No the Neo N003 doesn’t have LTE

AbbieJune 21, 2013

Neo are stepping up promotion of the Neo N003 with the launch just a month away! But some of the promotional material might be a little misleading to non-Chinese readers.

We reported earlier this week that the Neo N003 will be launched with the more desirable and more powerful 1.5Ghz quad-core MT6589T processor, in fact the whole package is looking very desirable with up to 2GB RAM, 5-inch 1080 display, MHL, OTG, Yamaha audio, 13 mega-pixel rear camera and more!

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Unfortunately the Neo’s impressive hardware doesn’t included LTE, which some fans believe the message on the above image states. The Promotional image actually says the Neo N003 supports 3G HSPA+ which is the fastest data-connection available that is NOT 4G LTE.

If you are waiting for a Chinese made LTE phone the good news is that Mediatek are currently working on their firstquad-coreLTE chip and the first phones should go on sale earlier 2014.

[ Neo Mobiles ]

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About the author

Abbie
Abbie is a self confessed Chinese phone addict! After cutting her teeth on the Meizu M9 she hasn't been able to keep away from Chinese phones keeping her ear to the ground especially for the latest Shanzhai and clone news!

qunow
June 21, 2013
I view negatively about LTE phone from China. First rumors claimed that all Chinese carriers will be given the less internationalized TDD LTE license instead of FDD and second it is suspectable whether two of the three carrier willing to invest into TDD LTE to operate LTE network and the remaining CMCC would also need time before they build enough base station before push LTE to market. Thirdly, even there are TDDLTE network locally but none of them operates on frequency brands that used in China…

Tim
June 21, 2013
I was waiting tor the NEO N003 and I did not expect LTE, but according to the homepage it will only support GSM 900/1800 and WCDMA 2100. I am really disappointed if it does not even support 850/1900MHz.
Then I cannot use it. But in general the MT chip should enable these frequencies. Could somebody make a comment on this.
Benny
June 21, 2013
I just want them to confirm WCDMA on 850Mhz and 900Mhz ranges. Not a big fan of LTE at this stage..
- June 22, 2013
  Benny, I have this same issue.
  We have a discussion on the forum about the Jiayu G4 frequencies if your interested in that as well. From what I’ve read this phone will support them but won’t know for sure until its released. If the Jiayu doesn’t support 850 (not looking likely as it doesn’t seem to support 900) then I will try to sell that and might get a Neo for testing and post results.
  - chavv
    June 22, 2013
    My Jiayu G2 supports both 850 and 900 (+2100), and I’ve seen reports that G4 also supports all of these. Lenovo A830 also calims support of 900MHz
    I believe Mediatek chipset supports all needed frequencies, its up to manifacturer to get required license (e.g. pay) and enable it in firmware
    - June 22, 2013
      I agree, I really want to see some confirmed 900 mhz phones, really the main thing holding me back from buying a phone
      - chavv
        June 22, 2013
        What I saw in a forum:
        “The supported 3G/WCDMA Bandmodes are 800/850/900/1900/2100 Mhz (Checked on all JIAYU G4, iOcean X7, UMI X2)”
        June 23, 2013
        where?
        It would be great if it did, some people on the forums have posted that they’ve got some dropouts in Australia because the phone was 2100Mhz only

Sergio
June 22, 2013
>>Neo are stepping up promotion of the Neo N003 with the launch just a month away!
What are you saying?
Did they shift the release date AGAIN?
No more June, 25?
- MACDADDY
  June 22, 2013
  @Sergie,
  yes yesterdays article mentioned JUNE 25th (in a few days), today’s article mentions JULY (a month later).
  This is what is so crappy about ALL chinese phone makers.
  1. They lie about release dates and postpone them time and time again.
  2. They are use horrible components (GPS issues/Camera issues/Screen issues/Weak build quality) – still in 2013 (even Andi mentioned this several times)
  3. They all lie about features and support, many phones never have all mentioned hardware/features they announced in their marketing.
  What I just do not understand, there are plenty of excellent alternatives from companies like samsung/lg/sony/alcatel/acer/htc and they are all in the same price ranges. And have matching antutu scores etc. Why would you want to buy a phone filled with chinese malware and no software support?
  - RobertNL
    June 24, 2013
    1. First; the 25th is the annoucment date; to show the phone to the pulic officaly for the first time. If you translate the Neo forum you could have known that.
    So the launch is somewhere next month (stretchable meaning i know).
    2. Agree if you buy one of the cheap ass clones. But i do not agree if you buy one of the brands that has things right where it comes to hardware.
    The Jiayu G2, G2S, G3, Amoi N820, Neo N002I, Iocean x7 did not have any screen issues after the first production run. So please tell me what phone are you talking about 😉
    The GPS seems to be an issue on lots of these phones some say its the MediaTek chipsets but on my G2, G3 and N002 GPS did work out of the box or after a software fix.
    The Iocean has GPS with a rather simple hardware fix.
    When you buy a Chinese phone its not only becouse its so cheap; you do it to when you like to thinker around a bit with your phone (atleast that it what i notice in the forums where i hang around).
    Then another part on the hardware issue:
    Every <- ! manufacurer has some problems from time to time:
    – Galaxy S3 = bad rom, cracks in the case
    – HTC one X = WIFI, cracks in coating
    – Sony Xperia S = Yellow screen problems
    – Sony Xperia Z = Issues with broken glass (not to common but its there)
    – Apple = Issues with antenna; homebuttons etc.
    – etc
    3. They all lie about features and support, many phones never have all mentioned hardware/features they announced in their marketing.
    So tell me where do they lie? inst that marketing? And all company's do that (Samsung; Apple; HTC etc?).
    ''4''
    So what phones in the same price range are you talking about? With DualSim and not Acer (had 3 phones that had more RMA time then i had them in my hand) and Alcatel (then i just order a cheaper TCL ;))
    ''5'' mallware; i did not have any phone with mediatek chipset that did try to make connections outside my phone without my notice. But hey, i just might be lucky.
    ''6'' If you are not intrested in buying Chinese phones in the current market can i ask why you are reading here then ;)?
- Georg Pichler
  June 22, 2013
  I wondered as well, but according to sellers such as china pad mall June 25th is still standing. maybe Abbie misread the original date and thought the release was set to July 25th.
anon
June 22, 2013
Can anyone provide the correct size for this phone? Saler report it with 77mm width which is unwieldy huge for 5″ phone.
Launch just a month away…..???!!! Or just a 3 days away………
Harald
June 22, 2013
It has not it

Sergio
June 22, 2013
Dear Andi,
on some forums there are speculations (with references to Neo site), that June 25 is just a beginning of pre-order stage and actual sales start from July 25. Can you confirm this information using your own sources?
- qunow
  June 22, 2013
  From their official forum, http://bbs.neomobile.com.cn/thread-73466-1-1.html It said that they start pre-order at June 25, and those who pre-ordered are going to paid the money at July 20 and then they will ship those phone since July 25
Dominic Esposito
June 22, 2013
If I am located in New York (USA) and have t-mobile as a carrier can I buy the neo and stick my SIM card in? Will I get calls or data?
Cheers,
Dom