Just recently, Verizon has announced that they will be offering an unlimited data plan to its customers, which is a good thing. However, that word unlimited has been thrown around for quite some time among other carriers such as T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint that we can't help but question how unlimited is the new plan that Verizon is offering.
Data Limits And Throttling Between Verizon And T-Mobile
First, let's talk about the "deprioritization" tactic that both of these carriers have. So, what is deprioritization anyway? Well, it is when your device connects to a shared or crowded tower and then placed lower on the list. Essentially, what this means is that when a person who hasn't hit the - let's use Verizon's for example - 22 GB limit and connects to the same tower that you are connected to (with you already having reach the 22 GB limit), your device will get deprioritized or placed lower on the list. And if the person who hasn't reach the limit yet decides to stream a 4k video, you can expect to have very low speeds.
So with that being said, Verizon has 22 GB limit, while T-Mobile has 28 GB limit. And if I were to choose between the two, T-Mobile wins this round.
The Cost For A Single Line
When we think about unlimited plans, one expects to get lots of data at a reasonable price, which should also be reasonable enough to beat overage charges. So how much does one single line of data on each carrier cost?
For Verizon, the single line costs $80 a month, which also comes with a $5 a month AutoPay discount. On the other hand, T-Mobile's single line of unlimited data costs at around $70 a month with also a $5 per month AutoPay discount.
So for this round, T-Mobile wins, simply because of the $10 difference. I mean, that is already enough to convince someone to choose it in terms of line costs.
The Costs For Additional Lines
Now, what if you want additional lines? Let's face it, some of us needs that extra line for a better experience.
Well, Verizon offers $80 a month for the first line, while each additional line costs around $45 a month. On the other carrier, T-Mobile is offering the first two lines for $100 a month, or $47 a month for each three lines, or $40 a month for each four lines.
For this round, T-Mobile is the winner, because it offers more options and gives its customers a better deal if they try to add more lines. If that is not good enough, I don't know what is.
The HD Video Streaming
Both Verizon and T-Mobile streams HD videos, which will eventually boil down to its pricing. So, what are the prices?
Verizon offers an unlimited plan with HD video streaming for a single line at $80 a month. As for T-Mobile, it offers it HD video streaming service for a single line at $70 a month. Based on these prices, T-Mobile wins this round.
The Mobile Hotspot Data
For this round, both carriers offer 10 GB a month of mobile hotspot data. So it is safe to say, that it's a tie in this area.
The Verdict
The tally is Verizon with zero wins and one tie, while T-Mobile has four wins and also one tie. With that being said, T-Mobile is better. But hey, this is purely based on paper and my own opinion, which most of you might disagree with me.
