What should you be looking for when buying a cell phone? Here are some key points to consider:
First, Choose a CarrierDespite all the recent
hardware and mobile software innovation, your wireless service provider
remains your most important decision. No matter which device you buy,
it's a doorstop unless you have solid wireless coverage. Maybe you have
friends and family on the same carrier that you talk to for free, and
you don't want that to change with your next phone. Maybe you're lusting
after a certain device—say, a 4G LTE-capable Android phone, or an
unlocked smartphone for international travel. And of course, you want to
choose a carrier that offers fair prices, and provides the best
coverage in your area. These are all good reasons to put the carrier
decision first.
We have two major features to help you choose a carrier. For our 2012 Readers' Choice Awards,
PCMag readers told us which carrier they prefer based on coverage, call
quality, device selection, and other factors. And for our Fastest Mobile Networks feature,
we sent drivers to many U.S. cities to scope out which smartphone
carriers have the best data coverage. Because each of the national
carriers sells a wide variety of phones, choosing your service provider
should be your first move. Here's a quick rundown of what each one
offers:
AT&T boasts nationwide coverage and a terrific selection of
phones, particularly for texting. It has dramatically improved its
service quality in the Northeast over the past two years, and is busy
building out its newer 4G LTE network. It's also the worst-rated carrier
by our readers.
Sprint is relatively inexpensive, and offers some neat media services
and a solid high-speed network. It also has the most open approach to
third-party apps, letting its subscribers add a wide range of Java
applications to its feature phones. Sprint has two prepaid brands,
Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile, that sell phones without contracts.
T-Mobile offers mostly cutting-edge phones at relatively low monthly
rates and enjoys a reputation for good customer service. It's the only
carrier that offers a monthly discount in exchange for paying full price
for your phone up front. But its network can be weaker than the other
major carriers' in suburban and rural areas. T-Mobile compensates for
its lack of 4G LTE by offering HSPA+ 42, which is still blazing fast and
easier on battery life, though only a select few phones support it.
Verizon Wireless is famed for its top-notch network quality and good
customer service. Its prices can be higher than the competition, but
when it comes to voice quality, Verizon phones often excel. That makes
Verizon a perpetual leader in our Readers' Choice Awards. Verizon also
currently has the largest 4G LTE network in the U.S.
There are also smaller, regional carriers. U.S. Cellular is only
available in about half the country, yet it consistently gets great
scores on our Readers' Choice Awards because of its strong commitment to
customer service. Two years ago, the carrier launched the "Belief
Project," a new customer-service plan offering perks like free battery
swaps and replacements for damaged phones. Meanwhile, Cricket and
MetroPCS are "unlimited" carriers that offer much lower rates than their
competitors and don't require contracts. But they aren't available
everywhere, and have a somewhat limited, mostly lower-end selection of
phones.
Finally, you may also see unlocked phones on the market that work
with GSM networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile, but that carriers don't
sell directly. These handsets are often imports. Because they're
generally more expensive than carrier-approved-and-subsidized phones,
few are sold in the U.S. But you can find a few bargains, such as the
affordable Snapfon ez ONE-c, in case your AT&T or T-Mobile phone breaks and you need a replacement.
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