Nexus One – AT&T Versus T-Mobile

By on March 16, 2010 in AT&T, Nexus One, T-Mobile

With the announcement of an AT&T 3G compatible Nexus One, it has many users wondering which should I get.  A couple factors will play into answering that question, with the main ones being price and network.  For starters, you cannot currently purchase the Nexus One for AT&T, here be referred to as N1A, subsidized with AT&T, which means you have to pay the full $529 up front fee for the phone.  Whereas, the N1T (T-Mobile version), can be purchased either full price for $529 or a subsidized price for $179.  Let’s start with full price comparisons. 

The up front free will be the same for either network, $529.  After that, things get confusing and wild quickly.  Starting with an individual account, AT&T offers a 450 minute plan with data and messages for $90/month, 40 for the voice, 30 for unlimited data and 20 for unlimited messages.  Want unlimited voice?  Add $30 more, making it $120/month.  Ok, how about T-Mobile.  Well, if you’ve purchased your Nexus One outright, you qualify for the Even More Plus, which runs you $60/month for 500 minutes, unlimited web and unlimited messages and $80/month for unlimited voice, web and messages.

Family Plans:

  • AT&T: 550 shared minutes, unlimited data and text = $150/month for two lines.
  • T-Mobile: 750 shared minutes, unlimited data and text = $110/month for two lines.

Since you don’t have the option for purchasing the N1A subsidized I won’t go into that rats nest of options, choices and whatnot.  Let’s just say it’s not pretty considering the subsidized N1T has limitations on the monthly plan and lack of family plans for 120 days etc….  Yeah, you see where that’s going.

Finally, consider the networks.  AT&T on paper is larger, with more users and more coverage than T-Mobile.  Recently, AT&T network proved to be more reliable and faster during a nationwide 3rd party test.  Also consider customer support and generally how you feel about the carriers.  Who are your friends using?  Family?  Maybe stick with something they recommend.

All things considered, it’s a hard sell to me at least to justify paying full price for the N1A and the extra $$$ per month, between 36% and 50% more per month depending on individual and family plans.  Your choice.

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  • http://twitter.com/AndroidsNsheep AndroidsNsheep

    I think this is more targetted towards someone who’s already on AT&T and probably has a plan they can deal with.

    I know that with my current carrier in Canada, I’ve got a $30 for 6gb data plan. They don’t sell those anymore so I would only buy only non-contract phones from now on.

  • http://twitter.com/AndroidsNsheep AndroidsNsheep

    I think this is more targetted towards someone who’s already on AT&T and probably has a plan they can deal with.

    I know that with my current carrier in Canada, I’ve got a $30 for 6gb data plan. They don’t sell those anymore so I would only buy only non-contract phones from now on.

  • http://www.thesearethedroids.com Benjamin

    @AndroidsNsheep – True. I guess if you’ve got yourself locked into a special plan that you don’t want to ever give up, this would be a good choice for you. I couldn’t possibly know them all, so I just looked at currently available plans.

  • http://www.thesearethedroids.com Benjamin

    @AndroidsNsheep – True. I guess if you’ve got yourself locked into a special plan that you don’t want to ever give up, this would be a good choice for you. I couldn’t possibly know them all, so I just looked at currently available plans.

  • http://www.trevisol.com Ryan Trevisol

    I agree with the above. It should be noted that I was THIS CLOSE to buying an N1 for T-Mobile yesterday, and was attracted by their cheaper minutes and messaging plans.

    This is for people who are afraid of any other Android phone being corrupted by AT&T, with their Apple and Yahoo-loving ways.

  • http://www.trevisol.com Ryan Trevisol

    I agree with the above. It should be noted that I was THIS CLOSE to buying an N1 for T-Mobile yesterday, and was attracted by their cheaper minutes and messaging plans.

    This is for people who are afraid of any other Android phone being corrupted by AT&T, with their Apple and Yahoo-loving ways.

  • http://www.KV4S.com @KV4S

    i remember hearing about nexus one signal issues on the t-mobile version… wonder if that will happen to the AT&T version?
    I’m with AT&T but out of contract since November (original WM Tilt) and the Nexus One is really appealing to me!

  • http://www.KV4S.com @KV4S

    i remember hearing about nexus one signal issues on the t-mobile version… wonder if that will happen to the AT&T version?
    I’m with AT&T but out of contract since November (original WM Tilt) and the Nexus One is really appealing to me!

