to limit oneself with what is available now, but rather the focus should be on what is available in the next year or two when you are still in the midst of a contract. Being able to the phone purchase FUTURE-PROOF with what is coming up is EXTREMELY important and ranks as priorities #1, #2, and #3 on my list too.

And this is a view coming from a current iPhone 3GS user. I plan to wait out till iPhone catches up with LTE support, hopefully in iPhone 5. After all, my phone can be upgraded to iOS5. As a non-native English speaker, I don't think I will miss Siri that much, if at all.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
rphunter42 8th Nov
@dderss More to the point, no one is waiting for the Galaxy S II to get back in stock in the stores, nor did it sell 4 million units in its first weekend. I think the public has voted, and the iPhone 4S wins, hands down. Even one Android user says in print that after using a 4S for a week, his Android phone seems 'wrong' to him.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
DonRupertBitByte 8th Nov
@dderss

The physical chassis of the iPhone 4s is not significantly smaller than the HTC EVO.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
Badgered 8th Nov
@James Quinn

Well, I'm not sure you meant it this way, but based on your statement Apple's new slogan could be....

Apple, the company for lazy people
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
admiraljkb 8th Nov
@dderss

3.5" is more acceptable to those under 50 (or 40 in some cases) who aren't having troubles with their eyes yet. But having to reach for your reading glasses to use your phone is annoying. Hence a couple of my friends switched to larger Android based phones so they could read the screen, and for my wife, the iPhone was a non-starter due to a small screen. Search for the promotional pics of Jobs with Russian President Medvedev. The iPhone is at the end of Jobs arm with his glasses on top of his head in a fashion I've seen many times from my parents trying to read stuff. From that, I can conclude that a 4.3" screen would have been more suitable for Jobs and Medvedev.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
Badgered 8th Nov
@CyberGuerilla When one buys a phone now, one shouldn't be so shortsighted to limit oneself with what is available now, but rather the focus should be on what is available in the next year or two when you are still in the midst of a contract.

Ahh, but gotta keep that Apple money train rollin'. 4S - No 4G, don't worry just upgrade to our new and improved iPhone 5! and millions will... people wonder why one company rakes in billions, while the rest of the economy staggers...
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It should be "Nothing wrong with being lazy"
James Quinn 8th Nov
@Badgered... For there is not. Of course everything is a balancing act. Like in the 80"s when the movie WallStreet came out and the slogan "Greed is good" to a degree it is... HOwever as Wall Street the NOT movie proved a couple years back it can turn on you in a BIG way. I'm admittedly lazy but I do watch what I eat, work out regularly, and get what needs to be done... done. Still I am lazy I like to think I keep it in balance however:P Apple helps me do that.

Pagan jim
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Ive had solid 4G for over a year now
otaddy 8th Nov
@dderss From my home to the airport and to work. 100% 4G with Verizon.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
SamuelRodrigues 8th Nov
@dderss

Ah stop crying. Droid
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
AmediaN 8th Nov
@paul.hinz@... seriously dude what time B.C you have seen an Android phone?
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
rollguy 8th Nov
I agree. WP7 devices should have been tested also. My Win7 phone and Droid are both fast, easy to use, and very reliable on Verizon 3G network.
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I like Android and RIM, BUT....
johnmckay 8th Nov
@_vJo

I don't know anything about the new win phones. I'm no staunch lover of Apple but they have one HUGE advantage; essentially one product that grows over time. I've long said that RIM need to get a grip and cut the model choices; Android too; and windows phones will likely make the same mistake in time. Consumers want a phone that grows with them and currently the iphone is the only one that really does that. Please produce fewer models, and please get the firmware updates coming to allow kit to grow with us. I might have to start using my iphone if HTC dont get the message and cut the choice and start delivering proper updates. All the others are just as bad, except Apple. I thank them for that but still hate their marketing and tie-ins.
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To a certain extent speed does matter. No doubt.
James Quinn 8th Nov
That said I've not had an issue using 3G with speed so while 4g would be a speed improvement it would effect me not. I'd not notice. Also my data plan is based on GB's I use not how fast I can access those GB's.

As computers grew ever faster I wondered. Say your primary use of a computer was simple word processing did speed matter all that much to you? I mean would your MS Word run that much better on a 2GHZ system than a 1GHZ system?

