T-Mobile Prison cell Telephone Plans Review 2022

There was a time when T-Mobile was at the lesser of our list of the best major cellular carriers. Merely since acquiring Dart in 2020, T-Mobile has done a lot of work, and it might actually be the best cell phone company in the industry today.

T-Mobile offers more than unthrottled data than anyone else, it has the fastest 4G download speeds, and it's doing an amazing chore rolling out a powerful 5G network. The biggest downside is the gaps in 4G coverage, simply that won't be a big deal for almost people.

If you're pumped about T-Mobile's all-yous-tin-eat data buffet, sign upwardly right here. If you desire to learn more virtually the company'southward plans, price, and operation, so read on for our in-depth review.

How to choose the perfect program

Before we go over T-Mobile's service with a fine-molar comb, we have a few helpful tips. Hither'south what you should expect for in the perfect phone plan.

  • Data: Having plenty 4G LTE/5G data to back up your streaming, gaming, and working habits is cardinal. Read your plan's fine print about information caps and throttling.
  • Cost: Use comparing charts and customer reviews to be sure yous're getting the best price bachelor. Recollect, cheaper isn't necessarily amend.
  • Coverage: You lot can't do anything on your telephone if you don't have whatever service. Check coverage maps to run into who has the all-time 4G/5G network in your area.
  • Features: Special features—like HD streaming and hotspot data—aren't standard. Yous may desire to consider paying a bit more for these perks.

T-Mobile unlimited plans

All the loftier-speed information you could ever desire in ane place

T-Mobile unlimited cell phone plans

If you want tons of high-speed data and live in the metropolis, then T-Mobile is the best carrier right now. Yeah, we said information technology—the best. Hither'due south why.

Super-loftier data caps

Here's a weird thing about unlimited information plans—most of them don't actually give you lot unlimited high speed data. There's usually a information cap. If you go over your data cap, your data speeds can be significantly reduced (making it hard to stream or game).

Companies like AT&T and Verizon tend to set their caps at fifty GB per month for mid-tier unlimited plans. But T-Mobile'due south mid-tier Magenta program has a information cap of 100 GB per month.

That's a ton of data, just information technology's the Magenta Plus MAX plan that really impresses us.

T-Mobile'due south Magenta MAX plan has no information cap. That means y'all get truly unlimited 4G and 5G information on this programme. No throttling and no deprioritization, just that sugariness, sweet high-speed information. So go ahead, stream that new Curiosity MCU series in HD.

Beware the T-Mobile Essentials Plan

Light Bulb

The big exception to T-Mobile'southward high data caps is its cheapest program. The Essentials program technically doesn't accept a data cap, but that's because your speeds will always be subject to slowdowns and deprioritization. If you need a reliable connection for work or amusement purposes, then skip the Essentials plan.

Fastest 4G data speeds

We've nerveless speed data from over 100,000 mobile users on a variety of networks. We discovered that, on average, T-Mobile has the fastest data speeds in the country. That's a big deal when information technology comes to streaming, gaming, or working on your telephone.

These data speeds, combined with high data caps (so that your speeds aren't slowed), makes T-Mobile a powerful contender for those who want high performance over all else.

All-time 5G network

Evaluating which carriers have the best 5G networks is catchy because the engineering is so new and considering there are dissimilar kinds of 5G. Some companies utilise "loftier-ring" technology that gives you very fast speeds but has express range. Others employ "depression-band," which goes further but isn't much faster than 4G.

By most metrics, T-Mobile is ahead in the 5G race. T-Mobile has the fastest average 5G download speed at 135.17 Mbps and the highest boilerplate client time spent connected to 5G.one

These impressive 5G statistics are just further bear witness of T-Mobile'due south authorization when it comes to information speeds.

T-Mobile has 5G Home Cyberspace

T-Mobile's 5G speeds and coverage tin at present exist enjoyed at home for all devices. Search your home address in T-Mobile'southward location map to see if it's available in your neighborhood.

Decent perks

Getting a few actress perks isn't the main reason to cull a cell phone plan. But it is a nice cherry on meridian. Here'south what you'll get from T-Mobile'south Magenta and Magenta MAX plans.

  • Free Netflix subscription (on Magenta family plans and Magenta MAX individual plans)
  • Free in-flight texting
  • Worldwide information coverage
  • Mobile hotspot information (5G on Magenta and 40 GB on Magenta MAX)

T-Mobile vs. the competition

As you can tell, nosotros're pretty impressed with T-Mobile overall. Only there are a few blemishes on the company'due south otherwise make clean tape. Namely, coverage and cost. We'll talk about coverage more than below, merely you lot tin see the problem with cost right hither.

