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iPhone Text Effects: Tips and Tricks
March 18, 2025
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Mountains, deserts, rivers, lakes, plains, canyons, and dunes combine to make Colorado one of the most geographically diverse places in the Lower 48.
While these features make Colorado a great place to live (and visit), they can present challenges to getting a reliable cell phone signal. Fortunately, Coloradans are generally well served by the major carriers (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) who operate well-established 4G networks—and growing 5G networks—in the state. By the numbers, AT&T offers the most 4G LTE coverage in Colorado, while T-Mobile delivers the most 5G coverage.
There’s far more nuance to getting coverage in Colorado than this, however, so read on to learn about the particulars of getting coverage in the places that you spend time in.
Table of contents
What We Like
- Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T all offer solid 4G coverage in Colorado
- AT&T offers far and away the most 4G LTE coverage in the state
- T-Mobile wields that most wide-reaching basic 5G network in Colorado
What We Don't Like
- 5G coverage can be spotty in some of the more rural and mountainous areas of Colorado—of which there are many
- All three major carriers are still working to build out their enhanced 5G coverage networks in Colorado
Verizon operates the second-most 4G LTE coverage in Colorado, spanning just over half (54%) the state. The carrier’s 5G network, on the other hand, is still in its relative infancy in Colorado.
Verizon 4G Coverage in Colorado
Verizon offers the second-most 4G coverage in Colorado, besting T-Mobile, but falling shy of AT&T. Rest assured that Verizon’s 4G network is present in most of the busier areas of the state, and plenty of its rural regions as well.
Verizon 5G Coverage in Colorado
While Verizon’s 4G LTE network reigns supreme in Colorado, its 5G network trails competitors T-Mobile and AT&T. Verizon’s 5G network is available in just 8% of the state, far shy of the 20% covered by AT&T’s 5G network.
That said, Verizon is aggressively building out its 5G network, so you can expect it to become more widely available in the coming months and years. It should also be noted that in many cases, the 5G signal you get from Verizon may be superior to that of its competitors, since it’s partly made up of super-fast 5G Ultra-Wideband.
AT&T offers wide-ranging coverage throughout the state of Colorado. AT&T’s 4G network covers an impressive 71% of the state, while its basic 5G network spreads to 20%.
AT&T 4G Coverage in Colorado
AT&T offers the most 4G LTE coverage in Colorado, covering 71% of the state. From Fort Collins to Durango and all points between, you should mostly have no problem connecting to AT&T’s 4G network.
AT&T 5G Coverage in Colorado
AT&T offers the second-most 5G coverage in Colorado, as its network spreads to 20% of the state. Some of this 5G coverage is made up of the carrier’s so-called 5G+ spectrum, which delivers super-fast speeds, low latency times, and enhanced reliability.
T-Mobile delivers the most 5G coverage, and the third-most 4G coverage, in the state of Colorado. If you’re looking to tap into the fastest network speeds in Colorado, going with T-Mobile is a wise move indeed.
T-Mobile 4G Coverage in Colorado
T-Mobile’s 4G network spans across 45% of Colorado, which is less overall reach than both AT&T and Verizon. That said, T-Mobile’s 4G network is present in most of Colorado’s major and minor cities and towns, so you’re unlikely to experience any signal drops in those places.
T-Mobile 5G Coverage in Colorado
T-Mobile wields the most powerful 5G network in Colorado, covering 36% of the state’s 103,637 square miles. Better still, some of this 5G coverage is made up of the carrier’s 5G Ultra Capacity network, which delivers incredibly fast speeds for latency-free browsing, streaming, and gaming.
While we’ve outlined cell phone coverage from the three major U.S. cell phone carriers, it’s important to know that you aren’t limited to these companies if you need cell phone service in Colorado. A variety of smaller carriers, or MVNOs, also operate in the state, allowing you to sign up for equivalent plans, with similar coverage, for less than you’d otherwise pay.
All of these carriers lease from the aforementioned major carrier networks to provide coverage to their customers. If you’re signed up with Spectrum Mobile, for example, you’ll have access to Verizon coverage, since the carrier runs on that network. Here are some popular MVNOs, and the networks they operate on:
Boost Mobile
Metro by T-Mobile
Networks they use
Metro by T-Mobile
Networks they use
Optimum Mobile
Spectrum Mobile
Cox Mobile
Straight Talk
Networks they use
Cricket
Networks they use
Visible
Networks they use
Google Fi
Networks they use
Xfinity Mobile
Mint Mobile
Things to Know about Cell Phone Coverage
Cell Phone Coverage Speeds
When it comes to cell phone coverage, you don’t just need a cellular signal—you need that signal to provide adequate speed. That’s why it’s important to distinguish between 4G and 5G coverage in your area. In general, 5G provides faster speeds and greater reliability than 4G. However, that’s not always the case, as there may be instances when the speeds of these respective coverage types are actually quite similar.
How to Get the Best Cell Phone Coverage
There’s more to getting the best coverage than just signing up with the carrier that offers reliable service in the places you spend time. These include:
- Your phone: The newer and more cutting edge your device, the more likely you’ll be able to tap into the fastest speeds. Some older phones don’t have the built-in technology to connect to the fastest 5G bands, resulting in slower service. The newest 5G devices, like the Apple iPhone 16 or Samsung Galaxy S24 series don’t have this problem.
- Your software: It’s important to make sure your software is up to date, as an out-of-date operating system can translate to an inability to connect to the fastest network speeds.
- Your cell phone plan: Depending on the mobile plan you have, your data may experience deprioritization during times of network congestion. If this is consistently happening to you, it may be worth investigating whether you can sign up for a plan that includes more premium (i.e. un-deprioritized) data.
- Your location: Certain types of coverage, like high-band 5G, has difficulty penetrating solid materials, like concrete walls. As simple as it may sound, moving to an unobstructed location may help you connect to these fast networks more reliably.
Our methodology
We sourced our cell phone coverage metrics from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which collects data voluntarily submitted by the four major national carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, UScellular). Read More
The FCC incorporates standardized propagation model assumptions into its data, and notes that a user’s actual experience may vary based on end-use factors like network congestion and terrain. Read Less
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which carrier offers the best cell phone service in Colorado?
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AT&T offers the most 4G LTE coverage in Colorado, while competitor T-Mobile delivers the most 5G coverage throughout the Rocky Mountain State.
How do I find out the best cell coverage in my area of Colorado?
To determine the best cell phone service in your area, we recommend taking a look at our 4G and 5G coverage maps and zooming in to inspect your local area.
Who has the best 5G network in Denver?
T-Mobile offers the best 5G network coverage in Denver, thanks to its aggressive buildout of towers and nodes throughout the greater metropolitan area.
Learn More Network Coverage Maps
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