Nokia Lumia 1520: GSM verses LTE for the USA

[ALOchoa]

Well guys & gals, here it goes: I am in the USA. I am looking to purchase a Nokia Lumia 1520, 32GB, 2MB RAM "International Version" phone from a reputable on-line retailer in Hong Kong. Their notes for the phone states that it is "unlocked" for all international carriers that operate on GSM. But it is my understanding, that AT&T (my service provider) operates with the LTE Protocol. The "USA Version" clearly states that the electronics do support LTE, but I am leery of purchasing the "International Version", if it does not work with LTE, hence slowing down the phone's calling performance, incompatibility issues, etc, etc. Can ANYONE OUT THERE clear up this matter for me? I have read COUNTLESS posts, but still have no clear answer. Many who have bought the "International Version" from Hong Kong, are in the EU or other countries and have reported excellent service and compatibility with the phone, but I HAVE YET to find a post from anyone in the USA that can claim that "ALL-SYSTEMS-ARE-INDEED-GO" when trying to use this "International Version" with AT&T. Please help, thank you!!!

 

[RumoredNow]

I am looking to purchase a Nokia Lumia 1520, 32GB, 2MB RAM "International Version" phone from a reputable on-line retailer in Hong Kong.

Got a link so we can see the RM-# and radio spec, if they are provided?

 

[ALOchoa]

Thank you "RumoredNow" for responding. Well, this is the information that is given on their sales data sheet for the Nokia 1520 they have for sale:

================

KEY FEATURES:
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
Quad-band 3G with 42 Mbps HSDPA and 5.7 Mbps HSUPA support

NETWORK:Technology GSM / HSPA / LTE
2G bands: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions
3G bands: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-937, RM-939, RM-940
3G bands: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-938
4G bands: LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800) - RM-937
4G bands: LTE band 2(1900), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 17(700) - RM-938, RM-940
Speed: HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
GPRS: Yes

================

Copied & pasted from their page.
Link: Nokia Lumia 1520 6 0"GSM Factocy Unlocked Smartphone 32GB Black White Red Green | eBay

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Thank you,

--- ALOchoa

 

[RumoredNow]

They simply lifted that information from gsmarena. To complicate matters, they show the AT&T variant in the stock pictures for red. It is the only one that has the 3 pogo pins on the back (used for a charging jacket to connect to PMA chargers). So I call bullsnot on that. The AT&T version is not "international" and only has a rare 32 GB option and only in black. Not every black AT&T 1520 has 32 GB and all the others only have 16 GB internal storage.

They don't say which RM-# it is and I won't guess. Try asking them the specific question, "What RM-# is the phone I would receive?" If it comes back anything other than RM-938, then I wouldn't bother if you want to use it in the US.

 

[anon(9668900)]

Simple. Check at willmyphonework.net

 

[ALOchoa]

That is the best news I have heard so far, thank you. I will at once send the seller that question, asking for the SPECIFIC RM number. Will get back to you with their answer. But I FULLY understand now, if not an RM-938, then it is a no-go. I did read a post somewhere that reflected this view too, but I have read SO MANY OTHER conflicting comments on this topic, that it made my head spin, but YOURS seems to have the most amount of truth and research to back it up, so we'll go with it. Will get back to you, when I receive their answer. Much thanks.

ALOchoa

 

[RumoredNow]

Simple. Check at willmyphonework.net

For him to do that, he still needs the RM-#.

 

[RumoredNow]

YOURS seems to have the most amount of truth and research to back it up

Thanks. As a proud owner of a Lumia 1520.3 (RM-938) I am sort of invested in knowing about this device. I did a ton of research back before I purchased in August 2014 and try to keep up to date.

Here's a picture of my "Bumble Bee"

 

[ALOchoa]

Thank you "RumoredNow". Can you inform me...is your 1520 indeed a USA version? If so, did it come loaded with the 32GB STORAGE/2GB RAM that most of the "International" versions gleefully talk about having, or just the standard 16MB/1MB? BTW, I am not new to the Nokia Lumia brand, I became an owner of the Lumia 830 in June of 2015 and have been WIDELY impressed with the brand and model since. I, can "embarrasingly" say, that the 830 is my first real experience with a true & bonafide smartphone, having coming off of years (almost 20) of using primarily Nokia classic and flip-phones (analog then digital) from 1997 to 2015!!! (What a flippin' Neanderthal, huh?) So, when some associates displayed their Nokia Windows formatted smartphones to me, I KNEW that iPhone & Android, was no longer an option! Now recently, my close associate displayed for me his Lumia 1520, and my eyes BUGGED out 100%! I now knew it was time for me to upgrade from my 830 to the 1520. However, we now know that neither of these jewels are still in production, hence the "blind-buying-game" on Amazon, E-Bay and sites of the like, to find myself a "new" 1520. Hence, most I am finding, here in the USA, come loaded with the 16MB/1MB option, as it was only the "International" version that touts the revered 32MB/2MB glory. But with all the uncertainty of of it's proper function and operation here in the USA, I am wondering if the doubling of Storage and RAM, is worth all the headaches? We will see. As soon as the E-Bay seller gets back to me with the proper RM-number, we shall know! Thank you so much "RumoredNow" for your keen insights, knowledge and sensibilities.

ALOchoa

 

[RumoredNow]

The 1520.3 or RM-938 is made for the Latin American markets, but it is 100% compatible with the US GSM carriers. Only the AT&T RM-940 was gimped with 16 GB internal and PMA charging. Every RM-938 has 32GB and Qi built in (no "jacket" required).

The 1520.3 has the following radio specs (as you saw above in the general spec that the seller listed):
2G bands: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands: LTE band 2(1900), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 17(700)

That 1700 in the 3G is important if you are using T-Mo towers. That's where their H+ is outside of LTE areas. RM-940 does not have that enabled right out of the box, although you could turn that on easily. The only thing missing is Band 12 LTE (again that is a T-Mo thing), but no 1520 has band 12.

Since you are on AT&T take a look at this one: 1520 RM-940 in black/32GB. This way you would have AT&T firmware and best compliance with your network. Swappa is a pretty good place to buy and this one comes with a nice looking case.

Thank you so much "RumoredNow" for your keen insights, knowledge and sensibilities.

My pleasure. Helping out is what I try and do here.

 

[ALOchoa]

Thank you "RumoredNow" for all your input. Well, I bit the bullet and just purchased last night on Amazon, from a USA seller, the USA version of the 1520 with the 16GB Capacity/1GB RAM option. It is "NEW". I figured I can be just as happy and satisfied with this version, knowing FOR SURE, OUT OF THE BOX it will indeed work with AT&T.

Thanks again,

ALOchoa