As a savvy shopper and retail expert, I‘ve seen firsthand how confusing and misleading cell phone plan marketing can be. Carriers throw around buzzwords like "unlimited," "unthrottled," and "5G" to grab your attention, but the reality of what you get is often more complex.
Case in point: Verizon‘s range of "unlimited" data plans. While they promise nonstop streaming and downloading, the fine print reveals some important limitations. Let‘s break down exactly what you get—and what you don‘t—when you sign up for Verizon Unlimited in 2024.
Unpacking Verizon‘s Unlimited Offerings
Verizon currently promotes four main unlimited plans:
- 5G Start
- 5G Play More
- 5G Do More
- 5G Get More
All come with unlimited talk, text, and 5G/4G LTE data. In the most basic sense, that data is unlimited—you can use as much as you want without being cut off or charged overage fees.
However, all of the plans also include a caveat that‘s become standard among cellular carriers: after using a certain amount of data each billing cycle (in this case 50 GB), your speeds may be throttled when the network is congested. Verizon specifies that users "may notice slower data speeds" and that "streaming audio or video content may be impacted and [you] may experience longer download times."
So while your data remains unlimited in quantity after passing 50 GB, you‘re likely to see a noticeable dip in quality, especially when using data-hungry apps like video streaming and mobile gaming. It‘s a bit like having an unlimited pizza buffet where the pizza gets cold and rubbery after your first few slices.
Behind the Scenes: How Throttling and Deprioritization Work
To understand why Verizon and other carriers impose these "soft caps" on data, it helps to know a bit about how cellular networks operate.
Picture Verizon‘s data network as a multilane highway, with each user‘s data traveling in its own car. The highway can only fit so many cars at a time before traffic slows down. And some data hogs—er, users—drive extra large trucks and clog up the fast lane.
In technical terms, all of the traffic on Verizon‘s network shares a limited pool of spectrum and base station resources. When a large number of users are connected in the same area, each user‘s maximum potential data speed drops.
Throttling high-usage customers is a way for carriers to keep traffic moving for everyone. It‘s like forcing the slowpokes to drive in the right lane.
Verizon isn‘t the only one to employ this tactic. AT&T also throttles users on some unlimited plans after 50 GB, while T-Mobile reserves the right to slow down your data "at any time when the network is congested" on its base Essentials unlimited plan.
5G Changes the Game, But Slowly
The next generation of cellular technology, 5G, promises to ease congestion and increase speeds for everyone with its expanded capacity. But the rollout has been gradual.
As of Q4 2023, Verizon reported covering over 200 million people with its 5G service. That sounds impressive, but much of that coverage uses low- and mid-band spectrum that isn‘t a huge leap over 4G LTE performance. The fastest 5G flavors, using millimeter wave (mmWave) technology, are still only available in select cities.
Verizon has been dynamically shifting data limits and premium data allowances as its 5G network expands. For example, in 2021 it bumped the premium data on its top-tier plan from 50 to 100 GB per month. But the fundamental structure of unlimited plans with soft caps remains in place.
Monitoring Your Usage and Avoiding the Slowdown
So how can you make the most of your Verizon unlimited plan without constantly worrying about throttling? A few practical tips:
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Track your data usage: Verizon provides tools in the My Verizon app and online to monitor how much data you‘ve used in your current billing cycle. Check it periodically, especially if you notice your speeds decreasing.
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Connect to Wi-Fi when available: Using Wi-Fi at home, work, or in public places doesn‘t count toward your mobile data allotment. The less data you use on Verizon‘s cellular network, the less likely you are to hit the 50 GB threshold.
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Adjust video streaming settings: Video quality is one of the biggest factors in data consumption. Many video apps like Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok let you adjust your streaming resolution. Opting for standard definition (480p) over high definition can significantly reduce your usage.
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Consider an upgrade: If you‘re consistently maxing out your data and feeling the slowdown, it may be worth stepping up to a higher-tier plan. Verizon‘s 5G Get More plan currently includes 50 GB of premium hotspot data on top of the 50 GB premium on-device data. Just be prepared to pay a premium price for that extra headroom.
The Big Picture: Unlimited Data in 2024 and Beyond
The landscape of mobile data plans is constantly evolving along with network technology and consumer habits. As 5G matures and expands, we may see carriers feeling more generous with premium data allowances and throttling thresholds.
But the basic business model of tiered "unlimited" plans with caveats and limits is likely here to stay. Carriers have found it to be an effective way to segment their customer base and manage network demand while still advertising an attractive "unlimited" selling point.
As a consumer, the key is to read between the lines of the marketing hype and choose a plan that fits your actual usage patterns and budget. Don‘t pay for more than you need, but don‘t get lured in by a low price if the limits will leave you frustrated.
For heavy data users, the premium unlimited plans from Verizon and other major carriers are still often the best option, even with the potential for throttling during peak times. The 50+ GB of unthrottled data they provide is more than enough for most people‘s monthly needs.
According to Statista, the average US smartphone user consumed around 12 GB of cellular data per month in 2021. Even the hungriest data consumers rarely exceed 50 GB.
Source: Statista
Of course, unlimited data is just one piece of the puzzle when choosing a cell phone plan. You‘ll also want to consider factors like coverage in your area, 5G access, included perks like streaming services, and the ever-important price.
The Bottom Line
Verizon‘s unlimited plans, like those from other major carriers, do come with some important caveats around throttling and deprioritization. But for most users, they still provide plenty of high-speed data on a robust nationwide network.
The key is to understand the limitations, read the fine print, and choose the plan that best fits your needs and budget. Don‘t pay for more "unlimited" than you‘ll actually use, but don‘t get lured in by a low sticker price if the limits will leave you throttled more often than not.
And remember, even the most unlimited of unlimited plans still have their limits. It‘s all a matter of finding the right balance for your own data appetite.
5G technology and changing consumer habits will undoubtedly continue to shape the world of cellular data plans in the coming years. But for now, Verizon‘s unlimited offerings are a solid choice for most smartphone power users. Just keep an eye on that 50 GB throttle threshold.
Happy (unlimited) streaming and scrolling!
