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Samsung Galaxy S23: Here Are the Features I Need to See

Commentary: Samsung must improve some of the basics on its flagship phone.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 has an upgraded camera that’s better at seeing in the dark, and it has an upgraded aesthetic. But we need so much more for Samsung to blow us away with their Galaxy S23, expected to arrive in February.

In particular, I’d like to see longer-lasting batteries, more photographic features and faster charging that doesn’t require an expensive adapter and more photographic features.

Samsung typically releases new Galaxy S devices in the first couple of months of the year, and it will likely maintain that schedule in 2023. The next Samsung Unpacked is set for Feb. 1, with the Galaxy S23 almost certainly on the agenda.

Samsung leads the smartphone industry, with 21% of the worldwide market in the third quarter of 2022, according to Counterpoint Research. Upgrading core features like the camera and battery could help it maintain that top spot, especially as it faces increased competition from Apple and Google.

Longer battery life for the regular Galaxy S23

Battery life can never be long enough, but the standard-issue Galaxy S device is in particular need of a boost. The 6.1-inch Galaxy S22 generally lived up to Samsung’s claims of all-day battery life, but sometimes just barely. After using it for a month straight, I noticed the battery level dipped roughly to 30% or 40% by 9 p.m., even with the always-on display turned off and the screen’s refresh rate set to standard. That’s enough to get through a work day, but you’ll likely want to pack a charger if you have after-work plans or a long commute home.

The Galaxy S22 has the smallest battery (3,700-mAh capacity) of the three phones in the Galaxy S22 lineup, and it shows. For example, I was pleasantly surprised when the 6.6-inch Galaxy S22 Plus, which has a larger 4,500-mAh capacity, lasted for about a day and a half when I reviewed it in February. I also had the refresh rate set to high, which typically drains battery more quickly. The Galaxy S22 Ultra, which has a 6.8-inch screen and a 5,000-mAh battery, had similar battery life.

It makes sense that the Galaxy S22 line’s smallest phone would also have the smallest battery. But I hope Samsung finds a way to improve battery life on next year’s 6.1-inch Galaxy phone, whether it’s through better power efficiency or a larger physical battery. After all, Apple made upgrades to the iPhone 13 Mini that gave it an extra two to three hours of battery life compared to the iPhone 12 Mini. Battery life is the main complaint I had about the Galaxy S22, and addressing that would make the Galaxy S23 an even more compelling choice for Android fans who prefer smaller phones.

Korean news outlet The Elec indicates that could indeed be the case, as it reports that Samsung aims to increase the Galaxy S23’s battery capacity by about 5%.

More clever camera features

The Galaxy S22’s 50-megapixel camera and the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 108-megapixel camera capture impressively colorful and detailed photos. I only wish there was more you could do with those cameras when it comes to editing and software features.

The Galaxy S22 lineup has shooting options like panorama, night mode, portrait mode, slow motion, super slow motion and Director’s View, which lets you record video using two different lenses simultaneously. Then there’s Single Take, which creates multiple stylized shots with a single press of the shutter button. You can also download the Expert Raw app to get more granular control over photo settings.

But not much has changed between the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S22 when it comes to camera features and shooting modes. I’d love to see Samsung take a page from Google, which regularly adds nifty camera tricks that feel practical rather than gimmicky. For example, Google introduced a new feature on the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro called Photo Unblur, which sharpens low-quality photos, even ones taken with an older camera. Photo Unblur builds on Face Unblur, a previous Pixel 6 and 6 Pro camera feature I also appreciate. As the name implies, Face Unblur freezes moving subjects that may otherwise look blurry.

Features like these show that Google is not just thinking about camera quality, but also ways to eliminate everyday annoyances with mobile photography. Many of Samsung’s updates, on the other hand, feel aimed at giving content creators more tools for capturing different types of shots and video clips.

While the Galaxy S23 likely won’t launch for several more weeks, Samsung is already making enhancements to the cameras on its current Galaxy phones. It added a new feature to the Expert Raw app that helps stargazers take better photos of constellations, similar to Google’s Astrophotography feature for Pixel phones. There’s also a new Camera Assistant app that lets you enable or disable certain features, like a faster shutter or automatic lens switching.

