( CNN ) -- Verizon has been touted as having the biggest , baddest , fastest 4G around . It 's been this way since the carrier debuted its LTE network in late 2010 . But now that AT & T has joined the LTE game , consumers looking for top speeds might consider turning their focus to AT & T instead . If only for a while . Metrico Wireless , a firm that does network and mobile device analytics , took a look at 4G LTE service in the U.S. , focusing on two of the nation 's largest carriers , Verizon and AT & T . The company 's latest report shows that AT & T 's average LTE speeds are better than Verizon 's ( for now at least ) , and that LTE provides more than five times the performance of the carriers ' respective 3G offerings . Metrico used five 4G LTE handsets for its tests : two on AT & T , three on Verizon . On AT & T , the HTC Vivid and Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket were measured . The HTC Thunderbolt , Samsung Droid Charge and Motorola Droid Bionic were tested on Verizon 's network . In stationary download speeds , AT & T 's 4G LTE handsets outperformed those on Verizon , but Metrico believes this disparity is likely due to the fact that Verizon 's LTE service is more established and has significantly more subscribers using data on it . Indeed , as of April , Verizon had over half a million LTE subscribers . AT & T , meanwhile , just launched its LTE network in five markets this summer . But while AT & T 's data speeds were better , web pages actually loaded faster on the three Verizon smartphones tested . `` In general , the subscriber experience is not simply driven by the network or the device , but by the combination of the two , '' the report states . `` Even devices with similar specifications connected to similar network technologies still demonstrate variation in performance . '' This was especially true with regards to video performance . Of the smartphones tested , the Samsung Droid Charge ( on Verizon ) consistently yielded the highest frame delivery rate , while the Motorola Droid Bionic ( also on Verizon ) had the lowest . Also , if you 're really concerned about web page load times , consider this : All carrier-to-carrier comparisons notwithstanding , both AT & T and Verizon handsets delivered web page load times that were 80 to 85 percent shorter on LTE relative to 3G . What about battery life on an LTE device , notoriously reported as being poor ? Well , depending on how you use your device , you may be able to squeeze out a few more hours , as the report found that battery life was heavily related to app use . On the AT & T Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket , you 're going to get 300 to 350 minutes of use out of your device , whether you 're a power user or someone who 's making calls all day long . On the Verizon Droid Bionic , though , those who primarily use their phones for voice calling will gain about 150 minutes of usage over those who spend most of their time on Twitter and Facebook . Verizon 's LTE network is currently the largest in terms of nationwide coverage , but AT & T 's is set to rival it as it expands . And , indeed , we 're finally beginning to see LTE infrastructure build-outs , industry-wide . Joining Metro PCS , Verizon and AT & T in the LTE game is Cricket Wireless , perhaps best known for its budget mobile phone and prepaid plan options . Cricket will offer speeds up to 6 Mbps with a 5 GB data cap . Sprint will begin rolling out its 4G LTE network in mid to late 2012 . Subscribe to WIRED magazine for less than $ 1 an issue and get a FREE GIFT ! Click here ! Copyright 2011 Wired.com .
Verizon 's cellular network is currently the largest in terms of nationwide coverage . AT & T is set to rival Verizon as it expands its cellular network . Research shows that AT & T 's average LTE speeds are better than Verizon 's -- at least for now . Sprint will begin rolling out its 4 G LTE network in mid to late 2012 .