AT&T Unlimited Elite vs. Premium: Breaking Down the Benefits

AT&T Unlimited Elite vs. Premium are two top-tier mobile service plans. Each offers a range of comparable features. There are, however, key differences.

Taking your time to decide on what mobile plan is right for you is crucial. In fact, it may be even more important than choosing a phone. Here’s why:

Financial Commitment: Mobile phone plans often involve long-term commitments—ranging between one and two years. The cost over this time period can be significant. So, it’s important to consider your budget and upcoming changes to your financial situation. For instance, do you expect your rent to increase in that time? Or are you looking forward to rising wages?

In addition, some plans come with hidden costs that may not be obvious when you sign a contract. For instance, some plans have roaming charges, overage fees, or variable costs for extra services. Reading through the contract and understanding the plan can help prevent unexpected and potentially expensive fees.

Usage: Different users have different needs for texts, calls, and data. Knowing how you will be using your phone can prevent you from overpaying for services you don’t need or incurring extra charges for going over your plan’s limits. Consider your current usage as well as any expected lifestyle changes during the contract period. For example, will you be leaving school or changing jobs and moving to a new location?

Network Coverage:

Do you travel frequently, especially internationally? Choosing a plan with good roaming rates and extensive coverage is crucial if you’re away from home often.

Flexibility and Features:

Some phone plans offer greater flexibility if you need to change or upgrade your service or phone or even cancel service. Others offer more enticing features like streaming services, greater cloud storage, or enhanced security options. For many, these add-ons provide significant value.

Contractual Obligations:

Understanding the terms and conditions of the phone plan can help prevent penalties for changes to your plan or early termination if you need to make changes due to your circumstances. Knowing those penalties in advance can help you make better decisions for your evolving circumstances.

While choosing the right phone for you is important, even the best phone on an unsuitable plan can cause frustration. Choosing a phone is a one-time decision, whereas your service plan impacts your usage and costs over the term of your contract. In other words, the plan can affect your daily life and finances more than the phone you choose, impacting how you use your phone and your overall satisfaction with your chosen service and provider.

Top-Tier Mobile Service from AT&T Unlimited Elite vs. Premium

If you are looking for top-tier mobile service options, AT&T has them. Two of the most popular include AT&T Unlimited Elite vs. Premium. Here’s how the two plans compare:

AT&T Unlimited Elite offers:

• Unlimited data, which is important if you’re looking for faster speeds, especially if the network is congested
• 4K video streaming capability
• 40GB mobile hotspot data per month
• 5G access
• Free access to HBO Max, minutes, texts, and reduced-speed data in Canada and Mexico as well as international texting from the U.S. to most parts of the world
• $85/month (before taxes and fees) per month, though prices decrease per line with additional lines. Discounts are also available for certain businesses, AARP members, military veterans, first responders, teachers, and healthcare workers.
• Strong LTE network coverage, which often surpasses competitors when it comes to speed and reliability.

AT&T Unlimited Premium Plan offers:

• Unlimited premium data
• 50GB of hotspot data
• 4K video streaming
• Free roaming in Canada, Mexico, and 19 Latin American countries
• 6 months of free Stadia Pro
• $85/month for a single line, with prices dropping for added family members.

The key differences between the AT&T Unlimited Elite vs. Premium Plans are:

• Hotspot data, as the Premium plan offers 50 GP full-speed hotspot data vs. 40 GP for the Elite.
• Perks as the Elite plan offers HBO Max and other TV channel options that aren’t available with the Premium plan.
• International coverage with the Premium plan expanding the generous international roaming benefits offered on the Elite plan to include 19 Latin American countries.
• Pricing starts at $85/month for the first line on both plans, but the Elite plan offers more potential discounts for various groups.

AT&T Unlimited Elite vs. Premium Customers

While both the Unlimited Elite vs. Premium Plans provide lots of benefits for customers, AT&T Unlimited Elite plans are no longer being offered to new customers. As of June 2022, only customers who are already on Unlimited Elite can keep this plan. New lines or plan upgrades would be switched to updated options like the Unlimited Premium.

According to AT&T, this change is due to customer feedback as more mobile users are looking for unlimited high-speed and hotspot data. They’re also requesting greater coverage for international travel as well as enhanced mobile security.

If you are looking to upgrade your plan or add more users, it’s a good idea to review your current plan’s offerings vs. other similar plans and discuss your options with AT&T customer service personnel to fully understand the details and changes.

The removal of Max from the plan is one of the key differences. This benefit was only available through a promotion that ended in June 2022, and any changes to your plan will cause you to lose the benefit, though other perks, as mentioned above, are now included.

Again, because there are changes to plans, it’s always best to read through them in detail before making any changes to ensure the service meets your changing needs and expectations.

AT&T Unlimited Elite vs. Premium Conclusion

The right mobile phone plan can impact your daily life and finances more significantly than the phone itself. It dictates how you use your phone, what you pay monthly and over the life of the contract, and your overall satisfaction with your phone and your phone service. Thus, taking time to choose the right plan for you is one of the most important decisions.