Faster charging that doesn’t cost so much

The Galaxy S22 lineup supports fast charging of up to 25 watts for the Galaxy S22 and 45 watts for the Galaxy S22 Plus and Ultra. But you have to purchase a separate charger to do so. Samsung charges $50 for the 45-watt charger and $35 for the 25-watt charger, although you can often find them for less through retailers like Amazon and Walmart. In some scenarios, I also didn’t notice much of a difference between the pricier 45-watt charger and Samsung’s less expensive 25-watt charger when powering up the Galaxy S22 Plus, which you can read more about here.

With the Galaxy S23, I’d like to see a more noticeable improvement in charging speeds, as well as more affordable charger options. The OnePlus 10 Pro, for example, offers either 65- or 80-watt fast charging depending on your region, both of which are speedier than what Samsung has to offer on paper. OnePlus also includes a compatible power adapter in the box.

Samsung and Apple stopped including power adapters in their product packaging to cut down on waste, which is an admirable cause. But I at least wish Samsung would let you choose to include a fast-charging compatible adapter as an option for a discounted price when ordering a new phone, similar to the way it lets you select a storage option or add Samsung Care Plus.

If rumors turn out to be accurate, the base Galaxy S23 model might have the same 25-watt charging speed as the Galaxy S22. That’s according to Ice Universe, a Twitter account with a history of publishing details about unreleased Samsung products.

Samsung is already doing a lot right with the Galaxy S22, particularly when it comes to software support and display quality. But as year-over-year smartphone upgrades have become more incremental than revolutionary, focusing on core elements like the camera and battery are as important as ever.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for April 7, #400

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle No. 400 for April 7.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.


Today’s NYT Strands puzzle cracked me up. If you’re a fan of the fantasy genre, you’ll recognize plenty of the answers for today’s puzzle right away. It also reminded me of Cabin in the Woods, a horror-comedy film. If you need hints and answers, read on.

Need a refresher on how to play Strands? I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story. 

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Half-and-half.

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Creative critters.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

  • REMIND, MIND, COLA, RATS, FAIR, TEAR, RATE, RIND, TINE, MINE, FIRE, RIFF, PEACE, BRIT, BRIM, FIRER, RICE, PEND.

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you’ve got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

  • SATYR, MERMAN, CENTAUR, GRIFFIN, JACKALOPE.

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is HYBRIDCREATURE.  To find it, start with the H that starts off the first row up at the top left, and wind over, down and across.

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for April 7, #196

Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 196, for April 7.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.


Connections: Sports Edition might be tough today, but once I saw «horse-collar,» I was able to crack at least one of the categories. Read on for some hints, and the answers to today’s puzzle.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.  

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Crush it.

Green group hint: Hoopster.

Blue group hint: On the mic.

Purple group hint:  Not the fishing kind.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: To hit a baseball hard.

Green group: An NBA player.

Blue group: Famous broadcasters.

Purple group: ____ tackle.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is to hit a baseball hard. The four answers are belt, blister, hammer and tattoo.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is an NBA player. The four answers are Cavalier, Knick, Net and Piston.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is famous broadcasters. The four answers are Buck, Eagle, Michaels and Nantz.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ tackle. The four answers are horse-collar, left, nose and slide.

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Technologies

Best Unlimited Data Plans for 2025

Not all unlimited data plans for your phone are the same. We looked at the best options from AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile to help you know if its worth jumping carriers for a better deal.

Our Experts

Headshot of Patrick Holland
Patrick Holland Managing Editor
Patrick Holland has been a phone reviewer for CNET since 2016. He is a former theater director who occasionally makes short films. Patrick has an eye for photography and a passion for everything mobile. He is a colorful raconteur who will guide you through the ever-changing, fast-paced world of phones, especially the iPhone and iOS. He used to co-host CNET’s I’m So Obsessed podcast and interviewed guests like Jeff Goldblum, Alfre Woodard, Stephen Merchant, Sam Jay, Edgar Wright and Roy Wood Jr.
Expertise Apple | iPhone | iOS | Android | Samsung | Sony | Google | Motorola | Interviews | Coffee equipment | Cats Credentials

  • Patrick’s play The Cowboy is included in the Best American Short Plays 2011-12 anthology. He co-wrote and starred in the short film Baden Krunk that won the Best Wisconsin Short Film award at the Milwaukee Short Film Festival.
Headshot of Eli Blumenthal
Eli Blumenthal Former Senior Editor
Eli Blumenthal was a senior editor at CNET covering the latest in the ever-changing worlds of telecom, streaming and sports. He previously worked as a technology reporter at USA Today.
Expertise 5G | Mobile networks | Wireless carriers | Phones | Tablets | Streaming devices | Streaming platforms | Mobile | Console gaming

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Whether you have an iPhone or on team Android, you need an unlimited data plan to get the most out of your phone. But trying to find the overall «best» unlimited plan can be a Sisyphean challenge. There are different amounts of data, hotspot support and extras like streaming services. We’ve filtered through the carriers bold claims about performance, coverage and pricing to narrow down the best unlimited data plans from Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T. Here are the best postpaid unlimited plans that provide the most perks and value for single lines and for families of four.

