How can sprint offer unlimited data

Recently, the major carriers have added tiers to their unlimited data plans with larger caps of high-speed data. It's confusing. I took a look through the so-called unlimited plans offered by the big four U.

They all have some perks that attempt to make the plans more enticing, like free TV, international data or a subscription to Netflix, depending on the carrier. But I want to show you, specifically, what the term "unlimited data" actually gets you in each case. If you're interested in the other perks, click the link to each plan below.

If you hit these ceilings, Verizon reserves the right to slow your data speeds. The entry-level Go Unlimited is unique. Unlike the more expensive plans, there's no guarantee of a certain about of high speed unlimited data you can use without seeing throttling.

Verizon explained to me that "data may be temporarily slower than other traffic during times of congestion" at any point during your usage. Want to see what your current plan has? Log in to your My T-Mobile account to view and manage your plan and services.

Video typically streams on smartphone at DVD quality p. Sadly, a big chunk of the country still suffers from mediocre mobile coverage.

A recent RootMetrics study , meanwhile, found a bigger gap T-Mobile to be fast but less reliable, and also put Verizon tops in terms of overall quality. Much of the time, though, which is best for you depends on where you live. If you opt for a prepaid carrier, you usually have to deal with slower speeds. And the prepaid "unlimited" plans from carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile block things like HD video streaming and the ability to use your phone as a mobile hotspot.

As a result, we've omitted all such prepaid plans from this comparison. Verizon also now lets you pick which of its three unlimited plans you want to apply to different lines. That way, you can assign different unlimited plans according to the needs of specific users.

None of this includes taxes and regulatory fees, though. Those vary by region, so your bill will be a bit higher than what's advertised. And as with every major unlimited plan, all of these rates apply only if you set your billing to auto-pay every month.

With the Go Unlimited plan, Verizon says it may temporarily slow your mobile data speeds in areas of congestion. This doesn't mean you'll constantly be slowed to a crawl when browsing the web on your phone, but it makes it especially difficult to call this a true "unlimited" plan.

With the pricier Beyond Unlimited plan, Verizon says it may temporarily slow your mobile data speeds in areas of congestion if you use more than 22 GB of LTE data in a given month. With the new "Above" Unlimited plan, you get 75 GB of fast LTE data in a given month before it may temporarily slow your mobile data speeds in areas of congestion.

Not with a smartphone on the Go Unlimited plan. If you buy that, Verizon says video streamed over its mobile network will max out at a p resolution, which is less than high-definition. There is a visible difference in sharpness between p and HD, particularly on the ever-expanding and increasingly high-res displays of today's smartphones. Again, this is a clear example of limits on an "unlimited" plan.

The "Beyond" and "Above" Unlimited plan does let you stream video on smartphones in high-definition, but even that is throttled: Verizon says it's capped at a p resolution. This isn't as noticeable a drop-off in sharpness as going to p, but it's the minimum threshold for an HD video, and it's still a step back for consumers than the previous plan, on which Verizon didn't restrict video on any device at all. If you subscribed to Verizon's original unlimited plan, you're now saddled with the Beyond Unlimited plan's p limit.

It's worth noting that the limits above are different if you stream video to a tablet instead of a smartphone. With that, the Go Unlimited supports up to p video streaming, while the Beyond Unlimited plan supports up to p video streaming.

This makes sense given that tablets offer more screen real estate. Instead, it's constantly capped at a speed of Kbps, which is closer to 3G-level quality. And the Above Unlimited plan gives you 20GB. SimpliSafe Google Nest Secure vs. What is Home Security Monitoring? Internet Reviews. Verizon Fios Spectrum vs.

Mobile Reviews. Verizon T-Mobile vs. What Carriers Use Verizon's Network? What Carriers Use Sprint's Network? Home » Mobile. Sprint Cell Phone Plans Review. Affordable unlimited plans. Tons of perks. Less reliable coverage in rural areas for now. View Plans. By Easton Smith. Published on July 22, Share Article. Looking for a deal on your next phone? Sprint unlimited plans. Affordable plans. Lower streaming and gaming quality on cheaper plans.

What we like. Plenty of plan options. Looking to get out of that activation fee? Sprint is running a pretty decent deal for new customers. No prepaid plans. Unlimited plans comparison. Sprint family plans Unlimited data for the whole family, from your great-aunt Bertha to your second cousin Jared. Awesome prices. Poor coverage in rural areas. Tons of data. Want to save even more on your family plan? Sprint family plans comparison. Sprint special features.

International coverage. Discounts for everyone. Free Hulu, Tidal, and Amazon Prime. The perks just got real, folks! Sprint can help you upgrade. Main takeaway on coverage. Does Sprint have overage charges or hidden fees?

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