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Best Phone Coverage in New Mexico: Stunning Landscapes and Great Cell Phone Coverage

By
Sara Nuss
July 21, 2023

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Each state within the United States has its own unique features and culture within it. New Mexico is a gorgeous state known for the beautiful outdoors, ancient ruins, stunning beaches, its rich culture, and also the amazing cuisine that comes from many different countries that are worth trying. 

Main image courtesy of The Nature Conservancy

If you are relocating to New Mexico, one of the most important things to make sure that you have beforehand is the best cell phone coverage. You may currently have your own cell phone plan already, but does the carrier that you have a plan with have the best coverage for the area that you are moving to? 

Making sure that you get the best phone coverage in New Mexico is essential, but it’s important to check out the best mobile providers available in the area! 

In this article about the best cell phone coverage in New Mexico, we’ll cover topics such as:

  • Map of the fastest cell phone coverage in New Mexico
  • Local and national carriers that cover New Mexico
  • Frequently asked questions about phone coverage in New Mexico
Best Cell Phone Coverage in New Mexico|| Source

Phone Coverage in New Mexico at a Glance

With a few different options on major cell phone providers to choose from and then the carriers that use their network, it can be difficult to make the right decision on a cell phone plan for you and your family, but who offers the best in New Mexico?

When taking a look at some of the best major providers throughout the state of New Mexico, Verizon Wireless takes the lead. Verizon Wireless covers up to 98% of the state with their reliable service and coverage for exceptional call and text performance. Customers with a plan through Verizon Wireless can also experience 5G speeds that cover up to 48% of the state and also 4G LTE coverage up to 98%

Right after Verizon Wireless is where AT&T takes second place andthey cover up to 99% of the state of New Mexico, which is slightly higher than Verizon’s. Where AT&T falls a little short is the 5G coverage, which only covers up to 40% of the state with a higher 4G LTE coverage of 99%

Coming in third place is T-Mobile where customers can get up to 99% of coverage for immaculate cell phone coverage in New Mexico. Where T-Mobile takes the lead is their 5G coverage, which is available with up to 98% coverage in New Mexico and the rest of the United States. 

It’s important to take in some opinions from people living in New Mexico when it comes to the best cell phone service and coverage. Many customers are satisfied with Verizon Wireless’ coverage, but others have also stated that where they would get 3G data with Verizon, they get full 4G LTE with AT&T. Depending on where you are located, you can experience either good or bad coverage with any mobile provider, but Verizon and AT&T take the lead with some of the best in New Mexico according to citizens in the state.

Before selecting just any cell phone plan in New Mexico, it’s important to choose the mobile provider with the best network in the area you live. By looking at a coverage map, you can determine which mobile provider works best in the area that you live specifically. All you need to do is type in your address, and you’ll get more insight into the mobile provider you should get a plan through. 

Not only can you enjoy the best service and coverage through one of the major providers for a lower cost through MVNO, but it’s important to think of some of the cons that customers experience with them. The main one is deprioritization, which means that during busy hours, you may experience congestion where your service and 4G LTE or 5G speeds slow down significantly. With an MVNO, you will always be put second compared to an MNO where customers always get the best service and coverage over an MVNO. This is also a main reason why MNOs are usually more expensive compared to MVNOs.

Local and National Cell Phone Carriers in New Mexico

There are two main options when it comes to choosing a cell phone plan in New Mexico. You can pay a little bit more money and get exceptional all around service and 5G coverage through any of the major providers, or Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), or you can get a plan through a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). 

There are huge differences between MNOs and MVNOs where price, types of plans, 5G coverage prioritization, and other essential features ultimately play a role in choosing a plan. 

Let’s take a look at a breakdown of how MNOs work versus MVNOs. For example, AT&T and T-Mobile are carriers from Mobile Network Operators, which means they maintain their own networks. Mint Mobile, on the other hand, is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), which means they buy minutes from an MNO with extra capacity and resell under their own brand for a more affordable price compared to a MNO plan. When it comes down to it, Mint Mobile uses the power of T-Mobile's network to provide reliable coverage at a lower price.

Let’s take a look at which of these carriers use the network that gives people in New Mexico the most coverage.

Verizon 4G (Light Purple) and 5G (Dark Purple) Coverage in New Mexico|| Source

#1 in New Mexico: Visible (Verizon Wireless)

Best For its 4G LTE and 5G range in New Mexico

Visible is a MVNO that is known for supplying the best 4G LTE and 5G data range all across the United States, including in New Mexico.

