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4G uses more data than 3G

Anonymous
Not applicable

I upgraded to the O2 4G service and now less than half way through the month I have used up my 1GB of data. Now I know what you will think "you dowloaded more data this month". Well actually this is afr from the truth. I have not used the phone any different from how I used it in the last 24 months on 3G. And during the last 24 months my iGB data usage has never been fully used. 

 

OK, so I know I have not done anything different (apart from now it's 4G and not 3G) - so does that mean that 4G uses up your data quicker. 

 

This month, I have NOT downloaded any videos or audios, I have not used skype on teh 4G network, and used any data hungry application.

 

Anyone else have experienced this?

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MI5
Level 94: Supreme
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You get data quicker but it doesn't use any more data to do the same job.
As mentioned, people tend to run a few speed tests when they get 4G at first, just to check out the speed and this can consume much data if you're not careful.
What does your phone say has used all the data?
I have no affiliation whatsoever with O2 or any subsidiary companies. Comments posted are entirely of my own opinion. This is not Customer Service so we are unable to help with account specific issues.

Currently using:
Pixel 7a (O2 & Lyca), One Plus 6 (Sfr), iPhone 12 Pro Max (Vodafone)

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Anonymous
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Hi,

 

 

What phone/os are you using.

 

I ask as for example iOS7 on the iphone has a data counter built in and their are apps available to compile what your using too.

 

Im on o2 4g payg and am not using anymore than i was on 3g.

 

In my understanding 4g does not use more than 3g but you can be on longer as the experience is a faster one thus using more data.

 

Have you run any speed tests as these can typically use between 40mb to 50mb of your data allowance.

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gemz4the1
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I agree with BoB - I haven't been using any more data on 4G than I did on 3G.

 

Are you closing apps down properly?

 

Have you turned off automatic downloads of music, apps and updates?

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Anonymous
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Some of the previous phones such as the older Blackberries used a form of compression ref data too.

 

Example Thread : http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Other-Devices-Nokia-Blackberry/Blackberry-Z10/m-p/396800/highlight/true

 

Have you changed handsets recently ?

 

Try use Wi-Fi when and where available.

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Anonymous
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I am on the iphone5S (been one month)

On ios7

Use wifi and work and home.

 

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Anonymous
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Go to

 

Settings > Mobile > and look at the bottom where each app shows what data its used.

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MI5
Level 94: Supreme
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Registered:
You get data quicker but it doesn't use any more data to do the same job.
As mentioned, people tend to run a few speed tests when they get 4G at first, just to check out the speed and this can consume much data if you're not careful.
What does your phone say has used all the data?
I have no affiliation whatsoever with O2 or any subsidiary companies. Comments posted are entirely of my own opinion. This is not Customer Service so we are unable to help with account specific issues.

Currently using:
Pixel 7a (O2 & Lyca), One Plus 6 (Sfr), iPhone 12 Pro Max (Vodafone)
Message 7 of 50
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Anonymous
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Also, it's a good idea to switch mobile data off at night as the phone goes into sleeping mode and changes to use mobile data instead of wifi and perhaps change automatic apps updates to manual updating.

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Anonymous
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@ale2104p

 

Take a look in this thread for some tips I wrote which you may or may not be aware of.

 

http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Apple-iOS-Devices-iPhone-iPad/High-data-usage-on-iphone-5/m-p/513836#M1...

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Anonymous
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BBC Sport - 1.00MB
BBM 0.75
Calendar 0.65
CNN 0.75
Contacts 0.25
Facebook 82.00
Facetime 16.00
Flightradar 03.50
Flipboard 04.00
FooCall 00.50
Google Maps02.50
IMusic 00.65
LiveScore 00.15
MagicJack 70.00
Mail 10.00
Maps 03.00
Messenger 05.00
MyO2 00.20
Safari 40.00
Skype 395.00
SpeedTest 35.00
SpeedTestX 500.00
Spotify 0.20
Tango 0.50
TuGo 3.70
Tunein 5.00
Twitter 5.00
Viber 11.00
Weather 02.00
Whatsapp 02.00
Words 15.00

I think I just saw the culprit app. Me checking my speed.
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