If you‘re a discerning shopper searching for the best cell phone coverage, the choice often boils down to T-Mobile vs Verizon, the two biggest carriers in the United States. Both providers tout extensive nationwide 4G LTE coverage, and they‘re leading the charge in rolling out next-gen 5G service. But which one actually offers the best overall coverage?
As a wireless industry expert and picky consumer myself, I‘ve dug deep into the coverage data to bring you this comprehensive comparison. I‘ll break down how T-Mobile and Verizon stack up in terms of 4G, 5G, rural performance, metro coverage, data speeds, network reliability, and more. By the end, you‘ll have all the facts and perspective you need to make an informed decision on which carrier provides the best coverage for your needs.
Tale of the Tape: T-Mobile vs Verizon
First, let‘s set the stage with some quick background on each carrier:
T-Mobile is the second-largest U.S. wireless carrier, serving over 98 million subscribers across its network. The self-proclaimed "Un-carrier" is known for its customer-friendly moves like ending annual service contracts and offering unlimited data plans. T-Mobile merged with Sprint in 2020, a move that greatly expanded its network coverage and capacity.
Verizon is the largest wireless provider in the nation, with over 120 million customers. Verizon has long been regarded as the leader in overall network coverage and reliability, especially in rural areas. However, T-Mobile is mounting an increasingly formidable challenge to Verizon‘s dominance.
4G LTE Coverage: Verizon Leads, but T-Mobile Closing the Gap
Now let‘s dive into the 4G LTE coverage comparison. 4G LTE is still the backbone of each carrier‘s network and is important for consistent coverage, especially in rural areas where 5G hasn‘t been deployed yet.
According to recent data from OpenSignal, an independent mobile analytics firm:
- Verizon 4G LTE service reaches 70.5% of the U.S.
- T-Mobile 4G LTE covers 62.8% of the country
So Verizon does maintain an edge in overall LTE coverage, especially in rural and remote regions. However, T-Mobile has made remarkable strides in catching up.
A 2019 OpenSignal report found that T-Mobile users had an LTE signal 93.6% of the time, just behind Verizon users at 94.8%. T-Mobile‘s LTE availability improved by over 5 percentage points year-over-year, while Verizon remained relatively flat.
The bottom line is that while Verizon still offers better 4G coverage, the gap is much narrower than it once was. T-Mobile‘s coverage is more than sufficient for the vast majority of consumers, especially those who spend most of their time in suburban and urban areas.
Advantage: Verizon takes the crown for 4G coverage, but T-Mobile is nipping at its heels. The difference in 4G coverage likely won‘t be noticeable for most customers.
5G Coverage: T-Mobile Sprints Ahead
5G is the next frontier of wireless technology, promising lightning-fast data speeds and reduced network congestion. All the major carriers are racing to deploy 5G across the U.S., but T-Mobile has pulled into a clear lead.
According to T-Mobile, its 5G network now covers over 200 million people across 5,000 cities and towns. By comparison, Verizon‘s mmWave 5G network reaches just over 10 million people, with broader sub-6 5G coverage for 110 million.
T-Mobile jumped out to this lead thanks to its acquisition of Sprint and its valuable mid-band 2.5 GHz spectrum. Mid-band offers an ideal mix of coverage and speed for 5G. T-Mobile has been rapidly deploying 5G on this spectrum.
Additionally, T-Mobile has a leg up on Verizon in terms of low-band 600 MHz spectrum. T-Mobile is using this spectrum for broad nationwide 5G coverage, sacrificing speed for coverage. Verizon has limited low-band spectrum for 5G.
Verizon‘s 5G approach has focused on high-band mmWave spectrum so far, which offers blistering fast speeds but limited coverage. Verizon 5G is mainly deployed in parts of select cities.
Going forward, Verizon is working to catch up to T-Mobile with its recently acquired C-band spectrum. This mid-band spectrum will help Verizon expand its 5G coverage starting in 2022. But for now, T-Mobile is the clear 5G leader.
Advantage: T-Mobile has an undisputed lead in 5G coverage thanks to its strong mix of low-band and mid-band spectrum. Verizon is playing catch-up.
Rural Coverage: Verizon Wears the Crown
If you live in or travel through rural America, consistent coverage is a challenge regardless of your wireless carrier. But Verizon is widely regarded as the best choice for rural coverage thanks to its extensive low-band spectrum.
According to a 2020 OpenSignal report on rural wireless performance, Verizon offered meaningfully better coverage and performance across rural areas compared to its rivals. Specifically:
- Verizon users had an LTE signal 87.6% of the time in rural locations
- T-Mobile users connected to LTE only 79.7% of the time in rural areas
- Verizon‘s rural 4G download speeds averaged 11 Mbps
- T-Mobile‘s rural download speeds clocked in at just 8.7 Mbps on average
Verizon‘s superior rural performance stems from its robust 700 MHz spectrum holdings, which provide strong coverage across wide areas. T-Mobile has greatly improved its low-band coverage with its deployment of 600 MHz spectrum in recent years. However, Verizon maintains an edge for now when it comes to coverage across the heartland.
Advantage: Verizon is the clear choice for the best rural coverage, based on multiple third-party reports. T-Mobile is improving quickly but still lags behind.
Urban/Suburban Coverage: Neck and Neck
When comparing T-Mobile vs Verizon coverage in metro areas, it‘s practically a dead heat. Both carriers offer comprehensive, reliable coverage across the vast majority of cities and towns.
In PCMag‘s 2020 speed test, which measures performance in the 50 largest U.S. cities, T-Mobile actually pulled ahead of Verizon. T-Mobile notched the fastest average download speeds in 21 cities, while Verizon led in just 13.
