Which 4G Wireless Is Really the Fastest?

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The ads seem relentless, even inescapable: 4G wireless is here, and each of the four big carriers claims to have the best service. Obviously they can't all be right. So we got to work, putting AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon to the test in 13 cities across the United States. Our team tested 20 locations per city, using both modem-equipped laptops and smartphones to see what speeds each provider could hit. The results--of 4G service when available and 3G when it wasn't--varied greatly by city and carrier. If you're thinking about getting a smartphone, tablet, or other device that takes advantage of wireless, be sure to read Mark Sullivan's "4G Wireless Speed Tests: Which Is Really the Fastest?" A few minutes spent checking out our findings might save you from a mistake--or at least a slow connection--down the road. --Editorial Director Steve Fox Top Stories 4G Wireless Speed Tests: Which Is Really the Fastest? AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon: PCWorld's exclusive performance tests reveal which 4G network delivers the fastest data speeds. Covert Cameras Designed to Spy on You Feeling paranoid and wondering if someone is watching you? Cameras that resemble gum packages, shavers, and even handheld vacuums make spying all too easy. Which Tablet Works Best? Apple iPad 2 vs. Motorola Xoom vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab No one tablet does it all--yet. Here's a look at how today's three leading tablet contenders handle common tasks. For more tablet news and reviews visit PCWorld.com. News Google, NASA Release Satellite Images of Japan Disaster Google and NASA are releasing satellite images depicting the devastation last week's earthquake and tsunami caused in Japan. Tech Killers: Challengers That Have Tried to Beat Hugely Successful Competitors The tech industry has a long history of latecomers taking on dominant products and services. Think Microsoft Zune versus Apple iPad, Google TV versus Apple TV, Mozilla Firefox versus Internet Explorer. We look at some notable clashes of the past decade. Flip Floppers: When Tech Execs Contradict Themselves Doing an about-face on key issues: It's not just for politicians anymore. Tech honchos like Oracle's Ellison, Google's Schmidt, and Microsoft's Ballmer do it from time to time--even the mighty Steve Jobs is guilty. For the latest reports, visit our News page . PCW Business Center Embrace the Cloud for Disaster Survival and Recovery The catastrophes in Japan illustrate the value of embracing the cloud for resilience and disaster recovery. Visit the PCW Business Center. Blogs Verizon 4G Phones: HTC Thunderbolt or Droid Bionic? Should you spring for the HTC Thunderbolt now or wait for the Droid Bionic to arrive? Here's a look at how Verizon's two new hot 4G phones compare. Internet Explorer 9: A Getting Started Guide The revamped browser's taskbar shortcuts, jumplists, extensive HTML 5 support, and better graphics performance warrants taking another look at Internet Explorer. Compared: IE9 and Firefox 4 Release Candidate The browser wars heat up with new releases from Microsoft and Mozilla. But to most users, the differences between Internet Explorer 9 and Firefox 4 will be slight. For the latest news and opinion, visit our Blogs page . Reviews Who Pays the Most for Old Gadgets and Tech: The Best Buyback Programs We evaluate eight buyback and trade-in programs to determine which ones give the best prices for older smartphones, HDTVs, laptops, and more. Top 10 Performance Desktop PCs Intel's second-generation Core processors--previously codenamed "Sandy Bridge"--have revamped our Performance charts, driving down prices while blazing through our benchmarks. Compare prices on desktop PCs. For more reviews, visit PCWorld.com. How-To Desperately Seeking a Good PDF Reader Have you had it with Adobe Reader for viewing PDF files? Here are a few alternatives. 