Best unlimited data plans of 2025

Single lines

Best for value for a single line

Pros

  • T-Mobile’s 5G network is strong
  • The plan includes 50GB of regular high-speed data in the US, as well as some hotspot data

Cons

  • Hotspot limited to «3G speeds»
  • Data in Canada and Mexico is at slow «2G» speeds
  • The plan isn’t easy to find and everyone needs to be on the same plan

T-Mobile reshuffled its plans last year and got rid of our previous pick in this spot, the Base Essentials plan that offered a single line for $45 a month. It replaced that option with an Essentials Savings plan, a «limited time» offer of $50 a month for a single line. 

It has since been renamed the plan to Essentials Saver, and although the plan is largely the same, there are some notable tweaks. 

The data remains unlimited, and you now get 50GB of high-speed data, instead of the 20GB that Base Essentials offers. T-Mobile hasn’t said how long the Essentials Saver option will hang around, but we break down how it compares to the carrier’s plans here. 

As before, perks like free Netflix or the bundling of taxes and fees into the sticker price aren’t included. You do get unlimited hotspots at «3G speeds» and unlimited talk, text and 2G data in Mexico and Canada. 

At $50 for a single line, the Essentials Saver plan is now the same price for a single line as AT&T’s Value Plus plan, and both could be solid options for those looking for a single line without frills. 

Although the price of the AT&T and T-Mobile plans are now the same, we give T-Mobile the edge here mainly because it includes hotspot access. Even at «3G speeds,» the option could be a useful feature in a pinch. 

It’s also worth mentioning that T-Mobile allows for multiple lines on this plan, with two lines running for $80 a month. (If you need three or more, you may want to look at one of T-Mobile’s other plans, which could be cheaper thanks to various promotions the carrier regularly runs.)

You may need to click «see more plans» and then «explore Essentials Saver plan» on T-Mobile’s site to get this option to appear, although lately, the carrier has been showing it alongside its other offerings.

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Runner-up for value on a single line

Pros

  • Cheaper rate for AT&T service

Cons

  • No hotspot data
  • Everyone needs to be on same plan

Like its rivals, AT&T recently gave its plans a slight reshuffling and as well as some slight price hikes. Its cheapest Value Plus plan has been rebranded as «Value Plus VL» and could be the way to go if you need one line. You get unlimited talk, text and data and 5G access for $51 a month. There are no perks like a free streaming service subscription or hotspot data. Also new in the updated plan is the ability to add multiple lines to this plan should you need it, although all will need to be on Value Plus VL.

Suppose all you need is a simple unlimited plan from your phone. In that case, this one is about a dollar cheaper than T-Mobile’s Essentials Saver, $15 cheaper than AT&T’s Unlimited Starter SL (with this plan including 3GB of hotspot data) and $14 cheaper than Verizon’s Unlimited Welcome. 

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Best for value (with multiple lines)

Pros

  • T-Mobile’s 5G network
  • Plans include 50GB of regular high-speed data in the US, plus the ability to use phones as a hotspot

Cons

  • Hotspot is limited to «3G speeds»
  • Canada and Mexico data is at even slower «2G» speeds
  • Essentials Saver plan isn’t easy to find and everyone needs to be on the same plan

Because T-Mobile restructured its cheapest plans, this has gotten a bit more complicated. As mentioned above, both T-Mobile Essentials and Essentials Saver include unlimited talk, text and data for all the carrier’s base unlimited plans, including 5G access. 

In short, if you need two lines, Essentials Saver is your best pick, while those looking for three or more lines may want to go with regular Essentials. 

Two lines of Essentials Saver run $80 a month, while a similar offering from Verizon costs $110 a month and a similar deal from AT&T runs $122 a month (for Starter SL). Three lines will also run $90 at T-Mobile for its regular Essentials thanks to a promotion, compared with $120 at Verizon (for Unlimited Welcome) and $138 at AT&T (for Unlimited Starter SL). The four-line option is now back to $100 at T-Mobile, thanks to a promotion, compared with $120 at Verizon and $144 at AT&T.