However, in RootMetrics‘ 2H 2020 Metro Area RootScore Report, Verizon had the most awards for overall performance, reliability, speed, and data performance.
The reality is that both Verizon and T-Mobile will deliver outstanding coverage and performance for the overwhelming majority of metro customers. In any given city, one carrier might have an edge, but overall they are extremely close.
Other factors like 5G coverage, network capacity, pricing, and added perks are likely to be the deciding factors for most urban dwellers, rather than simple coverage.
Advantage: Toss-up. Verizon and T-Mobile are virtually indistinguishable when it comes to coverage and performance across most urban/suburban markets.
Speed Test Data: Verizon Faster, T-Mobile Gaining
Download and upload speeds are another key factor to weigh alongside coverage. After all, coverage doesn‘t mean much if data speeds are too slow.
According to Opensignal‘s January 2021 5G speed test data, Verizon had the fastest average 5G download speed at 67.9 Mbps. T-Mobile clocked in at 58.1 Mbps, while AT&T brought up the rear at 51.5 Mbps.
Ookla‘s Q4 2020 Speedtest Intelligence data showed Verizon leading the pack with a median download speed of 52 Mbps across its entire network. T-Mobile and AT&T tied for second, both at about 38 Mbps median speeds.
However, T-Mobile is quickly closing the speed gap, especially as it deploys more mid-band 5G spectrum. In many cities, T-Mobile already offers the fastest average speeds overall. As T-Mobile expands and optimizes its 5G network, expect speeds to continue climbing rapidly.
Spectrum Analysis: T-Mobile‘s 5G Advantage
A carrier‘s coverage ultimately depends on the type and amount of wireless spectrum it controls. Not all spectrum is created equal – it varies significantly in propagation and data capacity.
Low-band spectrum (under 1 GHz) is great for coverage because it travels far and penetrates buildings well, but offers limited data speeds and capacity. High-band spectrum like mmWave has tons of speed and capacity, but very limited range.
Mid-band spectrum (1 GHz – 6 GHz) offers an ideal balance of good coverage and high speed/capacity. It is considered the "Goldilocks band" and is highly prized for 5G.
Here‘s how T-Mobile and Verizon‘s spectrum holdings compare:
| Carrier | Low-Band | Mid-Band | High-Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 600 MHz | 2.5 GHz (Sprint) | mmWave |
| Verizon | 700 MHz, 850 MHz | 3.5 GHz (C-Band) | mmWave |
T-Mobile has a distinct advantage in mid-band spectrum thanks to its acquisition of Sprint and its 2.5 GHz holdings. Mid-band will be the workhorse for T-Mobile‘s 5G network. T-Mobile already has enough mid-band to cover 100 million people with ultra-fast 5G this year.
Verizon just spent over $50 billion acquiring licensed C-Band spectrum to use for its 5G network. But this mid-band spectrum won‘t be cleared for use until the end of 2021 at the earliest. Verizon is significantly behind T-Mobile when it comes to mid-band.
Both carriers have nationwide low-band spectrum for coverage, but Verizon has the edge here with its 700 MHz spectrum. T-Mobile‘s 600 MHz spectrum is newer and offers slightly better range than Verizon‘s 700 MHz.
The bottom line is that T-Mobile has a significant lead over Verizon in terms of spectrum assets for 5G, especially in the valuable mid-band. This advantage will translate into faster 5G coverage expansion and speeds as T-Mobile deploys this spectrum.
Finding the Best Coverage for You
At the end of the day, the T-Mobile vs Verizon coverage comparison can only tell you so much. The most important thing is assessing coverage and performance in the areas where you live and work.
Each carrier offers coverage maps on their website where you can enter your location and see what type of coverage is available. Be sure to zoom in and switch between 4G and 5G coverage to get the full picture.
You can also check third-party coverage maps that aggregate real-world data from millions of users. Some good options are:
- OpenSignal Coverage Maps
- RootMetrics Coverage Map
- Ookla 5G Map
If you know other people in your area on Verizon or T-Mobile, ask about their personal experience. Locals often have valuable first-hand knowledge of any notable coverage gaps or dead zones.
Finally, consider your other priorities beyond pure coverage. Do you care more about data speeds, plan prices, included perks, or international features? The "best" carrier for you should be strong on coverage in your key locations while also aligning with your other needs.
The Verdict
There you have it – the complete breakdown of how T-Mobile and Verizon‘s coverage stacks up. Here are the key takeaways:
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Verizon offers the best overall 4G LTE coverage, but T-Mobile is not far behind. The gap between them has narrowed significantly in recent years.
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T-Mobile has taken a commanding lead in 5G thanks to its broad low-band and deep mid-band spectrum. Verizon is playing catch-up on mid-band 5G coverage.
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Verizon is still the king of rural coverage thanks to its LTE network and low-band spectrum. T-Mobile is improving quickly but trails Verizon in sparsely-populated areas.
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T-Mobile and Verizon are neck-and-neck when it comes to coverage across urban and suburban areas. Both offer incredibly comprehensive metro coverage.
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Verizon offers faster 4G speeds on average across its network, but T-Mobile‘s speeds are improving rapidly, especially with mid-band 5G. T-Mobile already offers the fastest average speeds in many cities.
Ultimately, the Verizon vs T-Mobile coverage debate is closer than ever. Verizon maintains an edge in rural coverage, but T-Mobile is a fierce competitor with a 5G lead.
Your own choice comes down to your personal needs and priorities. Carefully assess the coverage for both carriers in the places you‘ll use your phone the most. Consider which one offers the best overall value and service for your unique situation.
Regardless of which one you choose, you can take comfort in knowing that both Verizon and T-Mobile offer outstanding coverage, speed, and reliability for the vast majority of Americans. As a picky shopper myself, I‘d be confident in choosing either one.
