Google Fi new full phone list: iPhone works, Androids too
As of this article's release, Google Fi is compatible with the iPhone – not all iPhones, but some of the newest of the new. This update comes not long after Google's opened their gates to compatibility with a large number of devices outside the devices they sell from their own stock. "Fi works on this iPhone," the message read, "but it's in beta."
According to Google Fi, SOME features will work with some iPhones right out the gate, while others will sort of work, and a few just wont work at all. Compatible iPhones will get 4G LTE speeds (where covered) and unlimited calls and texts. As with all other devices on Google Fi, the iPhone will get 24/7 human-to-human support.
International tethering is not supported on iOS, but the "no roaming fees in 170+ destinations" remains valid. The feature in which the user can "enjoy the same data rates and free unlimited texts abroad" also works on the iPhone. Texts to non-iPhones sort of works – sort of.
Apparently "settings must be updated to get some texts to work" on the iPhone, but "iMessage works right out of the box." The settings are the iPhone's MMS settings, and they'll need to be updated to send and receive texts with non-iPhones. Users may need to update these settings each time they've initiated a major iOS update.
Voicemails "won't show in the iOS visual voicemail app" at all. Instead, voicemail will appear as texts, and the user can "call to check them" if they wish. This would be a good opportunity to tell all your friends and colleagues to stop leaving voice messages altogether, and start typing on their phone like a civilized member of society.
Devices designed for Fi can switch among networks "for an even more reliable connection," and can us the Project Fi VPN. These phones can also make Wi-Fi calls and automatically connect to "secure, high-quality public Wi-Fi networks." iPhones cannot do any of these things with Fi, for now.
NOTE: This service was previously called "Project Fi" but now that Google's got a grip on the whole business, they've changed it to the more permanent-sounding Google Fi.
Other than the iPhone, quite a few other Android devices work now on Google Fi.
Every phone compatible with Google Fi:
• Essential PH-1
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro, 20 Pro, 20 Lite
• Huawei P20, P20 Pro
• iPhone SE
• iPhone 5S, 6, 6S, 7, 8 (and their plus models)
• iPhone X
• iPhone XR
• iPhone XS, XS Max
• LG X Venture, X Charge, X Power, K20 Plus, K30, Aristo 2, Aristo 2 Plus
• LG Stylo 3, 4
• LG G6, G7 One, G7 ThinQ (carrier editions)
• LG V20 and newer (for V35, carrier editions only)
• Motorola G5, G5 Plus, G5S, G5S Plus, G6 Plus, G6 Play
• Motorola E4 Plus, E5, E5 Plus, E5 Play
• Motorola One, One Power
• Motorola Z, Z2, Z2 Play, Z2 Force, Z3, Z3 Play
• Nokia 7.1 (Android One) and Nokia 8 Sirocco (Android One)
• OnePlus 3 (and newer)
• Samsung Galaxy S6 and newer (7, 8, 9, etc)
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8, 9
• Samsung J3 (2017, 2018), J7 (2017, 2018)
Google Phones that DO NOT work with Google Fi:
• Pixel 2 (Telestra version)
• Pixel 2 XL (Telestra version)
• Pixel Model G-2PW4200 (Rest of world version)
• Pixel XL Model G-2PW2200 (Rest of world version)
• Nexus 5X Model LGH791 and LGH791F (Rest of world versions)
• Nexus 6P Model H1512 (Rest of world version)
• Nexus 6 Model XT1100 (Rest of world version)
These versions of Pixel and Nexus phones do not support CDMA. Because of this, they won't be able to pick up on the correct radio bands, and won't function with Google Fi.
Designed for Fi models:
• Pixel 3 (Fi and Google store versions)
• Pixel 3 XL (Fi and Google store versions)
• Pixel 2 (North American and rest of world versions)
• Pixel 2 XL (North American and rest of world versions)
• Pixel Model G-2PW4100 (North American version)
• Pixel XL Model G-2PW2100 (North American version)
• LG G7 ThinQ (Unlocked North American versions sold by retailers)
• LG V35 ThinQ (Unlocked North American versions sold by retailers)
• Moto G6 (Unlocked North American versions sold by retailers)
• Android One Moto X4 (North American versions)
• Nexus 5X Model LGH790 (North American version)
• Nexus 6P Model H1511 (North American version)
• Nexus 6 Model XT1103 (North American version)
Above you'll see Google's non-Fi-sold but-compatible Fi devices list. Google sells a bunch of phones of their own through Google Fi, but there are also "Designed for Fi" models that work with all the Google Fi functions available to Google's own Fi-sold devices.
Have a peek at the timeline below for additional information about Google Fi, previously known as Project Fi. Let us know if you've used the service before or plan to use the service in the near future. We're interested in your experience!