You suddenly noticed a new, previously unfamiliar icon on your Xiaomi Redmi smartphone, which is puzzling. Instead of the usual 3G, 4G or LTE, a VoLTE icon appeared next to the signal level indicator. For many users, this becomes a cause for concern, because the appearance of unknown characters is often associated with unnecessary costs or system failures. However, we have to reassure you that this technology is the standard of modern mobile communication and is designed to significantly improve the quality of your conversations.
In this article, we will discuss the technical essence of the technology, explain why it has appeared on your device right now and whether it is worth turning it off. You will learn how it is fundamentally different from traditional voice communication and what benefits it gives to owners of budget and flagship models Redmi and POCO. Understanding these processes will help you more effectively manage the communication settings of your gadget.
The abbreviation VoLTE stands for Voice over LTE, Which literally translates as “the voice through the LTE». Formerly a fourth generation network (4G) The first was used exclusively to transmit high-speed Internet traffic, and voice calls were made through the outdated networks of the second (2G) third (3G) This meant that when a call was made or made, the phone was forced to switch to a slower standard of communication, which could cause pages to be loaded or video streams to be interrupted. VoLTE technology allows you to transmit voice stream in the form of packet data directly through the network LTE, It doesn't require the modem to switch, and it does this by digitizing the voice signal and transmitting it over the phone. IP-protocols, just like instant messengers or video calls, but with priority in the operator's network. Xiaomi smartphones, from mid-range models, fully support this standard at the hardware level. The main challenge was not the phones, but the infrastructure of mobile operators. The function requires support from base stations and billing systems of the provider. Which is why the VoLTE icon on the Redmi Note or newer series has appeared massively only in the last couple of years, when the main operators of the “big four” updated their equipment.
The switch to the new standard gives the user tangible bonuses that become noticeable in the first minutes of use, the main difference is the connection speed: dialing and horns appear almost instantly, without a characteristic delay in the 2-4 The second that was familiar in the era 2G/3G. This is especially important in emergency situations or if you need to quickly contact the interlocutor. The second, equally important aspect is the sound quality. HD Voice, which is part of the VoLTE standard, provides audio stream transmission with a frequency up to the end of the current year. 7 kHz, whereas regular calls are limited to a narrow range of 3,4 The voice of the interlocutor becomes natural, metallic shades and noises disappear, and in dynamic scenes of conversation, words are not swallowed». The third advantage is for gamers and those who are constantly working with the navigator, because the phone does not switch to mode. 3G While talking, the Internet speed does not drop. You can continue to play online shooters with low ping or watch videos in the Internet. 4K, For Xiaomi Redmi owners, this means no annoying notifications that “the internet is not available” during a call. 🚀 Instant connection with the subscriber without long waiting horns. 🎙️ Crystal clear high-definition sound (HD Voice, uninterrupted. 🌐 Simultaneous operation of fast 4G Internet and voice. 🔋 More economical battery consumption due to modem optimization. 📊 Have you noticed an improvement in the quality of communication after the icon appeared?It's much better / I don't see any difference / It's gotten worse / I don't use my phone at all for calls
In most modern models of Xiaomi Redmi function is enabled by default, if it is supported by the operator and SIM-However, if the icon is not on and you are confident of the service, it is worth checking the settings manually. MIUI, But the general logic is the same. You need to go to the settings menu of your smartphone. You need to find the wireless networking section. You can use the new shell version to name it «SIM-This is where the main controls of your Redmi communication module are hidden. SIM-The card you want to activate (if there are two) in the menu that opens, look for "Use VoLTE" or "Calls on" LTE». The switch must be activated. If there is no such item, it is possible that the operator automatically manages this setting, or support is implemented at the level of hidden engineering menus. ☑️ Verification of activation of VoLTESIM-card supports 4G/Operator provides service / In settings switched on toggle VoLTE/The badge is displayed in the status bar: 0 / 1 Open the settings on your device. Go to the section SIM-Maps and mobile networks. Choose the right one. SIM-Find the switch Use VoLTE and activate it. If the switch is not available, check for system updates in the About Phone section.
