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Is Sprint OK for data?

A

AndyfromVA

Member
A friend and I both live in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC and are looking for a smartphone carrier. My friend was thinking about Sprint, but based on the research I've done, it seems that Sprint is the worst of the big 4 carriers when it comes to data. However, a mutual acquaintance, who is pretty tech savvy, told us that Sprint is fine now because it upgraded its network to 4g LTE.

Is the mutual acquaintance correct - is Sprint a good choice for data at this point?
 
A number of years ago Sprint worked fine for data (If I am remembering correctly 2010). As smartphones got more popular their connection got much slower. I gave it another shot this year and the data was barely usable (slower edge). From what I've heard the LTE is pretty slow for LTE, but is better. If T-Mobile offers similar coverage in your area I'd try that first. HSPA+ is plenty fast and I imagine the LTE is even better.
 
I have sprint now and I live in Louisville Ky, let me tell you the service here sucks if I'm not on Wi-Fi my phone hardly works. Maybe the coverage is better out there. But I would definitely check about 4G or LTE coverage in your area before going with them.
 
Honestly sprint has gone down , this past year thier service is really bad. But to be honest Tmobile and Boost mobile have been going down too. Companies in general have been sticking it to us when it comes to data. Everything was good when we had 3G , when 4G was introduced its been downhill.
 
PixelAndroid said:
Honestly sprint has gone down , this past year thier service is really bad. But to be honest Tmobile and Boost mobile have been going down too. Companies in general have been sticking it to us when it comes to data. Everything was good when we had 3G , when 4G was introduced its been downhill.
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For what T-Mobile costs, I can't complain. I get about 0.5mbps up/down where I live, but I use the WiFi/WiFi calling when home anyways. Anywhere slightly more populated the HSPA+ works just fine and will pull 12mbps down/7mbps up pretty easily. As far as boost is concerned, it's a part of Sprint (like Virgin Mobile), so that's expected.

It seems we get what we pay for. Verizon is the only carrier that offers really good service where I live, but it's not worth paying $110/month for one phone to me.
 
Thanks all. I'm probably going to go with T-Mobile prepaid but I think my friend will go with Sprint or Boost because he trusts the opinion of our mutual acquaintance.
 
It's completely subjective to your area and where you're located.
Some (well, actually most) will say that Sprint's speeds are terrible. And then there's the lucky few such as I who get over 10Mbps on WiMax. Probably more if I had LTE>
 
Carrier comparisons for speed and coverage are always going to vary based on locations.

Sprint is going through a major network overhaul right now, so in some places its bad, but in others that are nearing completion it downright flies.
 
As soon as this deal with Softbank is done I am sure we will see much improvement in Sprint's service. That is what I am hoping for. If not, I will be going elsewhere.
 
Rxpert83 said:
Carrier comparisons for speed and coverage are always going to vary based on locations.

Sprint is going through a major network overhaul right now, so in some places its bad, but in others that are nearing completion it downright flies.
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I do have to agree on this. Here, in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, the big three (ATT, VZN, TMO) average 33+Mbps; that is higher than any other place I have seen by speed tests done in threads here and elsewhere (My max speed was 43.1Mbps). Only sad thing: Sprint finished their 4G launch out here and they are stuck at 7Mbps max :(
 
They haven't finished 4g rollout anywhere that I'm aware of.

When they announce the market has launched they're only about 50% done.

Honestly, a consistent 1-2 mb/sec is all I'd really need. I'd imagine I'm not in the minority. Sure faster is "better", but there's a limit two when you'd actually take advantage of those speeds or if its the carrier filling a stat sheet.
 
Question is....once they get their 4G LTE rolled out and it is up and running, do their unlimited data plans disappear? I have a hunch that will happen. The unlimited data plans now is a way to get people in, because they know their service sucks right now.

I've been a sprint cusomer for 10+ years and just holding out hope their roll-out plan fixes all these reception issues. I'm in a market where they don't even have 4g but everyone else does.
 
iTzKPanda said:
I hope not. At that point I might have to jump ship back to Tmo
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That is what I'm debating right now.....leave now for great service and pay more.....OR.....stay for spotty reception, althought I've dealt with it for years already anyway, with unlimited data and cheaper family plan hoping for better service once their LTE service has been completely rolled out.

Verizon and ATT cant offer unlimited data because it costs money to maintain their 4G service, something Sprint doesn't have to do completely just yet. Reason why I'm assuming the unlimited plan goes away eventually.
 
I live in southeast Tennessee near Chattanooga and the Sprint service I have is horrible even though if you check the Sprint network coverage map it says it covered. In the future Sprint will be the last carrier I call on for service. I'm going back to Verizon and using their prepaid phone instead of going the contract route.
 
Stingingfork said:
I live in southeast Tennessee near Chattanooga and the Sprint service I have is horrible even though if you check the Sprint network coverage map it says it covered. In the future Sprint will be the last carrier I call on for service. I'm going back to Verizon and using their prepaid phone instead of going the contract route.
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Before you decide to go the prepaid route, double check your Verizon map. Prepaid Verizon customers do NOT get to roam on partner carriers (like regional carriers and Sprint). In fact, there are large sections of states (like much of Kentucky) that you will lose coverage in. You'll have to have money on your Verizon account in those areas and will be charged a pretty penny for ROAMING in those areas.

Again, go to the Verizon coverage map and notice a radio button just above the map that says "prepaid". It'll surprise you.
 
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