Is the UK Samsung Galaxy Note II LTE compatible?
This question has been causing a bit of confusion since the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note II. This is understandable as even the official Samsung site doesn’t make it particularly clear that there are two different versions of the Samsung Galaxy Note II that we will be available to buy in the UK.
The version of the Galaxy Note II that we are selling is the SIM-free/unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (GT-N7100), which is also referred to as the ‘International’ Samsung Galaxy Note 2. This is not LTE compatible. It works on the following GSM and 3G frequencies:
GSM:850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
3G/HSDPA: 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
The SIM-free version that we are selling is also available with a contract from various UK networks. Again, this will only have 3G capability, not 4G/LTE.
Earlier this week, Everything Everywhere announced that it will have the LTE version of the Samsung Galaxy Note II (GT-N7105) available to buy on contract from October 15th. This is different to the SIM-free/3G version that we are selling. So far there has been no mention as to whether or not the Samsung Galaxy Note II LTE will be released SIM-free in the UK, although it is unlikely at this stage.
So to recap, there are two different versions of the Note II that are available in the UK:
The ‘3G Samsung Galaxy Note II’ (GT-N7100)– available now from Clove SIM-free and from various networks on contract.
The ‘4G/LTE version of the Samsung Galaxy Note’ (GT-N7105), that is available from Everything Everywhere only (in the UK).
LTE will only be available in certain cities initially, so unless you are located within an area that will receive LTE coverage, you should consider the SIM-free/3G version as this will be the cheaper option.
Please note that this information applies only to official UK stock.
About Chris Ward
Thanks Chris..
Agree, no one should really hold out for the 4G Note II not unless you would be using it specifically with EE and in the designated areas.
Most will gain more benefit with the 3G model.
The only thing that is stopping me from a purchase is the lack of the 32GB model.
Mike
Thanks Mike, shouldn’t be too long now until it’s available.
Good news; any sign of the higher capacity black S3 making an appearance this month?
And apropos of nothing, you might want to run a feature on TomTom coming to Android; the lack of it was one of the few things that pained me about leaving IOS…
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tomtom.weurope
WVGA devices only unfortunately, so most recent decent phones can’t run it.
Yea have spotted that it launched today but with a few problems! Worth the splash when it is compatible, Ian?
We are chasing it and should have an update soon hopefully
Wow, this got messy! I am a fan of TomTom; I still think their screen layout is better than GoogleMaps (not least because the actual route is marked out more clearly in the TomTom 3D view) and once they support something current (curiously they’re showing support for the Note 10.1?!) I’ll probably lash out; having good offline maps for bad coverage and overseas travel tips the balance for me.
That’s interesting. They could probably do with getting some review copies out to blogs so that people can compare to Google Navigation, otherwise £30 may seem like too much of a splash to people. I might have to enquire..
Same here, waiting for the 32GB model…
Surely buy a memory card, rather than paying an inflated price for the extra 16gb, I believe that it supports upto a 64gb card, with 50gb of free cloud as well, so that’s 130gb of space… not quite sure what you want all this memory on your phone for but would haveing it max out at 136 really be that much of an impact, you can always have several memory cards. No doubt Sammy will charge about £100 for 16gb of space, a la a**le, in a larger model when you could buy that on a card for a fiver.
Yes that is a fair bit of space even with the 16GB, although some people prefer the internal storage because it writes the data quicker and the cloud isn’t all that reliable yet.
Samsung always finds some way to needlessly complicate their launches and annoy customers.
Couldn’t get the 32GB S3 without signing up with Vodafone, so ended up getting a German one. And the blue version took ages to come out.
Now the grey version’s taking ages and the LTE version will only be available through EE.
As it’s for my gf she’s not fussed about LTE, which is just as well. However LTE makes this phone a lot more future-proof and it’s annoying to see Samsung treating its customers this way.
Yea never plain sailing is it. The whole confusing message around LTE doesn’t help the matter.
Only future-proof if you’re happy to stay with ee for the foreseeable though…
I gather both Three and Virgin Mobile will be getting some of EE’s LTE frequencies. Won’t be right away but when it happens I should think the LTE Note 2 would be compatible with those too.