For those comparing prices on multiple carriers’ websites, it’s worth keeping in mind that Verizon’s pricing by default factors in a switching promotional discount of $180 over three years for Unlimited Welcome or $540 if you’re getting Unlimited Plus. In both cases, it’s also assuming you aren’t getting a new phone when you switch. 

To get the real numbers of Verizon’s plans make sure to add $5 per line to its Welcome prices and $15 per line for Plus. Our pricing above removes the Bring Your Own Device credit. Our pricing here also assumes no perks from Verizon. 

As for T-Mobile, its prices also come with a couple of caveats: Unlike the carrier’s Go5G or Magenta plans, taxes and fees aren’t included in any of these Essentials prices, making the final total a little higher. All the deals also require that you set up AutoPay and paperless billing.

As mentioned, you may need to click «see more plans» and then «explore Essentials Saver plan» on T-Mobile’s site to get this option to appear if it doesn’t show up right away alongside the carrier’s other plans. 

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Runner-up for value (multiple lines)

Pros

  • Verizon’s 4G LTE network is a strong backbone
  • Can still get perks
  • Can «mix and match» plans

Cons

  • No access to Verizon’s fastest 5G networks
  • No set amount of high-speed data
  • No hotspot data
  • Lower savings on upgrades to new devices and Verizon makes the pricing complicated on its website

Verizon’s updated plans have replaced the carrier’s previous Welcome Unlimited offer with one named Unlimited Welcome. The names are flipped, but the core offer is still largely the same: There are no streaming perks like the Disney Bundle with this plan, no hotspot data and you can’t hop on Verizon’s fastest 5G networks (which it calls Ultra Wideband). You do get Verizon’s network for $120 a month for four lines, assuming you have automatic payments set up. 

If you switch to Verizon and bring your own phone the carrier will give you $180 back over 36 months. This amounts to a $5 monthly savings and is why the carrier’s website may show you different pricing. 

Compared with the competition, the Verizon plan is still $15 a month pricier than T-Mobile’s Essentials Savings plan for a single line, but it’s $24 a month cheaper than AT&T’s Unlimited Starter SL plan for a family of four. Those looking to save even more can combine the Welcome plan with Verizon’s other discounts for teachers, nurses, military and first responders. 

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T-Mobile Essentials iPhone 16 offer

Pros

  • T-Mobile’s 5G network and iPhone 16 phones for each line
  • Plans include 50GB of regular high-speed data in the US and the ability to use phones as a hotspot

Cons

  • Hotspot is limited to «3G speeds»
  • Canada and Mexico data are at even slower «2G» speeds
  • The deal isn’t always easy to find
  • Everyone needs to be on same plan
  • Taxes and fees aren’t included, unlike other T-Mobile plans

Note: You need to switch to T-Mobile and have an eligible trade-in.

T-Mobile’s switcher offer is tempting if you’re looking to switch to the carrier and need new devices. You get four lines of its Essentials plan and four new iPhone 16 models for $100 monthly. You can find it by scrolling down the carrier’s Apple deals page.

As always, there is some fine print to be aware of. Here is what that is. 

Like other carriers, you need to commit to being with T-Mobile for 24 months (which is better than AT&T and Verizon’s respective 36-month installment plans). Leaving early loses you the credits and leaves you on the hook for the balance owed. You must also have at least four lines and trade in an iPhone 11 Pro or newer to get the full value for the deal. Older phones, like an iPhone 6 or 7, will only get you partial credit off an iPhone 16 ($415 off per line). 

T-Mobile’s Essentials plan also doesn’t include perks like Netflix or bundling in taxes and fees. You also will be on the hook for $35 a line «device connection» charges. These are one-time fees the carrier charges as part of activation. They’re also fairly standard across the major carriers. 

This is still a good deal, particularly if you have three- or four-year-old iPhones and are already considering switching. Each iPhone 16 retails for $830 per device most providers won’t give that type of credit for an iPhone 12. 

Verizon has its own, similar free iPhone offer, but that deal gives you the iPhone 15s instead of the iPhone 16s. AT&T has no four-line deal that bundles in free iPhones. 

