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iPhone Text Effects: Tips and Tricks
March 18, 2025
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Minnesota has it all—from urban hubs like Minneapolis, to wild landscapes like the northern forests. All three of the big carriers (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) offer generally good cell phone coverage in Minnesota, but there are some nuances to be aware of.
AT&T reigns supreme in Minnesota, with better 4G and 5G coverage than its main competitors (Verizon, T-Mobile). However, Verizon and T-Mobile make strong showings as well when it comes to 4G and 5G.
Read on as we break down cell phone coverage in Minnesota and show you how to ensure you have a reliable signal in the places you live, work, and play.
Table of contents
What We Like
- Minnesota’s most populous cities and areas, like Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Rochester, are all well-served with cell phone coverage from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon’s 5G and 4G networks
- AT&T has the most 4G LTE coverage in the state, covering 88% of the state respectively
- T-Mobile's 5G coverage is reigns supreme in Minnesota, covering 57% of the state
What We Don't Like
- While you can get 4G LTE coverage throughout most of Minnesota, signals weaken the further away you get from the bigger cities
- The northeastern part of the state has the weakest coverage in both 4G and 5G networks
Verizon offers the second-most 4G LTE coverage in Minnesota, covering an impressive 82% of the state. The carrier's 5G coverage, however, trails the likes of T-Mobile and AT&T.
Verizon 4G Coverage in Minnesota
Verizon delivers the second-most 4G coverage in Minnesota, just behind competitor AT&T. While you might experience a patchy signal in the northeasternmost parts of Minnesota, most of the rest of the state enjoys a strong 4G LTE signal from Verizon.
Verizon 5G Coverage in Minnesota
Verizon offers a limited amount of 5G coverage compared to its competitors T-Mobile and AT&T, spreading to just 13% coverage of the state. Compared to T-Mobile, which provides 5G signal to almost half the state, Verizon’s 5G network falls behind.
The good news is that Verizon is working hard to build out its 5G network, so don’t be surprised if you find your area covered in the coming months and years. Plus, once you can access Verizon’s 5G, you may find it’s even faster than its competitors thanks to the super-fast 5G Ultra-Wideband Verizon offers.
In Minnesota, both AT&T’s 4G LTE and 5G networks are the best options available, with wide-ranging coverage and great speeds throughout the state. AT&T’s 4G network covers 88% of the state, while its 5G network is available in almost 52% of the state, geographically speaking.
AT&T 4G Coverage in Minnesota
AT&T wields the most wide-reaching 4G LTE network in Minnesota, covering an impressive 88% of the state. Especially in the southwestern half of the state, which is where most of Minnesota’s population lives, AT&T’s 4G network has you covered.
AT&T 5G Coverage in Minnesota
With over 52% of the state covered, AT&T’s 5G coverage beats out competitors T-Mobile and Verizon. It’s worth noting that in certain areas, AT&T customers will even enjoy 5G+, AT&T’s super-fast, low latency, and extra-reliable 5G signal.
T-Mobile offers the most 5G coverage, and the third-most 4G coverage in Minnesota. While the carrier covers 57% of the state with its 5G network, its 4G network only spans across 67% of the state, which is less coverage than AT&T and Verizon’s 4G networks.
T-Mobile 4G Coverage in Minnesota
T-Mobile’s 4G network covers over half (57%) of Minnesota. This ranks it below Verizon and AT&T’s 4G networks, which cover 82% and 88% of the state, respectively. However, you can see in the map below that most of the population hubs are covered, so there’s a good chance that unless you’re in the most remote areas of the state, you’ll still enjoy decent coverage.
T-Mobile 5G Coverage in Minnesota
T-Mobile’s 5G network spans over a third of Minnesota, reaching 57% of the state. Its 5G network coverage is second only to AT&T’s 5G network (52%), and far beyond Verizon’s 5G coverage (13%). Plus, T-Mobile’s ultrafast 5G Ultra Capacity, comparable to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband and AT&T’s 5G+ networks, is available in half of its overall 5G network.
While the Big Three are the most well-known carrier options, it’s worth knowing you have more options beyond AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Minnesota is covered by a range of smaller cell phone networks too. Before making any decisions, definitely check out the carriers we mention below, many of which will let you sign up for similar plans, with the same 4G and 5G coverage, for a better price.
These smaller carriers are known as MVNOs, or mobile virtual network operators. That means the carriers lease from one of AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile to let you access that coverage. For example, Mint Mobile leases from T-Mobile, which means that if you’re a Mint Mobile customer, you get to take advantage of T-Mobile’s great coverage. Here are some of the most popular MVNOs, as well as which 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
Is Verizon good in Minnesota?
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Yes, Verizon is good in Minnesota. but its 4G LTE coverage doesn’t extend quite as far as AT&T’s, and its 5G network is not as broad as AT&T's or T-Mobile’s.
Which cell phone carrier has the strongest signal?
While all three carriers offer strong signals in Minnesota, AT&T has the broadest network, covering 86% of the state with its 4G LTE network, and almost 50% with its 5G network.
How do I find the best cell service in my area?
To find the best cell service in your area, check out our 4G and 5G coverage maps for T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. Be sure to zoom in so you can see exactly how well-covered your area is by each carrier.
Learn More Network Coverage Maps
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