Traveling to the USA - Phone coverage and solutions
I know the general question has been asked multiple times but the situations seems so confuse to me that I wasn't able to find a definitive answer.
I am planning a trip to the USA (will stay in Jersey City to visit NYC for a week, than a few days in Boston) with my girlfriend and I'm trying to understand if our phones will work there, and at which speed (we will need a decent speed, since while being there we will take part in an event of the smartphone game https://ingress.com/)
I'm planning to buy a SIM (actually two, one each) there as roaming charges would be way too expensive.
Question 1
She has a Huawei P Smart 2019, which, from what I was able to understand from FrequencyCheck will most likely not get more than 3G, is that right? I see it supports one (B2) of the four LTE bands used by some carriers (such as AT&T). Will that mean that choosing an AT&T sim card will make it possible to use LTE realistically? Not planning to go in remote areas -even if we do, then we won't care about good coverage.
Question 2
I have Motorola Moto G5 (model XT1676) which seems to do even worse in the US. I am planning anyway to change my phone soon, is there any search site to specifically look for phones that will work ok both in the US and in Europe?
Question 3
Is there any option to rent a phone in the US (maybe toghether with a SIM plan) while on holiday there? We will really need a decent internet speed but not looking forward to buy two new phones in case...
Best Answer
There are several US companies that rent mobile hotspots. Most charge you for the 4G bandwidth you think you'll use (case in point). Another option is to buy a refurbished hotspot. Straight Talk (ubiquitous and cheap), for instance, has a $10 refurbished hotspot and you buy bandwidth on top of that.
If you're looking to get a SIM, I'd just get their SIM kit and buy a prepaid card (many off-name carriers offer SIM kits). The Huawei P is a GSM phone and there are GSM kits (Straight Talk, for example), provided she's not carrier-locked. She won't get great 4G, but it does support some LTE. Straight Talk again seems to win with some (but not great) LTE for that G5.
My suggestion is to get your girlfriend a SIM and just use the hotspot for your phone.
Pictures about "Traveling to the USA - Phone coverage and solutions"
Can you use an international phone in the US?
Most international phones run off GSM technology. However, some devices are also known to have dual SIM's meaning they can read both GSM and CDMA technology. In the U.S., we have carriers that run off both GSM and CDMA, so your international phone should work on at least one network.What should I do with my phone when traveling internationally?
Here are your easiest options.What phone service is best for traveling?
T-Mobile has changed the names and some specifics of its plans, but it's still our top pick. Also, Google Fi has added an unlimited plan, though its pay-per-gigabyte plan is still our also great pick.Can I use my mobile phone in America?
Here is what you have to look out for: To use your phone in the U.S., it must be a tri-band or quad-band phone. Your best bet is to check with your carrier whether your model of phone can be used in the United States. However, most smart phones can be used in the U.S. and you should not worry too much about it.HOW TO USE YOUR PHONE WHILE TRAVELING! (International Phone Plans) - MUST WATCH!!!
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Andre Furtado, William Fortunato, Pixabay, Keira Burton