I bought a refurbished Moto Edge 2022 as an inexpensive daily phone because I liked the screen, but its mobile data performance has been terrible. My LTE speeds are extremely slow even when I'm only a few minutes from a Bell tower, and I use Koodo, which shares the relevant network bands. At my cabin, even with a signal booster and three or four bars, speeds can drop below 500 Kbps.
I've tried airplane mode to reconnect to the tower, confirmed that Data Saver is disabled, and switched between LTE and 5G. I'm on a 4G plan, but the problem happens consistently in different locations, so it doesn't seem like ordinary congestion. The phone was purchased refurbished and is now outside the return period.
Could this be caused by an old SIM card, an incorrect regional model, or a loose antenna or modem connection inside the phone? What should I test before paying for a repair or replacing it?
3 Answers
First, separate the phone problem from the SIM or network problem. Try your Koodo SIM in another compatible phone at the exact same location and compare the results. If another phone is much faster, the Edge may have a modem or antenna fault, or the particular model variant may not support all of the carrier’s bands properly. Testing a different SIM in the Edge would help confirm that too.
It’s also worth checking the exact model number rather than assuming all Moto Edge 2022 versions have identical band support. Since your SIM is six to eight years old, replacing it is a sensible first troubleshooting step. If both SIMs remain slow only in this phone, the device itself is probably the issue.
Signal bars don’t necessarily tell you how much usable data capacity you’re getting. A phone can show full bars while having a bad antenna connection, poor band compatibility, or a failing cellular modem. Since the speeds are nearly unusable in multiple places, I’d prioritize replacing the SIM, testing another SIM or phone, and then checking the hardware rather than assuming the tower is the problem.
Another possibility is a partially disconnected antenna cable or ribbon inside the refurbished phone. If the device was opened for inspection, battery work, or refurbishment, a coax connector may not have been seated correctly. That could explain having decent-looking signal bars but awful real-world data speeds.
If you’re experienced with phone repairs, you could open it and inspect the antenna and modem connections. Be careful not to damage the clips or battery, and have model-specific adhesive ready so the phone can be sealed properly afterward. Otherwise, a repair shop may be safer.
I’m comfortable working with electronics and have a small precision driver kit, so I may inspect the connections this weekend. I’ll pick up the correct adhesive before opening it.
That SIM has been used since my previous Xiaomi phone, and the Xiaomi was noticeably faster, even on HSPA+. I checked the Edge’s model and its supported bands, but I’m going to get a replacement SIM first since it’s old and that’s an easy thing to rule out.