Thinking of switching from Verizon to Sprint

[AyashiKaibutsu]

So I have a thunderbolt I'm pretty happy with (been good to me since I got the extended battery), but I'm up for an upgrade and I can leave Verizon in March. Losing unlimited data or staying on a subsidized plan without a subsidy is unpalatable to me although there's a chance I'll just eat losing my unlimited data. Sprint having a slightly better plan at my price (~80$/month) is very tempting to me.

I'm wondering if anyone around has Sprint in Maryland and how good their coverage functions. I know the maps show 4g just about everywhere, but do you actually get it consistently/can use it indoors/don't lose it in random places driving. My main worry is losing GPS while driving (I go all over Maryland/DC), which I don't even know if their coverage would really affect it.

I've been eyeing the Note 2 for what it's worth.

 

[Red Storm]

Everyone I've ever known to have Sprint has always said their network is slow. If you're going to spend ~$80 per month, then go Verizon IMHO.

 

[corkyg]

Last year, I switched from Sprint (after 10 years!) to Verizon. Sprint coverage in certain areas of Pasadena, CA (where I travel) has long been pitiful. Verizon 4G works great there. Can't speak for Maryland - every area is different. Signal strength, for me, is more important than speed. My Pasadena Sprint at a half a bar would downshift to 1XRTT. Not good.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Hrm, Looking at Verizon's site I'd actually be looking at 100$/month for the amount of data I'd be comfortable with (2gb). It doesn't seem to give me the option to take anything but unlimited talk and text, which I hardly use my phone for anyway (1-3 hours a month talking maybe 50-100 texts >.<). I'm not sure if I can stomach the increased cost for such a worse plan.

Yea, the people I've asked around here said sprint was "average" in a rather unenthusiastic way, but Verizon has me slightly pissed off now.

 

[tornadog]

DO NOT switch to Sprint. I was in San Antonio recently, where they have 4G LTE coverage and even then on my wife's iphone, Youtube and Netflix were buffering like bad. Speedtest results were sub 1Mbps for downloads and 2-5 Mbps for uploads. If you care about data, I would stay far away from Sprint.

 

[tornadog]

Hrm, Looking at Verizon's site I'd actually be looking at 100$/month for the amount of data I'd be comfortable with (2gb). It doesn't seem to give me the option to take anything but unlimited talk and text, which I hardly use my phone for anyway (1-3 hours a month talking maybe 50-100 texts >.<). I'm not sure if I can stomach the increased cost for such a worse plan.

Yea, the people I've asked around here said sprint was "average" in a rather unenthusiastic way, but Verizon has me slightly pissed off now.

there are workarounds to keep unlimited, go to a Verizon store and see what they can do. I have read about people adding a $10 dummy line and getting the phone on that line and transferring it to the main line. Or using the upgrade from a friend/family and activating the phone on your line, etc.

 

[Red Storm]

You already have unlimited data on Verizon, Sprint has nothing that even remotely compares to this. The only thing it really limits is buying brand new, just released phones cause of their launch price. Just buy phones a few months after they come out.

 

[lefenzy]

My understanding is that if you take the upgrade with Verizon, you'll lose your unlimited data, but you won't be forced to switch to their new plans, which are more expensive because they force unlimited talk and text on you. You would still pay $30/month, just for 2GB.

 

[AkumaX]

I'd keep your unlimited plan if I were you

 

[RaistlinZ]

I have Sprint here in Northern VA, which is very close to Maryland, and we're still on 3G. I don't think Sprint has 4GLTE service in the Washington Metropolitan Area yet. And their 3G service is slow as heck.

 

[mikegg]

Do yourself a favor and check whether Sprint has 4G coverage in your area/where you live:
http://www.sensorly.com/

If not, DO NOT switch. Sprint's 3G is dog slow. I even have trouble sending/receiving texts.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

You already have unlimited data on Verizon, Sprint has nothing that even remotely compares to this. The only thing it really limits is buying brand new, just released phones cause of their launch price. Just buy phones a few months after they come out.

Then I'm paying for a subsidy I'm not receiving. Either way I go Verizon is reaming me, which is at the heart of why I'm thinking of switching.