Features of a Visible cell phone plan include:

  • Unlimited talk, text, and data
  • 4G LTE or 5G nationwide coverage
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot
  • Spam protection
  • Unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada
  • 5G ultra wideband on their most expensive plan
  • Unlimited roaming in Mexico and Canada on most expensive plan
  • International calling and texting to 30+ countries
  • International texting to 200+ countries
  • 24/7 access to customer service
  • Add a smartwatch for an extra $5 per month
  • No hidden fees 

Price: Visible cell phone plans are super affordable and easy to choose from. There are two plans, the base plan costs $30 per month and the premium plan costs $45. There is also a welcome discount that Visible offers where customers can receive $5 off a plan of their choosing as a thank you for signing up.

Plan: There are two plans offered through Visible that customers can sign up for where you can either get their base plan with all of the essential features, or the premium plan with the best 5G ultra wideband, international features, and other perks. 

👍 What We Liked

  • Verizon Wireless’ Network. Many customers enjoy using Verizon Wireless’ network for an affordable price with Visible per month. 
  • Unlimited Plans. Both of Visible’s cell phone plans are unlimited where customers can utilize the fast 5G data speeds for as long as they wish. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

  • No Physical Stores. Visible doesn’t have any physical stores that customers can go to when they run into any issues and customer service is done strictly online through a live chat agent on their website. 
  • Premium Plan for Some Essential Features. Visible offers two incredible cell phone plans, but many customers state that the premium plan is the one to go with because of better 5G coverage and other features included in it.
AT&T 4G (Light Purple) and 5G (Dark Purple) Coverage in New Mexico || Source

#2 in New Mexico: Cricket Wireless (AT&T)

Best for Full Service MVNO in New Mexico

 One of the best plans to choose from is Cricket Wireless that uses AT&T’s fast and reliable coverage, but also provides all the essential features for an individual or family plan.

Features of a Cricket Wireless cell phone plan include:

  • Fast nationwide 5G coverage
  • High-speed data access
  • Unlimited talk, text, and picture messaging
  • HD voice and Wi-Fi calling
  • Cricket Call Defense to protect you from spam calls
  • Affordable Connectivity Program if you’re eligible
  • Mobile hotspot on most plans
  • HBO Max included in plan price
  • Cloud storage available
  • International calling to Canada and Mexico
  • International text to 37 countries
  • Save more money by adding more lines

Price: Cricket Wireless offers affordable cell phone plans where you can choose a set data allotment plan for a cheaper price, or spend a little bit more money for an unlimited one. Their cell phone plans run around $30 to $60 per month depending on the plan you choose.

Plan: The best part about Cricket Wireless is that they’re a full service MVNO that provides a ton of plans that are great for an individual plan, or a family one. Choose from set data allotment plans that range from 5GB to 10GB, or spend extra money to get AT&T’s 5G speeds with an unlimited plan. 

👍 What We Liked

  • AT&T’s Network Coverage. People choose a Cricket Wireless cell phone plan because of  how affordable it is and they also use AT&T’s reliable service and coverage, which is perfect for New Mexico. 
  • Full Service MVNO. Cricket Wireless provides everything from unlimited talk and text, a set data allotment, spam detector, international features, a mobile hotspot, and a ton of other features that would also be included on a more expensive mobile provider plan. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

  • More Expensive Plans Than Other MVNOs. People have stated that Cricket Wireless’ plans are a little more expensive than your other MVNOs and their cheapest plan is $30 and they can go up to $60 per month.
  • Poor Cell Phone Selection. Cricket Wireless doesn’t have a lot of options when it comes to choosing a new cell phone. While they have a ton of Apple products, they don’t offer any Samsung or Google phones if you have a preference on what you want. 
T-Mobile 4G (Light Purple) and 5G (Dark Purple) Coverage in New Mexico || Source

#3 in New Mexico: Mint Mobile (T-Mobile) 

Best for its Affordable Prices in New Mexico

Finding the perfect cell phone plan in New Mexico can prove to be difficult, but not when Mint Mobile is right there. Creating some of the most affordable cell phone plans out of any MVNO, Mint Mobile’s are super affordable and as low as $15 per month. 

