Is there another source for the lack of LTE claim? The Verge article does say "Both phones will be available unlocked (but will only support GSM networks)", but to me that just means it won't work on American "CDMA" providers like Verizon or Sprint. They traditionally haven't supported unlocked phones, but as I understand it they will now activate unlocked iPhones and newer Nexus phones. I think the Verge would have explicitly stated if a high-end phone in 2016 was lacking LTE.