Sidephone is a $249 distraction-free dumb phone with a swappable keypad, Android OS, touchscreen, and basic apps like WhatsApp, Apple Music, and Maps. Launch expected in 2025 with pre-orders opening soon.https://www.notebookcheck.net/The-Sidephone-is-a-new-stylish-dumb-phone-with-a-swappable-keypad-and-up-to-8-days-of-battery.1006206.0.html
If they want this dumb phone to be useful in the United States they need to switch to a 5G modem. Of the three major carriers in the United States T-Mobile is the only one that is unlocked phone friendly but T-Mobile has gone all-in on 5G to the extent that a 4G only phone is borderline useless and won't provide reliable service. T-Mobile eliminated it's 2G and 3G networks to convert the bandwidth to 5G but also uses most of its 4G bands to provide 5G speeds for phones and home Internet via band aggregation. That means even though the 4G bands still exist 4G only phones can't connect to them since home Internet customers and 5G phones have higher network priority. In some service areas all 4G only phones have only a single band available to connect to which causes dropped calls and erratic signal quality.
What in the world would a dumb phone need a battery-draining 5G high-speed connection for? LTE is plenty fast and uses a lot less battery.
Quote from: Joe Smart on April 28, 2025, 16:48:41If they want this dumb phone to be useful in the United States they need to switch to a 5G modem. Of the three major carriers in the United States T-Mobile is the only one that is unlocked phone friendly but T-Mobile has gone all-in on 5G to the extent that a 4G only phone is borderline useless and won't provide reliable service. T-Mobile eliminated it's 2G and 3G networks to convert the bandwidth to 5G but also uses most of its 4G bands to provide 5G speeds for phones and home Internet via band aggregation. That means even though the 4G bands still exist 4G only phones can't connect to them since home Internet customers and 5G phones have higher network priority. In some service areas all 4G only phones have only a single band available to connect to which causes dropped calls and erratic signal quality.
This is absolutely correct,anyone that lives in a major city has this experience with 4G LTE from T-Mobile. Traveling between Orlando, Ocala and Jax you'll easily experience slow speeds during rush/busy hours with LTE. Chicago... etc it's all the same with T-Mobile's premium plans.
Among other things, include HD Voice, RCS support, Google Contacts sync.
I had one of these.
In 1997.
Only took us about three decades to go full circle.