It seems that EE may become incompatible when it switches to different frequencies: http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/4g-rollout-brought-forward-to-cover-most-of-uk-by-next-summer
It’s a complete shambles, and Ofcom should be ashamed of itself.
It’s not even real 4G! It’s 3.9G but the marketing idiots decided to call it 4G. Real 4G is a whole different and far superior technology but god knows when we’ll get that.
I’d kill for just 3G; I’m sitting about 3 miles from one of the busiest railways stations in the UK, Reading, and I’m only getting GPRS!
I lived in Reading until around five years ago and had decent 3G; I was on O2 at the time.
In fact I switched to them from Orange because I was working in Windsor and Orange had lousy coverage there.
At first this narked me off a little because I have a Note 2 on the way, but in reality it’s just a need to have the best spec model that’s all. I have never had a problem with 3G or Wifi speeds and I find a Wifi connection pretty much everywhere. I’m just outside of london and theres always 3G. I’m also not amongst the cities covered anyway it seems.
I look at it like this, If this was a Sim Free Note 2 4G then that would be interesting I guess because I plan on keeping the note until the Note 3 at least so lets say over a year, but being tied into a £40 something monthly contract to get internet speeds that happen to be faster than the speeds I’m already happy with. No need. Also all you can eat internet for £12 a month on my current provider..i’m good.
Just gimme my 3g Wifi note 2 and im happy
Yep. 3G version is fine for me. As noted, lte/4G is will only be available in a limited number of locations initially and only offered by EE at first.
It will also no doubt attract a special contract with its own ‘special’ price to take advantage of the extra speed when/where available. I.e. you will be paying over the top of a normal data contract for a service that you will not be able to take advantage of all the time in every location.
Give it a couple of years to pan out, settle down, be more widespread and offered by more networks at more sensible prices…
Makes more sense to go with the 3G version now and get a lte Note III/IV next time around
This is really confusing:
1. Samsung help desk told me that the model GT-N7100 is 4G capable.
2. CPW also told me that GT-N7100 is 4G
3. T-Mobile told me their LTE device model number is GT-N7100
4. GSM Arena also says model GT-N7100 os LTE capable
And the SIM free model available in the UK is GT-N7100!!!
We’ll have to wait until 30th Oct and test with an EE sim to see what is the truth.
Hi there,
We have spoken to Samsung directly ourselves. I do not want to discredit any of the other sources, but it is easy for specs to become mixed up online.
Chris
I am 99.99% certain that you are right. I will order a 4G ready Note II from T-Mobile and compare to my other UK SIM Free Note II to see where the obvious differences are. At this point I am assuming that the LTE variant (GT-N7105?) is unlikely to be sold SIM free in the short term. Please also note that many web sites are selling the 3G Note II on T-Mobile & Orange and not warning customers that these phones will not work on EE unlike the phones bought directly from Orange / T-Mobile.
Hi,
Thanks for your comment. That would be great if you could compare the two and let us know the differences – I will get any info added to the post. Yes for the time being the LTE variant is unlikely to be sold SIM-free in the UK as it does not make sense from a distribution point of view – the vast majority of people buying it in the UK will want an EE contract with it to take advantage of LTE as soon as possible. That’s not to say we don’t want to stock it, we would love to! I think the whole situation is so confusing that some websites will end up selling people handsets without themselves knowing whether it is 3G or 4G enabled!
I should receive my T-mobile Note II LTE on Tuesday. But note that T-mobile claim the model number is GT-N1700 not GT-N7105.
If the Note 2 From EE has 800, 1800 and 2600MHz LTE it will be worth having. If it just has 1800MHz (like the iPhone 5) then it will not be worth having. One will be asked to sign up for a 2 year contract. EE will bid for LTE spectrum at 800 & 2600MHz late this year, and will roll this beginning H2 2013. 1800MHz is an interim LTE solution that will get dropped long term – new LTE area’s will get 800/2600MHz LTE. I do not want to be one of those folks with a phone that can only be used on 1800MHz LTE, aka the initial 16 cities for the next ~18 months years just to have gotten LTE 8 months earlier than everyone else. Its ‘everyone else’ that will be having the last laugh as I struggle along on 3G while they enjoy 4G outwith those 16 ‘early LTE’ cities!
