Which network should I pick for the iPhone 5
December 12, 2012 9:30 AM   Subscribe

I am thinking of getting an iPhone 5, and I'd like help deciding between AT&T and Verizon, in Chicago.

From what I understand, with the iPhone 4, Verizon was universally acknowledged to have better service here.

However, with the 5, AT&T will fall back to HSPA+ when 4G is not available, vs Verizon which will fall back to the much slower 3G. I also hear things about how Verizon's 4G service is rapidly getting worse as the network grows more saturated.

My question is, how big a deal are these things in practice?

I have had really annoying service issues with my AT&T iPhone 4—lots of places around the city (particularly around Uptown/Ravenswood) where I can't load any web pages at all, even though I might have a bar or two. I frequently fall back to EDGE. Because of this, my first inclination is to try switching to Verizon. However, the above-mentioned factors have given me pause.

I'd especially like to hear from anyone who has personal experience with the iPhone 5 on both networks.
posted by enn to Technology (12 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: AT&T's LTE coverage in the city is pretty good so far, and data reception on the whole with the iPhone 5 does seem to be greatly improved

BUT

and here's the big but, there's still a huge deadzone around the ravenswood metra station, likely a combination of poor coverage and lots of people trying to use data at the same time
posted by Oktober at 10:31 AM on December 12, 2012


Best answer: I just got an iPhone 5 on AT&T and the service is great. I have LTE everywhere in the Loop and where I live (Logan Square) as well. I didn't have an iPhone when I lived in Andersonville, but I was on AT&T's network, and I had some of the same spotty issues as you.
posted by anotheraccount at 11:20 AM on December 12, 2012


Best answer: Just did a quick n dirty poll:

I have the iPhone 4 (Verizon) and my friend has the iPhone 5 (AT&T). We both work in Ravenswood (but in different buildings). I currently have 5 bars. He has two. My coworker has the iPhone 5 on Verizon and has 4 bars.
posted by sm1tten at 11:30 AM on December 12, 2012


Non-Chicago reporting in: I get better reception everywhere since switching from iPhone 4 (AT&T) to iPhone 5 (Verizon).
posted by Fleebnork at 12:20 PM on December 12, 2012


Also, another consideration is whether it matters to you that you cannot simultaneously use voice and LTE data on Verizon. Some people use it daily, others, like myself, never need to.
posted by Fleebnork at 12:22 PM on December 12, 2012


Also, another consideration is whether it matters to you that you cannot simultaneously use voice and LTE data on Verizon. Some people use it daily, others, like myself, never need to.

Untrue, I did it 30 seconds ago. You cannot use Verizon's 3G (CDMA) simultaneously with voice, but Verizon's 4G (LTE) works fine during voice calls.
posted by Tehhund at 1:21 PM on December 12, 2012


Verizon's 4G (LTE) works fine during voice calls.

ars technica disagrees.

Either your connection is intermittent and your apps aren't complaining or you've moved to Wi-Fi.
posted by Mad_Carew at 3:19 PM on December 12, 2012


I'm on Verizon with a Galaxy Nexus. I just switched WiFi off, 4G on, and I'm in a call. My screen says I'm on 4G coverage, so let's see if this post goes through...

Edit: Ah, looks like that's an iPhone specific quirk. Sorry.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 5:18 PM on December 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


IF your on att now you will get to keep your unlimited data. it will just change to unlimited with LTE.

Switch to Verizon and you lose unlimited data .

If your a big data user keep this in mind.
posted by majortom1981 at 5:28 PM on December 12, 2012


Oh, the voice & data thing is an iPhone-specific error. Sorry OP, ignore my comment - I thought people were confusing LTE, which can support simultaneous voice & data, with Verizon's old 3G (CDMA) limitation of no simultaneous voice & data. LTE is capable of simultaneous voice & data, and lots of Android phone like mine do it, but it looks like you do need to be concerned about the no simultaneous voice & data thing on an iPhone.
posted by Tehhund at 4:15 AM on December 13, 2012


T-Mobile is moving to support the frequencies the iPhone uses as of this year, has pretty solid coverage in most urban areas, and is much cheaper than AT&T or Verizon if you bring your own phone (I pay them $30/month on T-Mobile prepaid). If your AT&T iPhone is working fine, have you considered unlocking it and bringing it to T-Mobile? Dunno how service is in Chicago, but it's great in NYC.

Here's why the iPhone can't do voice and data at the same time on Verizon:
whereas many Android phones have multiple modems and antennas, it only has one.
posted by akgerber at 7:14 AM on December 13, 2012


Response by poster: I went with Verizon (don't care about the simultaneous voice and data thing). T-Mobile prepaid is what I used before getting an iPhone and it's great, but my understanding is with iPhones on T-Mobile that you only get EDGE, not even 3G, much less LTE (though maybe that's changing?). I appreciate all of the reports, they were very helpful.
posted by enn at 8:56 AM on December 13, 2012


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