Verizon Just Made 3G and Many 4G LTE Phones Obsolete
Get ready for an explosion on eBay, Amazon, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist. All 3G phones and 4G LTE phones that don’t support VoLTE are now useless on the Verizon network. Only phones made after 2015 will work, and this excludes such popular phones as the iPhone 5S.
Without any advance notice, Verizon released this statement: “For several years we’ve been publicly saying that our 3G CDMA network will remain available through the end of 2019. Virtually all traffic on our network is on our 4G LTE network. To facilitate a smooth transition to 4G LTE capable products and services, we are no longer allowing devices that are not 4G LTE capable with VoLTE to be activated on our network.”
If you have an already-activated 3G phone or 4G phone without VoLTE on Verizon, it will still work until the end of 2019, which is when Verizon’s 3G network will be eliminated to make room for its new 5G network. This change will force thousands of current Verizon customers to fork over money for newer phones.
This also means that several thousand phones currently for sale on sites such as eBay, Amazon, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace are unusable on Verizon. As of this writing, there were over 1,000 Verizon 3G phones for sale on Amazon, 857 on eBay, and the localized results for Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace showed several hundred. Only swappa.com has removed all 3G phones.
4G LTE stands for 4th Generation Long Term Evolution. Verizon started with 2G, moved to 3G, 4G, then Verizon LTE. The current standard is LTE/VoLTE which is the next step from both the CDMA and GSM standards. Historically, the 4G LTE network used packet switching, small bits of data being sent over many paths, for data, but for voice, it had to switch over to 2G or 3G circuit switching.
VoLTE, which stands for Voice over Long Term Evolution, was developed to eliminate that problem, with voice being sent using packet switching. VoLTE has up to three times more voice and data capacity than 3G, and up to six times more than 2G. Call quality, volume, and the speed of connection are vastly improved.
VoLTE runs over the 4G LTE network. That means that all VoLTE phones are 4G LTE, but not all 4G LTE phones are VoLTE. For VoLTE to work, it has to be implemented on both the handset and the network.
As for your beloved flip phone, it’ll make a nice paperweight.
So what phones support VoLTE?
Alcatel
Alcatel OneTouch X1
Alcatel POP3
Alcatel POP 4
Alcatel POP Start,
Alcatel Pixi 4
Alcatel Pixi 5
Apple
iPhone 6 or above
iPhone 6 Plus or above
Asus
Asus Zenfone Go 5.0 LTE (T500)
Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML)
Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE550ML)
Asus Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE601KL)
Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 5.0 (ZE500KL)
Asus ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL)
Asus Zenfone 3 (ZE552KL)
Asus Zenfone 3 Laser(ZC551KL)