To understand the value of the technology, it is useful to compare it with its predecessors, and the table below shows the key differences between traditional cellular communication, VoIP calls over the Internet, and the standard in question. This will help you choose the best use case for different situations (2G/3G) VoLTE (4G) Internet calls (WhatsApp/Viber) Sound quality Low, narrow range High (HD) Depends on the speed of the network connection 2-5 Instantly (<1 sack) 1-3 Seconds of Internet service down to 3G/2G Stays. 4G/5G Battery consumption Medium Low (optimized) High As seen from the comparison, VoLTE combines the reliability of conventional telephony and the speed of modern networks. Unlike calls through messengers, there is no need for a specific application from the interlocutor and a stable Internet connection in the classical sense - the operator's priority channel is used. Technical details of codecs In VoLTE technology, AMR-WB (Adaptive Multi-Rate Wideband) codecs are most often used, which provide a frequency band from 50 Hz to 7000 Hz. For comparison, a conventional telephone channel (PSTN) transmits only frequencies from 300 Hz to 3400 Hz, which creates the effect of a "telephone" voice.
There is a common myth that using VoLTE significantly increases Internet traffic consumption and quickly puts down the battery. Let's see if this is actually true for Xiaomi owners. Voice stream is indeed transmitted through the Internet protocol, but it is very small and often charged by operators as normal minutes, not as megabytes. As for autonomy, the situation here is paradoxical: VoLTE saves charge. In normal communication mode, the phone has to constantly "jump" between 4G (for the Internet) and 2G/3G (for calls, this process requires constant charging of the network energy, which often reduces the cost of the search mode of VoL). However, in areas of uncertain signal reception 4G The phone may be spending more energy searching for the base station than usual. If you're in a place where the network is catching with difficulty, the VoLTE icon may disappear and reappear, which really puts a strain on the system. 💡For maximum battery savings in areas of poor reception, it is better to temporarily switch the network type in the settings on "Only" 3G" or disable VoLTE, as a constant search signal 4G charge is expended most quickly.
Despite the debugging of technology, users of Xiaomi Redmi sometimes face problems, the most common of them is the icon burns, but calls do not pass, or vice versa, the function is declared by the operator, but does not turn on the phone. In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by simply restarting the device or reinstalling it. SIM-If the icon is missing after the system update, the access point settings may have been lost (APN). Go to the mobile network settings, select your SIM-Map and find the "Access Points" item (APN)». Click the menu (three dots in the corner) and select Reset Settings, which will return the correct settings for your operator's voice and Internet services, and check if the service is blocked on the operator's side. Sometimes, when switching to tariff archives or with a negative balance, the operator may forcibly turn off additional services, including VoLTE. Call support or check your operator's personal account. ⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to activate VoLTE via the engineering menu (code ##4636###) if you are not sure of your actions. Incorrect settings of the radio module can lead to complete loss of communication, and it will be difficult to restore them without resetting. SIM-If your SIM has been around for many years, it may not physically support the new encryption and protocol standards required for VoLTE, in which case a free card swap in the carrier's cabin will solve the problem. 💡If the VoLTE icon is on fire, but calls are broken - the problem is almost always on the operator's side or in the settings. APN, Not in the Xiaomi smartphone itself.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions: Do operators charge extra for VoLTE? In most cases, the service is free. However, traffic transmitted during a call can be charged. Usually, operators don't count that traffic, they count the minutes on your plan, but the terms may vary. Please check with your provider. Does VoLTE work if I'm roaming? This depends on the agreement between your home operator and the host country operator. Many modern fares support VoLTE in roaming, but by default this feature can be disabled to avoid unnecessary costs. SIM-So, why does the VoLTE badge disappear when I start talking? 4G Not stable enough to transmit voice. The phone automatically switches to 3G or 2G As soon as you move into the safe reception zone, LTE, Does VoLTE affect the quality of video calls through a standard call? Yes, ViLTE (Video over) technology. LTE) It's an evolution of VoLTE, and it allows you to make video calls through the standard Phone app with high quality without consuming Internet traffic if the operator supports this feature. At Xiaomi, it works if both parties use compatible devices. SIM-Most of the modern processors in Xiaomi Redmi allow you to keep active 4G sim-card (DSDS), But the voice channel VoLTE usually only works on one of them (the main one for calls), the second SIM card can go into standby mode at the time of a call. 2G, depending on the phone model.