How to choose a US SIM card? 6 things you must know

Text / MOOK Scenic Spots Family compiled report

Among the three major carriers, Verizon has coverage in all national parks, but it is hard to get, expensive, and picky about phone models, so we don’t recommend purchasing it. On the other hand, AT&T is a better choice—it has coverage in some national parks, the highest phone compatibility, and almost any 4G phone can be used. As for T-Mobile, it performs well in signal across major US cities, though coverage in scenic areas isn’t guaranteed. But if you're looking for the best cost-performance ratio, choosing them is definitely the way to go.

2. Internet Signal Coverage
Due to Verizon being both expensive and difficult to use, here we simply compare the signal coverage of AT&T and T-Mobile:

Clearly, in terms of signal coverage, AT&T outperforms T-Mobile. There's almost no difference in urban areas, but there's a noticeable difference in suburban and scenic areas. So when making your selection, consider your travel destination and choose the most suitable product.

3. SIM Card Phone Compatibility
In addition to internet signal coverage, you also need to check whether your phone supports the 4G bands of US carriers. If you have an older phone model, go with AT&T. On the other hand, if your phone is newer, both AT&T and T-Mobile’s 4G bands are receivable—it’s just a matter of signal coverage differences.

For a common list of Taiwanese phones and their support for US carrier frequencies, please refer to: https://reurl.cc/Eg3ER

4. Choose a US SIM Card or a Wi-Fi Router?