WiWavelength

Why are more people not upset that all of these new tri-bands drop SVLTE? It is a feature I use a lot and I think it is more of an asset than Tri-band LTE when 25 LTE isn't even fully implemented. 

People just do not talk on the phone as much anymore.  I can go a month using no more than five minutes of voice airtime.

Regardless, we have been told that it is too expensive/complicated to include band 41 TD-LTE and SVLTE because of the multiple RF paths involved.  We disagree with that simplistic assessment, but so far, it has proven accurate.  If that changes in the long run, we will let you know.

In the meantime, if you must have SVLTE, then you have numerous strong options:  HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4, Motorola X, etc.

AJ

We also have to look for the specs too.  If all it is doing is just replacing the original GS4 specs with triband LTE then I would pass on the GS4. No point of getting the Snapdragon 600 chip...

Doing some further digging through the FCC OET authorization docs, I came across a reference to a 1890 MHz CPU clock frequency.  That seemingly points to the same higher binned 1.9 GHz Snapdragon 600 (APQ8064T/APQ8064AB) found in the original Galaxy S4.

AJ

100% the writers OPINION. Stick to the facts

No, not 100 percent my opinion.  I drew consensus from multiple opinions, including those of well known, respected tech writers.  So, try again.

AJ

Finally, does Verizon suffer from these problems? Big Red is looking better to this out-of-contract family!

Pointing a finger at Sprint is misplaced.  Most popular VZW devices sold over the past two years -- iPhone 5, Droid DNA, Galaxy Note 2, HTC One, et al. -- are single band LTE.  VZW dual band LTE devices did not show up until earlier this year.  So, a great many VZW users are going to be stuck on only band 13 LTE 750 for as long as they continue to use those devices.

AJ

I'd love for someone to tell me I'm wrong, but who's going to buy a Z30 or Moto X for Sprint if they're restricted to Band 25?

Who?  The thousands upon thousands, even millions of consumers who represent >90 percent of the market and know not a thing about "tri band LTE."

AJ

We probably will not do a full write up on the Z30, so for those interested, here is a snapshot of the ERP/EIRP figures.  They do not appear as strong as in previous BlackBerry devices.

band class 0 CDMA1X/EV-DO 850:  ~20 dBm

band class 1 CDMA1X/EV-DO 1900:  ~22 dBm

band class 10 CDMA1X/EV-DO 800:  ~22 dBm

band 25 LTE 1900:  ~21 dBm

AJ

Fine.  I changed it to "the latest OS version for BlackBerry," though that has disrupted my well crafted parallel structure.

AJ

Is it a BlackBerry?  Yes.

Does it run an OS?  Yes.

Is it Android, iOS, Windows Phone, etc.?  No.

There is your answer.  It is a "BlackBerry OS."

Give me a break.  Maybe I should just stop writing these articles...

AJ

BlackBerry OS is dead, AJ. You mean BB10 (formerly known as BBX).

Bah.  It is still a "BlackBerry OS."  I do not give any legit recognition to these myriad number versions or ludicrous names -- such as "KitKat."

AJ

AJ...any news on the CDMA 800 and LTE 800 RF ERP/EIRP values?

No, and I doubt that those will be added.  Part 90 devices seem to be passing through the FCC OET now with only conducted power figures.

AJ

That's not fair, A.J.

What is not fair?

You know as well as I do that the reason Sprint "tri-band" devices can't support it is because LTE TDD bands require a separate antenna output from LTE FDD.

That is the supposition, but we are not taking just your word as the definitive answer on the matter because you are merely conveying info from a non definitive source. Dual mode FDD/TDD LTE can be done with SVLTE. Will it be done? Probably not.

That's why SV-LTE cannot be enabled on Sprint "tri-band" devices. The R4 model can support it because LTE TDD isn't on the device. That extra antenna block can be used for CDMA2000 instead.

You miss the point, Neal. The "R4" variant provides the multi band LTE capabilities that most of our readers wish for in the "P" variant. Many would be happy with dual band 25, 26 LTE 1900/800 with SVLTE, and that would have been perfectly feasible in the "P" variant.  That at least one regional operator gets those features while a major player does not is controversial.  And, well, controversy makes for good reading, good discussion.

AJ

Great write up! Is there any chance this variant is for smaller regional carriers who have roaming with sprint? Perhaps another variant will be released for sprint at a later date? It's a long shot I know!! 

No.  The "R4" variant that I also detail for its multi band and SVLTE capabilities is destined for regional operators that have roaming agreements with Sprint.

AJ

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/compare/LG-G2,Samsung-Galaxy-Mega-6.3/phones/7969,7805

Again, that is pulling specs from the previously released version.  We cannot yet vouch that the Sprint variant will share those same specs.  

Phone Arena is not a great source for 3GPP2 (CDMA2000) handset info.  It is too focused on the 3GPP (GSM ecosystem) side.  Note how the posted comparison does not even include the appropriate CDMA2000 and LTE capabilities for Sprint.

AJ

but what really makes the Mega the Edsel of phones is that the screen resolution is terrible

 

isn't the screen the reason people would buy this phone?