They do list 4g coverage in the area I'm in and most of the surrounding area I'm in.

 

[zip1385]

I switched off of Sprint a month ago. Terrible terrible terrible data speed even in areas where I had fantastic signal.

 

[dingster1]

Yeah, in the same boat/area. I'll be buying my phones from eBay from now on just to keep my unlimited. AT&T an option? although they don't have unlimited either....

 

[Lyfer]

Buy your phone at full retail and you can keep your unlimited. Sprint 4g blows penis, don't shoot yourself on the foot.

 

[Young Grasshopper]

Dont do it

 

[chin311]

I also vote NO NO NO. I have VZW (unlimited plan) & my brother has Sprint, live in the same town and his "4G" is basically glorified 3G compared to LTE. Not worth the $20 savings IMO. His call quality and service is overall crap compared to VZW.

 

[Red Storm]

Then I'm paying for a subsidy I'm not receiving. Either way I go Verizon is reaming me, which is at the heart of why I'm thinking of switching.

They do list 4g coverage in the area I'm in and most of the surrounding area I'm in.

Then check T-Mobile's coverage in your area. You could do their $30/month plan for data heavy use (5GB before throttling), or Straight Talk @ $45/month for voice and text (unlimited both, 2GB data).

Switching to Sprint would be the very last thing I'd do.

 

[swanysto]

Then I'm paying for a subsidy I'm not receiving. Either way I go Verizon is reaming me, which is at the heart of why I'm thinking of switching.

They do list 4g coverage in the area I'm in and most of the surrounding area I'm in.

If you think Verizon is "reaming" you, wait till you pay ~$93(with tax and fees) for downloads and uploads that will make you sick. I am located in a very large city, one of the first to get Sprint LTE, and I switched. I pay more, but my phone at least works when I need it to. My cousin thought she would be better off on Sprint, so I sent her my speedtests over the course of a week. For some reason, she thought I was doing something wrong, so she got Sprint. Needless to say, she returned it after three days and went to ATT(ATT is actually better in her part of the city than Verizon).

 

[cantholdanymore]

I live near Dulles Airport and changed from Verizon to Sprint. I can say that user experience with Verizon was better but it is not like Sprint is terrible just not as good. (I swithched due to special employee plan with my company and is saving me +$30 a month)

 

[Zstream]

Anyone know the difference between Sprint & TMobile in terms of coverage? I know Sprint is terrible with signal strength but is TMobile any better?

 

[AkumaX]

Then I'm paying for a subsidy I'm not receiving. Either way I go Verizon is reaming me, which is at the heart of why I'm thinking of switching.

They do list 4g coverage in the area I'm in and most of the surrounding area I'm in.

The new subsidy you're paying for now is unlimited data, which arguably might be worth it for some...

 

[Skott]

OP, out of curiosity how much data are you using on average per month? As far as losing connections all the carriers have this problem from time to time. How often though is the real question. Area location plays a huge part in it. Here in the Tampa Bay area for example ATT was always dropping calls. Quite regularly. MetroPCS is the worse though IMO. Anyway I switched to Sprint for two reasons. Drop calls and true unlimited data. Sprint is superior to ATT here in my area I feel. I have far fewer drop calls. Only happens once in a while. Not very often. I'd say if you are not using more than 2Gb-5GB data then stay with Verizon. If you are using far more than that then Sprint is a good option although its not exactly cheap but it is true unlimited usage with no slow downs forced upon you. My advice is find as many Sprint users in your area and see what kind of quality service they are getting before deciding. Every area seems to be different with these phone carriers.

 

[s44]

If Sprint has LTE up in your area, consider a switch.

Otherwise, just buy a S3 off Swappa (~$400) and call it an upgrade.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

OP, out of curiosity how much data are you using on average per month?

Right now I only use 300-500 megabytes, but that could change quickly.

I'm leaning towards just keeping my thunderbolt for a while. No way am I ever getting Verizon's current plans and nothing would be worth paying full price for me. Sprint is still somewhat on the table, but I'm started to put it out of my head for now.