It all started in June when T-Mobile bragged that it had the best network. The company had never made such a bold claim before, forcing its competitors to reassert their dominance.
Those beefs reached a fever pitch recently with AT&T and Verizon putting out ads to convince consumers that T-Mobile's claims were based on "random awards" and "untruths." AT&T even called out T-Mobile for its "meaningless price-lock."
With AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all citing different analytics firms to claim they are the best, none of them is technically lying, which is why it can be hard to determine which carrier is actually the best.
T-Mobile is trying to settle the debate by reminding everyone that it had record-setting earnings in Q3 and more people are joining it "than at any point in our history."
T-Mobile gained a lot more customers than AT&T (and probably Verizon) in Q3
T-Mobile, which is the second-largest carrier in the US, added 1 million new mobile phone customers in Q3. AT&T, on the other hand, only attracted 405,000 new phone subscribers during the same period. Verizon is yet to report its earnings, but given that it gave its last CEO the boot abruptly before announcing results for Q3, it appears that this was its third straight quarter of customer losses.
All I'll say is when you start taking potshots at people, then you must be under a lot of pressure.
Srini Gopalan, T-Mobile's incoming CEO, October 2025
T-Mobile has implied that AT&T and Verizon's insecurity has caused them to vilify T-Mobile. Srini Gopalan, who is set to become CEO on November 1, toldBloomberg that the company could continue attracting customers with its low-priced, high-value plans. AT&T and Verizon, on the other hand, don't have the same leeway as their prices are too high, and any reduction would significantly affect their bottom line.
Why do you think T-Mobile attracted more customers than AT&T and Verizon?
It's cheaper than they are.
38.71%
Technological lead.
38.71%
Customers didn't know better.
22.58%
Customers generally gravitate towards the best
While making a conclusive statement about who has the best network remains elusive, the fact that more customers are flocking to T-Mobile than AT&T and Verizon, and that both of them have teamed up against the same company, does lend weight to T-Mobile's claim about keeping rivals on their toes.
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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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