TL;DR
WIRED reviewed unlimited plans from the three major US carriers and compared pricing, speed, coverage and fine print. T‑Mobile’s Experience More sits out as the top overall pick for value and 5G performance, Verizon’s Unlimited Ultimate is positioned for video and gaming, and AT&T’s Premium plan is recommended for sparser rural coverage and some public‑service users.
What happened
WIRED analyzed the unlimited plan lineups from T‑Mobile, Verizon and AT&T, parsing prices, data rules and included perks to identify which plan fits different needs. The coverage and speed data used in the assessment referenced independent network analyses from OpenSignal and Ookla. All three carriers now include 5G access on their unlimited tiers, but they differ on whether and when speeds are reduced. T‑Mobile offers three tiers—Essentials, Experience More and Experience Beyond—where the middle Experience tier was singled out for overall value, combining high‑speed 5G, streaming perks and a substantial hotspot allowance. Verizon’s modular approach separates entertainment add‑ons from data, and its Unlimited Ultimate plan was highlighted for superior video and gaming performance; the company is also running lower promotional rates with an option to lock pricing for multiple years. AT&T’s top tier is noted for better reach in some rural areas and for catering to first responders and military customers.
Why it matters
- “Unlimited” can still include speed reductions and deprioritization; plan names don’t guarantee identical service.
- Coverage and speed vary by carrier—T‑Mobile led on 5G speed and overall reliability in third‑party tests cited.
- Perks (streaming, in‑flight Wi‑Fi, satellite access) can drive the effective value of higher tiers even when headline prices are similar.
- Hotspot speeds, video quality caps and international data allowances differ sharply between tiers and affect real‑world usability.
Key facts
- T‑Mobile offers three unlimited tiers: Essentials, Experience More and Experience Beyond, with per‑line pricing that scales for multi‑line plans.
- WIRED cites OpenSignal and Ookla reporting that T‑Mobile leads the big three on 5G coverage and download speed.
- T‑Mobile’s Essentials includes premium data (up to 50 GB) before throttling and limits hotspot speeds to 3G; Experience tiers remove throttling and add higher‑quality video and more hotspot data.
- Experience More includes perks such as ad‑supported Netflix, 4K video streaming allowances, in‑flight Wi‑Fi and roughly 60 GB of high‑speed mobile hotspot data.
- Experience Beyond adds unlimited high‑speed hotspotting and access to satellite (Starlink) emergency data; satellite access can also be added to other plans for a fee.
- Verizon’s unlimited lineup (Welcome, Plus, Ultimate) is modular, letting customers opt out of bundled entertainment; its Ultimate plan is praised for gaming and 5G video experience.
- Verizon has been offering lower promotional rates and an option to lock pricing for up to three years, per the report.
- AT&T’s Unlimited Premium is recommended for better 4G LTE availability in some rural or sparsely populated areas compared with competitors.
- All three carriers include 5G access on their unlimited plans, but tiers differ in whether they provide the fastest 5G experience and how they handle hotspot and international data.
What to watch next
- Read the fine print for hotspot limits, international data and where throttling or deprioritization can occur—these vary by tier and carrier.
- Monitor Verizon’s promotional pricing and its multi‑year price‑lock offers if you’re considering switching or renegotiating (report notes reduced rates available as of mid‑December).
- not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Throttling: A carrier practice that reduces your data speeds after you hit a usage threshold or during network congestion.
- Deprioritization: When a carrier slows your data relative to other users during busy periods so higher‑priority traffic gets bandwidth first.
- 5G: The fifth generation of mobile network technology offering higher potential speeds and lower latency than 4G LTE, with performance depending on spectrum and coverage.
- Mobile hotspot: Using a phone’s cellular connection to provide internet access to other devices; carriers often cap hotspot speeds or data amounts.
Reader FAQ
Is 5G included with unlimited plans?
Yes. The report states that all three carriers include 5G data access on their unlimited tiers, though the speed and quality vary by plan.
Are unlimited plans truly unlimited?
Not always. Plans may throttle speeds, deprioritize traffic, or impose hotspot and international limits—details depend on the carrier and tier.
Which plan is best for video and gaming?
WIRED identifies Verizon’s Unlimited Ultimate as the best option for video and gaming performance based on third‑party testing.
Will my existing phone work on these networks?
Carriers provide compatibility‑check tools; the story specifically mentions T‑Mobile and Verizon tools to verify device support.
Are there discounts for military, first responders or seniors?
WIRED notes that some discounts exist—T‑Mobile discounts for first responders, military and customers 55+ are mentioned; details for other carriers are not confirmed in the source.
MATTHEW KORFHAGE GEAR DEC 23, 2025 3:09 PM What’s the Best Unlimited Cell Phone Plan? Let’s Break It Down We sifted through objective metrics and fine print to figure out…
Sources
- The Best Unlimited Phone Plan: T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon Compared
- Our Best Unlimited Data Cell Phone Plans
- Best T-Mobile Plans: How to Choose and Which Ones …
- Compare Our Best Prepaid Phone Plans
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