Post CDMA shutdown...do I need to look for more than supported bands & VoLTE on non official phones?

[Urbex]

In need of a new phone again...in the 20 some years of having cell phones, I've almost exclusively have purchased factory unlocked phones, and not always ones that were otherwise offered by the carriers themselves, so I'm somewhat familiar with determining what's compatible and isn't for a particular carrier.

Knowing Verizon turned off the CDMA network some time ago, and have moved to LTE service with SIM cards, is it also now just an issue of verifying that a particular device supports LTE and VoLTE, and Verizon specific bands to work on Verizon? Or is there still more to it? For my needs, I don't really care if it supports 5G or not. I'm currently using a 4G LTE only device, and it works fine for me.

I'm looking at the more rugged enterprise devices, such as the Sonim XP10, Motorola LEX11, Panasonic FZ-N1, and other similar devices.

[Serial Port]

Verizon stopped activating 3G phones at least 2 years before finally ending CDMA/3G coverage. At this time, you do need at least a 4G (LTE/VOLTE) enabled device. 5G hasn't fully rolled out in all markets but is rapidly expanding and isn't required yet. There are certain frequencies/bands used by each carrier and they are not universal among all carriers. The cell phone companies limit your choices to "approved" devices and there will be certain phones/devices that may not be fully compatible with all carriers. If you don't buy the phone from the carrier, make certain that the phone that you want to use is compatible before buying it.

[Urbex]

So to make sure it's compatible, I need to make sure it's compatible first, and don't buy a phone that hasn't been available for about 10 years anyways. Got it!

[CellularCowboy]

You have a wide range of LTE phones at low prices. I have a Umidigi phone I got off Ebay for 50 dollars. It was my secondary phone while I was working at Verizon and it was hooked up on Tello service. It really depends on what you need but there's no viable reason to look for another 3G network.

[Serial Port]

You have a wide range of LTE phones at low prices. I have a Umidigi phone I got off Ebay for 50 dollars. It was my secondary phone while I was working at Verizon and it was hooked up on Tello service. It really depends on what you need but there's no viable reason to look for another 3G network.

Let me point out the highlighted section that I quoted. The reason for this is that all 3 of the big networks will not activate any 3G phone any longer. There may be some small, local networks that might activate those devices, but actual coverage off-network will be slim to none.

There are 5G phones available for under $100 new. Simply put, friends don't let friends buy 3G phones in this day and age.

[JSchnee21]

A carrier free iPhone 14, from the Apple Store, with AppleCare and a good case (Speck, Otterbox, etc.) is the most rugged, best performing, best reception device you can buy that supports every band available, on all three carriers, including AT&T’s new DoD midrange.


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