iPhone 4S Speed Test: AT&T vs. Verizon Wireless

In this episode we compare the data speeds of the iPhone 4S, looking at Verizon and AT&T. As has been mentioned by Apple, the GSM version of the iPhone 4S supports the faster 14.4Mbps speeds that AT&T refers to as 4G (not to be confused with 4G LTE, as confusing as that may be.) The Verizon (and Sprint) model of the iPhone 4S doesn't support the faster speeds on those CDMA networks. We also compare the speed using the AT&T Microcell as well, which is a device you can buy from AT&T if you don't get great coverage in your home or workplace to boost your signal strength.

[jalexgans]

The microcell on att is connected to your home internet. This test isnt over AT&Ts Cellular Network.

[Andru]

@onthenetgear which is why I unplugged it and did two more speed tests without the M-Cell...

[marquisalexander]

At&t baby* had me worried for a sec. Great vid

[renbag]

A ping test determines whether your computer/phone can communicate with another computer over the network. Then, if network communication is established, ping tests also determine the connection latency (technical term for delay) between the two computers. The lower ping indicates the phone's ability to establish a network connection faster than a higher ping score

[dscomical]

it all depends on your location. You can be in an at&t hot spot right now but somewhere else the results could be totally different.

[ethanmiles]

Hey man good video! I ordered my Black 16GB Verizon iPhone 4S today!

[unrart]

@Nweran The speedtest app is measuring the speed in bits, not bytes. There is a difference. If he were to call them megabytes, he would have had to say, 0.375 megabytes per second for the final test that resulted in 3 megabits per second. While correct, to people who don't understand the difference between bits and bytes (such as yourself apparently), it would be confusing and distracting. To be clear, you did NOT see the phone download at 3 megabytes per second on that last test.

[YenkTheTank]

Fyi, if you have a Sprint device connected to Wimax (4G), you can surf the web and have a phone call at the same time.

[XxFirstPersonFailsxX]

you tested on a microcell for the at&t model, so it was using your internet instead of at&t's.

[CodyWilson]

@01Commenter10 Believe it or not, the iPhone 4S is a 4G phone, because it's capable of HSPA+ speeds. Apple isn't allowing AT&T to market it as 4G, because it would give AT&T an unfair advantage in selling the 4S.

[christopher.selph]

Your connected to a 3g microcell, it uses your home internet and only does umts!! Not hspa+. Plus it depends on your iso, not att.'s network

[Commenter]

@broseph0523 exactly, the micro-cell's MAX speed is 3.6Mbps PROVIDING that the DSL service it is on is even that fast… If the DSL service its on is only 1.5M, you will ONLY get 1.5M out of it…

[joe]

Seriously? When your signal is being boosted by AT&T, who do you think would win? Why do the tests in the first place?

[avgfree]

while Verizon was slower the ping time actually means that the performance will be better the at&t when actually browsing

[ericm]

@Mrkouman Are you kidding? AT&T is spending $10 billion a year putting in more towers. I've had every iPhone and have seen the speeds increase exponentially over the years. I remember struggling to get around 1mbps on my iPhone 3GS in this exact location and now I'm seeing 5mbps on my iPhone 4.

And the microcell shares the data that you're required to get for your iPhone, it's not a separate monthly fee

[thingy]

why so many dislikes> this is one of the best tests ive seen on youtube

[Funnyeric]

The AT&T is on the M-Cell, that's why it's slow, my M-cell does that too

[motoxrider]

This test is totally fair, Verizon iPhone only supports CDMA EVDO 3.1Mbps and AT&T is HSPA+ 14.4Mbps. It's obvious. The Verizon phone couldn't win if it wanted to. Microcell or not, AT&T is the fastest capable iPhone carrier in the US. Until an LTE model maybe comes to Verizon in the 6th iPhone. For those of you complaining about the M-Cell, he does the same test at the end of the video without the M-Cell. You want fast downloads? An iPhone isn't for you, with any VZ LTE device pulling 20+ Mbps.

[CodyWilson]

@TopShelfRippin Sure it would. The iPhone 4S has AT&T's version of "4G" (HSPA+). My Droid Charge has Verizon's 4G (LTE). So it's 4G vs 4G. Plenty fair. =)

[ericm]

@TheDougtechcrew Did you not watch the entire video? AT&T's network was faster...the first couple tests were through a microcell which for some reason distorted the test.