  • http://www.trevisol.com Ryan Trevisol

    @KV4S – Well there are a number of factors at play here.

    Where I live, T-Mobile 3G is notoriously crappy. People I know with G1′s and T-Mo blackberries can’t get 3G inside normal buildings, while my AT&T iPhone 3G (I know, I’m working on it) has full signal.

    This is in part because of the higher frequency that T-Mobile tends to use for both its GSM (they use 900/1900) and its 3G HSPA (1900 and 2100 MHz only, I know the Nexus One supports 900 Mhz but see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile_USA#3G_upgrade) AT&T’s bands are lower frequency (850 and 1900 for voice and almost exclusively 850MHz for Data), which penetrates buildings better. This is why the 700MHz auction last year was so important, as 700MHz could be used to deliver wide area mobile broadband more easily.

    So, you can expect better 3G data and somewhat better voice on the N1A than the N1T (thanks Ben for the nomenclature).

    Also, the test where the G1 is siting next to the N1 and the G1 has more bars could be very deceiving as well . . . we don’t know any details about how each phone presents its signal strength, for example, the particular area where he was may have had better voice coverage but crappy data coverage (despite sharing frequencies, there is a difference), or a myriad other reasons.

    Bottom line, the N1A should be a great phone. Also, since you can’t get it subsidized, your contract status is irrelevant. I’m only out of my contract in June but since I already have a data and messaging plan, they don’t really care if I have an iPhone or Nexus One.

  • http://www.trevisol.com Ryan Trevisol

    @KV4S – Well there are a number of factors at play here.

    Where I live, T-Mobile 3G is notoriously crappy. People I know with G1′s and T-Mo blackberries can’t get 3G inside normal buildings, while my AT&T iPhone 3G (I know, I’m working on it) has full signal.

    This is in part because of the higher frequency that T-Mobile tends to use for both its GSM (they use 900/1900) and its 3G HSPA (1900 and 2100 MHz only, I know the Nexus One supports 900 Mhz but see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile_USA#3G_upgrade) AT&T’s bands are lower frequency (850 and 1900 for voice and almost exclusively 850MHz for Data), which penetrates buildings better. This is why the 700MHz auction last year was so important, as 700MHz could be used to deliver wide area mobile broadband more easily.

    So, you can expect better 3G data and somewhat better voice on the N1A than the N1T (thanks Ben for the nomenclature).

    Also, the test where the G1 is siting next to the N1 and the G1 has more bars could be very deceiving as well . . . we don’t know any details about how each phone presents its signal strength, for example, the particular area where he was may have had better voice coverage but crappy data coverage (despite sharing frequencies, there is a difference), or a myriad other reasons.

    Bottom line, the N1A should be a great phone. Also, since you can’t get it subsidized, your contract status is irrelevant. I’m only out of my contract in June but since I already have a data and messaging plan, they don’t really care if I have an iPhone or Nexus One.

  • http://jessey.net/ Simon Jessey

    I’m a current AT&T customer, but out of contract. I was seriously considering switching to Verizon and acquiring the upcoming CDMA version of the Nexus One. After hearing today’s announcement, I immediately ordered the AT&T version. Although it is going to cost me almost $300 more to do it this way, my reasoning was that (a) the AT&T network is simply better than Verizon’s, (b) having the ability to slap a SIM card into the unit is extremely appealing, and (c) a GSM phone is more usable for those times when I’ll visit Europe.

  • http://jessey.net/ Simon Jessey

    I’m a current AT&T customer, but out of contract. I was seriously considering switching to Verizon and acquiring the upcoming CDMA version of the Nexus One. After hearing today’s announcement, I immediately ordered the AT&T version. Although it is going to cost me almost $300 more to do it this way, my reasoning was that (a) the AT&T network is simply better than Verizon’s, (b) having the ability to slap a SIM card into the unit is extremely appealing, and (c) a GSM phone is more usable for those times when I’ll visit Europe.

  • Shawn Garls

    I have AT&T and my only issue with them is their phone selection. So I ordered the Nexus One att3G yesterday.

    Also, i currently have the $30 a month unlimited data plan and it includes unlimited text messaging as part of it. No need for the $20 a month text service.

  • Shawn Garls

    I have AT&T and my only issue with them is their phone selection. So I ordered the Nexus One att3G yesterday.

    Also, i currently have the $30 a month unlimited data plan and it includes unlimited text messaging as part of it. No need for the $20 a month text service.

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    Many of my friends like to use T-Mobile.