Iphone X and 8 support B66, no B71 support | T-Mobile simply got burned by Apple and the iPhone X

T-Mobile just got burned by Apple and the iPhone X

       Apple declared the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 plus nowadays. They’re all great phones in many ways, however they have one fatal flaw for T-Mobile and its customers: No support for T-Mobile’s new LTE network.

     Right now, T-Mobile is in the early stages of rolling out a new 600MHz network nationwide. the 1st sites are already on-line, and T-Mobile is expecting to cover a million sq. miles by the end of 2017. however the 600MHz network uses a new LTE channel, Band 71, and extremely few devices support it yet. Sadly for T-Mobile, you can’t add the iPhone 8 or iPhone X to that list.

     The specs page for the iPhone X confirms that it supports all the standard North american LTE bands, but not Band seventy one. but you frame this, it’s a blow for T-Mobile. The iPhone X is wide expected to spark an upgrade “super-cycle” which will see people on the iPhone six and 6S spring for the upgrade, since they’re shopping for a phone that they expect to last for years. That phone — expected to last for at least 2 years — won’t be compatible with the LTE band that T-Mobile is expecting to be the backbone of its network going forwards.

     Compatibility with 600MHz can become a big deal for T-Mobile customers, assuming you wish really using your phone when you’re out and regarding. Lower frequencies travel more and penetrate buildings better, which all adds up to superior coverage, especially within buildings or in rural areas. Verizon has relied heavily on its 700MHz spectrum for years, and it’s a big a part of the explanation it keeps winning coverage awards. T-Mobile’s 600MHz network promises to be even as smart or better, but you can solely take advantage of it if your phone is compatible. 600MHz compatibility is barely going to get additional necessary as time goes on. T-Mobile is planning on having 600MHz coverage over 1,000,000 sq. miles by the end of this year, and by the end of 2018, it'll play a big half in its national coverage — unless you have got an iPhone X.

      There’s no doubt in my mind that T-Mobile needed the iPhone X to support Band seventy one. CTO Neville Ray told me last month that T-Mobile is putting “as much, if no more effort into devices than the network” — and that’s a big statement, because T-Mobile is functioning hard on rolling out 600MHz. however T-Mobile only secured the 600MHz licenses in an auction early this year, that probably wasn’t enough interval to create band seventy one into the iPhone X’s modem.

     But whichever way you cut it, this isn’t nice news for T-Mobile. It’s going into 2018 with only 1 flagship phone with B71 support, and that’s the LG V30, which is that the most niche phone that I’d think about a standard flagship. The Galaxy S9 can virtually positively have B71 support, however we’ll be waiting till next year for an Apple phone that includes it. Worse, anyone who buys an iPhone right now and needs to change in six months won’t have the advantage of T-Mobile’s full LTE network. That’s not going to do a lot of for T-Mobile’s PR campaign to have the most effective network.

     In short: if you’re buying an iPhone 8 or iPhone X, you most likely shouldn’t go with T-Mobile. If you do, I’d go for a lease, rather than shopping for the phone on an instalment plan. That way, when the iPhone X2 shows up next year, you’ll be able to jump ship.