Pagan jim
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
30otnix 8th Nov
@James Quinn
You're comparing apples to green apples. Word processing speed relies on processor speed, not data transfer speed. This article is about data transfer speed. So in your analogy iPhone is the 2GHZ word processor that really that adds no benefit.
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Speed and it's benefits is what I was getting to.
James Quinn 8th Nov
@30otnix ... So my analogy works just fine. I could have used cars. A Ford Escort vs a Lamborgini. Now since even on the highway one can legally only go so fast the superior horse power of the Lamborgini is moot. Add to that the ever increasing cost of fuel, the initial cost of the auto's, and just try to insure a Lamborgini... Ha! Then you find speed while a factor is hardly the only one and depending on the individual's needs possibly a minor one at that.

Pagan jim
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Learn about analogies!!
Patanjali 8th Nov
@Pagan jim
So, by your car analogy, one wouldn't get any faster speeds with LTE because it is legally limited. Silly!!
There is no legal limit that cuts LTE speeds.

Analogies cannot be extrapolated outside the area of relevance to reality. To do so just shows ignorance.

With my LTE broadband, I am regularly getting double the downloads speed of the best 3G device (Sierra 320U), but the upload speed often exceed the download, even reaching 12Mbps, which is unheard of in 3G.

For general use on a phone, I would think 3G HSDPA+ is plenty fast enough, especially as it uses less power than LTE. For a tablet or laptop, if used for business, LTE is a definite advantage, especially if sending large email attachments.
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Apples to ????
rhonin 8th Nov
@James Quinn

Jim - your comparison works okay if you set it in mode of having to search for, download and open said document from the cloud.

For search and download 4G would be the best - data speed.
Once on board to open and process - processor speed.

Please try to keep it in context.

wink
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See below... Oh and speaking for myself I did:)
James Quinn 8th Nov
@rhonin ... Besides no one has argued with me yet as to a statement I originally made which is are not data plans based on amount of GB's used rather than how long it takes to access said data? So again speed means what to me? (As long as it's fast enough that is)

Pagan jim
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Perception
rhonin 8th Nov
@rhonin
Is user based.

For GB vs unlimited - makes no realistic difference. Most users perform a task and download/upload accordingly. Open a map and get info, open a web doc, open a news article...... Just because it downloads faster does not automatically make it true I will download more.

I had access to and used 4G - one of the reasons I did not buy the 4S (screen size is the other).

Anything web based is so much quicker.
It is like having broadband and being asked to go back to dial up.

Either way, given a choice, I'll take 4G.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
paul.hinz@... 8th Nov
@James Quinn

You are correct. Non-technical people are always impressed by these types of marketing numbers. As long as the download speed is enough, faster does not mean better (your car analogy was the best).

It is similar to the PC days, as long as you meet the technological requirements for observable features you are fine. E.g., if your home computer has 8 GB Ram or 100 Terabytes of RAM (using some magic backplane that is) it will appear to the user to run the same.
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Horses for courses
Patanjali 8th Nov
@paul.hinz@...
The car analogy was bunkum, especially as it's principle premise was irrelevant (legal limit to how much extra power could be used) and introduced car considerations (e.g. insurance) that had no correspondence to wireless.

If you are only using a small % of your computer's capacity, then a you will not notice. But since more capable computers cost more, most people just buy what will cover a little bit more than what they need at the time. Therefore, if their needs suddenly increase - such as finding new uses requiring more power or memory - they may find that their computer's capacity is not enough. For those creating multimedia, RAM size and CPU speed make a lot of difference to how much can be done.

Just because someone supports your decision, doesn't mean their arguments have merit. One still has to use one's reason!


However, for phones, I would think that most people are not using sufficient bandwidth so that LTE may not be worth the extra power consumption. But for those uploading a lot of hi-res pictures, LTE, with its far superior upload speeds, would be very beneficial.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
evilkillerwhale@... 8th Nov
@James Quinn

Your original post: You would notice. Instead of it taking 5 seconds to load a full website page with flash (oops, sorry if you have an iPhone), it takes 1. It's not just a little faster, it's often 5 TIMES faster. We're talking the jump from dial-up to high speed, here. Apple made a 4G phone for Sprint. They didn't for everyone else because Sprint paid them off. It's fact. Apple knows people want 4G, but also know fan boys are willing to pay an equal amount for a worse (3G) service. Also, I tested the 1GHz for 2GHz Word processing for you. Everything is smoother. Opening things is faster. Everything's snappier. Speed is good.

