No Matter How You Define 4G, Most U.S. Smartphones Still Aren’t Running on It

There may be all kinds of new high-speed wireless networks out there, but the fact is most new phones being sold don’t support them.

According to NPD, 35 percent of the smartphones sold last year run on a 4G network, even under the loosest definition of 4G. While that’s up from 6 percent a year ago, it still means nearly two out of three new phones are 3G-only. One big factor in that is the iPhone. Of all of Apple’s devices, only the iPhone 4S on AT&T’s network runs at a speed higher than 3G, and that one just barely fits the bill.