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iPhone Text Effects: Tips and Tricks
March 18, 2025
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New Mexico is the fifth largest state in the country—and as anyone who lives here knows, much of its 121,312 square miles is made up of rural, unpopulated terrain.
This tends to spell trouble for cell phone coverage—after all, carriers generally build towers where there are people—and indeed, the coverage percentages skew lower in New Mexico than they do in more densely-packed states. However, New Mexico's many towns are well covered by the major carrier networks (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T), so you may very well be able to access fast, reliable service in your particular area.
In this article, we’ll break down the coverage statistics between the three major carriers in New Mexico, and show you how to use our interactive coverage maps to check service in your specific region of the state.
Table of contents
What We Like
- AT&T delivers the most 4G LTE coverage (77%) in New Mexico; Verizon makes a strong 4G showing as well
- T-Mobile is the 5G coverage king in New Mexico, covering 42% of the state with its network
What We Don't Like
- Cell phone coverage—particularly of the 5G variety—can be spotty in the many rural areas of New Mexico. However the state’s foremost towns and cities tend to be well covered
- Verizon’s 5G network is still in its relative infancy in the state, offering just 4% coverage across New Mexico (but it’s growing)
Verizon serves up the second-most 4G coverage, and the third-most 5G coverage, in New Mexico.
Verizon 4G Coverage in New Mexico
Verizon’s 4G LTE network spreads across 65% of New Mexico, which is second only to AT&T in the state. Going with Verizon is a wise move indeed if you live in New Mexico.
Verizon 5G Coverage in New Mexico
Verizon’s statewide 5G network is far more limited than its 4G network, spreading to a minuscule 4% of New Mexico. That’s significantly less than both AT&T (25% ) and T-Mobile (42%). Keep in mind, however, that Verizon is working to actively expand its 5G footprint in New Mexico, so this percentage is sure to increase in the coming weeks and months.
AT&T is one of the best carriers you can go with in New Mexico, delivering the most 4G coverage, and the second-most 5G coverage, in the state.
AT&T 4G Coverage in New Mexico
AT&T’s 4G network covers 77% of New Mexico’s 121,312 square miles, which is a truly impressive stat when you consider how much of the state is rural. Use the map above to verify coverage in your specific area.
AT&T 5G Coverage in New Mexico
AT&T wields the second-most powerful 5G network in New Mexico, covering a quarter of the state. Much 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 best 5G coverage, and third-most 4G coverage, in New Mexico.
T-Mobile 4G Coverage in New Mexico
T-Mobile’s 4G network spans across 52% of New Mexico, which is less than both Verizon and AT&T. That said, your town may very well be covered by T-Mobile—use the map above to find out.
T-Mobile 5G Coverage in New Mexico
T-Mobile wields the best 5G network in New Mexico, covering 42% of the state. A portion 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 New Mexico. 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
Does AT&T cover New Mexico?
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Yes, AT&T offers great coverage in New Mexico. In fact, the carrier’s 4G coverage spans 77% of the state, which is better than both Verizon and T-Mobile.
How do I find the best cell coverage in my area of New Mexico?
To determine the best cell phone service in your area of New Mexico, we recommend taking a look at our 4G and 5G coverage maps and zooming in to inspect your local area.
Does Verizon work in New Mexico?
Yes, Verizon operates statewide 4G and 5G networks in New Mexico, and is one of the best carriers in the state.
Learn More Network Coverage Maps
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