As far as your second post: Still yes. The maintenance cost on my Corvette is extremely low. Yes, parts are more expensive when I have to get them than they would be for the Ford Escort. On the other hand, my car's over 20 years old and still zipping along with no problems. The original alternator, spark plugs, and spark plug wires are all that's had to be changed (other than the standard oil, tires, etc). I also get over 20 miles per gallon in a car that goes 0-60 in about 5 seconds. That may not seem like a big deal to some people, but when you're on one of the roads that tries to catch you at every stop light, it's FANTASTIC. You take off from your red light, and get to the next light just as it turns yellow, allowing you to shave half an hour or more off of 75 miles trips. Seriously. Sure, I can't run the car at 160mph, but when I have a reason to go fast, or need to take off quickly, I have that ability. Plus, since it's geared higher, on the roads where the speed limit's 70mph and everyone's doing 80mph, I get better gas mileage. It's still in my low-rpm power band range. I cruise along still getting my 20 mpg while they drop further and further.

So yes, speed matters. Yes, the grand majority of people are willing to pay a premium for it.
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The future is unknown... And I can speak only for my needs as of now.
James Quinn 8th Nov
@evilkillerwhale@... CyberGuerilla. I do not have a use nor need for flash. I have yet to run into an issue where it's absence has caused me the least little concern and with the almost weekly articles appearing right here on ZDnet about Flash and it's effects on security or lack there for of plush issues with battery drain I doubt I will ever find myself missing it. As for the future you are correct when you say we just don't know but why would I purchase a phone trying to project my theoretical needs? It makes far more sense to wait for my needs to change and then take that into account with my next purchase does it not? We must also keep in mind the one remaining fact that no one gets too. Data plans don't care about your download speed it's the amount of GB you use not how fast you access it. Since I'm not finding myself waiting as of yet 4G offers me nothing and since I live in Maine... Northern Maine at that I tend to doubt I can even get it as of yet. Since my data plan does not give me reduced rates based on the speed I access information using either 3 or 4G does not matter unless I find myself waiting which I don't.

Pagan jim
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
CyberGuerilla Updated - 8th Nov
@James Quinn

The reality with every technology is, new use cases taking advantage of it will become your second, third, fourth use of your computer which, in many cases, would one day replace Word processing as the primary use.

It's almost like when high speed Internet first came out people say, "I only use the Internet for email and am happy with dial-up, why should I pay the extra money for the extra speed? ". A decade down the road, how many people's primary use of the Internet remains email?

It's the same here with mobile data. It's hard not to think cloud-based services being a central part of our mobile device functionality in a few years' time.


I also want to make a comment about your assertion that users don't have to make an effort maintaining Apple products because Apple does "the work" for them. This could not be more wrong.

Users still need to do "the work" to update the apps they use on their phones even with OTA bug fixes coming to iOS itself.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
DNSB 8th Nov
@James Quinn

To extend your comparison, as soon as either your Lamborgini or Ford Escort exceeded 1000 kilometres in a month, either you now had a maximum speed of 15 km/h or you had to purchase extra gas at $20 per litre to keep it on the road.
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Sprint Epic 4G?
dougsyo@... 8th Nov
That phone's over a year old, and IIRC on its way out soon. The Epic 4G II Touch is all new, but it doesn't have the slide-out keyboard.
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RE: Sprint Epic 4G?
Latenitec1 Updated - 8th Nov
@dougsyo@...
Just goes to show you how far behind the 4GS is.
The Epic was originally badly flawed by a poor implementation of Android. after Samsung (finally) upgraded the OS, the Epic turned into a very good device.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
owlnet 8th Nov
These reports are pathatic...
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
UrNotPayingAttention 8th Nov
@owlnet

...so is your spelling.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
confused13 8th Nov
I use to have an android and will never, never, never go back to one. What your report doesn't mention is how android phones after a period of time will turn off by themselves and the problems gets worse with time. I know of a lot of android users with this issue after having their phone from 6 to 12 months. Switched to the new iphone 4 and couldn't be happier.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
evilkillerwhale@... 8th Nov
@confused13

I've experienced the EXACT opposite. Given, most of my friends are tech-savvy, but they are all dropping their iPhones due to the horrendously-built pieces of crap. I know 3 guys who're waiting for their contract to be up on their launch-day iPhone 4 due to the fact that the top button has stopped working completely. They're ALL looking at going to an Android-based device.

