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HTC One: AT&T vs. Sprint vs. T-Mobile

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The HTC One is HTC’s new flagship smartphone which the company will be putting on the market to compete with the likes of the iPhone 5, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and quite possibly the iPhone 5S if and when it arrives. Those looking for a new smartphone will surely be looking at the HTC One and here, we break down the device’s carrier options for those that might indeed be intrigued by the device’s arrival.

Read: HTC One Hands On.

Earlier today, as expected, the HTC One touched down to replace the HTC One X and the HTC One X+ as the company’s premier smartphone and a smartphone that it hopes will right the ship that began sinking.

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This is the HTC One.

Last year, the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 pummeled HTC and Samsung and the Samsung Galaxy S3 ascended to the top of the Android throne with a wildly successful launch, backed by a marketing campaign which propelled the Galaxy S3 to over 40 million in sales around the world.

The HTC One represents HTC’s latest move to thwart Apple, Samsung and their smartphones and the HTC One indeed has some good looking ingredients that could help it compete.

HTC has outfitted the HTC One with some spectacular technology. It possesses a 4.7-inch 1080p display, an impressive 4-Ultrapixel camera that it says is capable of delivering beautiful images, and a design that features a curved back of aluminum, is 9.3mm thick, and weighs 143 grams. It’ll be outfitted with the new HTC Sense 5.0 and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Suffice to say, the HTC One is an impressive specimen and one that should be on the shopping lists of Android enthusiasts and average consumers in the days and weeks to come. One of the most important aspects of the HTC One that consumers will consider though goes beyond the impressive hardware and software that will be on board the device when it arrives.

No, consumers will have to pick between a litany of mobile carriers that will be offering the HTC One in the days to come. Unlike the HTC One X+ and HTC One X which only arrived on AT&T, the HTC One will be coming to an assortment of U.S. carriers at launch and may become available on several more down the road though HTC remains mum.

Here now is an HTC One carrier comparison including pros and cons of each carrier, its release date, its pricing and more.

AT&T HTC One

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The HTC One will be heading to AT&T.

It should come as no surprise that AT&T has confirmed the HTC One for its 4G LTE network. After all, the carrier did make use of the HTC One X and the HTC One X+ last year.

AT&T is going to be a good-looking option to many people due to its large swath of 4G LTE connectivity and it will also be a choice destination for those that are looking to keep an unlimited data plan. There are, of course, some downfalls to choosing AT&T as well.

Release Date

While AT&T announced the HTC One, it still hasn’t disclosed a release date though the device should launch at some point in the future. March 22nd was rumored as a possible release date for all U.S. carriers and it’s still a possibility though again, not confirmed.

AT&T has told Gotta Be Mobile that it will share more information when it gets closer to release.

Pricing

AT&T will carry both the 32GB and 64GB variants of the HTC One and that means it will offer it in two on-contract pricing options. However, AT&T has yet to disclose just how much it will charge.

We assume, based on past launches, that the 32GB model will be the starting option and arrive for $199.99 on-contract while the 64GB model could be $249.99 or even $300.

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The HTC One is heading to AT&T’s 4G LTE network.

Network Pros

  • 4G LTE network is available in well over 100 markets around the United States with big expansions coming in 2013.
  • Users with grandfathered unlimited data plans can keep those when signing a new contract without paying unsubsidized pricing.
  • Does not force users into shared data plans. Individual plans still available.
  • HSPA+ 4G network is a solid back up when LTE isn’t available.

Network Cons

  • 4G LTE still available in less than 200 markets.
  • Network performance and customer service is still below other carriers, including Sprint.
  • AT&T’s top Mobile Share plan is more expensive than Sprint’s unlimited plan.

Sprint HTC One

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Sprint will also offer the HTC One on its 4G LTE network.

Last year, Sprint released the HTC EVO 4G LTE, a device that was a variant of the HTC One X but wasn’t officially included under the HTC One Series umbrella.

This year, Sprint decided to go with the HTC One and it’s unclear how this might affect the HTC EVO series which is typically released in the summer months.

Release Date

Like AT&T, Sprint hasn’t announced a specific release date for the HTC One though it is currently offering a sign up page for those that are interested in the HTC One’s upcoming arrival.

Sprint has also been rumored to be releasing the HTC One on March 22nd though again, that date remains unconfirmed. It’s possible that we could see it arrive in late March though.

Pricing

Sprint has yet to introduce any sort of pricing for the HTC One and unlike AT&T, it doesn’t seem to have confirmed either the 32GB or the 64GB model for its network. We’ve reached out to Sprint to see if we can garner some details but as of right now, the pricing and storage options remain a mystery.

