# iphone icon question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-icon-question/588020>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 6, 2011, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-icon-question/588020 "2011-07-06T12:22:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-icon-question/588020/1 "2011-07-06T12:22:09Z")

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On the top left there are 2 icons. One is the typical signal strength bars the other is a series of partial circles, forming a ‘pizza slice’ sized icon as seen hear:

> **[iPhone](https://www.apple.com/iphone/)**
>
> Powerful. Beautiful. Durable. Check out the new iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone SE.

What is that second icon?  
Is the first one for voice and the second data signal strength?

Thanks

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**Author:** ![initech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/439d5e/32.png) [@initech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/initech)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-icon-question/588020/2 "2011-07-06T12:23:31Z")

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Wi-fi.

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**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-icon-question/588020/3 "2011-07-06T12:55:46Z")

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Agreed. If you’re out of range of a Wi-Fi network, the icon is replaced by “3G” if you’re in the range of a 3G network, or a small hollow circle if you’re not.

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**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-icon-question/588020/4 "2011-07-06T13:25:06Z")

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> [@MikeS](#):
>
> Agreed. If you’re out of range of a Wi-Fi network, the icon is replaced by “3G” if you’re in the range of a 3G network, or a small hollow circle if you’re not.

Nitpick: On the GSM/UMTS variant of the iPhone, the symbol is “3G” if you’re in range of a 3G network, “E” if you’re in range of an EDGE network, the circle if you’re in range of a GPRS network, and nothing of the network has no data capabilities. I don’t know what the CDMA variant of the iPhone displays.

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**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-icon-question/588020/5 "2011-07-06T13:43:14Z")

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> [@Sunspace](#):
>
> Nitpick: On the GSM/UMTS variant of the iPhone, the symbol is “3G” if you’re in range of a 3G network, “E” if you’re in range of an EDGE network, the circle if you’re in range of a GPRS network, and nothing of the network has no data capabilities. I don’t know what the CDMA variant of the iPhone displays.

Huh, I did not know that. [Here’s the official Apple page](http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1976) on the cellular data networks supported by the two variants.