Future Usability of a Poco X3 Pro with No 5G Support

virhlpool on 03/08/2024 - 00:06
Last edited 03/08/2024 - 14:12 by 1 other user

I purchased a Poco X3 Pro mobile phone in early 2022 and it never occurred to me to check if it supported 5G back then.

Apparently, it supports only 3G and 4G but the phone was super popular and had some great reviews. My experience has been fantastic so far and if it wasn't about 3G closure by telcos, I wouldn't mind using the phone for another two or so years as it is showing no signs of being 'outdated' as yet. All of a sudden this 3G closure issue came up this year and I wonder what I can do with this phone now!

Can it still be used by someone who's using any specific telco network in Australia? Can it be enabled for 5G in some way at all? It has 3G+4G support - will it not be enough for any purpose/network? Not sure why telcos have been saying that it won't work in future - does it mean that when telcos move to 5G, they won't support 3G and 4G both (I thought 4G would still be supported so why should the phone be affected)? Sorry for a number of naive questions.

If I was to sell the phone, which is in a great condition, will there be takers? More importantly, who and why could they buy the phone? I want to be well informed myself so that I can give enough info to the buyer if I was to sell, so that they don't have to regret their purchase later or they don't feel cheated either.

Looking for some tips and advice from those who are closer to mobile phone technology, cheers!

Mobile Mobile Phone Xiaomi Android

Comments

  • xuqi on 03/08/2024 - 00:46
    +2

    X4 Pro 5G selling 2nd hand for $200, so your used X3 Pro is worth less than that.

    https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/glenfield/android-phones/poc…

    Your phone (supports VOLTE) will work fine with 4G networks, so need to change to something else as 4G will be available for many more years. When 3G is switched off your phone will no longer detect a network on their frequencies, so will use 4G.

    No, you can't upgrade a 4G chipset device to 5G.

    • virhlpool on 03/08/2024 - 00:49
      +1

      Thanks. I have VOLTE activated on my phone. If it will work on 4G using VOLTE, why does my carrier (Amaysim) keep sending a message that my device won't work after 3G shut down?

      Do you mean that someone who buys from me (that if I sell) will be able to use it on 4G on all telcos using VOLTE, just normally?

      • xuqi on 03/08/2024 - 01:00

        No idea, Telstra were doing the same thing with my 77 yrs old dad and his Huawei P30 Pro. In the end I purchased him an iPhone 14 for use to put his mind at ease.

        Yes, your phone will function fine on 4G.

        • CatmanAU on 11/08/2024 - 11:21

          The Huawei P30 Pro works just fine with Telstra & Optus using VoLTE, VoWiFi.

          No idea about VF.

      • Forfiet on 03/08/2024 - 04:36

        Have the same phone on kogan, you will be fine…. don't worry….

      • oscargamer on 03/08/2024 - 12:28
        +1

        Amaysim are wrong, just like aldimobile are wrong about my F3 pro

        • virhlpool on 03/08/2024 - 14:38

          Possible. When I use a Boost sim on the same phone, I don't get any such messages from Boost/Telstra. It did when I used Coles Mobile, and Amaysim. It means it has to do with Optus.

  • neoleo on 03/08/2024 - 07:54
    +1

    The concern is people won't be able to call 000 emergency with certain older phone. I have an old Pixel OG phone just for backup purpose (Google Photos unlimited). It is the same situation with your phone as it won't be able to call emergency 000. I got the message about this issue in this Pixel OG from Vodafone. Telco companies can identify whether people are using a phone that cannot call emergency 000 after 3G shutdown. They send messages about it.

    My current phone is OnePlus Nord CE3 Lite 5G. So, no problem with my current phone.

    • virhlpool on 03/08/2024 - 10:15

      But will I not be able to dial 000 after 3G closure even if my phone still supports 4G VoLTE?

      • GordonD on 03/08/2024 - 10:46
        +3

        Text 3 to 3498.

