Can 3G Phone Upgrade to 4G? How to Upgrade?

Can 3G Phone Upgrade to 4G

Can 3G phone upgrade to 4G? A 3G phone can be upgraded to 4G quickly and easily. Instead, updating the phone only takes a few minutes.

4G, or to spell it out in full, the 4th generation of cellular communications technology, provides faster internet speeds than 3G and 2G. Increasing numbers of subscribers are switching from 3G to 4G, ushering in the era of 4G mobile internet access.

Continue reading for a step-by-step guide on how to upgrade a 3G phone to a 4G phone.

What is 3G Technology?

So what is 3G?

3G is a set of all 3rd generation telecommunication technologies. After the introduction of 1st Gen technologies in 1982 and the standardization of 2nd Gen in the 1990s, it appeared in 2001. But it wasn’t until 2007 that it started to be used frequently. H+ is an advanced form of 3G and it means 3G evolution:

The International Telecommunication Union estimates that 3G’s peak transfer rates should be in the neighborhood of 2 Mbps, but modern 3G offers much faster speeds, i.e. around 6.1 Mbps.

Related Reading: Can I Stream Youtube With 3G?

What is 4G and LTE?

Can 3G Phone Upgrade to 4G

4G is the collection of 4th generation wireless network technologies. It enhances what 3G already had to offer while doing so much more quickly. LTE is short for Long Term Evolution. It is a network that was created by improving 3G technology to offer 10 times faster speeds. Although not a true 4G, it offers services that are very close to it.

True 4G offers us rates of 12–15 Mbps, whereas the older LTE standard only offers us speeds of around 8 Mbps.

For more information, read on 3G Vs 4G and What is 3G Vs 4G Vs 5G.

Can 3G Phone Upgrade to 4G?

It is technically possible to upgrade your phone to 4G, but the process is beyond your skills and will be expensive.

You are better off replacing your 3G phone with a new 4G phone. Read on if you want to learn more if you are curious.

Also Read: How to Tell If My iPhone is 3G Or 4G?

How to Upgrade Or Convert a 3G Phone to 4G?

  • In phone’s dialer keypad, dial *#*#636#*#
  • You will be taken to a testing screen after dialing. You can choose between the wiz, Usage Statistics, Phone Information, Wi-Fi Information, and Battery Information options here.
  • Select Phone Information option
  • Click on “Set Preferred Network Type” among the list of options.
  • Next, click on CDMA/ GSM/ LTE auto (PRL)
  • Scroll down and click on Update Button.
  • The phone can lastly support the 4G network. Try different network configurations, such as LTE, if an error happens during updating.

These are a few straightforward and typical ways to upgrade your 3G phone to support the 4G network. Rooting your device is a must before using any method.

The privacy of mobile data may be impacted by rooting, which is a risky process. Even more viruses may enter, decreasing effectiveness. Although the steps are simple and convenient, they are useless if you don’t follow them exactly.

One has to compromise on the speed factor of the 4G network just because the 3G version does not have all efficient processors to support different applications.

You should be aware of the benefits and drawbacks before proceeding with each step of upgrading a 3G phone to a 4G device.

Final Words: Can 3G Phone Upgrade to 4G

We are unable to imagine a day or even an hour in this era of digitization without the internet and mobile devices. Everywhere we look, we see people holding their mobile phones.

If you currently own a 3G phone and want a 4G phone, just purchase a 4G phone. Then sell or gift out your old 3G phone.

Although it is technically possible to upgrade your 3G phone to 4G, doing so is largely impractical. Purchasing a 4G phone is the solution if you’re trying to figure out how to upgrade your phone to 4G.

Read More: Is 3G Or LTE Better?

FAQs

Will a 3G Phone Still Work?

The deactivation of 3G networks has already been completed by some mobile service providers, while it is planned for some others to happen later in 2022.

How Do I Upgrade My 3G to 4G?

Go to the Airtel store that is closest to you. Take a photo of the person on whose name the SIM is registered and carry a valid ID with you. Request an update for your Airtel SIM 3G network to Airtel SIM 4G.

What Happens to My Phone When 3G Ends?

Most new phones will work without 3G just fine, and the majority of our readers should never even notice that something has changed even if they lose access to 3G.