Mint Mobile was founded in 2016 as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) on T-Mobile’s cellular network. This means that it uses T-Mobile’s network but isn’t owned by the company. If you need an answer on what network does mint mobile use, this prepaid wireless carrier uses T-Mobile’s network to offer coverage. Therefore, when you hear about Mint Mobile coverage, it is the same thing about T-Mobile’s network coverage.
Interestingly, Mint Mobile customers can enjoy the same ability to make and receive calls that T-Mobile’s users experience. Besides, Mint Mobile provides some of the cheapest unlimited data plans in the wireless market. On the downside, the data speeds will gradually reduce during network congestion to prioritize T-Mobile customers. However, when using Mint Mobile, you must learn to boost cell signals at home for free when the network signal reduces.
Most importantly, Mint Mobile allows you can “Bring Your Own Phone” (BYOP), provided you have a compatible phone that is unlocked and transfer your phone line to Mint Mobile. Using the BYOP option, you don’t have to worry about changing your number or losing your contacts, and you can check your phone’s compatibility online. Mint Mobile services include family plans, fixed and unlimited data plans, international calling and roaming, plus Wi-Fi calling and texting.
What is Mint Mobile?
Mint Mobile is an MVNO or, in other words, a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, which means it can run on Verizon’s, AT&T, or T-Mobile networks in the US. However, this carrier doesn’t own the network, and they lease network towers from these three big carriers.
In return, the company can charge so much less monthly costs than those three carriers do offer. Generally, Mint Mobile and other MVNOs, lease access to these carriers’ network towers at a wholesale price and then resell to its customers at much less price.
As mentioned earlier, Mint Mobile operates as an MVNO, meaning it uses another carrier’s network. However, Mint has used T-Mobile’s network to deliver impressive coverage over the last decade or so.
Mint Mobile using T-Mobile network means that any GSM unlocked cell phone will function on Mint Mobile. GSM implies the Global System for Mobile communications and requires a SIM card that can get transferred to any GSM-compatible phone.
Mint Mobile Benefits
Working as an MVNO, Mint Mobile offer many extensive benefits compared to plans from the three major US networks;
i) Easy to switch
If you’re transferring your phone and number to Mint, switch over is straightforward, and you will be set and active within a few days.
ii) Keep your phone and number
You don’t need to buy a new phone when switching to mint Mobile. You can keep the device upgrading money and bring your own phone. You can port in your number across at will.
iii) Lower prices
You can save up to $600 a year due to the low costs plans delivered to you.
iv) Flexible plans
Mint Mobile is a prepaid carrier; hence you won’t get stuck paying for features you don’t want. You can customize your plan to match your needs.
v) No commitment
Prepaid carriers require any contracts, so you use the pay as you go option. If you’re not satisfied with a particular package or you want to amend your plan, you carry out these changes at any time.
How Much Does Mint Data Plans Cost?
You can get a Mint Mobile plan starting as low as $15 per month with unlimited text and talk, with 4GB of data. However, after hitting 4GB of data, the data throttle down to slower speeds. For $20 per month, you can have 10GB per month, and if you require more data, there’s 15GB of data going for $25 per month and unlimited data that cost $30 per month.
Notably, Mint Mobile doesn’t charge you per month, and the above prices represent the first three-month plans. For the 4GB plan, you will have to pay $45 up-front for three months, and you won’t have to pay your bill every month. Besides, Mint offers six and 12-month plans. The 4GB plan would cost you $180 for 12 months. But, the six-month plans are more costly, ranging from $20 to $35 per month. So it’s advisable to get the three or 12-month plan.
Mint Mobile has unlimited data available for data-hungry users. However, some customers do require a lot more data, and for such customers, there are other plans available featuring unlimited. The same case with most carriers; the term “unlimited” data does not truly mean unlimited. In this case, Mint Mobile will give you 35GB of high-speed data. After hitting the data limit, you won’t lose your data, but you’ll experience slower speeds with video streaming at 480p.
