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OK, here’s a strange one. Following that iFixit teardown of the Nexus 4, it looks like LG and Google did kit out its new flagship with LTE after all, or at least a Qualcomm multi-band LTE chip, it’s just not active. Why would LG and Google whack a 4G chip in there and not have it active?
There are a couple of theories, the first being network restriction — perhaps one or more mobile carriers have called dibs on an LTE-equipped version to be ‘released’ at a later date. Another theory, as punted by Ars Technica is that LG’s just left the chip in there as a throw over from the Optimus G, on which the Nexus 4 is based, to reduce manufacturing streams. That’s possible, I guess, but why would you put a chip in there that costs you extra cash if you weren’t going to use it? Surely it costs more than having a separate manufacturing run?
On the bright side, perhaps now we’ll have a reason for people to actually root stock Android. Maybe some clever chaps will be able to activate that dormant LTE chip and gift the Nexus 4 with 4G — that really would make Google’s £240 flagship absolutely killer. Here’s hoping. [iFixit via Ars Technica]
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I’m sure it’ll become activated, come on XDA!!
No Sam, It isn’t that simple. There is no LTE antenna and no power amplifier. It is just cheaper and easier for them to not change the board from the Optimus G (the phone the Nexus 4 is based off of, which does have LTE). This is not the first phone to have this. The 3G Galaxy S3 also has an LTE chip.
On the plus side it does mean that if Google do decide at some point to release an LTE version, the addition of these components and the necessary software upgrade should be all that’s needed.
they would of had to put a larger battery in the phone as well, which would of added weight, size and cost.
Is LTE really widespread anywhere other than the USA atm?
Well looking at the teardown they would need to increase the chassis size to add the antenna and amplifier anyway to they can bulk out the battery at the same time.
when i got my phone i had a choice of staying with orange and getting the phone for free or moving to EE and paying 20 quid for the phone….
Considering i can only get LTE in around 10 city centers that i dont live in i stuck with orange… which was a good call as it turns out i can move to EE for free any time i want but i will lose my unlimited data.
I doubt it will be worth getting an LTE for another year or 2 unless you live in the centre of London!
Oh, I got automagically transferred to EE from Orange a while back. No choice in the mater for me. Not that I minded, it seems its only the carrier name on the phone screen that has changed.
The network name has changed but technically you are still an orange customer, i don’t think you can connect to the 4G side of things. You have to ring the upgrade to to actually move your account which increases the cost of your contract i think but gives you access to 4g in 10/11 cities.
I’m on a 2 year 4S contract so no 4G phone for me anyway. But I’m like you. There’s no way I’ll be going 4G anytime soon. I live in the sticks and it’ll be years before I see any benefit from paying extra for the benefit of blazing through my data allowance in 10 minutes flat.
The only current LTE network in the UK is on the 1800 MHz band, one of the standard GSM bands, so the phone DOES already have an antenna and power amp for those frequencies.
*#*#4636#*#* not sure if it works on 1800 though.