LTE UE Category Table
Complete LTE UE category table from Cat 1 to Cat 22 plus LTE IoT categories (M1, M2, NB1, NB2). Per 3GPP TS 36.306 Β§4.1.
Last verified 2026-04-15 against 3GPP TS 36.306 v18.3.0 Β§4.1 Β· Release 18
Main LTE categories (Cat 1 to Cat 22)
| Cat | DL Mbps | UL Mbps | DL layers | 256-QAM DL | Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10.3 | 5.2 | 1 | no | Rel 8 |
| 3 | 102 | 51 | 2 | no | Rel 8 |
| 4 | 150.8 | 51 | 2 | no | Rel 8 |
| 6 | 301.5 | 51 | 2 | no | Rel 10 |
| 9 | 452.2 | 51 | 2 | no | Rel 11 |
| 12 | 603 | 102 | 2 | no | Rel 12 |
| 13 | 391.6 | 150.8 | 2 | yes | Rel 12 |
| 16 | 979 | 105.4 | 4 | yes | Rel 13 |
| 18 | 1174 | 211 | 8 | yes | Rel 14 |
| 20 | 2000 | 315 | 8 | yes | Rel 14 |
Peak rates assume optimal conditions with maximum aggregation. Real throughput is bounded by cell configuration.
LTE IoT categories
| Cat | DL Mbps | UL Mbps | Bandwidth | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 (eMTC) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.08 MHz | Wearables, smart meters, tracking |
| M2 (eMTC) | 4.0 | 7.0 | 5 MHz | Higher rate eMTC |
| NB1 (NB-IoT) | 0.68 | 1.0 | 180 kHz | Deep indoor IoT, ultra low power |
| NB2 (NB-IoT) | 2.5 | 2.5 | 180 kHz | Higher rate NB-IoT |
Read your UE category live
HiCellTek UE Capabilities module displays the UE category declared during attach. Essential to understand which peak rate your test device can actually reach.
Frequently asked questions
What is a UE category?
The set of capability limits a UE declares to the network: peak DL/UL rates, MIMO layers, 256-QAM support, carrier aggregation class. Defined in 3GPP TS 36.306 Β§4.1.
What is the most common UE category?
Cat 4 for entry smartphones, Cat 6/9/12 for mid range with CA, Cat 16/18/20 for flagship devices with aggressive CA and 256-QAM DL.
Does a higher category always mean more throughput?
Only when the cell supports it. A Cat 16 UE on a Cat 4 cell delivers Cat 4 throughput. The UE category is an upper bound, not a guarantee.
Can DL and UL category be different?
Yes since Release 12. A UE declares ue-Category and separately ue-Category-UL. This allows asymmetric capabilities for IoT and specialized devices.
What about M1, M2, NB1, NB2?
LTE IoT categories. M1/M2 are LTE-M (eMTC) with 1.08 MHz bandwidth. NB1/NB2 are NB-IoT with 180 kHz. Lower throughput but deeper coverage (+20 dB MCL).
What peak rate does Cat 20 deliver?
2000 Mbps DL and 315 Mbps UL per TS 36.306. Requires 5CA aggregation with 256-QAM and 8 DL MIMO layers, rarely achieved in practice.