        You will get an SMS back that will tell you if your phone will work properly after the 3G shutdown.

        There are 3G-only phones that won't support any calls after 3G shuts down.

        There are 3G+4G phones that will appear to work because they'll do VoLTE, but if you ever have an emergency, your 000 call won't get through, because the phone will try to direct them through 3G.

        Text 3 to 3498.

        • doperst on 07/08/2024 - 18:37

          They are probably using a database of phone models, where all Poco/Xiaomi phones are listed as unsupported. I'm getting "This device will be impacted" result when I text 3498, and endless warnings and notifications from the provider for my Poco X6 Pro 5G.
          There is no way to test or confirm if Xiaomi phones are using 3G for calls to '000'. I don't want to find out that my phone can't call 000 when 3G is switched off and I have an emergency…

          • neoleo on 10/08/2024 - 07:46

            @doperst: I think my OnePlus 5G phone maybe also listed as unsupported. Just make sure VOLTE is there on the top side of your phone. Then we should be fine. I think all 5G phones should be even better if people can set their phone to SA (stand alone) mode instead of NSA (non stand alone that rely on top of 4G network). Set this in phone settings, developer options (need to tap android build 5x in setting to show up). In my phone, I can set NSA+SA mode. Better voice clarity and lower latency with 5G stand alone. I can set both my dual sim network either both 5G or one 5G one 4G. Can check either 5G and/or LTE (4G) in Netmonitor app (also see BTS locations).

            • doperst on 10/08/2024 - 14:41

              @neoleo: Emergency calls are different from normal calls - they work when your network is not available and even without a sim card. So some phones switch to 3G band for emergency calls. As I understand, this can't be changed with settings.

  • DingoBilly on 03/08/2024 - 09:09

    4G phones will be supported for a very long time. Your phone supports both 3G and 4G. Heck, it may even support 2G (my phone has options for 2G still).

    They're talking about retiring 3G which was released in 2001. 4G was 2008. Do you think you'd still be using your phone in even 5 years? You'll be fine.

    • freefall101 on 03/08/2024 - 13:48

      The problem is mentioned above (phones trying to use 3G to carry a 000 call, because the 3G network is generally wider in area and thus better for those calls), but 4G is a mix of technologies too. Plenty of phones use 3G for calls and 4G for data. LTE came after 4G was released, and VoLTE is more a feature than a requirement of a 4G phone.

      Much like your phone still supports 2G, but there's no 2G network to connect to. If a phone is setup to use 3G for calls and there's no network to connect to it can't make calls anymore. 4G data will still work fine though.

  • SYNTAX on 03/08/2024 - 11:01

    I think it's really sad that they are pushing for people to buy new phones during a cost of living crisis. As far as I'm concerned, my X3 should be fine, even tho I'm getting the same annoying message on Telstra. It has all the frequencies, so there really shouldn't be a problem. Hoping someone can at least verify this is a money grabbing scam.

    • virhlpool on 03/08/2024 - 11:32
      +3

      With Amaysim, it's not too bad though. $129 for Samsung A35 after their $200 coupon (on top of already disconted phone price) is a good outcome for both sides. I am not sure if the other carriers are discounting phones for their customers too or not but Amaysim has been doing a good job.

    • freefall101 on 03/08/2024 - 13:50

      Telstra have been handing out free phones and there have been quite a few discounts so far.

      They only care because it means they can stop supporting the 3G network, which likely costs them millions. It's much cheaper for them to hand out a few thousand phones instead.

      • virhlpool on 03/08/2024 - 15:30

        Where can you find Telstra phone offers (even if they are meant for customers only)? They aren't posted here on OzBargain.. are they? Amaysim offers are often listed here.

    • RiseAndRuin on 03/08/2024 - 14:59
      +1

      As far as I can tell, it looks like the usual Aussie money grab. I've been using 4G + volte on my phone for as long as it's been available, but I've been constantly bombarded with emails, texts and pre-recorded voice messages since last year, trying to convince me that my phone is not supported.