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Best for perks

Pros

  • Verizon’s 4G LTE network is a strong backbone
  • Can still get perks and can «mix and match» plans

Cons

  • No access to Verizon’s fastest 5G networks
  • No set amount of high-speed data
  • No hotspot data
  • Lower savings on upgrades to new devices and Verizon makes the pricing complicated on its website

This is a bit more complicated. Verizon used to be our pick with its Play More plan that bundled in the Disney Bundle (ad-free Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and Hulu with ads) and services like Google Play Pass or Apple Arcade into the plan’s sticker price. 

Now the carrier has updated its wireless plans to remove perks like the Disney Bundle or Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass from being automatically included with its service. Even with its new plans, it’s still our pick for best perks, but this will require a bit more explanation. 

Instead of automatically putting services in, it now offers a variety of perks at $10 a month, per perk, allowing users to pick and choose what they want. It also now allows its lower-cost plan — Unlimited Welcome — to participate. 

Unlimited Welcome runs $65 a month for one line or $120 a month for four lines. You get unlimited talk, text and data but you don’t get access to Verizon’s fastest 5G networks (what it calls «5G Ultra Wideband») or hotspot data. For that, you will need to step up to its pricier Unlimited Plus plan ($80 for one line, $180 for four lines). 

Both the Welcome and Plus plans include the ability to add perks at that $10 monthly rate. This includes the Disney Bundle (normally $19 a month), Apple One individual (normally around $20 a month), Apple Music Family (which can be shared with five people and normally runs $17 a month) and Walmart Plus (normally $13 a month but also includes Paramount Plus Essential). 

Other perks are available, including an additional 100GB of hotspot data (normally $45 a month), 2TB of Verizon’s cloud storage (normally $15 a month), three days of international data (what the carrier calls TravelPass — normally $10 a day). 

All perks can be turned on or off at will, and you could forgo them entirely. You can even go with multiple perks on a single line if you want. 

Whether this makes sense for your situation may require some time with a spreadsheet going through what services work for you and what you’re willing to pay for them. The savings could add up if you’re paying for some of these services directly, but it also could be more expensive than your existing plan.

It is also worth mentioning that Verizon allows you to «mix and match» lines, so if not everyone needs the faster 5G connectivity they could be on Unlimited Welcome while the one who does can go on Unlimited Plus. 

AT&T allows something similar with its unlimited plans, but at the moment, it no longer offers any streaming perks. To get T-Mobile’s perks, everyone has to be on the same plan. 

If you wanted a cheaper way to save on one or two services like the Disney Bundle, you could have four lines for $120 a month, add the Disney perk for $10 and pay $130 a month for the whole package. 

You can also combine these plans with Verizon’s other discounts for teachers, nurses, military and first responders to save a bit more. 

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Runner-up for perks

Pros

  • T-Mobile has a strong 5G network
  • Taxes and fees are included in the sticker price and solid perks like Netflix and international data

Cons

  • Magenta plans are harder to find on T-Mobile’s website and best new device upgrade deals are limited to pricier options like Go5G Plus

T-Mobile’s new plans are also complicated. For most people, T-Mobile’s Magenta and Magenta Max options are the better pick when it comes to looking for perks for one or two lines. They are cheaper than the new Go5G options and have most of the same features, except with a cheaper monthly rate ($70 for one line on Magenta, $120 for two lines and $85 for one line on Magenta Max, $140 for two lines). 

You get less hotspot and international data with a Magenta plan compared to a Go5G option, and Magenta Max users also don’t get the same ability to upgrade to a new device after two years while taking advantage of T-Mobile’s «new customer» deals. 

Thanks to T-Mobile offering a free third line on its Go5G options, those plans become cheaper and a better value compared to the Magentas if you need three or more lines.

Among the benefits of Magenta and Go5G ($75 a month for one line, $155 a month for four lines) are unlimited international data (albeit at slow «2G speeds») when traveling in over 210 countries, an hour of in-flight Wi-Fi on multiple airlines and T-Mobile Tuesdays weekly giveaways and six free months of Apple TV Plus. T-Mobile will also include Netflix’s $16-a-month Standard with Ads plan (which allows for 1080p HD streaming on up to two screens at once), but you need to have at least two lines of Magenta or Go5G to be eligible.

