T-Mobile's network performance is again rated higher than AT&T and Verizon following an Apple product launch.

Prior Apple Watches lacked 5G due to its excessive power demands. Now that AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon provide 5G RedCap, Apple and other manufacturers can introduce 5G smartwatches.

5G RedCap needs a 5G standalone (5G SA) network. Currently, T-Mobile's 5G SA network covers the entire country, giving them an advantage. AT&T and Verizon still use 5G radios with a 4G core in their networks.

Techsponential's Avi Greengart told Fierce Wireless that smartwatches don't require 5G. He stated this 5G will likely not impact connectivity significantly, but 5G RedCap does improve energy efficiency and future-proofs devices.

Greengart said in September 2025 that using 5G RedCap in the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 is logical for power management since large speed increases are unnecessary, but minimizing battery usage is essential.

T-Mobile's complete 5G SA network gives it better coverage than AT&T and Verizon. Even T-Mobile's low-band frequencies are SA, allowing Apple Watches on their network to access 5G in more areas.

Greengart stated in September 2025 that T-Mobile should have a coverage advantage because its whole 5G network, including its 600 MHz low band frequencies, is SA, whereas AT&T and Verizon are developing their core SA networks, mainly at higher frequency ranges.

AT&T and Verizon will likely catch up soon. In July, AT&T's Jason Sikes, VP of Device Technology, stated that their RedCap 5G had over 200 million points of presence (POPs).

While opinions differ on which network is best, T-Mobile leads in 5G, and broader support for RedCap 5G proves it.