Every year modern mobile technologies become more and more advanced. New communication standards are emerging, and unique useful functions are being built into smartphones that allow you to communicate comfortably.
One of these new options is VoLTE technology. This is a feature that improves your voice calling experience and allows you to get high-quality audio when talking.
Let's take a closer look at what VoLTE means in an Honor phone, what advantages it provides, and how to disable and enable the function.
What does VoLTE mean on Honor?
VoLTE in Huawei Honor sub-brand smartphones is a special function that converts audio data into digital data. When it is activated, the audio stream enters your device without delay, literally in a matter of seconds.
You can understand what VoLTE is in an Honor smartphone from the name of the option. This technology is completely called “Voice over LTE”, which translates as “Voice over LTE”. The LTE function, also known as Long-Term Evolution, is high-speed Internet access, that is, a connection using the 4G standard. LTE is highly stable and extremely fast compared to 3G.
VoLTE technology uses 4G capabilities to transmit voice data during a conversation. As a result, the subscriber hears his interlocutor clearly and distinctly, as if he were nearby.
VoLTE technology was first demonstrated in 2014 by the Singaporean company SingTel. At that time, it worked exclusively with the Samsung Galaxy S3, but soon became widespread in South Korea and China, and then captured other countries. And such technology is available today in the line of devices of any manufacturer.
In Russia, the function first appeared with mobile operators in 2018.
Advantages and disadvantages
Initially, voice over 4G technology looks like an extremely useful option that is impossible to do without. But in practice, not as many people use VoLTE as it might seem. This is due not only to people's lack of awareness of the function, but also to the shortcomings of voice over LTE.
Pros:
- Connection quality. The interlocutor’s voice becomes clearer, and the waiting time is reduced by 2-3 times. There are no delays in the communication process.
- Parallel use of 4G. A person does not need to wait for the call to end to go online. You can talk and search for information at the same time.
- There is no traffic accounting. Although voice transmission over LTE uses the Internet, gigabytes within the tariff are not consumed. At the same time, the minutes of the package are deducted.
Minuses:
- Battery consumption. With the feature active, the battery starts to drain faster because VoLTE uses more resources than usual.
- Spreading. Although all major Russian operators support the technology, 4G coverage in the country remains insufficient. Therefore, the high quality of communication cannot be fully assessed.
Ultimately, VoLTE technology has more advantages than disadvantages. However, users are advised to enable and disable the function in a timely manner, based on battery charge and geolocation. If Voice over LTE still doesn’t work in your city, don’t unnecessarily activate the option. This will have a negative impact on the autonomy of the device, but will not increase the quality of communication.
Key benefits of VoLTE
“Voice over LTE” technology is popular among users due to a number of advantages over regular voice calls. The following can be highlighted:
- Fast connection with another subscriber.
Previously, devices automatically switched from 4G to 3G during calls, and this wasted time. In case of calling using VoLTE, no time is wasted on this and the call is made instantly over the 4G network. - Improved sound quality during calls.
Using this option allows you to hear your interlocutor without interference, extraneous sounds or stuttering. In this case, the respondent’s voice will sound clear and clear. Moreover, VoLTE support on the phone of the person receiving the call is not required. However, if both interlocutors use the technology, then the benefits of the technology can be maximized. - Possibility of accessing the Internet via the 4G standard when talking on the phone.
You can simultaneously communicate and check email, surf social networks or do work on the Internet. There is no loss of speed and no interference during a call. Also, file downloading will not be stopped if you make or receive a voice call. - The Internet package is not consumed.
Russian operators do not spend your megabytes on this option - only minutes from the package according to your tariff plan are spent, but not Internet traffic.
The main advantage, of course, remains the high quality of communication. With a connection to VoLTE, constant audio dropouts, extraneous noise and speech freezes are a thing of the past.
Some thoughts
In simple words, the GSM communication standard was previously used. Moreover, a long time ago, back in the days of push-button phones without a color screen.
GSM allows you to transmit voice, not the best voice, but transmit it stably. The data transfer speed was miserable. There was no full Internet.
But the problem is that technology is developing. Touch phones with large screens, instant messengers, and browsers have long appeared. The smartphone began to resemble a PC. However, the Internet remains a problem. The fact is that a SIM card operating in GSM (and this is 2G, by the way) cannot provide high-quality Internet.
Using 3G is the way out. However, the speed is still lower than 4G (LTE) - about 10 megabits, or even less.
Therefore, operators are trying to master new technologies so that users get more opportunities on the Internet - download large files, communicate in high quality (LTE), stable HD video communication.
In general, it is possible that wired Internet will disappear in the future. All that remains is from the operators. Unlimited tariffs will become affordable, although most likely not - the equipment is not cheap.