      You can see some screenshots here https://imgur.com/a/8NGpSQZ (I had to call 000 on my neighbours many times in the past, until they got evicted).

      • virhlpool on 03/08/2024 - 15:32

        Which phone is it, out of curiosity? I believe my phone would work too (not sure about 000 dial though) but $129 for Samsung A35 isn't bad either, just the hassle of transferring the phone.

        • RiseAndRuin on 03/08/2024 - 15:43

          2018 Xiaomi Redmi Note 5

  • nige0090 on 03/08/2024 - 18:50
    +1

    This worked for me to get VoLTE working on my PCOC X3 Pro on Kogan/Vodafone 4G network

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Xiaomi/comments/t1kjh0/solution_to_…

    • CodeXD on 04/08/2024 - 10:26
      +1

      Mate…

  • GordonD on 04/08/2024 - 10:22

    OP, welcome to the large club of people screwed by Kogan selling them a grey market phone that doesn't work on some Australian networks, and leaving me to figure that out.

    Mine wouldn't work on Telstra, which was the only one that delivered the 5G in my area that I'd bought it to get. They offered my $30 to placate me. It was just Telstra stopping it from working, because it wasn't on their white list.

    • virhlpool on 04/08/2024 - 10:47

      I guess I am in a better situation. I am with Amaysim, not Kogan. They didn't try to sell anything but I took advantage of their offer and bought Samsung A35 for $129. I hope it works with all carriers though.

    • neoleo on 04/08/2024 - 12:38

      I bought my current phone OnePlus Nord CE3 Lite 5G through Kogan website by using Kogan First free trial for cheaper price and free delivery, but it's actually third party seller with warehouse in South Melbourne. I think my current phone should be fine. It's unfair if Telstra use white list to block phones that are not in their white list. I don't use Telstra network at the moment. I use Vodafone and Amaysim at the moment, no problem.

  • cornucopia on 19/08/2024 - 12:16

    This 3G shutdown is a complete shambles. My wife had a Xiaomi Redmi 8 4G and Xiaomi said it supported Volte. She was getting messages every time she made a call saying it didn't!! So we moved her onto a Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G. Same deal. The carrier says the phone will support 4G/Volte but she keeps getting those annoying messages AND the phone fails the 3498 test!! As I said, a complete shambles .. 🤬 .. !!

    • virhlpool on 19/08/2024 - 16:04

      I guess there are two different checks: Band 28 and VoLTE. If your phone ticks both boxes, then it should be fine but many say that phone should work even if it ticks VoLTE box only. I would be careful when trusting sms sent by carriers as they could be either extra precautionary (to avoid people blaming them later) or simply too general (IDing the models that may not be actually affected). 3498 test should be accuate but I don't know much about its check methodology. This comment should help: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/15566507/redir

      Can any expert confirm the best checks to undertake to confirm if a mobile model will work after 3G shutdown?

      • neoleo on 19/08/2024 - 22:19

        My phone OnePlus Nord CE3 Lite has dual sim cards, Amaysim and Vodafone. After I sent message to 3498, the reply was:
        Amaysim:
        Hi there, our records show that as at 09/08/2024, you're using this device: ONEPLUS NORD CE 3 LITE with service number +614xxxxxxxx .We've determined that this device will not be impacted when the Optus 3G network is switched off from 28 October 2024. You won't need to do anything. However, we strongly recommend that you regularly update the software on your device for optimal network performance.

        Vodafone:
        It is time to act. Your mobile phone is currently impacted and may either not be compatible with our 4G/5G network or able to make emergency 000 calls on any 4G/5G network. Please contact us for further information. NOTE: Unless your call is for a legitimate emergency, DO NOT call Triple Zero (000) to test your device.Thanks for using our 3G device checker. Our records as at 05 Aug 2024 indicate the device in use for your service was CPH2465.

        CPH2465 is the same with OnePlus Nord CE3 Lite. So, different sim card different result, but same phone.

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