Verizon wins for best reliability and overall performance, with speeds up to 226.5 Mbps. It costs more, but it's worth it in rural or spotty areas.

If you're approaching this decision on cost alone, T-Mobile's Essentials Saver plan at $50 a month is slightly cheaper than Verizon's Unlimited Welcome at $55 a month (which used to be $65 a month).

Getting your hands on a new iPhone usually requires a significant investment. These high-end Apple devices come with high ...