You're also not specifying which Android brand you went with. There's only a couple that are reputable. Motorola will screw you in every way possible, but gives you a great phone. HTC is all about customer satisfaction. Samsung makes flaming pieces of crap that work for a while, but I've yet to see anyone be happy with.

So yeah, most likely your bad.
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What a load of ....
wackoae 8th Nov
@evilkillerwhale@... manure.

You can always read the BS of liars by looking at the words they use.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
Peter Perry 9th Nov
@Wackoae why is he lying? Because you disagree with him? Doesn't make him a liar and I think his Assessment of the Android Handset manufacturers is dead on even if you don't like it.

I cannot speak for his iPhone assessment but the home button is one of the most repaired items on the phone along with the Glass screens.

Like it or not, Apple makes a pretty phone with an evolving OS but that does not make it the best so, turn down the RDF and you just might find his statement is plausible.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
pupkin_z 8th Nov
@confused13 are we supposed to believe that all Android devices randomly turn off by themselves?
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
Peter Perry 9th Nov
@pupkin_z According to Wackae you are.
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Ergo Gnomics?
albionstreet 8th Nov
I can't quite make out what @_vJo: is saying.

For some reason I've also developed a bad squint in using a small phone screen for the web.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
paul.hinz@... 8th Nov
I think someone should write a review on review magazines. Within which, there should be a strong "do not buy" on Consumer Reports because who in their right mind could say the 4S is not the best on the market. The only thing you can usually say about an Apple product is "they cost more than PC" but in this case, they are the same.

The screen size, data rate are not as important (or not yet) as other factors like usability and battery life. By their analogy, you could add all sorts of dimensions to a phone (a keyboard, a VGA port, collapsable antenna ala 1970's radio, etc.) and get higher reviews.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
evilkillerwhale@... 8th Nov
@paul.hinz@... Totally disagree.
Siri is really cool. However, it's just Google's voice search app with a personality thrown in. While adorable, not really any more usable than the search on the Android. Or on WP7 for that matter.

iOS is a prison. Some people are fine with that. Others of us aren't.

You admit that as long as it meets the common standards, there's no reason to do more, right? Well, why does 3 day battery life matter? I never go more than one day without charging my phone. If I have my laptop opened, why not dock my phone? Similarly, with new phones like the ReZound (which have wireless charging built in) you just drop the stupid thing on the mat and walk away from it.
I've had a Droid Incredible for over a year. It has okay battery life (very high for an Incredible, but still much lower than the iPhone). I can count the number of times I've had to worry about battery life on one hand. Sometimes I don't charge it for 2 days, but it's RARE. However, my phone's never had a problem with software updates, new updates don't break my root (unlike a jailbroken iPhone), I can plug it into a TV to show a presentation from it, I can surf the FULL Internet with Flash included, I have browser choices, I have more app choices (yes. More app choices. I can run a developers app before it's finished. Heck, I can roll my own app and throw it on here), I can take higher resolution pictures, higher resolution video, and download YouTube videos directly to my phone. My possibilities are endless. I can do what I WANT to do with it. The iPhone doesn't offer that. It's a toaster. It toasts. No more, no less.
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Look again.....
rhonin 8th Nov
@evilkillerwhale@...
What makes you think SIRI is searching via Google?

You might want to take second look happy
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
heathman 8th Nov
@paul.hinz@...

Ease up and take a nice slow walk around the block.

Just because you want the iPhone to be the best on the market does not make it so....

I can appreciate your enthusiasm however...
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
rphunter42 8th Nov
It seems to me that CR puts way too much stock in 4G. Very few users can make any use of it. Wi-Fi is so easily available in so many places that 4G just isn't as important to most of us as CR seems to think. Try to sell 4G to someone who doesn't live in a major metropolitan area.
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RE: Consumer Reports recommends iPhone 4S, rates 4G Android devices higher
atari_z Updated - 8th Nov
@rphunter42 In Europe where I live, there is no 4G even in major metropolitan areas. I'm living in Paris France and there is no 4G. Even 3G is spotty at times. And I went several times to US, and did not found a much better 3G network.
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