iPhones these days are expensive, but they come packed with some of the best features. After all, they are regarded as the best smartphones by many. They allow you to perform many tasks, such as taking high-quality pictures, using different applications, and much more. However, you will need to be connected to the internet to access most of the features. And today, we are going to discuss what Edge means on iPhone.
The “E” symbol on the top left corner of the iPhone stands for “Edge“, a data system used by networks. It supports a maximum speed of 373 Kbps but is often limited to 135 Kbps; it is faster than 2G but is much slower than 3G.
If you’ve got the latest iPhone, what good is it if you can’t run a fast internet connection on it? After all, to get the ultimate iPhone experience, everything should be fast, including the internet. However, the thing about mobile internet is that its speed can vary from one location to another. For instance, you might get 4G signals in one city, but when you visit a different town, the signals might drop to 3G.
Aside from this, being indoor and outdoor can also have a massive effect on internet speed. If you use mobile internet inside a building and then go outside, you’ll notice that the rate is greater outdoors. Therefore, before complaining about your mobile internet speed, consider your surroundings.
All Mobile Internet Technologies
From 2G to 4G, mobile internet technology’s journey has been incredible, and it has grown so much in the past years.
2G and GPRS
The first mobile internet technology was 2G, which came to the market in 1991. It allowed people to use data services such as SMS and MMS, and they connected to the digital world thanks to it. However, 2G has a maximum speed of 50 Kbps, which only helps do a few tasks. These days, 2G is unavailable at central locations, and Europe has even decided to turn off the 2G network.
Sometime later, GPRS was introduced, and it was better than 2G in every way. GPRS is commonly referred to as “G” and offers a maximum speed of 114 Kbps, which is more than double what 2G provides. Compared to 2G, you’ll find GPRS more often. With this technology, you can even use services such as WhatsApp.
Edge
Edge internet technology started becoming popular in 2003 and 2004, and people then were amazed at its speed. It allowed them to complete tasks quickly and changed how the digital world worked. The first iPhone was released in 2007 and came with the support for Edge. From that point onwards, each iPhone has provided support for it.
The Edge network is available in more than 213 countries, having around 13,000 cities under its umbrella. This makes it one of the most widely used mobile internet connections as 3G and better technologies are yet to make their way into most cities.
3G, H, and 4G
Although 3G is found almost everywhere and is pretty fast, the technology is older than you think. It first arrived in 2001, and it offers a speed of 384 Kbps. 3G allowed people to start doing more complex stuff, such as streaming videos and music. This instantly increased its popularity and demand, a reason why you’ll find it in almost every country worldwide.
Then, in 2010, H started becoming more popular than 3G. This was because even though it used the same technology as 3G, it offered a better speed. Compared to the 384 Kbps speed 3G provides, H offers a whopping maximum speed of 7.2 Mbps. Because of this, it can smoothly buffer YouTube videos, stream music on Spotify, and do other similar tasks. H+, the advanced version of H, arrived later in the market and took the speed to 168.8 Mbps.
In 2009, the world was introduced to 4G, which is currently one of the fastest mobile internet technologies. In most countries, it holds the top spot as they are yet to launch 5G. 4G offers speeds up to 1GB per second, and you can do almost every significant task smoothly using them. You can even trust it to buffer 4k videos on YouTube quickly. You’ll find 4G in nearly every major country. However, its availability will vary from city to city.
Why Do I See Edge on iPhone Even Though There is 3G in My Area?
If you’re seeing Edge on your iPhone instead of 3G, it means that either 3G isn’t available in your area or the reception is not strong enough. For those who don’t know, iPhone connects to the fastest internet connection available, and if the 3G reception is not strong enough, it will connect to Edge for a better experience.
Therefore, don’t start panicking if you see the “E” icon on the top left corner of your iPhone screen. But if you’re constantly getting Edge at multiple locations, take your device to a repair shop as there might be a technical issue. Software issues can also cause this, and waiting for the next update in such cases is better.
Conclusion
This was everything you needed to know about what Edge means on iPhone. As you can see, the Edge technology is excellent, but it’s not anywhere close to 3G.
