How To Convert a 3G Phone to 4G: Ultimate Guide

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Every now and then, someone asks, “How do I convert a 3G phone to 4G?” 4G, or to spell it out in full, the 4th generation of cellular communications technology, provides faster internet speeds than 3G and 2G. This is the age of 4G mobile internet access, as more and more subscribers migrate from 3G to 4G.

Is it possible to upgrade my phone 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. If you are interested in the details though, read on. How do I upgrade my phone to 4G?

As already said, technically, it is possible to convert a 3G phone to 4G. But you would have to be a highly skilled electronics engineer to pull it off. Let me explain.

How to upgrade or convert a 3G phone to 4G

To convert a 3G phone to 4G, you would need to change a number of key components in the device. These components include: the modem and the processor. You would need to replace the 3G modem in your phone with a 4G modem. Also, if the built-in processor does not support 4G, you would need to replace that with a 4G-compatible unit too.

Chances are that the phone’s software already support 4G, but you might also have to modify one or two things in that too. So, you pretty much have to dismantle your 3G phone and have these above modifications made in order to convert it to 4G.

Unfortunately, these parts that you need to replace are not sold in your local market, and the expertise required to make those changes are not exactly available in the average phone repair shop. Are you catching my drift? So, what do you do?

how to convert a 3G phone to 4G - how to upgrade my phone to 4G
Can you convert a 3G phone to 4G?

Just Replace Your 3G Phone With A 4G Phone

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. While it is technically possible to convert your 3G phone to 4G, it is largely impracticable. If you are looking for how to upgrade your phone to 4G, the answer is to buy a 4G phone.

How To Choose A 4G Phone

Before choosing a 4G phone, be sure to confirm that it supports the LTE frequency band of the 4G mobile operator that you want to use it on.

There are dozens of 4G frequency bands in use around the world by various cellular carriers. If you buy a 4G phone that does not support the 4G frequency that your operator/carrier uses, your phone will not be able to connect to that 4G network. And that would be a waste.

Now you understand that though it is possible to upgrade a 3G phone to 4G, it is mostly impractical and will cost an arm and a leg. It is just best to replace your 3G phone with a 4G smartphone.

How to Upgrade from 3G to 4G Network

How to upgrade from 3G to 4G network

Now that you have a 4G phone, how do you upgrade from 3G to 4G network to enjoy the faster Internet speeds? If you are still using a 3G SIM card, you need to go do a SIM swap at your carrier and have that replaced with a 4G SIM card. If you do not upgrade your 3G SIM card, you will be unable to connect to the 4G network, though you have a 4G phone.

12 thoughts on “How To Convert a 3G Phone to 4G: Ultimate Guide”

  1. To reply to Mary’s question. I guess you would just sell it like any other phone the same way Walmart is still selling 2G phones.

  2. Read on some forum that it would be possible to have a device that will convert 4/5G to 2/3G.
    Is tis possible? To have a small converter in pne pocket, and a 2G phone in the other, and the converter could convert a 5G signal to 2G so you could use the old phone?
    I know it’s easier to get a 5G phone, but I like my old vintage Nokias, and would lile to be able to use them still. Not as daily driver, but it would be nice if this is possible.
    Kind of like using a DAB converter so one can listen to DAB radio on a FM radio. Know that is only one-way communication, so might not be the same?

  3. when it comes to kosher phones, it would be amazing if we can upgrade the 3g ones to 4g as the current 4g kosher phones are rubbish (think nokia 301/c2/c5 =3g v.s. nokia 215/225/800 alcatel 3080 =4g). if anyone has the ability to do this for pay, please contact me

  4. I know this is is an old thread, but to answer Mary Keil’s question (sort of); you re-purpose the old 3G-only phone for non-phone Android usages, such as an extra Roku remote (ChromeCast and Amazon’s FireStick could probably work the same). Same thing with wifi thermostats. Not useful for the device’s primary function (a phone) but it means it’s not completely non-functional.

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