The government has made a right mess of LTE auctions (surprise surprise). Why did they not do what the French did and auction off 2600MHz and 800MHz separately, the latter getting auctioned once DSO was complete?
My rant re UK LTE here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=32261995#post32261995
Nigel
Hi Nigel,
Thanks for sending over that link; you make some good points about the mess that has been made of LTE. It is a very confusing message for the consumer unfortunately.
I understand there effectively will be a standard 3G SNote 2 model (UK model) , and LTE SNote 2 model on a providers network at the same time, but will the SNote2 LTE version be fully ‘retro’ compatible to the existing GSM/3G frequencies of all current mobile networks company’s.
The reason why I ask? my UK mobile service is not yet ready for LTE transmission but will be at some point, so I do want to buy the new SNote2 but want one the that will work for me now, and for the LTE future and be bought ‘unlocked’ to any network.
Regards
Hi Livio,
This may not be possible I’m afraid. Due to the fact that the Note 2 will only be compatible on EE LTE for now, there is probably not enough demand for it to be released SIM-free. Furthermore, releasing a SIM-free version could be counter productive for any agreement that Samsung and EE have in place. This is not official, so is just speculation on my part, but at the moment we have not heard of any plans to release the LTE UK version SIM-free.
At the moment I am not sure if the 3G/GSM frequencies will all be compatible; they have not yet been announced as far as I am aware.
Are the Samsung American models not already 3g and LTE compatible?
Hi,
At the moment it has not been released in the US, but yes it will likely be released with LTE specific models.
The S3 LTE and the Note 2 LTE will be very much beneficial to existing 3G customers because these 2 models do supprt DC-HSPA+ i.e downloads upto 42mbps while the non-LTE models DO NOT.
If you are already getting decent speeds on the 3G then the LTE models will theoritically double your download speeds. O2, Vodafone, Three etc have all implemented DC-HSPA+
Thanks Oliver,
That is useful information to have. So this would be applicable if the LTE model was available SIM-free, otherwise people will need to take a contract out with EE when purchasing the handset in the UK.
You can still buy it PAYG from Orange
Sir’s
Can you advise whether the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (N7100) is compatible with the DC-HSPA+42 transmitters as being rolled out bu O2 and Three?
Thanks
Sorry Dale but we do not have the answer to this one.
No, you need the LTE variant to make use of DC-HSPA+
Have not received my LTE Note yet but we now have a UK Note box for the LTE variant in this link http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18429136&page=60
Yes I can confirm the model code for the 4G is GT-N1705. Just received it directly from T-mobile. In settings under Data Setting it gives option for 3G only and 2G/3G/4G.
Thanks for letting us know this; I have have now updated the post accordingly.
The Samsung store (Westfield) says the Note 2 LTE is due the end of the month, so it looks like a SIM free is going to be available from there. He said they have been very vague as to the exact date of arrival.
Hearing the LTE N1705 dosent ship with an FM radio? can anyone confirm this?
Really dont know want to do. i want the Note 2 sim free stick a GiffGaff in, but want the LTE version for a change down the line? what would you reccomend? You cannt seenn to buy the LTE sim free?
you can buy it from orange 499. http://shop.orange.co.uk/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-note-ii-lte-4g-pay-as-you-go
Thats a great spot Thanks! certinly the Cheapest LTE ive seen. Just wondering if it will be Orange Locked? and Bloatware bursting out of the seams? as my SE Arc orange is currenty..
Oh and i want the gray one!! but ill make some engueries and post back.
I want 4g version of note 2 but not on EE. I want it on vodafone, was wondering if online retailers like phones4u will offer it on all network anytime soon or will it stay “exclusive to EE” forever. My contract was due like 5 months ago and don’t want to wait too long…
Having read this interesting blog and comments, I find it difficult to understand why there is not a an European standard for the LTE allocations considering that the digital TV switchover is now complete across EU and we are all using the same TV bands in VHF/UHF, I would have thought that the 800 band could have been missed and used the 900 instead forcing existing holders to share the spectrum across all operators. Then the TV problem would have dissappeared and we would have ended up with the existing 900/2100/1800/ and the 2600MHz band for all 3G/4G operations.