We imagine that at the very least, the 32GB variant will be an option and that it will more than likely command a $199.99 price tag if and when it arrives on Sprint’s network.

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Sprint’s 4G LTE network will host the HTC One.

Network Pros

  • Sprint’s 4G LTE network is alive in more than 50 cities around the U.S., including several big name ones, with heavy expansions announced for 2013.
  • The carrier is the only U.S. carrier left that offers true unlimited data plans. That means not throttling.

Network Cons

  • Despite growth, Sprint’s 4G LTE network remains much smaller than AT&T’s.
  • 4G LTE roll out won’t complete until 2014 which means many will have to wait an extended amount of time.
  • Where 4G LTE isn’t available, users will only get 3G connectivity.

T-Mobile HTC One

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T-Mobile will also be getting the HTC One.

In 2012, T-Mobile took a pass on the HTC One X and the HTC One X+ and instead launched the more mid-range aimed HTC One S that was apart of the HTC One Series.

This time though, T-Mobile opted for the flagship smartphone from HTC and it has confirmed that it will be offering the new HTC One on its network in the future.

Release Date

Just like AT&T and Sprint, T-Mobile passed on giving consumers a specific release date, instead, opting to let consumers know that it will carry it in the future.

Again, like the other two, the T-Mobile HTC One has been rumored to be coming out on March 22nd though the Magenta carrier has yet to confirm that as the HTC One’s release date.

Pricing

Like the other models, the T-Mobile HTC One is without any kind of official pricing. T-Mobile does say that it will be pairing the device up with the nation’s first Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan with no annual contract so the pricing on T-Mobile will be vastly different than the other options.

T-Mobile has said that it will be shifting to unsubsidized pricing and plans in the future and this looks like it could be the first device that rings in that new policy.

That means that consumers will have to pay more upfront but will see cheaper monthly plans because of it.

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The HTC One will likely rely heavily on T-Mobile’s HSPA+ networks until 4G LTE is widespread.

Network Pros

  • The HTC One will run on its new 4G LTE network which the carrier hopes to drastically expand in 2013.
  • T-Mobile has a extremely fast HSPA+ 4G networks that should act as back ups when and where LTE isn’t available.
  • Cheap off-contract data plans make it attractive option.

Network Cons

  • Extremely small 4G LTE network.
  • Network will be rolling out over the course of the next two years which means many customers will have to rely on HSPA+.
  • Unsubsidized pricing means more up front cost for phone.

Verizon HTC One?

At the HTC One launch event, HTC announced that AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile would be hosting the HTC One on their networks but there was one carrier that was noticeably absent.

Verizon, the owner of the largest 4G LTE network in the United States, still hasn’t been confirmed to be hosting the HTC One. There are rumors out there that suggest that it may come at some point down the line but as of right now, Big Red is not on board.

Other Carriers?

It’s possible that we could see the HTC One head to other carriers like Cricket Wireless or Virgin Mobile USA at some point down the road, but at this point, the only smaller carrier in the United States to announce the HTC One is Cincinnati Bell, a smaller regional carrier that is available in a much smaller market than the big three.

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Stewbug

    02/20/2013 at 2:36 pm

    What about US Cellular?

  2. Cory Weston (@gaymormondude)

    02/20/2013 at 6:18 pm

    Talked to a Sprint Rep today. The phone is being released 1 April.

    • keenan

      02/28/2013 at 10:20 pm

      I think the sprint reps are lying.. I was told end of may! Go to htc one homepage on htc.com and when you sign up for updates to get $100 for your old smartphone here are the instructions..
      1. Buy the HTC One before march 31st
      2. Mail your old phone by April 30th with proof of purchase.

      So it wouldn’t make sense for it to be released April first.. march 15th or 22nd makes more sense

  3. nicolauz

    02/23/2013 at 3:23 pm

    Would really like to know if it’s going for US Cellular…though they’re always 6 months behind the ball on new phone releases.

  4. Peter Smith

    03/10/2013 at 4:59 pm

    you just show you are either bias in favor or sprint or you know too litle about nerwork performances,It is true ATT do not have LTE everywhere but when the phone no is in LTE at least go to 4g which is really fast , Sprint when no is in LTE phone goes to 3g ( luckily ) that is really slow , most of the time useless.
    thanks

    • steve Slobs

      03/20/2013 at 1:36 pm

      Same with Verizon, once you leave LTE you fall back to 2.75G that they call 3G.

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