While T-Mobile's cheapest unlimited program costs less than AT&T's and Verizon's equivalents, it'south all the same much pricier than plans from smaller discount providers, like Mint and Visible. And, to be honest, the Essentials plan isn't even that great.

T-Mobile'due south improve plans (Magenta and Magenta MAX) will set up y'all back a clean $70 or more than every calendar month. While these are still cheaper than the equivalent plans from Verizon, they volition be too expensive for some users.

Discounts for 55+, first responders, and armed forces

T-Mobile offers a few discounts that can save you $10 to $15 on your monthly neb. Kickoff, there'south the Essentials 55+ plan for just $40.

That'south a decent deal for T-Mobile's everyman-tier unlimited data plan. Just the all-time discount the company offers is for first responders and armed forces. You can get the Magenta MAX plan for just $70 a month. That's a pretty darn practiced deal for what's probably the most powerful cell telephone plan on the market.

T-Mobile family plans

Jail cell telephone plans for whatever your family unit needs

You have half-dozen options for your T-Mobile family plan, and they range from no data to tons of data with Hd-quality streaming. From Essentials and upwards, you're looking at unlimited plans—it just depends on what kind of unlimited you want.

Practise you lot have a family unit that requires tons of hotspot data and Hard disk streaming? Do your higher kids need laptop access on the go? Or do you enjoy watching The Walking Expressionless on your morn train commute? Then you might want to check out the Magenta Family unit program or Magenta Plus Family unit plan.

On the other paw, if yous primarily use the internet for electronic mail, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, then y'all'll want just a basic unlimited plan, like the Essentials plan. And for our true minimalists living off the grid, you can get a plan without any data at all.

How do these T-Mobile family plans compare with other family plans? Let's accept a look.

T-Mobile family plans comparison

Among the major three providers—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon—the Essentials plan from T-Mobile is the cheapest unlimited data program. Yous tin get iv lines for simply $105, or nigh $26 per line. That'southward a good clamper of modify that stays in your bank account each month.

Y'all'll run into similar savings when you look at four-line Magenta and Magenta MAX plans. In short, if you lot tin can become on a family programme with T-Mobile, then you should.

T-Mobile international coverage

Bullhorn

T-Mobile's Magenta and Magenta MAX plans have some pretty awesome international talk, text, and information perks. In fact, they top our listing of the best international prison cell phone plans.

T-Mobile prepaid plans

Save some coin with a T-Mobile prepaid programme

If you compare T-Mobile prepaid plans with the unlimited plans, you'll notice the prepaid options are a bit cheaper. The master catch is that you'll accept to pay in accelerate instead of getting your bill at the end of the calendar month.

The prepaid system tin can become a piddling annoying if you forget to pay for another calendar month of service, merely every bit long as yous stay on top of things, yous'll relieve more than a few bucks every month.

The T-Mobile prepaid plans accept the aforementioned perks of their postpaid counterparts. You however take a 50 GB data cap and mobile hotspot on the become.

T-Mobile network coverage and functioning

Fastest data speeds, but weaker coverage

Every bit nosotros mentioned before, T-Mobile boasts the fastest download and upload speeds in the industry. Here's a slap-up petty graph to show it.

An infographic ranking wireless networks by speed: #1 T-Mobile, #2 Verizon, #3 AT&T, Sprint unranked because it was acquired by T-Mobile in 2020

Yous can expect everything to be faster on T-Mobile's wireless network versus Verizon or AT&T. Y'all tin can download apps faster, buffer streams more rapidly, and upload your video to Instagram speedily also. The biggest downside to the network is its coverage.

T-Mobile coverage

Out of the three major networks, T-Mobile currently has the weakest 4G coverage overall. For context, hither'southward the rankings for all-time wireless coverage.2

  1. Verizon: 70% 4G coverage
  2. AT&T: 68% 4G coverage
  3. T-Mobile: 62% 4G coverage

Earlier you consider switching to T-Mobile, brand certain to check your neck of the woods in the coverage map below.

The good news is that T-Mobile's 5G coverage is really the best. While this doesn't make upwardly for poor 4G coverage (since 5G is however only in major metropolitan areas), it's a good sign that T-Mobile is alee of the curve on the next generation of mobile tech.