This is a very interesting topic! Can you use a 3G simcard in the Galaxy Note I LTE?
Thanks in advance.
Sam
Hi Sam,
Yes provided it is the correct size, i.e. normal, micro or nano.
Chris, Thanks for your answer, I currently have a micro sim card., so I guess the galaxy note ii can take either.
Hi Sam,
Yes you could use either a 4G micro SIM or 3G micro SIM with the Note II.
Hello,
I was wandering if i could make my note 2 GT – N7100 compaible to 4G or LTE.
Hi John,
No you cannot unfortunately; you would need to 4G/LTE variant of the Note OO
Is the LTE variant required for the Three Mobile ‘Ultrafast’ system?
Yes
So is it the case that in order to make use of Three’s higher speed HSPA+ network speeds on 3G, I have to find myself an N7105 model somewhere else, as Three themselves will only sell you an N7100?
We may have misunderstood this incorrectly. Worth checking with 3, as we can not advise on their network and the devices they sell.
Three will sell you an N7105 but not just yet! Three Store are currently asking enquirers to register an interest so that they can be informed when the LTE enabled phones are in stock. I believe that March is a possibility……………
3 have told me their “Ultrafast” Note II (ie N7105) will be released on March 1st. I am keen to get one.
I am wary of 3′s pricing, though. Looking at their prices of the SIII LTE on contract, compared to a non-LTE SIII on contract with CPW on the same tariff, the difference is HUGE! IIRC, 3′s price for the SIII LTE is 845 total cost and CPW’s non-LTE SIII is 624. Big premium for a 4G handset…
Sites like Value Basket are selling the Note II LTE sourced from HK for 490, with a posted spec of “LTE 800 / 1800 / 2600″.
I would like a SIM-free 7105 without a carrier’s bloatware so I can pop my own SIM in, possibly 3′s, as they have promised to offer me 4G at no extra cost to 3G. We’ll see.
Just to update:
Have spoken to Samsung at Westfield today. Feel let down, if the truth be told. They are a pukka Samsung shop, but as far as the phones go, they are sold through a branch of phones 4U on the premises (make your own mind up….). They have a 7105 for the same price as a 7100, 509.95, but it is locked to T Mobile, and is not, apparently, unlockable. I’m sure someone could, but as to how easy or cheap it would be to do that, I’m not sure…
What coincidence! This has just happened my way…
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/413300/20121210/howto-carrier-unlock-galaxy-note2-lte-galaxys3.htm
Spotted an unlocked N7105 for £399 at Discount Emporium. I know nothing about this company but the phone’s cheap (maybe too cheap?).
Been into a 3 store yesterday. They have indeed launched their N7105 today. It is 509.95, and if you wish, it can be unlocked immediately. Orange make you wait 3 months.
William, I reckon your 7105 must be sourced from overseas, possibly HK?
Regarding Discount Emporium Limited, HUKD have mixed feelings about that website: before purchasing, research it thoroughly.
Hi Simon
I know little more than I’ve said already other than I suspect there may be more than one Discount Emporium as, when I went to look for it again, the site I found wasn’t the same as the 1st one I found. I Googled the name and it came up with info suggesting that there was a legit Discount Emporium so it’s possible that there’s something slightly less kosher hiding behind a lookalike name. In any case I’ll most likely go for an upgrade from 3 dependant on how many arms & legs they want for the privilege. I’m also tempted to wait a little as Note 3 is rumoured to be released in Q2 this year
Ah-ha! Sorry to come over all Alan Partridge, but you’re a man after my own heart. I’d fancy a Note III as well, or if the price is prohibitive, I’d hope the Note II’s price would drop and I’d get one of those instead. However, I’d heard the Note III is due for release over the pond at the end of August, so who knows when it will release here? Having said, that, I’ve waited a long time to upgrade, a few months is neither here nor there!
Where did you get your information from?
I went ahead and upgraded to the Note 2 LTE as soon as 3 Mobile had them. I thought, like yourself, about waiting for the 3 but you could waste the rest of your life waiting for the next best thing.
Info about the 3 was from Googling Note 3 release date/ rumours etc…