Its pricier Magenta Max ($85 a month for one line, $200 a month for four lines) and Go5G Plus ($90 a month for one line, $185 a month for four lines) plans keep the Netflix subscription (even if you only have one line), includes a full subscription to Apple TV Plus, ups the hotspot data from 15GB on Go5G to 50GB per month on Go5G Plus, adds 5GB of high-speed international data and gives you unlimited Wi-Fi on a host of flights including those from American, Alaska Airlines, Delta and United. Go5G Plus also has 15GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico, compared to 10GB on Go5G. 

T-Mobile’s priciest Go5G Next ($100 per month for one line, $225 per month for four lines) plans also now include Hulu (with ads). This plan also lets you upgrade your phone every year, but unless you really want Hulu or a new device, you’re probably better off on Go5G Plus.

Unlike its Essentials plans discussed earlier, T-Mobile also includes taxes and fees with the pricing of all of its Magenta and Go5G plans. 

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More about unlimited data plans and perks

AT&T’s unlimited plans no longer have much in the way of perks. The carrier used to offer a free subscription to Max with its top Unlimited Elite offering ($85 for one line, $50 a month if you have four lines), but it got rid of the option in early June 2022.

It is also worth reiterating that carrier streaming offers — like Verizon and the Disney bundle or a number of its various perks or T-Mobile’s offerings of Netflix, Hulu and Apple TV Plus — are often limited to one subscription per account, not one for each line you have.

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Factors to consider

Know your area

Before we get to the plans, finding the best means making sure you have the coverage that you need. This makes it very hard for us to give a blanket recommendation of any one carrier. T-Mobile’s service in New York may be excellent, but if you’re in rural Iowa, Verizon is more reliable. Depending on your location and data needs, the recommendations for the best plan may vary widely.

Your mileage may vary, but the good news is that these networks are growing and improving all the time, particularly as the three major players race to blanket the US with 5G. It’s quite possible that you left a network complaining about its sparse service a decade ago, but now it’s beefed up in pursuit of new customers.

If you know any friends or family in your area that already use the carrier you’re considering, ask about their experience. You could also go to a carrier’s store and see if they offer any free ways to try out the service before switching over, such as T-Mobile’s Network Pass. Verizon offers a similar 30-day «Test Drive» program, while AT&T has recently introduced its own 30-day eSIM free trial option for sampling its network.

Know your deals and discounts

One other thing to keep in mind: discounts. All of the carriers offer additional discounts that you could be eligible for, depending on your employer, military status, student status or age.

First responders, military members, veterans, nurses and teachers can get discounts on every major carrier. Verizon has discounts for students, while T-Mobile’s Work perk could knock 15% off the monthly price of a Go5G Plus or Go5G Next plan, with AT&T offering a similar program for its Unlimited Premium plans that it calls Signature. AT&T also has a promotion for teachers that offers 25% off its latest unlimited plans.

If you’re 55 or older, you may also be eligible for a discounted plan: T-Mobile offers discounted plans nationwide for as low as $55 a month for two lines, and Verizon and AT&T offer similar options but only for Florida residents. 

It’s also worth noting that some carriers, particularly Verizon (right now), sometimes advertise different rates on their websites geared toward switchers. A current promotion at the carrier offers a discount on the monthly plan but only if you switch to Verizon and are bringing your own phone (not trading in and financing a new one on an installment plan). Our recommendations below reflect the actual rate outside of these very specific promotions.

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How we test

Picking a wireless plan and carrier is a very individualized process. What works for you and your family’s needs may be vastly different from your friends or neighbors. Even geographically, some areas have better AT&T coverage while others work best on Verizon or T-Mobile. The picks we make are based on over a decade of covering and evaluating wireless carriers, their offerings and overall performance. 

In particular we take into account the following:

1. Coverage
2. Price
3. Value
4. Perks

Coverage

Since all three major providers blanket most of the country with good 4G LTE or 5G, this is largely a toss-up on a macro level and why we recommend a variety of eSIM options for figuring out what works best for you in your particular location so you can best decide what is right for you. Looking at coverage maps on each provider’s website will likely show that you get good coverage even if your experience isn’t full bars or the fastest speeds.

Price/Value

Value is factoring in the total experience you might get, such as how much high-speed data you get and what’s included in the sticker price.

Perks

Perks are add-ons beyond the core components of wireless service (talk, text and data). This could range from bundling in or discounting on streaming services to extra hotspot data or the ability to use your phone internationally.

We factor all this into our picks, evaluating the options and making clear who we think each choice is best for.

Read more: Best Streaming Service Deals

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Unlimited phone plan FAQs

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