The Media and Communications research arm of MoffettNathanson has done a deep dive into the T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT & T plan pricing schemes, and the multi-page analysis shared with Fierce Wireless has awarded the Un-carrier a top spot in the category.
Explicable, given that T-Mobile endured low average revenue per user, and pale profit margins for years until it gobbled up market share from the other carriers, merged with Sprint, and turned its attention from expansion to sustainable operations. Verizon still laughs all the way to the bank, with $ 6.4 billion against AT & T’s $ 5.9 billion in net income last quarter, while T-Mobile makes do with $ 0.7 billion and a single-digit of net profit margin. Someone has to pay the price for that breakneck 5G network expansion and generous plan or phone subsidies, after all.
T-Mobile has the best prices
We do believe, however, that different elements of the carriers’ offers will appeal to different segments. Some will be attracted by free streaming media offers. Others by aggressive headline rates. And almost everyone will consider handset promotions, even if they don’t undertake a serious analysis of total cost over time.
T-Mobile’s CEO Mike Sievert, speaking during a UBS business conference in the beginning of the week, mentioned that no more than a third of the Un-carrier’s customers have acquired a 5G phone so far, somewhat hinting why its 5G coverage advantage hasn’ T-Mobile’s premium Magenta MAX plan which was launched just this year, costs $ 170 a month for a family of four, while Verizon charges $ 50 more for its top unlimited 5G plan. Mr. Sievert said that Max subscribers play mobile games eight times more than those on 4G LTE connections, to the tune of 35 GB of monthly data consumption on average. “Magenta MAX customers on average have each watched the equivalent 2,100 more minutes of video and made 2,600 more posts on social media” informed T-Mobile back in September.
AT & T Elite | Verizon Get More | T-Mobile Magenta Max | |
---|---|---|---|
1 line | $ 85 | $ 90 | $ 85 |
2 lines | $ 150 | $ 160 | $ 140 |
3 lines | $ 180 | $ 195 | $ 140 (3rd line free) |
4 lines | $ 200 | $ 220 | $ 170 |
5 lines | $ 225 | $ 250 | $ 200 |
5G | Yes Yes | Yes Yes | Yes Yes |
Throttling | no | > 50GB | no |
Freebies | Free HBO Max 35+ channels of live TV Stadia Pro –6 months of gaming of gaming |
Apple Music, Disney +, Hulu, ESPN +, discovery + subscriptions included 600GB Verizon Cloud storage 50% off Unlimited connected device plans |
Netflix 4K UHD streaming, 2 HD screens, basic on single, standard on family plans T-Mobile Tuesdays Unlimited in-flight Wi-fi |
Video | UHD (4K) | HD (720p) | UHD (4K) |
Hotspot per line | 40GB | 30GB | 40GB |
* All prices are after Auto Pay and w / paperless billing, include unlimited talk & text in the US