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PSA: Phones that aren’t built for Google Fi will have these limitations
June 03, 2025
With the rebrand toGoogle Fi, the search giant’s MVNO opened up support for phones not built for Fi. While almost every modern smartphone is now compatible, there are a good number of limitations introduced by bringing your handset to the network.
One of Google Fi’s flagship features is its ability to switch between T-Mobile, Sprint, UScellular, and free Wi-Fi hotspots automatically based on the quality and strength of the network. Unfortunately, any phone not built for the Fi network loses this functionality.
Instead, these devices will rely on T-Mobile’s network in the U.S. and the carrier’s roaming partners overseas.
Read next:Phones compatible with Google Fi: What are your options?
And since Google Fi can’t handle the network switching, it also can’t protect the phone using the company’s secure VPN. While this isn’t the worst thing in the world when transmitting data over a cellular network, it does mean you’re left exposed on Wi-Fi hotspots unless youset up your own VPN.
All of these limitations get expanded upon even further if you decide to use an iPhone on Google Fi.
First, according to Google’s compatibility tool, only iPhones newer than the iPhone 5C will work with Fi. Second, users will have to adjust MMS settings to accept text messages from non-iPhones (yes, iMessage will work). And third, voicemails will show up as transcribed texts and won’t be available in the phone’s voicemail app.
The Vergealso points out that iPhones won’t be able to “make calls or text over Wi-Fi, use visual voicemail, or be used as data hotspots outside the US at all.” Google did release aFi app for iOS in betato make setting up the network and controlling your account from your iPhone as easy as possible.
You’ll have to decide if the number of limitations introduced by using aphone not built for Fion Google Fi’s network is a dealbreaker for you or not. In time, Google will hopefully find ways to make the experience as seamless as possible for everyone.
What do you think about Google Fi opening up support for additional Android handsets and iPhones not designed for Fi? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
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