Short update, for those who remain curious: I've been on the "Warp" network (Verizon) for a couple weeks now. Truthfully, I'm in a tough spot now. T-mobile's network here in central WI has a lot of holes in-between towns, but almost everywhere it DOES have signal is true 5G stand alone which provides download speeds in the 3-400 meg range.
That being said, Verizon's 5G here isn't even worth discussing. For all intents and purposes, it's regular ol' LTE during my normal day-to-day use. Download speeds reflect that fact, although most of my time spent on the cellular network is while driving, so the only thing actually utilizing the network is my streaming music app. More important than speed, however, is connection stability which is an area Verizon shines. Complete guess-timate, but I'd say I have roughly 50% BETTER coverage over the course of my 23 mile commute.
For now, I'm going to stick with Warp.
I think I am pretty much experiencing what you are. T-Mobile in a good signal area I can get solid performance numbers using speed tests but the 5g service is wonky as we discussed once the signal gets weaker. (notably inside stores etc) When it works though, wow, it is good.
Verizon speed tests in our sort of rural area show that the T-Mobile is far ahead when trying to "beat" the speed test and 5g service. Even though I can post some of those Verizon tests with 100s Mbps in more populated areas Verizon speeds can really slow down using the speed test in more rural but not noticeable on your cell phone. 5 to 15Mbps
AS you experience though (and others) it seems no matter how weak the Verizon signal is I get service and honestly pretty much the only way I know how much slower that service is only shows on the speed test, you dont notice it on the phone itself. Actually I am shocked after having T-Mobile for two years, I never remember seeing one bar (even two) of service on T-Mobile and have useable signal and here with Verizon with even one bar it works fine.
With T-Mobile at same locations, I could have great looking signal on the phone but pull my hair out wondering why all the page hangs.
So I am torn too *LOL* Sometimes I want to go into my USMobile portal and switch to T-Mobile to try out. Im just not sure how simple the procedure is, meaning will I have issues to work though making the switch or will it be seamless?
Like you, I think I will hang in there with Verizon, since I get coverage everywhere so far, overall the connection has certainly been more stable no matter the signal, Where with T-Mobile I can look at good signal but not have a good data connection.
I did experience one issue I haven't seen in a while. I was surprised at slow test speeds on a highway on the way to my dentist, so for the heck of it, I restarted my phone and ended up with 5g UW on my phone and more bars but then a very short while later back to LTE. GO figure. For anyone else reading this, service has been 100% reliable using US Mobile "Warp" service. Im pretty much talking about beating the speed test. Though at the beach yesterday speed test speeds dropped low 5mbps but if I remember correctly I might have had higher signal with T-Mobile but issues connecting, with Verizon I had no issues.
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