If you’re thinking about switching to T-Mobile, you might want to know what type of technology T-Mobile uses, like if T-Mobile is CDMA or GSM.
Well, I have been looking into this topic and have found the answer for you, so read on to learn what I’ve discovered!
Is T-Mobile CDMA or GSM In 2024?
T-Mobile is a GSM network and it will work with all GSM network-compatible devices in 2024. However, GSM vs CDMA is not really a debate anymore since both of those networks were for 2G and 3G devices, which are being retired by T-Mobile and other carriers. Therefore, newer devices will be compatible regardless of their network.
Are you looking for more details about T-Mobile and what phones might be compatible with T-Mobile if you switch to it? If so, continue reading to learn even more useful information!
Is T-Mobile CDMA Now?
T-Mobile is not CDMA, even though T-Mobile merged with Sprint which is a CDMA network (meaning T-Mobile has continued to run on GSM after the Sprint acquisition).
However, since T-Mobile has moved on to retiring the 3G devices and is running on 4G or 5G technology, the debate does not matter since those old 3G devices will not be supported.
Can I Use a GSM Phone on T-Mobile?
You can use any unlocked GSM phone on T-Mobile, which includes phones from carriers such as Cricket, AT&T, Simple Mobile, Tracfone, and MetroPCS.
Furthermore, you can even use phones that are from international carriers, too, since most international carriers are GSM-only, although you’ll need a SIM card to use the phone.
How Do I Tell If My Phone Is CDMA or GSM?
The easiest way to tell if your phone is CDMA or GSM is to look within the Settings on your phone, which can be done by following the steps below for an Android device:
- Go into your “Settings”
- Select “System”
- Click on “About Phone”
- Select “Status”
- See if you can locate an IMEI number, ESN, or MEID
- If you see an IMEI number, that’s how you know you’re on GSM, but if you see just an ESN or MEID then it’s CDMA, and dual phones have both IMEI and ESN or MEID numbers
Furthermore, it’s just as simple to check to see whether your iPhone is a CDMA or GSM device if you follow our guide below:
- Go into your iPhone “Settings”
- Select “General”
- Click on “About”
- Check for the IMEI number which indicates GSM or an ESN or MEID number which represents a CDMA device
Also, you can often go online after finding the model number on your iPhone or Android device and just search that number to find out whether it’s CDMA or GSM.
Which Is Better- GSM or CDMA?
GSM and CDMA are similar to one another and provide users with the same type of service. Therefore, neither is better and it depends more on the carrier than the technology used.
However, GSM is the standard internationally, so if you travel a lot, you should aim for a GSM-compatible device, since you’ll be able to use it overseas.
Does T-Mobile and AT&T Use Same Network?
T-Mobile and AT&T both use GSM technology, so they are on the same network, which means you can use an unlocked phone and switch from one carrier to the other.
Is T-Mobile Now Sprint?
T-Mobile is not Sprint, but instead, Sprint is part of T-Mobile since T-Mobile was the company that acquired Sprint and not the other way around.
In addition, Sprint is no longer an active company since T-Mobile has shut down Sprint and combined the customers and service into the T-Mobile network.
To know more, you can also read our posts on whether or not T-Mobile work in Puerto Rico, how do T-Mobile hotspots work, and how do T-Mobile upgrades work.
Conclusion
T-Mobile uses GSM technology, although T-Mobile has shut down support for 2G and 3G, which means the debate between GSM and CDMA doesn’t matter as it has moved to 4G LTE.
In addition, you could use any GSM-compatible phone with T-Mobile as long as it was unlocked, and most international carriers use GSM, so it was the best option for international travel.