Forum Discussion
Is the Sonim XP3plus the only phone with FM radio available from T-Mobile right now?
I decided to go back to using my Google Pixel 5a recently after using my ol' flip phone ZTC Cymbal Z320 for a whole year. But I'm really missing that FM radio again as I don't get any Wi-Fi or data at work. That, and I'm paranoid and want an FM radio on me, but I haven't found any portable radio that fits in my pocket along with my phone, wallet, keys and everything else in those pockets.
Is there any new Android phone (or iPhone, but I know there’s no iPhone) with an FM (and AM and Shortwave and ATSC) tuner right now from T-Mobile?
None you will have to go older than new to get one. FM has been phased out of phones for about a decade now in the states.
tidbits wrote:
Just because it has a "chip" doesn't mean the coms are set up. This has been a peeves of mine(not directed at you) trying to explain just because it has a Qualcomm chip that supports FM for example doesn't mean the rest of the hardware is connected to make it work. If it has no 3MM headphone jack for example it doesn't have antennas for it. Even if it has a 3MM jack it may not have the chip comm connected. Also Qualcomm has to be paid for licensing and FCC has to test it and approve it. If you look at the FCC code given and you don't see FM radio testing = It shouldn't work and if it does then Samsung(or any manufacturer) has to disable it. So before you buy MAKE sure you check the FCC filings, and also because it's in 1 country with it doesn't mean it's the same device. It may have the same name, but the logic boards may be different in parts numbers. Also buying from overseas doesn't mean it will have all the same bands you need to have service in the states for example. Carriers require VoLTE with all their bands, but those devices might not have those bands or only a fraction of them.
For example the Nexus 4 could do LTE, but Google removed everything needed and blocked it from future updates or else they’d over Qualcomm money and also FCC can fine Google.
https://www.anandtech.com/show/6745/nexus-4-jdq39-422-ota-update-removes-unofficial-lte-on-band-4Also keep in mind US is planning on removing FM in the near future. They've been talking about it since early 2Ks. There has been push back but at some point they want to free up airwaves for other things, and want FM to go digital. Some FM stations already have analog and digital versions. AM wouldn't be a surprise to be gone in the very near future as AM has been missing in a few cars out right now, and more will follow suite for sure.
Ya. Looking at customer reviews, it looks like several have boughten the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G and tried to get the FM radio working but couldn't. There's no preinstalled app and third party apps don't work either. The FM chip must be disabled somehow, or not connected, like you say.
Now cars are comming without AM and may soon come without FM. That and the same cars no longer have an aux port to hook up your own AM/FM radio… We are in some sad times.
I’ve found a solution to phones not having FM radio anymore:
Bluetooth headphones that have FM (or maybe even AM) radio built in.
The Nokia G400 has FM listed on the Nokia website… I wonder if by chance the US version has FM too.
Edit:
YES! IT DOES HAVE FM RADIO! If you look at this video there's a spot where you can see most of the apps and FM radio is right there! YES! YES! YES! I wonder what I can get for my unlocked Pixel 4a (non 5g).
