There are already 5G networks nowadays, but for this you need a special device, namely the iPhone 12 or newer. For daily use, most people will use the internet via 4G, which is fast enough for most applications.
The speed of 4G networks is on average ten times faster than 3G, which will gradually be phased out. So you can stream movies, download music, make video calls and browse without interruptions. 4G also ensures that you have better coverage, even in busy places. But what about devices: which iPhones and iPads are suitable for 4G and what about the support of providers such as KPN, Vodafone and Odido in the Netherlands and Proximus, Orange and Telenet in Belgium?
- Which iPhones are not suitable for 4G?
- Which iPhones are suitable for 4G?
- Which iPads are suitable for 4G?
- What is 4G?
- 4G in the Netherlands
- 4G in Belgium
Which iPhones are not suitable for 4G?
The following iPhones are not suitable for 4G:
- iPhone 4s and older
As far as the iPhone 5 is concerned, not all 4G frequencies are supported, but that does not have to be a problem. Providers always offer multiple frequencies for 4G, so you can simply use the internet. If you have an iPhone 4s or older, you can continue to use the 2G or 3G network in the future, as long as it lasts. This depends on your provider.
More and more providers are switching off their 3G networks. Vodafone already switched off the 3G network in 2020 and KPN followed suit in April 2022. We are therefore increasingly dependent on the 4G network and its successor, 5G networks.
Which iPhones are suitable for 4G?
These iPhones are suitable for 4G:
- iPhone 5: the first device with 4G support, does not work on all frequencies.
- iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c: suitable for all Dutch 4G networks and frequencies.
- iPhone 6 and newer: suitable for all Dutch 4G networks and frequencies, and also offers support for carrier aggregation (see below).
- iPhone SE (all models).
Of course, the above only applies to iPhones purchased in Europe. If you bought your iPhone in the US, China or another country, support for certain 4G frequencies may be different.
iPads with 4G: these iPads are suitable
If you have an iPad with a ‘cellular’ function, you can put a SIM card in it to use the internet on the go. You are then not dependent on WiFi networks or the internet connection of your iPhone.
- iPad Pro (all models): suitable for all 4G networks.
- iPad 2017 and newer: suitable for all 4G networks.
- iPad Air 1 and newer: suitable for all 4G networks.
- iPad mini 3 and newer: suitable for all 4G networks.
- iPad 4 and iPad mini 2: Support a limited number of LTE frequencies, namely 2100, 1800, 850, 700 and 1900 MHz. Check with your provider whether this works.
This means that the following tablets are not suitable for 4G:
- iPad 3 and earlier
- iPad mini 1 and earlier
With these iPads you can of course still use WiFi, so it is not a big problem. However, if you were used to using these iPads outside the home, you will have to see if you can find a provider that still supports 3G.
What is 4G?
4G is the successor to the 3G networks. 4G stands for ‘4th generation’ and works according to the LTE standard. 4G offers a number of advantages over current 3G networks: higher speeds, more simultaneous users and lower latency (less delay). In Scandinavia, 4G networks were already operational in 2009 with practical speeds of 30 to 80 Mbit/second. The higher speeds make new applications possible, such as watching streaming video and remote meetings.
Nowadays, 4G networks are available in all countries worldwide and there is usually good coverage, even when you are on holiday.
What is 4G+?
Newer variants of 4G have now also been introduced to slightly increase the speed. 4G+ is an extension of the LTE standard, which allows you to ‘stack’ multiple frequency blocks on top of each other. With four blocks you can achieve a speed of 150Mbit/s. Dutch providers use six stacked frequency blocks, with which they can achieve a maximum speed of 225Mbit/s. You do need a device that supports 4G+ for this. Another name for 4G+ is LTE Advanced.
When announcing the iPhone 6, Apple announced that it would allow carrier aggregation. Multiple frequencies are combined, so that you can use the internet even faster.
Dutch 4G networks
You can use 4G networks with all Dutch providers, including budget providers and SIM-only providers. You can cancel your iPhone subscription at any time
and iPhone subscriptions. This applies to KPN, Vodafone and Odido. In the beginning, you had to pay a small amount extra per month for 4G use (around 5 euros), but that is now not the case. 4G is now standard with all providers, although speeds may still vary. For example, you may encounter very low speeds with some budget providers. These are the slowest providers:
- Budget Mobile: 5 Mbps
- Lebara: 75 Mbps
- Simple: 150 Mbps
You also have to be careful with the Odido Unlimited Start bundle, because it doesn’t really make much progress with a speed of 10 Mbps. We recommend choosing a provider that offers at least 200 Mbps, such as Ben or Youfone. With some providers (such as Lebara) you can upgrade to a higher speed for a small amount per month (€0.50).
You can measure the speed of your mobile data yourself.
Do you need a new device because your current iPhone does not support 4G? Then take a look at our overview of buying an iPhone to see which devices work with 4G (and often also 5G).
Calling via 4G
VoLTE is a new development that allows you to make calls via the 4G network. Apple has offered support for this on the iPhone since iOS 8, but whether it works depends on your provider. You can read more about Voice over LTE in the tip below.
Belgian 4G networks
In Belgium, Proximus, Orange and Telenet offer 4G access through their subscriptions. The same applies as in the Netherlands: 4G is almost always included as standard with your subscription or SIM only, but the speeds may differ per provider. Previously, you had to pay attention to whether the correct LTE frequency bands were supported, but that is not necessary if you simply bought your iPhone in Belgium or another European country.
Initially, Apple itself determined on which networks the iPhone was allowed. However, a bill ensured that smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, must allow devices on all Belgian 4G networks.
4G abroad
You also have access to 4G networks abroad. In EU countries you don’t have to pay anything extra for it, because the 4G data bundle you took out in the Netherlands or Belgium applies throughout the European Union. Only with unlimited subscriptions you are faced with a maximum, but that is often 15GB or more, so that you will not easily exceed it during a holiday. Roaming costs will be charged in countries outside the EU, but you can also use 4G there as well. You could optionally opt for an eSIM.
