Just got a new Nexus 5 which is capable of using 4G. Now whilst the rather whizzy speed would be impressive, it seems that the high speeds are matched by rather high prices. I'm looking at going SIM only and I'm just wondering if anyone has opted for 4G and if so, what are your impressions? I realise that doing anything that needs high bandwidth is going to benefit (streaming video, etc), but is it worth the extra expense aside from that? Is it a one-way street and you'd never go back to 3G now? 

 

(I should point out that I live in South Manchester so I do have 4G coverage)

if you go with Three, they are rolling out 4G for FREE to existing users. I have three on a 30 day pay monthly tariff with all you can eat data, and get 4G for nothing with  no data limits for less than £15 a month. They are now rolling 4G out across the UK.

 

Saying that though Three have the best 3G network in the UK, although coverage is patchy. At home here in Blandford I get 20meg over 3G, not far off some 4G offerings.

 

http://www.three.co.uk/discover/built_for_internetting?site=d

Yes, I've been looking at Three but I have a colleague where I work who's just ditched them as the coverage (at work) was so bad. As I'm going to be spending a lot of time at work (sadly! ), I'm concerned that I'd just get frustrated by the patchy coverage.

 

Though I guess any network has it's good and bad areas - I suppose it's a case of finding one that doesn't have too many holes where you spend most of your time!

I'm on EE and got a FREE upgrade from 3G to 4G a few months back.

 

Is it worth it, well yes and no.

 

I don't feel any different now I'm on 4G, and the phone calls don't come in any faster.

 

If you use the net an awful lot then it 'may' be worth upgrading.  I can honestly say that my data use has not changed a great deal if at all since I went onto 4G.

 

One upside is that because the 4G network is 'relatively' new and possibly still sparsely populated, that means that for the foreseeable future it's a rather uncluttered domain to be in.

 

It's akin living in a small village, you know the sort of thing....one pub, a post office and 15 houses.    (if that makes sense?)   :think:

 

Given time, more and more people will 'migrate' and within a few years it will seem like a shanty town where everyone is living too close to their neighbour sort of thing.

 

There was a bit on Watchdog toward the end of last year where EE 4G customers were unable to make calls on their 4G network, I have experienced NO such issues.

 

Only you can decide if it's worth 'migrating'  why not haggle??  You may end up getting it free. 

If your phone is sim free then get a free sim from 3 to try the coverage.

 

http://www.three.co.uk/Store/SIM/Pay_As_You_Go?id=1397&gclid=CMinu4rBkbwCFS9JtAoduwEAAA&gclsrc=ds

 

Most companies give away sims

Just upgraded from an iPhone 4 with 3g on Orange to an iPhone 5s with 4g on EE and the difference is amazing. Obviously the newer phone helps but watching videos and surfing the web is almost like being connected to WiFi while using 4g.

Only you can decide if it's worth 'migrating'  why not haggle??  You may end up getting it free. 

 

Yeh, I've tried that twice and got absolutely nowhere! I'm currently on Orange (and have been for years) so thought I might be able to blag a better deal by upgrading to EE (esp as O2 and Vodafone both offer better SIM only deals) but they wouldn't budge an inch - it was basically "this is what we do...take it or leave it"!! I even went as far as asking for a PAC code so I could move to another network...they still didn't budge!

 

I do wonder if it's because my current data usage is very low (which is only because I've been using a prehistoric phone for the last couple of years) so they don't see me as a high priority customer...? Dunno...either way, they don't seem too bothered.

Just upgraded from an iPhone 4 with 3g on Orange to an iPhone 5s with 4g on EE and the difference is amazing. Obviously the newer phone helps but watching videos and surfing the web is almost like being connected to WiFi while using 4g.

 

See, this is why I'm tempted by the whole 4G thing!  :yes:

Have you checked the 4g coverage for your area??

Have you checked the 4g coverage for your area??

 

Yes...all the major networks claim to have 4G coverage (surprise surprise! ). 

 

EDIT: Actually Three doesn't claim that, as they haven't rolled out 4G yet. They supposedly will soon though

Edited 22 January, 201412 yr by slicendice

The reason I'm leaving Vodafone for Three is for the 3G coverage. Most places where I need to load up a satnav route (including on my driveway) or even a simple google search come through on 2G/Edge about 80% of the time - which takes forever and that's if it doesn't fail to load completely - very annoying.

 

3G is a massive jump from 2G and Edge etc and allows pages, apps and  maps to load in seconds - great for most people. Unfortunately the mobile companies are too busy pedalling expensive 4G contracts to Londoners when the majority of us in rural areas don't even have a reliable 3G connection yet - It's bull pies.

 

4G is good if you stream 720/1080p HD media to your phone regularly, like hipsters on trains who threw away their TVs for being too mainstream. 3G is good enough IMO.

Yeh, I've tried that twice and got absolutely nowhere! I'm currently on Orange (and have been for years) so thought I might be able to blag a better deal by upgrading to EE (esp as O2 and Vodafone both offer better SIM only deals) but they wouldn't budge an inch - it was basically "this is what we do...take it or leave it"!! I even went as far as asking for a PAC code so I could move to another network...they still didn't budge!

 

I do wonder if it's because my current data usage is very low (which is only because I've been using a prehistoric phone for the last couple of years) so they don't see me as a high priority customer...? Dunno...either way, they don't seem too bothered.

 

 

In that sort of business EVERY customer is important irrespective of the amount they use their phone for calls or data.

 

A increasing customer base means the company is solvent.

 

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