What network does mint Mobile use
Mint Mobile Coverage
Mint Mobile uses the T-Mobile network, so you’ll get access to the same nationwide 4G LTE coverage and 5G where applicable. For the best outstanding coverage and speeds on Mint Mobile, your phone should be as compatible with many of T-Mobile’s mobile bands as possible.
For 4G LTE, search for bands 2, 5, 4, 66 with band 12 and 71 with additional coverage in many rural areas. For 5G, search for support for bands n71 and n41 for maximum sub-6 performance. However, you can check which frequencies should be available where you live with Mint Mobile’s coverage map.
Moreover, you can check your local Mint Mobile coverage area by entering your address in their coverage checker. Choose your talk, text, and data preferences and input your street address below the “Coverage Check” section.
Afterward, you can receive specific information for your neighborhood by choosing the coverage map button in the upper-right hand corner. You can also look out for state-by-state coverage, in addition to coverage for the largest US cities, to have a precise idea of what to expect in your town.
Mint Mobile 4G LTE Coverage
As of 2021, Mint Mobile and T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network coverage stands at 62% of the United States. These statistics mean that T-Mobile is behind AT&T and Verizon for the best 4G LTE coverage. The following are the rankings for 4G LTE network coverage among the big three US wireless carriers:
- Verizon: 70% 4G LTE cell phone coverage
- AT&T: 68% 4G LTE cell phone coverage
- Mobile: 62% 4G LTE cell phone coverage
From the coverage map, this information shows that T-Mobile/Mint Mobile’s network has the most challenges in rural areas, especially in the western half of the United States. For this reason, the best cell phone booster for rural areas is an excellent asset for the people in such areas.
However, if you reside in the eastern United States or big cities in the western United States, you can have strong 4G LTE coverage. But, you can check out the cities in the US that have the best Mint Mobile coverage:
Mint Mobile 5G Coverage
Mint Mobile ranks the best network for 5G coverage, showing a different story in the 5G coverage rankings compared to 4G LTE coverage. The following are the details;
- T-Mobile: 41.35% 5G coverage
- AT&T: 18.11% 5G coverage
- Verizon: 11.08% 5G coverage
Interestingly, Mint Mobile and T-Mobile lead the charts for 5G coverage, leaving the others with a considerable margin. The 5G coverage is on its taking off stage, but Mint Mobile is one of the best MVNO options to receive 5G data speeds on your 5G-enabled iPhone or Android phone.
What Phones Work On Mint Mobile?
You can bring a GSM unlocked cellphone to Mint Mobile. Plus, any phone that works on T-Mobile will function on Mint Mobile since it operates on T-Mobile’s network. However, most GSM-unlocked cell phones should cope just fine on Mint Mobile apart from the T-Mobile phones. You can also bring phones from Cricket, Simple Mobile, AT&T, Straight Talk, or Metro by T-Mobile, provided their respective carrier has unlocked them to operate on other networks.
In most cases, your existing carrier can help you unlock your phone immediately after it’s been fully paid off any debts owed. Interesting, if you are bringing a GSM phone, you can even bring your current number. Mint Mobile has a page on its website that you can use to check if your phone is compatible. The phone also needs to be unlocked as a SIM-locked phone won’t operate on Mint Mobile.
On the other hand, if you decide to purchase a new phone, you find your favorite brand with Mint Mobile. Mint Mobile stocks a lot of the flagship smartphones, midrange, and budget option smartphones. They include the iPhone 12 and 13 series. For Android, there’s the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy S21 series, Galaxy Z Flip 3, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Motorola RAZR 5G, Motorola Edge (2021), among many famous brands from renowned manufacturers. Mint Mobile also provides a lot of “cheap” smartphones like the Moto E6 or the Nokia 1.4, so there is something for every shopper.
Bottom line
Mobile Virtual Network Operators like Mint Mobile are the best carriers that give you the freedom to choose your favorite wireless services in addition to offering low-cost monthly bills. When you choose Mint as your wireless provider, expect the same network coverage and speed witnessed by the T-Mobile customers. Besides getting high-speed and robust network coverage, the overall cost for your plans and phones will also be very cheap.