It turns out that 3G consumes a little energy, but 4G is already 20% higher. It is worth understanding that the second most consumed component after the screen is the radio module.
So, now let's summarize. Pros of VoLTE:
- Calls are made much faster. Depends on the operator, as well as on the smartphone, but the connection setup time can be 1-2 seconds.
- Much higher quality sound - the speed allows you to transfer HD data. Less crackling, noise, loss.
- Supports conversations with several subscribers at once.
Minuses:
- Not all phones support VoLTE, especially those that are more than one year old.
- Not all operators support and the technology does not work in all cities.
- Higher load on the phone. As we’ve already found out, LTE uses more energy, but if you don’t talk for hours, it’s not particularly noticeable.
How to find out if your phone supports the option
Some Honor users may not realize that their device has VoLTE functionality. Even if the smartphone supports this feature, it is often disabled by default. You can find out more information about the availability of the function in the documentation for the device or on the manufacturer’s website.
If your phone does not support VoLTE, you will not be able to install an application to work with this function and configure it using third-party programs. It must be supported at the hardware level, so the only option is to replace the device.
Almost all modern smartphone models support this option. At the moment, it is offered in new iPhones, in Samsung brand devices, in almost all Xiaomi phones - even in very budget ones.
Currently, the VoLTE function is supported by the following Honor brand devices:
- Honor Play;
- Honor Magic 2;
- Honor 8C and 8X;
- Honor 9 and 9 Lite;
- Honor 10;
- Honor 10X Lite;
- Honor 20 and 20 Pro;
- Honor 30 and 30 Pro;
- Honor V40;
- Honor 50 and 50 Pro;
- Honor View 20 and 30 Pro.
In addition to supporting the technology in the hardware of your smartphone, for correct operation you will need an LTE-enabled SIM card and access to high-speed data transfer. Also, this technology must be supported by the operator in the region where the telephone number is connected, as well as in the region of use.
If you are the owner of an old SIM card that does not work in 4G networks, you can always replace it at your operator's service center while maintaining the same number. It's free from any Russian operator.
The second point is a little more complicated. In small localities, the 4G network may not be supported or may be unstable. In the first case, VoLTE simply does not activate, and in the second, glitches may occur during a call.
To find out if LTE works in your city, check your operator’s coverage map or find out all the information by contacting the showroom or calling the hotline. Technology may not be available in some areas even if 4G network is available.
What is LTE in phone settings?
Fourth generation of mobile communications – 4G or LTE
– increases data transfer speed.
... The ability to connect to a 4G network depends on the coverage area of your mobile operator, phone
and SIM card.
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How to connect
If there is no VoLTE icon on your Honor phone by default, but the documentation indicates that the model supports the technology, and the technology is available in your region, you can activate it yourself.
To configure the option in devices based on Android OS, you need to perform the following sequence of actions:
- Open settings on your gadget.
- Go to the “SIM cards and mobile networks” section.
- Select the desired SIM card in the “SIM Card Settings” subsection, click on the number.
- Find the “Enable VoLTE” function in the “Operator Network” subsection.
- Pull the switch.
Some of the settings options listed may be named differently on your device. This is due to different versions of the Honor shell.
Another way to enable the tool is through a USSD request. Open the “Phone” application, and then enter the command ##4636##. In this case, a special menu opens. In it, select the “Phone Information” section and enable VoLTE.
After activating the feature, you need to restart your device. Now, when you make a call with a 4G connection, you will see a VoLTE icon on the Honor screen next to the network signal strength. If the phone supports two SIM cards, then Voice over LTE mode can be activated for each of them.
Important point!
To test the technology for making calls, you can enter the number using the international format with “+7” or eight. This applies to both mobile and landline phones. In the latter case, you will also have to enter the area code, and not just a short code.
If you use an MTS SIM card, then to use VoLTE you need to activate the “Internet calls” service - dial *111*6# from your phone. It is also necessary to activate the function on the Tele2 number - dial the command *219*1#.
How to deactivate VoLTE on a smartphone?
Based on the previous points, in which it becomes necessary to disable VoLTE on your phone, let’s look at how to do this. Disabling the technology is quite simple. To do this, you need to go to the main settings of your device and find the appropriate item. If your phone supports the network, do the following:
- In the settings, find the “Connections” section;
- Select “Mobile networks” and find the line with VoLTE here;
- You need to move the switch. Some items may be named differently depending on your device model and operating system.
Disabling VoLTE in a smartphone
In the same way, you can check whether your smartphone supports VoLTE technology. Let's also look at some popular models that clearly support it. This way, if you decide to use 4G for voice communications in the future, you can target them.