Hither are the rankings among the big three for 5G coverage.ii

  1. T-Mobile: 36.7% 5G coverage
  2. AT&T: 15.nine%
  3. Verizon: ten.ix%

T-Mobile prison cell phones and devices

Choice a phone, whatever phone, including iPhones, Samsungs, Google Pixels, and more

Whatever telephone you desire to employ, yous can plan on using it on T-Mobile's network. You can use the latest iPhone devices or Android devices. Hither are the most popular cell phones on T-Mobile's network right now.

Be ready to share your credit score if yous sign upward for a lease on a new telephone. Even boilerplate credit means you'll most likely need to fork over a down payment with your monthly payments. This is adequately common with other major phone service providers, though we didn't get asked about our credit when we signed upwardly for Verizon.

If you lot prefer to skip the credit check, you tin—just be aware yous'll need to pay the total retail price of your new phone right then and at that place.

T-Mobile client service

The wireless industry as a whole has issues with customer service, but T-Mobile is trying to change that

Talk to a T-Mobile customer, and you lot'll probably hear a mix of stories well-nigh customer service, both good and bad.

We've had great experiences with in-store client service in the past. Long story curt, we ordered a telephone from T-Mobile's website, and information technology was stolen before it even arrived on our doorstep.

Thankfully, the in-shop representative walked us through what to practice and how to get a replacement telephone, and they remained understanding and helpful even though nosotros showed upward at the store correct at endmost time.

However, when we later noticed the stolen phone was activated and nosotros started receiving a bill for information technology, we had to contact the call centre several times to cancel the service and zilch out the bill. Moral of the story? Visit your local T-Mobile store for a better experience.

If yous prefer to avoid phone calls and trips to the store, we feel you. Y'all tin make contact with T-Mobile and ask questions on social media. Prepare the hashtags.

  • Twitter: @TMobile
  • Facebook: @TMobile

Nosotros promise T-Mobile will proceed to meliorate on its customer service and go on pushing out transparent, easy-to-empathize pricing. Because being able to understand what you'll owe each calendar month is important.

Recap

Here'due south the TL;DR for how T-Mobile ranks

T-Mobile's looking darn good these days, especially for those who adopt lightning fast data speeds over rural coverage. Hither'due south the summary of everything y'all demand to know.

  • Plans: T-Mobile's Essentials plan is pretty weak for the price. But it's Magenta and Magenta MAX plans have super-high data caps, awesome performance, and cool perks.
  • Family unit plans: You can salve a significant corporeality of money past bundling upwards in a family plan with T-Mobile. There's no reason not to become with a family plan if you can.
  • Coverage: T-Mobile'southward 4G network has some big gaps, especially in the rural western US. This will exist a dealbreaker for some. Just, on the other mitt, the company'south 5G network is the biggest and fastest in the land.
  • Summary: If you lot want fast information speeds, await no further than T-Mobile. Simply brand sure you become coverage in your area first.

That's the end of this T-Mobile tale. You lot tin can hands sign up online. Or, if you're however not sure that T-Mobile is correct for you, check out these other bang-up carriers.

Methodology

T-Mobile is one of the major three prison cell telephone providers in the country. So we monitor the company'south plans, performance, and prices constantly, and we regularly update our reviews to reflect the newest information.

We wrote this review using publicly bachelor information, customer reviews, plan comparison sites, and our own proprietary data from over 100,000 mobile customers. Overall, we've spent dozens of hours researching, writing, and updating this T-Mobile review.

We hope that our analysis and recommendations have helped you lot observe the ideal cell phone plan. If nosotros've left anything out, please let u.s.a. know in the comments beneath.

FAQ

Is T-Mobile the worst network?

It depends on what yous want. Information technology's truthful that, of the 3 major networks, T-Mobile has the worst 4G coverage in rural areas. But that won't matter to many people who live in metropolitan areas and want T-Mobile's lower prices and awesome data speeds.

Also, T-Mobile's 5G infrastructure is currently bigger and amend than the competition. While this doesn't fix its rural coverage upshot, it does mean city-dwellers will experience awesome performance.

Check out this coverage map to see how T-Mobile's network looks in your area.

Does T-Mobile have a 55+ plan?

Yes. T-Mobile's 55+ Essentials plan is just $40 a month for unlimited talk, text, and data. You can sign upward for this plan easily online.

Easton Smith

Written by

Easton Smith

Easton has worked as a freelance author and researcher for several years, reviewing health, lifestyle, and technology products. He has probably read more Terms of Use contracts than any human live. When he's not sitting in front of a estimator, Easton spends his fourth dimension camping ground, climbing, and volunteering with humanitarian aid organizations.

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