How much longer will 4a work? no 5g.

[RKSSDBB]

Using one in California on Mint, a T-Mobile mvno. My main network is Verizon. How much longer will i be able to use the 4a on either? I know the networks are all gradually being switched over to one or more flavors of 5g. Thanks!

 

[B. Diddy]

I think 4G LTE will be around for a long time, certainly longer than the expected lifespan of your 4a. As long as VoLTE currently works on the phone, you should be fine.

 

[RKSSDBB]

Thanks. I like the smaller size compared to the newer Pixels.

 

[L0n3N1nja]

Using one in California on Mint, a T-Mobile mvno. My main network is Verizon. How much longer will i be able to use the 4a on either? I know the networks are all gradually being switched over to one or more flavors of 5g. Thanks!

Verizon made it clear they were planning to shut down 3G back in 2015 and they are just now doing it in 2022, I'm confident your Pixel will be obsolete and well beyond software support before 4G LTE gets shut down.

 

[RKSSDBB]

thanks. I use the phones, but I'm not knowledgeable about the tech side.

 

[Chuck Finley69]

thanks. I use the phones, but I'm not knowledgeable about the tech side.

You should be fine. Once you lose 3G coverage, you should have 4G VoLTE coverage. It won't be as good as before 3G shutdown because phone calls would fall back to 3G sometimes for better quality or backup coverage due to network demands. The combination of 4G and 5G networks are going to provide the full coverage and you'll be missing the 5G portion so it will depend on time, place and demand just like 3G phones that didn't have VOLTE after 2G shutdown.

 

[cbreze]

There’s no way LTE(4G) will get shut down before your 4A gives up. I also have a 4A and an iPhone 13. The iPhone is 5G but the largest part of the country doesn’t even have 5G available yet. My area (central Oregon) has no 5G and probably be quite some time before it gets it. Look how long it took 3G to go away and it’s still mostly around for now.

 

[Morty2264]

Thanks. I like the smaller size compared to the newer Pixels.

I totally agree with you. There are some people out there who still love small phones!

I love the smaller form factor of my Pixel 5. I really hope the Pixel 6a or 7 line will have a smaller phone within their arsenals.

 

[RKSSDBB]

fingers crossed! my wife's Pixel 5a is definitely larger than the 4a. no idea how the 5 and 5a compare size wise. for me even the 5a is too big.