Smile 4G LTE: Here’s a list of supported phone brands and models in Uganda

Smile communications Uganda business solutions

In preparation of this post covering supported devices for Smile’s 4G LTE, we dug into our archives and came across some interesting facts about the history of 4G in Uganda. Before I continue, if you are of the school of thought which prefers a write-up lacking a backstory, I will kindly advise you scroll to the end where you will find a comprehensive tabulated list of supported phone brands and models for the Smile 4G LTE network.

That said, let’s backtrack a while. Back in 2012, a then little known Smile Communications became the first telco to introduce 4G LTE, not only in Uganda, but rather the entire East African region.To consider that 4 years have passed since then and this being the technology sector, time is often counted in dog years. So much can happen in such a relatively short period of time. For those who still remember the days having an EDGE connection was reason for celebration will attest to this fact. Fast forward to 2016 and 4G has become the standard as we are gearing for 5G networks.

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Naturally, not every device supports 4G LTE, much less on the Smile network. As is the case with technology, older devices don’t automatically cease to exist just because a newer version has come on the scene. Try telling that to people still tightly holding onto their Nokia 3310s and they’ll look at you sideways. Rather, technology reaches various demographics only when they are ready to embrace it, and not necessarily when it comes out. For this reason, the Ugandan market is saturated with phones from the most basic to the cutting-edge, comfortably living side by side.

Smile Telecom introduces first 4G LTE service in East Africa

While the aforementioned list of supported devices won’t feature Nokia 3310s, it does feature Nokia phones. What is more, they are among the very few that indeed support VoLTE. Earlier this year, Smile Communications introduced Smile VoLTE – Voice over LTE – a mobile application that enables Smile subscribers to make high quality voice calls. Unfortunately, the service suffered from a failure to launch and we have always wondered why. Well now we do. Armed with the comprehensive list of devices supported by the Smile network, we observed that VoLTE is still a novelty in Uganda.

As it turns out, our smartphones did not support Smile VoLTE as did countless others. Matter of fact only five smartphone models are supported and these comprise: Samsung S6 Edge, Lumia 640 LTE & Lumia 640XL LTE and Samsung J5 & J7. And that’s all folks.

Devices and Compatibility with Smile Network

S/NPHONE BRANDPHONE MODELSmile VoLTE SupportSmile LTE Data SupportSmile Voice APP SupportForm Factor (PHONE/TABLET)Platform (Android/iOS/ Windows/Blackberry)SIM SLOTSSIM Form Factor
1ALCATELALCATEL POP 4 (5051D)NoYesYesPHONEAndroidDUAL
2AppleiPad Pro Model A1652 A1674NoYesYesTABLETiOSSINGLENano
3AppleiPad Air 1 (A1475, A1476)NoYesYesTABLETiOSSINGLENano
4AppleiPad Air 2 (A1567)NoYesYesTABLETiOSSINGLENano
5AppleiPad mini2 (A1490, A1491)NoYesYesTABLETiOSSINGLENano
6AppleiPad mini3 (A1600, A1601)NoYesYesTABLETiOSSINGLENano
7AppleiPad mini 4 Model A1550NoYesYesTABLETiOSSINGLENano
8AsusAsus Fonepad 7* (ME372CL)NoYesYesPHONEAndroidSINGLE
9BlackberryBlackberry Q10 (SQN 100-3)NoYesNoPHONEBlackberrySINGLEMicro
10BlackberryBlackberry Z10 (STL 100-2)NoYesNoPHONEBlackberrySINGLEMicro
11BlackberryBlackberry Z30*NoYesNoPHONEBlackberrySINGLEMicro
12GioneeMarathon M5 plusNoYesYesPhoneAndriodDualMicro
13HuaweiHuawei P8 LiteNoYesYesPHONEAndroidDUALNano/Micro SIM
14HuaweiMedia Pad M210.0 Model(M2-A01L)NoYesyesTABLETAndriodSINGLEmicro
15HuaweiHuawei P9 Lite (VNS-L21, VNS-L31)NoYesYesPHONEAndroidDUALNano/Micro SIM
16HuaweiHuawei P9NoYesYesPHONEAndroidDUALNano/Micro SIM
17HuaweiHuawei Mate 8NoYesYesPHONEAndroidDUALNano/Micro SIM
18InfinixX600-LTE Build Number(X600-H533-A-1-L-20160120)NoYesYesPHONEAndroidDUALMicro/MicroSIM
19InfinixInfinix Hot S X521NoYesYesPHONEAndroidDualMicro/MicroSIM
20LenovoLenovo P70NoYesYesPHONEAndroidSINGLE
21LenovoLenovo P1ma40NoYesYesPHONEAndroidDUALMicro/Micro SIM
22LenovoVibe C A2020 ModelNoYesYesPHONEAndroidDualMicro/MicroSIM
23LenovoLenovo A6000 plusNoYesYesPHONEAndroidSINGLEMicro/MicroSIM
24MicrosoftLumia 640 LTEYesYesNoPHONEWindowsSINGLE
25MicrosoftLumia 640XL LTEYesYesNoPHONEWindowsSINGLE
26SamsungSamsung S6 EDGE (SM-G925)YesYesYesPHONEAndroidSINGLENano
27SamsungSamsung S6 Flat (SM-G920)NoYesYesPHONEAndroidSINGLENano
28SamsungSamsung J1 Ace (SM-J111F, J110F)NoYesYesPHONEAndroidDUALMicro/MicroSIM
29SamsungSamsung J5 (SM-J500F, J510F, J510FN)YesYesYesPHONEAndroidDUALMicro/MicroSIM
30SamsungSamsung J7 (SM-J700F)YesYesYesPHONEAndroidDUALMicro/MicroSIM
31SamsungSamsung Galaxy Tab A (2016) SM-T285NoYesYesTABLETAndroidSINGLEMICRO SIM
32SONYSONY XPERIA V (LT25i)NoYesYesPHONEAndroidSINGLEMicroSIM
33Sony AndroidSony Ericsson-LTENoYesYesPHONEAndroidSINGLE
34TECNOTECNO DP8D (DROIPAD II)NoYesYesTABLETAndroidDUALMicro/MicroSIM
35TECNOTECNO (BOOM) J8NoYesYesPHONEAndroidDUALMicro/MicroSIM
36TECNOTECNO W3 LTENoyesYesPHONEAndriodDUALMicro/MicroSIM
37TECNOCamon C9NoyesyesPHONEAndriodDUALMicro/MicroSIM
38TECNOCANON 5NoYesYesPHONEAndroidDUALMicro/MicroSIM

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