For over a decade, Verizon‘s dominance in network coverage seemed like an immutable fact of the wireless world. Big Red‘s sprawling, ultra-reliable network was the gold standard, and scrappy challengers like Sprint and T-Mobile could only hope to carve out a value niche beneath the juggernaut. But everything changed in 2020.
The merger of Sprint and T-Mobile, years in the making, suddenly gave Verizon a true rival to worry about. By combining spectrum, towers, and technology, the newly christened "New T-Mobile" promised to offer a network to finally rival Verizon in both coverage and speed. Now, the question savvy shoppers are asking is no longer just "How much more will Verizon cost me?" but "Does Verizon still offer coverage worth paying for?"
As a picky shopper and consumer expert who‘s personally tested both networks across dozens of states, I‘m here to give you the definitive verdict on Sprint/T-Mobile vs Verizon coverage in 2023. We‘ll dive deep into the 4G, 5G, urban, rural, and overall performance of each carrier, so you‘ll know exactly what you‘re paying for (and whether it‘s worth it).
Tale of the Tape: Sprint/T-Mobile vs Verizon 5G Coverage
The 5G wars have fundamentally reshaped America‘s wireless landscape, and the Sprint/T-Mobile merger is a huge reason why. Heading into 2020, Verizon and AT&T were betting big on short-range but lightning-fast mmWave 5G. The carriers figured they could build on their lead in urban areas while retaining 4G dominance elsewhere. Sprint and T-Mobile had other plans.
By combining Sprint‘s trove of mid-band 2.5 GHz spectrum with T-Mobile‘s long-range low-band 600 MHz airwaves, the New T-Mobile has been able to deploy a 5G network with an unprecedented blend of coverage and speed. Per T-Mobile, its "layer cake" 5G currently reaches over 325 million people across 1.8 million square miles. Exact coverage varies by location and frequency band:
| T-Mobile 5G Band | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Low-Band 600 MHz | 320 million people across 1.8 million sq mi |
| Mid-Band 2.5 GHz | 235 million people across 165 million POPs |
| mmWave | Parts of 8 cities (less than 1 million sq mi) |
Source: T-Mobile Q4 2022 Earnings Report
In comparison, Verizon‘s low-band "5G Nationwide" covers over 230 million people as of January 2023. Its faster mid-band "5G Ultra Wideband" (branded 5G UW) currently reaches over 175 million people in more than 2700 cities. That‘s nothing to sneeze at, but it remains well behind T-Mobile‘s mid-band milestone.
Verizon is working feverishly to expand its own mid-band 5G presence using recently acquired C-band spectrum. Big Red aims to cover 250 million people with 5G UW by the end of 2024. That will close the gap but likely won‘t erase T-Mobile‘s head start completely.
The one area Verizon still holds a 5G edge is pure speed, thanks to its greater emphasis on mmWave. Data from Opensignal shows average Verizon 5G download speeds of 60.8 Mbps, about 28% faster than T-Mobile‘s 47.6 Mbps average. So while you‘ll find Verizon 5G in fewer places, it tends to offer snappier performance where available.
Beyond 5G: Comparing Verizon and Sprint/T-Mobile 4G LTE Coverage
5G may be the future, but the backbone of both Verizon and T-Mobile/Sprint‘s network is still 4G LTE. And in the battle for nationwide coverage, Verizon remains on top…but its lead is shrinking.
Historically, Verizon‘s calling card has been unmatched coverage, particularly outside of major cities. That reputation was well-earned, with industry data consistently showing Verizon covering the most territory and reaching the most people with 4G LTE. Here‘s how the numbers stack up today:
| Carrier | 4G LTE Coverage (Percent of Time) |
|---|---|
| Verizon | 95.7% |
| T-Mobile/Sprint | 92.8% |
| AT&T | 89.9% |
Source: Opensignal Mobile Network Experience Report January 2023
As you can see, Verizon still has an edge in 4G availability, with its network delivering an LTE signal 95.7% of the time compared to 92.8% for T-Mobile/Sprint. In practical terms, that means you‘ll stay on 4G about 3% more of the time with Verizon. The gap was much larger just a few years ago, but T-Mobile/Sprint is catching up quickly by expanding and optimizing its combined network.
Verizon‘s 4G lead does still extend to rural coverage though, where it remains the clear leader:
| Carrier | 4G LTE Coverage in Rural Areas |
|---|---|
| Verizon | 95.5% |
| T-Mobile/Sprint | 90.4% |
| AT&T | 88.4% |
Source: Opensignal Mobile Network Experience Report January 2023
So if you live or travel frequently in sparsely populated areas, Verizon is likely still your best bet for staying connected. But the New T-Mobile is not far behind, and may even be preferable if 5G is a priority.
