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geek1981

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 15, 2012
70
22
Hi guys

I’m planning to buy a Mini 5 cellular from US next week and bring it to UK. If I get a nano sim from U.K. mobile network, would 4G work? I read that 3G is global but LTE bands are different for 4G use in Europe. Is that right?
 
Hi guys

I’m planning to buy a Mini 5 cellular from US next week and bring it to UK. If I get a nano sim from U.K. mobile network, would 4G work? I read that 3G is global but LTE bands are different for 4G use in Europe. Is that right?

There is a table in this article showing the different 4G bands in Europe -

 
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If you purchase an unlocked GSM device from apple, you should have no issues.
I buy unlocked GSM devices from apple as I travel to the UK almost annually. I buy a local pay as you go SIM once there, usually from '3' .
I avoid Vodaphone though.
 
The US Cellular Mini is model A2126: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/ipad/specs/apple-ipad-mini-5th-gen-a2126-wifi-cellular-specs.html

UK Cellular Mini is A2124: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...5th-gen-a2124-global-wifi-cellular-specs.html

Looking at the pages on that site there is a third variant of the Mini which is only sold in China, supporting band 42. As you don’t get 42 in UK or US, the only difference seems to be that you get Band 28 with the UK model or Band 71 with the US one.

This would suggest you only need 20, 8, 3, 1 and 7 in the UK: https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/mobile-phone/check-mobile-works-on-4g-network-3597426/
 
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The US Cellular Mini is model A2126: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/ipad/specs/apple-ipad-mini-5th-gen-a2126-wifi-cellular-specs.html

UK Cellular Mini is A2124: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...5th-gen-a2124-global-wifi-cellular-specs.html

Looking at the pages on that site there is a third variant of the Mini which is only sold in China, supporting band 42. As you don’t get 42 in UK or US, the only difference seems to be that you get Band 28 with the UK model or Band 71 with the US one.

This would suggest you only need 20, 8, 3, 1 and 7 in the UK: https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/mobile-phone/check-mobile-works-on-4g-network-3597426/
These links are very useful, thanks for sharing. I will get it from US then as the LTE bands are included.
 
You’re welcome. It seems you would only need Band 28 in certain countries including France and Australia. Struggling to find a comprehensive list but sites seem to agree on those. Those countries would have other bands you could use if you were visiting. I’d take the discount over the more comprehensive coverage in other countries any day.
 
Here’s some anectodal experience.

my US iPhone 11 Pro Max worked just fine in the UK (on Vodafone), except in (very few) areas it would drop 4G and only have 3G (while my friend’s Europe-spec 8+ would have 4G). There’s the difference in bands etc.

Other than that it worked great 98% of the time. Yours will too.
 
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