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iPhone Text Effects: Tips and Tricks
March 18, 2025
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Massachusetts is one of the oldest states in the country—it was one of the original 13 colonies after all—and is also well developed terrain for the major cell phone networks. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all offer excellent 4G and 5G coverage across the state.
Since a quarter of Massachusetts’ 10,565 square miles are made up of water, the cell phone coverage percentages (which denote how much of the state is covered) skew lower than they do in other states. However, rest assured that the actual land areas of the state are pretty well blanketed by 4G and 5G coverage from the Big Three networks.
Read on to learn about the nuances of network coverage in Massachusetts, so you can ensure you pick the best carrier for your specific area of the state.
Table of contents
What We Like
- All three major carriers offer great coverage in the Massachusetts
- AT&T and Verizon offer the most 4G LTE coverage (63%) in Massachusetts
- T-Mobile delivers the most 5G coverage (47%) in Massachusetts
What We Don't Like
- Verizon offers the least amount of 5G coverage in the state (18% of the state’s area covered)—but it’s growing
- Coverage can be spotty along some of Massachusetts' coastlines
Verizon is well established in Massachusetts, offering excellent 4G coverage, and limited but growing 5G coverage, in the state.
Verizon 4G Coverage in Massachusetts
Verizon is tied with AT&T for 4G coverage in Massachusetts, covering 63% of the state with its network. Translation: you’ll be able to connect to Verizon’s 4G network in most areas of the state.
Verizon 5G Coverage in Massachusetts
Verizon’s 5G network covers 18% of Massachusetts, trailing both T-Mobile (46%) and AT&T (41%). However, Verizon is aggressively growing its 5G network, and in fact may offer the fastest 5G speeds available, depending on where in the state you are. That’s because much of Verizon’s 5G network is made up of its enhanced 5G Ultra-Wideband network, which offers super-fast speeds and low latency times.
AT&T offers excellent 4G LTE throughout Massachusetts—and pretty good 5G coverage as well.
AT&T 4G Coverage in Massachusetts
AT&T wields the most powerful 4G network in Massachusetts, covering 63% of the state. Subtracting 25% from the state’s overall area to account for water, that means that AT&T’s coverage nearly blankets every corner of the state.
AT&T 5G Coverage in Massachusetts
AT&T offers the second-most 5G coverage in Massachusetts, spanning 41% of the state. The carrier is aggressively growing its 5G network, though, so you can expect this number to increase in the coming months and years.
A good portion of AT&T’s 5G coverage is made up of its enhanced 5G+ spectrum, which delivers lightning-fast speeds, low latency times, and enhanced reliability.
T-Mobile’s 5G network covers more of Massachusetts than any of its competitors, while the carrier’s 4G network trails the likes of AT&T and Verizon.
T-Mobile 4G Coverage in Massachusetts
T-Mobile’s 4G network spreads across 56% of Massachusetts, less than both AT&T and Verizon (both pf which cover 63%). However, T-Mobile’s 4G is present in all of the state’s cities and towns; if you live in one of these areas, rest assured that you should have no problem connecting to T-Mobile.
T-Mobile 5G Coverage in Massachusetts
T-Mobile leads the way when it comes to 5G coverage in Massachusetts. The carrier’s 5G network covers 47% of the state, outdoing both AT&T (41%) and Verizon (18%).
Some of T-Mobile’s 5G coverage in Massachusetts consists of 5G Ultra Capacity spectrum, which offers super-fast speeds and superior reliability.
It’s important to know that you aren’t limited to the major carriers in terms of getting cell phone service in Massachusetts. 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 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 has the best coverage in Massachusetts?
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AT&T offers the best 4G in Massachusetts, covering more of the state than any of its competitors, including Verizon. T-Mobile, meanwhile, wields the most widespread 5G coverage in the state.
How can I check which network is best in my area of Massachusetts?
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.
Is Verizon or T-Mobile better in Massachusetts?
Verizon offers better 4G coverage than T-Mobile in Massachusetts. However, T-Mobile offers more 5G coverage in the state than Verizon.
Learn More Network Coverage Maps
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