Asus Zenfone 3(ZE520KL)
Asus Zenfone 3(ZS570KL)
Asus Zenfone 3(ZU680KL)
Asus Zenfone Max (ZC550KL)
Asus Zenfone Selfie (ZD551KL)
Asus Zenfone Zoom(ZX551ML)
Celkon
Celkon Q4GPlus
Celkon 4GTAB-7
Celkon 4GTAB-8
Celkon ACE,
Celkon POP
Celkon Q4G
Gionee
Gionee E8
Gionee F103 (1GB)
Gionee F103 (2GB)
Gionee F103 (3GB)
Gionee M4
Gionee M5
Gionee M5 Lite
Gionee M5 Lite CDMA
Gionee M5 Plus
Gionee P5L
Gionee S Plus
Gionee S6
Gionee S6s
Gionee S7
Gionee V6L
HTC
HTC Desire 626
HTC Desire 628
HTC Desire 630
HTC Desire 728 Dual SIM
HTC Desire 820
HTC Desire 820Q
HTC Desire 820S Dual Sim
Desire 825
HTC Desire 826
HTC Desire 826 DS
HTC Desire 828 DS
HTC Desire 830
HTC Desire Eye
HTC 10
HTC 10 Life style
HTC One A9
HTC One E9 S dual sim
HTC One E9+ Dual Sim
HTC One M8
HTC One M8 Eye
HTC One M9 Plus
HTC One M9e
HTC One ME Dual Sim
HTC One X9
Huawei
Huawei Holly 2 Plus
Huawei Honor 4C
Huawei Honor 4X
Huawei honor 5C
Huawei honor 5X
Huawei Honor 6
Huawei honor Bee 4G
Huawei honor 6 Plus
Huawei honor 7
Huawei Nexus 6P
Huawei P9
Itel
Itel SelfiePro it1511
Itel Wish it1512
Itel SelfiePro it1520
InFocus
InFocus Bingo 50+
InFocus M370i
InFocus M425
InFocus M430
InFocus M460
InFocus M535
InFocus M535+
InFocus M680
InFocus M808i
InFocus M812i
Intex
Intex Aqua 4G
Intex Aqua 4G Star
Intex Aqua 4G Strong
Intex Aqua 4G Plus
Intex Aqua Ace
Intex Aqua Ace 2
Intex Aqua Ace Mini
Intex Aqua Craze
Intex Aqua Eco 4G
Intex Aqua GenX
Intex Aqua Music
Intex Aqua Power 4G
Intex Aqua Raze
Intex Aqua S7
Intex Aqua Secure
Intex Aqua Shine 4G
Intex Aqua Strong 5.1
Intex Aqua Super
Intex Aqua Trend
Intex Aqua Turbo 4G
Intex Aqua View
Intex Aqua View
Intex Cloud 4G Smart
Intex Cloud 4G Star
Intex Cloud Crystal 2.5D
Intex Cloud Fame 4G
Intex Cloud Flash
Intex Cloud Glory 4G/a>
Intex Cloud Jewel
Intex Cloud String HD
Intex Cloud String V2.0
Intex Cloud Swift
LG
LG K7 LTE
LG Stylus 2
LG K535D (LG Stylus 2 Plus)
LGH630D (LG G4 Stylus 4G)
LGH 442 (LGC70 LG Spirit LTE)
LG K500I ( LG X Screen)
LG G5
LG K520DY
Karbonn
Karbonn Aura 1
Karbonn Aura Power
Karbonn Quattro L55 HD
Karbonn Quattro L52 VR
Karbonn Quattro L51 HD
Karbonn Quattro L50 HD
Karbonn Quattro L45 IPS
LeEco
LeEco Le 1s
LeEco Le 1s Eco
LeEco Le Max
LeEco Le 2
LeEco Le Max 2
Lenovo
Lenovo A6600
Lenovo A6600
Lenovo A7700
Lenovo A2010
Lenovo A2020
Lenovo A6000
Lenovo A6000 shot
Lenovo A7000
Lenovo A7000 Turbo
Lenovo K3 Note
Lenovo Vibe K4 Note
Lenovo Vibe K5
Lenovo Vibe K5 Note
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
Lenovo Vibe P1
Lenovo Vibe P1m
Lenovo Vibe S1
Lenovo Vibe Shot
Lenovo Vibe X3
Lenovo ZUK Z1
Lava
LAVA A71
Lava A72
Lava A76
Lava A76 Plus
Lava A88
Lava A89
Lava A97
Lava Ivory S 4g
Lava V5 M
Lava Pixel V2
Lava V2s
Lava X10
Lava X11
Lava X12
Lava X17
Lava X28
Lava X38
Lava X41
Lava X41 Plus
Lava X46
Lava X50
Lava X50 Plus
Lava X81
Motorola
Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)
Motorola Moto G (2nd Gen)
Motorola Moto G (3rd Gen)
Motorola Moto G3 Turbo Edition
Motorola Moto G4
Motorola Moto G4 Play
Motorola Moto G4 Plus
Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen)
Motorola Moto X Force
Motorola Moto X Play
Motorola Moto X Style
Micromax
Micromax Bolt Selfie
Micromax Canvas 5
Micromax Canvas 5 Lite
Micromax Canvas 5 Lite Special Edition
Micromax Canvas 6
Micromax Canvas 6 Pro
Micromax Canvas Amaze 4G
Micromax Canvas Blaze 4G
Micromax Canvas Blaze 4G Plus
Micromax Canvas Evok
Micromax Canvas Fire 4G
Micromax Canvas Fire 4G plus
Micromax Canvas Fire 6
Micromax Canvas Juice 4G
Micromax Canvas Knight 2
Micromax Canvas Mega 2
Micromax Canvas Mega 4G
Micromax Canvas Nitro 4G
Micromax Canvas Pace 4G
Micromax Canvas Play 4G
Micromax Canvas Pulse 4G
Micromax Canvas Sliver 5
Micromax Canvas Tab
Micromax Canvas Unite 4
Micromax Canvas Xpress 4G
Micromax Unite 4 Plus
Micromax Unite 4 Pro
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy A3
Samsung Samsung Galaxy A5
Samsung Samsung Galaxy A5 2016
Samsung Galaxy A5 Duos
Samsung Galaxy A7
Samsung Galaxy A7 2016
Samsung Galaxy A8
Samsung Galaxy Alpha
Samsung Galaxy Core Prime
Samsung Galaxy Grand Max
Samsung Galaxy J Max
Samsung Galaxy J1 Ace
Samsung Galaxy J2
Samsung Galaxy J2 2016
Samsung Galaxy J2 Pro
Samsung Galaxy J3
Samsung Galaxy J5
Samsung Galaxy J5 2016
Samsung Galaxy J7
Samsung Galaxy J7
Samsung Galaxy K Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S4 4G
Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo
Samsung Galaxy S6
Samsung Galaxy S6 EDGE
Samsung Galaxy S6 EDGE Plus
Samsung Galaxy S7
Samsung Galaxy S7 EDGE
Samsung Note 3
Samsung Note 4
Samsung Note 5
Samsung Note 5 Duos
Samsung Note 7
Samsung Note EDGE
Samsung Grand Prime
Samsung ON 5
Samsung ON 5 Pro
Samsung On 7
Samsung On 7 Pro
Samsung Z2
Samsung Z3
Sansui
Sansui S50 FD45S
Sony
Sony Xperia XA
Sony Xperia XA Ultra
Sony Xperia X (F5122)
Sony Xperia Z5 Dual (E6883)
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium Dual
TCL
TCL 560
TCL 562
TCL FIT 5.5
TCL Pride T500L
OnePlus
Oneplus One
OnePlus 2
OnePlus 3
OnePlus X
OPPO
OPPO F1
OPPO A37
OPPO F1 Plus
OPPO F1s
OPPO Neo 7
OPPO R7k
Panasonic
Panasonic ELUGA A2
Panasonic ELUGA Arc
Panasonic ELUGA L
Panasonic ELUGA I2 (1GB )
Panasonic ELUGA Arc 2
Panasonic ELUGA L2
Panasonic ELUGA I2 2GB
Panasonic ELUGA I2 3GB
Panasonic ELUGA I3
Panasonic ELUGA Switch
Panasonic ELUGA Icon T42
Panasonic ELUGA Icon 2
Panasonic ELUGA Mark
Panasonic ELUGA Turbo
Panasonic ELUGA Note
Panasonic P55 Novo 4G
Panasonic P77
Videocon
Cube 3 V50JL
Videocon Graphite1 V45ED
Videocon Krypton 3 V50JG,
Videocon Q1
Videocon V50FA3
Videocon V50FG6
Videocon Graphite1 V45ED
Vivo
Vivo V3
Vivo V3Max
Vivo Y51L
Vivo Y21L
Xiaomi
Xiaomi Redmi 2 Prime
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Xiaomi Mi4i
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
Xiaomi Mi5
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G Prime
Xiaomi Mi Max
Xiaomi Redmi 3s
Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime
Xolo
Xolo Black-1X M
Xolo era 1X
Xolo era 2X
Xolo era 4G
Xolo era 4G
Xolo era X
YU
YU Yuphoria
YU Yureka Note
YU Yureka S
YU Yureka Plus
YU Yunique
YU Yunique Plus
YU Yunicorn