Verizon 5G network coverage map: which cities are covered?
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Verizon, which is first among the best phone carriers in the US when it comes to 4G LTE network coverage and stability, especially in rural areas, was also the first US carrier to initiate a commercial 5G connection. It chose the ultrafast mmWave 5G Ultra Wideband technology which offers more limited coverage and building penetration in exchange for record download speeds and reduced latency.
That is why it is playing catch-up to T-Mobile's low- and mid-band heavy 5G network still, and yet Verizon's 5G network is progressing nicely in terms of coverage with millions of its subscribers in all kinds of city sizes now in the 5G loop.
What's more, America's largest carrier is looking forward to the next generation 6G standard, and is part of the Next G Alliance that includes carriers and 5G equipment manufactures which intend to be first in line for the buildout of a 6G network when its specs and features are finalized.
Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband Cities list
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How can I find out when Verizon 5G will be available in my area?
Verizon 5G coverage map: what you need to know
If you're in an area that happens to be covered by Verizon's 5G network, you will experience extremely fast download speeds and reduced latency on your device. You can see more details and see what area around your city is in on Verizon's interactive 5G coverage map.
5G coverage map legend
- The red dots represent Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband spots, its highest performing 5G areas. 5G Ultra Wideband provides speeds up to 10 times faster than typical LTE.
- The orange color is Verizon's 5G Nationwide coverage of low-band speeds with wider reach and 5G network perks, but speeds similar to 4G.
- The white areas are without Verizon 5G or, respectively, 4G coverage.
Both of these network generation standards differ from carrier to carrier and, ultimately, the best phone carrier for you is the one that has coverage where you live and travel, even if it is "only" 4G LTE, so there is no need to slave over brand names or phone promos.
Verizon 5G network coverage types
As other US carriers, Verizon offers different 5G coverage tiers, depending on the band frequency as they offer different signal reach and building penetration. Just as T-Mobile has Extended Range and Ultra Capacity 5G, Verizon has its Nationwide 5G and Ultra Wideband mobile network.
Verizon 5G Nationwide vs 5G Ultra Wideband network
- The Ultra Wideband coverage is based on Verizon's first and original 5G network built on the high-band mmWave frequencies that deliver the fastest speeds and throughput performing 5G. To it, Verizon now adds the mid-band (C-band) spectrum that delivers, say, 500 Mbps instead of Gigabit speeds, but can reach way forther than the mmWave-only coverage. Together, these two band frames offer Verizon's highest 5G performance, mainly in the big urban areas. 5G Ultra Wideband provides game-changing benefits, like speeds up to 10 times faster than what you have now.
- Verizon's 5G Nationwide is similar to what T-Mobile calls Extended Range as it is built on the low-band 5G spectrum and can travel as far as 4G goes, with the added latency and other benefits of a 5G service. The speeds, however, are comparable with LTE service and, in the case of Verizon's best-in-class 4G coverage, may even be lower as the Nationwide Verizon 5G network rollout continues.
Does Verizon have good 5G coverage in my area?
Areas with worst Verizon 5G coverage
The weakest Verizon 5G coverage is in the Western United States and it includes sparsely populated or mountainous areas in the following states:
- Idaho
- Montana
- Washington
- Oregon
- Nevada
- Utah
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Parts of California
US cities with the best Verizon 5G coverage
While Verizon's Nationwide 5G is available nearly everywhere there is 4G coverage with the exception of some rural and mountainous areas, the 5G Ultra Wideband network is up in parts of dozens of major cities including Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Boston, New York, Atlanta, Miami, or Philadelphia. Here are a few of the main cities covered by the Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband Mobile network:
Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband Cities list
- Akron, OH
- Albuquerque, NM
- Anaheim, CA
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Arlington, TX
- Atlanta, GA
- Baltimore, MD
- Boise, ID
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Des Moines, IA
- Detroit, MI
- Durham, NC
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Greensboro, NC
- Hartford, CT
- Hoboken, NJ
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jersey City, NJ
- Kansas City, MO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Little Rock, AR
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- Norfolk, VA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Omaha, NE
- Panama City, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Providence, RI
- Raleigh, NC
- Richmond, VA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Sarasota, FL
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Spokane, WA
- St Petersburg, FL
- St. Louis, MO
- St. Paul, MN
- Syracuse, NY
- Tampa, FL
- Tucson, AZ
- Washington, DC
Should I go with a Verizon 5G plan and phone depending on coverage?
The largest US carrier has the best cellular network coverage in rural areas, but also has the most reliable 4G fallback and plenty of perks to choose from with its admittedly expensive Verizon phone plans. Below are the Verizon 5G Unlimited plan prices with the current BYOD discount:
| Verizon Welcome/Start | Verizon Play/Do More | Verizon Get More | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 line | $60 | $66 | $76 |
| 2 lines | $100 | $112 | $132 |
| 3 lines | $105 | $123 | $153 |
| 4 lines | $100 | $124 | $164 |
| 5 lines | $100 | $130 | $180 |
| Throttling | Any time | > 50GB | None |
| Freebies | Disney+, discovery+, Apple Arcade and Apple Music for 6 months (only on Verizon Start) | Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ included (Play More) 50% off connected device plan (Do More) 600GB cloud storage (Do More) Apple Arcade or Google Play pass (Play More) 1 TravelPass/day per month | Apple Music, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ subscriptions included Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass 600GB cloud storage 50% off Unlimited connected device plans 1 TravelPass/day per month |
| Video streaming | SD (480p) | HD (720p)/SD (480p) | HD (720p) |
| Hotspot (per line) | 5GB (only on Verizon Start) | 25GB | 50GB |
The biggest current weakness of the Verizon network is falling behind on the mid-band 5G network rollout as its 4G speeds were so robust that it only felt it needed to provide 5G at really fast high-band mmWave speeds at limited urban spots. You can learn more about Verizon's upcoming 5G network expansion by checking out its dedicated 5G coverage map and FAQ section.
Will my smartphone work with Verizon's 5G network, or do I need to upgrade?
Even handsets from our best budget 5G phones buyer's guide now work on its 5G network, let alone from the best Verizon phone deals list. Still, besides the delay in mid- and low-band network rollout, the carrier's other weak spot is the relatively limited number of phone options to choose from compared to the former GSM carriers like AT&T or T-Mobile, as its 5G phones have to have the mmWave modem component. See the full Verizon phone list here.
How does Verizon's 5G coverage compare to AT&T and T-Mobile?
While T-Mobile is the current 5G network juggernaut in the US thanks to its FCC-approved acquisition of Sprint that allowed it to build the so-called "layer cake" of a robust 5G coverage from the low to the high bands, Verizon and AT&T's C-Band spectrum acquisition is slowly altering the 5G coverage landscape.
T-Mobile is consistently scoring the fastest 5G network download speed awards and the most robust 5G coverage for a few quarters in a row now, and its phone choices are better than Verizon's.
T-Mobile is consistently scoring the fastest 5G network download speed awards and the most robust 5G coverage for a few quarters in a row now, and its phone choices are better than Verizon's.
Still, despite the underdog status that made it a favorite, it has a way to go in coverage outside of the big city areas or major highways even compared to AT&T, let alone to Verizon's general cellular voice and data coverage, especially now with the rollout of its Nationwide 5G network and the expansion in the C-Band spectrum.
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