28 iPad 2 Tips and Tricks Master your new iPad 2 with these quick tips and convenient shortcuts. For more tips, visit PCWorld.com. Videos Unboxing the Nintendo 3DS Portable Gaming Console Can't wait until March 27th to check out the Nintendo 3DS? See it for yourself in our unboxing video. For more videos, visit PCWorld.com. Downloads 10 Must-Have Free Downloads Some software is so good that you just have to download it. Unfortunately, often you have to pay for it after you try it out. But every once in a while, a must-have program is totally free. Such indispensable, no-cost tools are the hardest programs to find--but we've found the best ones for you. For more free and trial software, visit PCWorld.com. PC World Community What's a Good Combo of Antivirus and Firewall Protection? Join the discussion. Visit the PC World Community Free Trial of Trend Micro Internet Security Pro Download Free 30-Day trial of full version , includes all security features of the regular product. Learn more. Quiz: What kind of network manager are you? Answer these 10 questions to gauge your approach to network management. Start here. Advertisement Free Trial of Trend Micro Internet Security Pro Download Free 30-Day trial of full version, includes all security features of the regular product. Most Popular Searches iPad 2 Android Antivirus Freeware Firefox Product Reviews Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2011 90 Pros Good interface; Strong malware detection Cons Scan speeds lag behind top performers Read Complete Review » Top 10 Paid Antivirus Programs for 2011 » Top 5 Paid Antivirus for 2011 » V3 Convoy 92 Pros Feature-packed chassis; Excellent price-to-performance ratio Cons Lacks a DisplayPort connector Read Complete Review » Top 10 Performance Desktop PCs » Micro Express MicroFlex 25B 83 Pros Plenty of free space inside for upgrades; Category-leading speed Cons Poor storage capacity Read Complete Review » Top 10 Mainstream Desktop PCs » Get Big Savings When you Shop at PCWorld.com Shop online at PCWorld.com, where you can compare product information, read trusted reviews, and find the best prices on consumer electronics. EOS Rebel T2i Black SLR Digital Camera Kit w/ 18-55mm Lens Price: $768.00 No User Ratings Yet Be the first to review EOS 60D Black SLR Digital Camera - Body Only Price: $899.00 No User Ratings Yet Be the first to review Browse more Best Prices on Digital Cameras, Flash Memory, Graphics & Publishing Software, Lenses, Bags & Cases Top News on PCWorld.com Amazon's Android App Store: Steve Jobs Just Doesn't Get It Amazon may be days away from launching its Android app store -- and despite what a certain turtlenecked CEO may say, that's fantastic news for the Android platform. Share: Tech Killers: Challengers That Have Tried to Beat Hugely Successful Competitors The tech industry has a long history of latecomers taking on dominant products and services. Think Microsoft Zune versus Apple iPad, Google TV versus Apple TV, Mozilla Firefox versus Internet Explorer. We look at some notable clashes of the past decade. Share: Top Reviews on PCWorld.com Who Pays the Most for Old Gadgets and Tech: The Best Buyback Programs We evaluate eight buyback and trade-in programs to determine which ones give the best prices for older smartphones, HDTVs, laptops, and more. Share: Compared: IE9 and Firefox 4 Release Candidate The browser wars heat up with new releases from Microsoft and Mozilla. But to most users, the differences between Internet Explorer 9 and Firefox 4 will be slight. Share: Nintendo 3DS Takes No-Glasses 3D Mainstream Nintendo's new 3D handheld delivers authentic no-glasses 3D, adds a library of lifestyle features in the bargain. Share: Which Tablet Works Best? Apple iPad 2 vs. Motorola Xoom vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab No one tablet does it all--yet. Here's a look at how today's three leading tablet contenders handle common tasks. Share: Downloads: Editor's Collection 10 Must-Have Free DownloadsSome software is so good that you just have to download it. Unfortunately, often you have to pay for it after you try it out. But every once in a while, a must-have program is totally free. Such indispensable, no-cost tools are the hardest programs to find--but we've found the best ones for you. Photoscape   87990 Downloads  |  Free  |  Filed Under Image Editors Photoscape includes everything from a file viewer to a photo editor, slide show creator, batch editor, screen capture program, and more. IrfanView    442811 Downloads  |  Free  |  Filed Under Tools Edit and convert graphics files with this first-rate image viewer. ClipX   7093 Downloads  |  Free  |  Filed Under Desktop Power up the Windows clipboard with this freebie. See (8) more 10 Must-Have Free Downloads » Browse DownloadsAntivirus & Security • Design & Multimedia • Utilities • Games • Chat, Email, & the Web • Sponsored Downloads iWinSoft MP4 ConverterConvert video to MP4. 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