Short Answer: No, the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S Are Not 4G Phones
That says it all: the iPhone 4 and 4S are not 4G phones. At least they’re not when by saying “4G” you’re referring to the 4G or 4G LTE cellular network standard, which is the successor to the 3G standard used by the iPhone 4 & 4S. This is what most phone companies mean when they say “4G.” But the situation is actually more complicated, and potentially confusing, than that. Understanding the full situation requires understanding what people mean when they say something is 4G. The reason this is confusing is because there are two different meanings for “4G.”
4G = 4th Generation Cellular Network
When most companies, and some people, talk about 4G, what they mean is a phone that is compatible with a 4th generation (i.e. 4G) cellular phone network. 4G networks, also called LTE Advanced or Mobile WiMAX networks (among other names), are next-generation wireless networks used by mobile phone companies to transmit calls and data to mobile phones. This is different from “3G,” which refers to a third-generation network or a device that’s compatible with one. 4G networks are newer, more advanced networks that are replacing 3G networks. By comparison, 4G networks are faster than 3G networks and can carry more data:
4G = 4th Generation Phone
There’s another meaning for “4G.” Sometimes people use the term 4G to mean fourth-generation products generally, not those that work with 4G networks specifically. The iPhone 4 is, as the name would suggest, the 4th iPhone model, making it the 4th generation iPhone. But being a 4th generation phone is not the same thing as being a 4G phone.
The iPhone 4 Is Not a 4G Phone
4G phones are ones that work on 4G networks. Just like previous iPhone models, the iPhone 4 is not compatible with 4G networks. Because the iPhone 4 only used the 3G and EDGE cellular networks, the iPhone 4 is not a 4G phone.
Neither Is the iPhone 4S
The iPhone 4S can download data faster — up 14.4 Mbps — than the iPhone 4, which maxes out at 7.2 Mbps. This isn’t 4G speed, but some cell phone companies may promote the iPhone 4S as being a 4G phone or close to a 4G phone. Technically, this isn’t true. As mentioned above, being a 4G phone requires compatibility with a specific type of phone network and specific hardware on the phone. The iPhone 4S doesn’t have this. The phone companies that sell the iPhone in the U.S. have extensive 4G networks, but this iPhone model doesn’t take advantage of them.
How About the iPhone 5 and Newer Models?
Here’s where things get easy: The iPhone 5 and all subsequent iPhone models are 4G phones. That’s because they all support 4G LTE networks. So, if you want to get 4G LTE for the fastest cellular data experience, pick up the latest iPhone.