Features of a Mint Mobile plan include:

  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Set data allotment plans or unlimited plans offered
  • Three-month, six-month, or year-long plans available
  • T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G coverage
  • High-speed 5G data 
  • Free calling to Mexico and Canada
  • Free 3-in-1 SIM card included when you sign up
  • Free mobile hotspot included in all plans
  • Wi-Fi calling and texting
  • Keep your current phone or buy a new one
  • Keep your current phone number or get a new one
  • Keep your contacts, photos, and apps when you switch plans
  • Mint Mobile app available to make payments and more

Price: Choosing a cell phone plan through Mint Mobile is super easy because they all are extremely affordable and you won’t want to miss out on what they have to offer. Starting at just $15 per month and going up to $30 for the unlimited plan, Mint Mobile provides the most affordable plans out of any MVNO. 

Plan: Mint Mobile’s cell phone plans are great to choose from as they have set data allotment or unlimited ones. It’s also important to note that instead of monthly plans, they offer prepaid plans for a time span of three-months, six-months, or for one full year. 

👍 What We Liked

  • T-Mobile’s Network Coverage. Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s incredible service and high-speed 5G coverage so you can be covered all across the United States, including New Mexico. 
  • Affordable Plans. Mint Mobile offers bulk plans for as little as $15 per month, which is extremely affordable compared to other MVNOs who charge up to $70 for a monthly plan.

👎 What We Didn’t Like

  • No Monthly Plans Available. Mint Mobile only offers bulk plans, which means there are no monthly plans to choose from. You can choose a plan up to three-months, six-months, and even a full year. 
  • No Truly Unlimited Plan. Mint Mobile offers an unlimited cell phone plan, but it isn’t truly unlimited. It has a set amount of high-speed data, but once the limit is reached, your data speeds start to slow down. 
Verizon 4G (Light Purple) and 5G (Dark Purple) Coverage in New Mexico || Source

Get to Know Your Local Carrier Options in New Mexico

While MVNOs are available all across the United States, it’s important to get an idea of some of the best ones that work well in New Mexico. Finding an MVNO that not only works well in New Mexico, but can save you money can help make your life just a bit easier.

Some of the most common MVNOs used in New Mexico include:

  • Mint Mobile
  • Ting Mobile
  • Tello
  • US Mobile
  • Consumer Cellular
  • Red Pocket
  • Twigby
  • Good2Go Mobile
  • Pure Talk
  • Ultra Mobile
  • Straight Talk Wireless
  • Tracfone
  • And more!
New Mexico is a beautiful state known for its culture, food, rich landscapes, and having exceptional cell phone service. Image courtesy of KRQE.

FAQ: Your Questions About Cell Phone Coverage in New Mexico, Answered

Take a look at some of the last second questions asked about New Mexico and their cell phone coverage!

How Can I Check Which Network is Best in My Area?

If you’re looking for the best cell phone coverage in the specific area that you live in, checking out a coverage map is the best way to determine what mobile provider to go through. There are also other websites or apps, such as The Mobile Signal Finder that help to determine the best network in your area to avoid dead zones and get good and fast coverage.

What Cell Phone Carrier Truly Has the Best Coverage?

If you want the best nationwide cell phone service and coverage, Verizon Wireless is ranked number one. AT&T and T-Mobile are neck and neck with one another, but Verizon outshines them because of how much area they cover around the United States compared to the other providers. 

Is AT&T or Verizon Wireless Better?

A common question that many people have is if AT&T is better, or if it’s Verizon Wireless. Both offer some of the best service and coverage throughout the United States, but AT&T offers low-band 5G coverage, while Verizon Wireless offers all around the best service and coverage.

Verizon Wireless is your best bet for fast phone coverage in New Mexico

Verizon Wireless is known for having the best coverage throughout New Mexico that is a number one choice when selecting a cell phone plan.

Struggling to find a new cell phone carrier in New Mexico? Consider looking into Really to help you with all of your cell phone plan questions! At Really, you can compare phone plans to save more money and see what carriers and plans are specifically in your area. You can sort them out by price, best value and more, and even click on the plan you wish to learn more about in an instant.

compare phone plans and save up to 80%

compare now

compare phone plans and save up to 80%

compare now
Sara Nuss
Sara Nuss is a journalist from Pittsburgh, PA that specializes in wireless, dewi, phone plan advice & blockchain.
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