Putting It All Together: Sprint/T-Mobile vs Verizon Coverage Maps
All this talk of 4G and 5G coverage is helpful, but what most of us really want to know is simple: How much of the US does each carrier actually cover? The high-level answer is that Verizon remains on top, but its lead isn‘t what it once was.
Recent analysis by WhistleOut shows Verizon currently covering about 70% of the country‘s land area, giving it the most comprehensive nationwide reach. The New T-Mobile is close on its heels though, covering an estimated 62% of US territory already. AT&T splits the difference at around 68% coverage.
Of course, coverage isn‘t evenly distributed and can vary widely at the state and local level. WhistleOut dug into this further, determining which carrier offers the best coverage in each of the 50 states. The results show Verizon‘s network still rules the majority of the map:
| Carrier | Number of States With Best Coverage |
|---|---|
| Verizon | 30 states |
| AT&T | 17 states |
| T-Mobile/Sprint | 3 states (Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah) |
Source: WhistleOut Coverage Analysis 2023
The state-level data reveals that while Verizon maintains an overall national edge, the New T-Mobile is starting to win some key battles. Drilling down even further to the county level, WhistleOut found T-Mobile/Sprint now covers over 90% of the population in 2,582 counties, just shy of Verizon‘s 2,655 counties. The gap is likely even narrower now as T-Mobile/Sprint‘s merger integration continues.
For the most detailed and up-to-date information though, it‘s best to consult the carriers‘ own coverage maps. Both Verizon and T-Mobile offer interactive maps showing exactly where they offer 4G LTE and 5G service. Plug in the places you‘ll actually be using your phone to see how each network stacks up.
The Need for Speed: Verizon vs Sprint/T-Mobile Data Performance
Coverage is king, but in today‘s world of streaming, gaming, and remote work, raw speed is a close second. After all, what good is five bars if your data crawls? Here again, the merger has reshaped the landscape and put Verizon on notice.
According to the latest data from Opensignal, T-Mobile/Sprint now routinely beats out Verizon in average download speeds across both 4G and 5G networks. T-Mobile/Sprint users saw overall average downloads of 54.1 Mbps compared to 44.7 Mbps for Verizon customers. On 5G, the gap was even wider at 138.1 Mbps for T-Mobile/Sprint vs only 77 Mbps for Verizon.
Upload speeds, a growing priority in our work-from-anywhere world, were also markedly faster on the New T-Mobile network. Opensignal clocked T-Mobile/Sprint with average uploads of 8.9 Mbps compared to 7.2 Mbps for Verizon. That 24% advantage could make a real difference for media-heavy remote workers.
However, it‘s important to note that speed is highly variable by location and a host of other factors. Other testing, like PCMag‘s Fastest Mobile Networks study, still give Verizon an edge in many regions, especially the southeast and central US. Verizon also tends to win out on consistency and reliability, even if its peak speeds sometimes lag.
At the end of the day, both Verizon and T-Mobile/Sprint are delivering world-class data performance that supports virtually any mobile application. Verizon‘s network may prove faster in some pockets, while T-Mobile/Sprint shines brighter in others. The only way to know for sure is to test both options head to head where you live and work.
Bottom Line: Is Sprint/T-Mobile or Verizon Coverage the Better Buy?
As we‘ve seen, the battle between Sprint/T-Mobile vs Verizon coverage is now closer than ever. The New T-Mobile is living up to its promises with a 5G network that largely exceeds Verizon‘s in coverage (if not always speed). The upstart has also closed much of the gap in rural 4G reach while opening a real lead in many major metros.
That said, Verizon remains America‘s coverage king for a reason. Its network still reaches more of the US population with a 4G LTE signal and offers meaningfully better service across dozens of states. Verizon also retains an edge in overall 5G speeds thanks to its early investment in mmWave deployments.
For most people, I believe the New T-Mobile now offers the best overall package of coverage and performance for the price. Verizon is still the better choice if you want the absolute widest and most reliable coverage though, especially in rural regions. The cost difference between the two is smaller than ever, so your decision really comes down to where and how you‘ll use your service.
Of course, there‘s no substitute for first-hand experience with each network in your specific location. Check coverage maps, ask neighbors, and see if you can try before you buy with temporary service or a risk-free trial. A little legwork now could save you a lot of headaches later.
Ultimately, the New T-Mobile and Verizon‘s rivalry is a win for everyone, pushing both carriers to expand and improve their networks faster than ever. The gap between America‘s wireless elite has never been narrower, and all of our coverage has never been better. So while there may be no one-size-fits-all answer, it‘s hard to go wrong with either Sprint/T-Mobile or Verizon in 2023.
