The 5G coverage landscape reveals that AT&T generally has a larger 5G coverage area than Verizon[3]. However, the speeds on Verizon's 5G network are generally faster[3].
Coverage Area:
* AT&T covers a larger portion of the country with 5G than Verizon. AT&T's 5G network reaches 43.3% of the U.S., while Verizon covers only 14.5%[1].
* AT&T leads in 5G coverage, reaching 29% of the nation, while Verizon covers 12%[2][3].
Speed:
* While Verizon's 5G coverage is more limited, it is generally faster[3]. In testing, AT&T's 5G network topped Verizon's fastest network speeds, with 1.8Gbps on AT&T and 1.3Gbps on Verizon[5].
* Median download speeds on Verizon are 61.23 Mbps, and upload speeds are 11.65 Mbps[1].
Other Factors:
* AT&T performs better in densely populated areas[2][3]. Verizon is considered the superior provider of 4G LTE coverage, particularly in rural and remote areas[3].
* Data speeds on Verizon and AT&T are about the same[1].
Citations:
[1] https://coveragemap.com/coverage-map/verizon
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/ATT/comments/1dro999/does_atts_coverage_compete_with_verizons_these/
[3] https://www.whistleout.com/CellPhones/Guides/att-vs-verizon
[4] https://www.opensignal.com/reports/2023/01/usa/mobile-network-experience-1
[5] https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/verizon-vs-at-t-vs-t-mobile-vs-sprint-5g-we-compare-their-peak-speeds/
[6] https://www.lightreading.com/5g/5g-from-at-t-and-verizon-turns-out-to-be-europe-level-bad
[7] https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/network
[8] https://www.verizon.com/support/5g-mobile-faqs/