- Apple's popular line of mobile devices supports 4G, starting with iPhone version 6;
- Nokia smartphones have acquired it from the Lumia 830 model and higher;
- The Chinese line of ZTE smartphones supports VoLTE from the Blade 8 model and above;
- And when buying Xiaomi, you definitely can’t go wrong, since this manufacturer makes almost all of its devices with support for the new network;
- The Samsung Galaxy line of devices also supports VoLTE.
Of course, these are not all phones that support the new generation network. The entire list probably won’t fit into this article. Therefore, you need to ask a consultant at the salon for help in choosing. A device with VoLTE can be found in almost all price categories. In addition to the mentioned feature, smartphones are often equipped with other useful functions and accessories:
- USB OTG - with this adapter you have the opportunity to connect external devices to your smartphone. For example, a keyboard for entering text or playing games;
- NFC is a function (or module) that allows you to exchange information with other devices and make electronic payments;
- Face recognition is a new type of unlocking for your device that uses the owner's facial features and recognizes him.
Disconnection methods
Some users experience inconvenience when using the new technology and are wondering how to turn off VoLTE on Honor.
Among the reasons for disabling the option, users identify the following disadvantages:
- Rapid discharge of the device.
Most often, this problem is encountered by owners of smartphones and tablets that have been in use for a long time. Over time, the gadget's battery capacity decreases and it begins to discharge faster. In this case, the technology has to be turned off, because it constantly requires access to 4G. - Unable to connect in some regions.
If LTE does not work in a particular area, the technology becomes useless and wastes power. - Unstable network.
If the 4G signal is experiencing interference, subscribers do not need to manually switch to 3G for a call in order to hear the other party normally. If unavailable, the call will automatically switch from VoLTE.
Here's how to disable VoLTE on Honor:
- Open the settings section, and in it go to the “SIM cards and mobile networks” tab.
- Click on your number in the “SIM card settings” subsection. If there are several SIM cards in your device, select the one you need.
- Find the “Enable VoLTE” function at the bottom of the screen, turn the switch to “off” mode.
As with connections, the names of some settings items vary between devices. But the general scheme is suitable for all Android devices - both Honor and other manufacturers.
How to disable the headphones icon on Honor and Huawei if it cannot be removed
You have found the source of the problem. Use the instructions to troubleshoot the problem. First, let’s define what absolutely cannot be done:
Now that you have determined which actions are dangerous to the performance of the device, follow these steps to disable the headphones icon on your Huawei and Honor phones.
- In 80% of cases, a banal reboot helps.
- If the icon does not disappear, try to carefully insert and remove the plug from the connector 2-3 times without sudden movements, or try to connect it not all the way.
- After turning off the gadget, remove the battery for 20-30 seconds and turn it back on (if the battery is removable).
- Install a special program from an online store that has the function of switching the sound to the correct output and will help you disable the mode.
- If your smartphone has had minor contact with water, place it on a windowsill to dry out of direct sunlight.
- If completely immersed in water, urgently take it to a service center, where it will be disassembled and dried to avoid oxidation of the motherboard contacts.
- If the socket is dirty, do not try to clean it yourself; you may damage the contacts (but try blowing out the dust and rebooting the device).
- If you suspect a connector is damaged, bring it in for repair.
If the warranty on the smartphone has not yet expired and there is no physical damage, it should be repaired for free.
So, in our material we considered two questions:
- reasons why the headset icon appears on the screen when it is not connected to the device;
- Possible ways to remove the headphones icon on Honor and Huawei phones from the notification panel.
We hope you were able to figure out the problem and can continue to use the mode for its intended purpose.
How to check for a function
There are several ways to get accurate information about whether your phone supports voice over LTE:
- in the instructions;
- on the official website of the manufacturer;
- in the device settings.
The last option is the most correct. The user just needs to open the phone settings and go to the “Mobile network” or “Cellular” section, depending on the brand and model of the device. If VoLTE is available, the corresponding heading will be displayed in the menu. And if the function is already active, the technology icon will light up in the status bar.
Does a VoLTE call cost more than a regular call? How to start using this service
In the vast majority of cases, a call using VoLTE will cost no more than a regular call.
Moreover, Internet traffic will not be consumed, because For Russian operators (as far as I know), calls using VoLTE are charged not as “Megabytes”, but as the use of the provided package of minutes.
In order to start using VoLTE, you must:
- have a device that supports 4G (and VoLTE directly);
- have the latest software version from the manufacturer of your device;
- in the device settings (in the “Mobile network” section there should be permission for VoLTE). How to enable this technology is described below;
- you must be located in an area where the 4G network operates (in Russia there are still plenty of places without 4G);
- As for activating VoLTE calls, there is no need to make a special “call”; by default, the smartphone will try to use this technology itself (in the note to the call you can see a message about “HD Voice”).
