Dual SIM phone limitations

fwor

I've been looking at buying a dual-SIM phone for one specific reason: getting the best possible data coverage in remote parts of the UK.

Until a short while ago I was planning to buy a Motorola G5 dual-SIM, but the feedback about the limitations in how this works makes me worry that it won't work as I want it to.

I want to be able to use a Three 123 PAYG SIM in the first SIM slot (for phone calls and as a backup for data, tethered to a laptop) and the second SIM slot for an EE PAYG data SIM (tethered to a laptop).

Will this work, or will the EE SIM only work at 2G speeds?

I should add that I've already considered a Dual-SIM Moto G4 - given that it seems to be one of the few budget smartphones that supports 3G/4G properly on both SIM slots - but I don't want a phone any bigger than 5" (or 5.2" at most)!

Inner_Zone

fwor wrote: »

I want to be able to use a Three 123 PAYG SIM in the first SIM slot (for phone calls and as a backup for data, tethered to a laptop) and the second SIM slot for an EE PAYG data SIM (tethered to a laptop).

Will this work, or will the EE SIM only work at 2G speeds?

Depends, if you leave data switched on the 3 SIM the the EE SIM will be 2G, if you switch data (in the menu not physically) to the EE SIM, data will be 2,3 or 4G depending on network coverage but the 3 SIM will stop working altogether.

According to Motorola Australia (where a lot of 2G has been switched off) a firmware update that will allow voice on the second 3G SIM is on its way but they don't state when.

fwor

Inner_Zone wrote: »

if you switch data (in the menu not physically) to the EE SIM, data will be 2,3 or 4G depending on network coverage but the 3 SIM will stop working altogether.

Thanks - I could probably live with that, but obviously would prefer not to have to. Interesting about the (romoured) firmware update, though a lot of people seem to speculate that it's a limitation of the modem hardware rather than firmware. But that's just speculation.

Can you suggest any other 5" or thereabouts budget phones that can be bought outright and which support 2 SIMs properly. I've been looking at the Samsung J5, but apparently that too has the 2G limitation on the other SIM while one SIM is active?

[Edit: I'm also not that confident about the reliability of the Moto G5. My current G3 has been great but the reviews for the G5 look a bit mixed...]

JJ_Egan

If it was me i would be looking at a model that i can pop another sim in without any hassle .

Inner_Zone

fwor wrote: »

Thanks - I could probably live with that, but obviously would prefer not to have to. Interesting about the (romoured) firmware update, though a lot of people seem to speculate that it's a limitation of the modem hardware rather than firmware. But that's just speculation.

Can you suggest any other 5" or thereabouts budget phones that can be bought outright and which support 2 SIMs properly. I've been looking at the Samsung J5, but apparently that too has the 2G limitation on the other SIM while one SIM is active?

[Edit: I'm also not that confident about the reliability of the Moto G5. My current G3 has been great but the reviews for the G5 look a bit mixed...]

I can't recommend another, I have two G5's (from a single G3 and several 2/3G other phones) and four SIM cards (three PAYG) to cover the four networks as I spend lot of time in remote areas.

I also have two My-Fi's, one 4G and one 3G and two data SIM's, so have them for data and the phones for mainly voice, but data also if the two data SIM networks are not available.

Just hope the Aussie's are correct and it happens soon. But note it is supposed to be voice / data on one SIM as present and 3G voice only on the other no data.

Carrot007

JJ_Egan wrote: »

If it was me i would be looking at a model that i can pop another sim in without any hassle .

I don't think there are any.

The issues is there is 1 modem of each type. 2G / 3G / 4G.

With dual sim mode the main sim gets 3G/4G and the backup gets 2G.

In theory they could update the firmware so when the Main has 4G the backup could use 3G. They will have to soon as 2G is going to be repurposed in time.

But whatever each sim only gets to use it's assigned type of modem.

I guess they could put in 2 of each modem, but who knows what that would be like. They would surely interfere with each other too much to work.

Personally I just have a my backup in a seperate cheap but usable phone.

Inner_Zone

There are some Chinese phones which apparently will support two 3/4G SIMs for both voice and data at the same time, but I am wary of purchasing them due to warranty issues.

fwor

Inner_Zone wrote: »

I can't recommend another, I have two G5's (from a single G3 and several 2/3G other phones) and four SIM cards (three PAYG) to cover the four networks as I spend lot of time in remote areas.

I also have two My-Fi's, one 4G and one 3G and two data SIM's, so have them for data and the phones for mainly voice, but data also if the two data SIM networks are not available.

Just hope the Aussie's are correct and it happens soon. But note it is supposed to be voice / data on one SIM as present and 3G voice only on the other no data.

I'm currently using the G3 for voice and backup data, and a 3G Mi-Fi (Huawei) on EE for main data use - so unless I can find a Dual SIM that works properly, I might as well stick with what I have, given that 3G speeds are fine for me!

Finding something in this price range (£150-160) is not so easy - especially now that Lenovo seem to be taking the Moto G product upmarket (i.e. into the £230+ area with the G5S models).

Agreed about the native Chinese phones - some have very good specs for the money, but I don't want to go there with grey market products either.

Inner_Zone

I was carrying upto four phones in remote areas before, now only two, and only one in urban areas. Mi-Fi's in the car, hotel etc. Works for me as I need the phone mainly for voice.

Neil_Jones

Pretty much every dual-sim phone I've ever looked at will only use the second sim as a 2G network. That's no good for Three, who don't have a 2G network so that sim will only work in the first SIM slot as 3G or 4G. Please also be aware Three PAYG doesn't allow tethering.

eDicky

fwor wrote: »

Can you suggest any other 5" or thereabouts budget phones that can be bought outright and which support 2 SIMs properly. I've been looking at the Samsung J5, but apparently that too has the 2G limitation on the other SIM while one SIM is active?]

Nearly all dual-SIM phones sold by UK suppliers have this limitation, a notable exception being the Moto G4. it's been suggested that the reason may be production economy.

However in East Asia, where handsets are usually dual-SIM when not supplied by a network, this limitation is uncommon on new phones. In Singapore, where 2G networks were switched off almost a year ago, you can be sure that any phone on sale now has 3G capability on the second SIM (the one not being used for data).

This may not be very helpful of course, unless you or someone you know will visit Singapore or transit through the airport, or Thailand (and probably other countries) where phones with such limitation are also no longer sold.