 

you are better off just buying a tablet

First, no one has offered any proof that this Sprint variant Galaxy Mega shares the same specs with any previously released Galaxy Mega variants.  Thus, some of those assumptions may prove correct, but they are currently unsubstantiated.

Second, if this 6.3 inch Galaxy Mega variant screen does retain 720x1280 pixel resolution, that is equal to or greater than that of most 7 inch tablets, including the likes of the original Nexus 7 and iPad mini.  Those screens are not "terrible."  And that makes your conclusion about being better off buying a tablet largely a non sequitur.  If anything is "terrible," it is your hyperbole.

Your profile states that you are here for "trolling."  That is against S4GRU rules and will not be tolerated.  So, if you just want to rattle some cages, take it elsewhere. 

AJ

The heart of the Galaxy Mega 6.3 is a Snapdragon 400 as confirmed by Qualcomm.  There are also some other specs that are different than the Note 3 but its not a shabby phone for a midrange LTE phone.

 

http://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon/smartphones/finder?processor=9

That may very well be the case.  But you should not automatically assume that this Galaxy Mega 6.3 shares the same specs with previous variants.

AJ

Just to give some background, we've suspected the SPH-L600 was the Mega 6.3 for a while now http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/05/30/sph-l600-passes-through-bluetooth-certification-likely-the-samsung-galaxy-mega-6-3-for-sprint/. Looks like it was spot on.

 

But yeah, no way is it dethroning the Note 3 - the specs aren't even close to do so. Just because of the bands?

We realize and appreciate that the SPH-L600 has been suspected for several months now.  But that is not the point.  You miss the point.

After the Sprint variant Note 3 seemingly turned out to be single band LTE, tri band LTE for this Galaxy Mega is a huge development worthy of announcement.

How can you not appreciate that report?  Are you just one those myopic, "GSM ecosystem focused" guys who expects all bands to be supported?

AJ

Seriously Samsung. Why are they alienating the Note 3 to be single band LTE when the Mega and GS4 mini are triband?

Doesn't the mega have only middle/low range specs? What a waste.

I thought this would be a cause for celebration.  Instead of taking a dump on it, take what you can get, guys.

And though that may have been the case in other regions, this Galaxy Mega does not look to be a mid range device.  This obvious Sprint variant supports NFC, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and 5 GHz Wi-Fi hotspot.

We have not yet nailed down the chipset(s), but I would not be the least bit surprised if the Snapdragon 800 (MSM8974) is right at the center.  About the only thing that you might lose is the AMOLED screen.  But is that a big loss or even a loss at all?

AJ

How's the RF specs on output?

 

Nice work AJ with the very quick turnaround!!

To get the teaser article out so quickly, I had to focus only on the fundamentals, namely size and bands.  But Josh says that the uplink RF looks middle of the road.  So, I will take a look, especially as we would like to run a follow up article on the full FCC OET specs at some point.

AJ

Doesn't the iPhone support the China Mobile TDD band? Wouldn't support for band 41 be just a software update away?

Highly unlikely.  Sprint and SoftBank both are getting A1453 and A1456 for 5S and 5C, respectively.  China Mobile is not officially listed, but it should be getting A1530 and A1529, respectively.

The presumed China Mobile variants do support band 38 TD-LTE 2600, but that is not as all encompassing as band 41 TD-LTE 2600.  And there is no indication that the Sprint variants even contain the RF front end and antenna arrays for any high frequency bands.

AJ

If the current speed of the LTE rollout is any indicator this isn't going to matter to anyone.  Now, if the iPhone 6 doesn't have support I might be worried.

No, that is not an apt parallel.  Hundreds of Clearwire sites across the country already have live and accessible TD-LTE 2600.  That may not matter to everyone, but it certainly does matter to some.

AJ

Longer? How do you figure?

I think the San Diegans are still bitter about WiMAX, and that perpetually colors their expectations.  Plus, their city is named after a whale's vagina.

AJ

Is it telling Sprint and everyone else to jump, or Apple just doing what they want in spite of everyone?

Sprint could have declined to offer the iPhone this year because both models are only dual band on Sprint.  But that would have been political and financial suicide.  So, by making the 5S and 5C only dual band on Sprint, Apple is implicitly coercing Sprint into something that Sprint would probably prefer not to do -- release a dual band rather than tri band handset.

AJ

I like HTC but this is the reason I will not buy another HTC product. HTC value drops so fast in the first year its ridiculous. High demand=high long term value I suppose.

Regarding resale, iPhone = iron pyrite.  If you do not recognize it, look it up.

AJ

Unfortunately Sprint will likely continue to lock their hanset for other US carriers use.

Maybe.  We shall see.  But as long as the subsidy system continues, the lockout of other domestic operators makes sense.  Deadbeats should not be able to take their iPhones to other providers.

AJ

I also am looking to upgrade my fiancee's phone, from a 4S to a 5S, and I'm sure she'll be happy with it.

Give a woman any iPhone.  She will not know the difference and will be happy, right?

AJ