Articles by Samuel Contreras

Best answer: Yes, Mint Mobile customers are now able to use the T-Mobile 5G network the same way they would use LTE. No special plans or fees are required and customers just need a 5G capable phone.

Thank the New T-Mobile network for 5G on Mint Mobile

Does Mint Mobile support 5G? Mint Mobile is based on the T-Mobile network and previously only used the LTE network for its phones. Today, Mint Mobile supports 5G on all of its plans at no additional cost. 5G works on any T-Mobile-compatible 5G phone, so if you have an unlocked Galaxy S20 5G, you can get connected on Mint Mobile. Currently, Mint Mobile sells a handful of 5G capable phones directly and several of the best phones to use with Mint Mobile support 5G.

Mint Mobile’s 5G network works the same way as the T-Mobile network, with the majority of coverage coming from T-Mobile’s expansive low-band 600MHz deployment. This low-end network doesn’t offer speeds too different from LTE but given its great coverage, it’s a solid start…

The best 5G network will have a good balance of speed and coverage with room to grow and added capacity as 5G adoption increases. 5G connectivity is now available to hundreds of millions of people in the U.S. thanks to improved support from phone makers and sub-6 5G networks. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all now offer 5G coverage with sub-6 and mmWave. While AT&T and Verizon anxiously await the release of their expensive C-band spectrum, T-Mobile has the best overall 5G network thanks to its wide sub-6 at both 600MHz and 2.5GHz coverage with room to grow with mmWave and C-band spectrum in the coming years.

Best overall: T-Mobile

T-Mobile’s 5G network covers millions of people in the U.S., and if you live in an urban or suburban area, there’s a good chance you have coverage. This is mostly thanks to T-Mobile’s low-band 600Mhz spectrum, which offers excellent coverage and speeds comparable to fast LTE. T-Mobile is also continuing to improve its 5G network with Sprint’s mid-b…

What you need to know

Boost Mobile customers will be able to sign up for exclusive DraftKings contests where it is legal to do so.
Boost is offering new customers a free $50 Sportsbook bet to new users placing their first bets.
This integration starts with an NBA Finals contest on June 11 and end at the start of the Finals.

Boost Mobile announced a partnership with DraftKings to bring exclusive contests to Boost Mobile customers. Boost Mobile’s owner DISH partnered with DraftKings in early March 2021 to bring betting to its Hopper TV platform. Boost Mobile customers will be able to sign up for exclusive contests starting with a $100,000 NBA Finals contest with users guessing the total number of points scored throughout the series. This contest starts on June 11 and ends at the start of the Finals on July 8.

Speaking to CNET executive vice president of Boost Mobile, Stephen Stokols said:

“We try to go where the big carriers are too conservative to go. I don’t think you’ll see…

Whether you’re leery of Google’s data collection practices, fed up with Nest Wifi’s lack of advanced functionality, or simply browsing the market for something better, we’ve rounded up some of the best alternatives to Nest Wifi. Check them out below — there should be something for everyone!

Best overall

Eero 6 3-pack

Staff Pick

Eero 6 is a replacement for the standard Eero taking wireless speeds up to AX1800 with a supported Wi-Fi 6 device. This also means the link between Eeros is stronger which, according to Eero, makes an Eero 6 mesh suitable for internet connections up to 500Mbps. Eero also has one of the best setup and management apps around with frequent security updates and amazing compatibility with older nodes.

$280 at Dell

$279 at Amazon

$279 at Best Buy

Premium and powerful

Netgear Orbi RBK752

Netgear has been in the home networking game for a long time, and it shows. With Wi-Fi 6 support and a fast AX4200 tri-band connection, this system should be ab…

Fantastic mesh performance in a compact design

TP-Link has been mastering the mesh category with its Deco series, and the Deco X60 is no different. With Wi-Fi 6 and an estimated coverage area of up to 5,000 square feet with two nodes, this is one of the best compact mesh systems money can buy. TP-Link offers a wide range of Deco routers depending on how much speed you need, but for most people, the X60 with its AX3000 connection hits the sweet spot.

Mesh systems still aren’t for everyone, and even with a powerful Wi-Fi 6 backhaul, getting your full internet speed all over your home is a challenge, but the Deco X60 gets close. TP-Link’s HomeCare software is included with most Deco routers, and it can further enhance your connection with greater security and a robust parental control solution. Still, it’s not all perfect, and for many people, the lack of control that comes with a mesh system may be a deal-breaker.

TP-Link Deco X60 review:

Price and availability
What you’ll like …

Prepaid carriers have been able to provide laser-focused mobile service that the Big Three postpaid carriers can’t match. Ultra Mobile has zeroed in on people that want to stay in contact with family and friends in other countries while still offering great value and service for a connected generation. Whether you just need a basic service with talk and text or want plenty of data for streaming, social media, and video calls, Ultra Mobile has an option for you.

Super Flexible

Ultra Mobile

From $10/mo. at Ultra Mobile

A plan for everyone

Ultra Mobile has an option for just about any customer, whether they need a ton of data or just need to be able to call internationally.

Ultra Mobile:

What is Ultra Mobile?
Read the review
Ultra Mobile’s service plans
Ultra Tourist and Flex
Coverage and 5G
How does Ultra Mobile stack up?
Compatible phones
Ultra Mobile Deals

What is Ultra Mobile?

Ultra Mobile is an MVNO using T-Mobile’s network that focuses on offering great servic…

Wi-Fi 6E is the next evolution of Wi-Fi and some of the best Wi-Fi 6E routers are now available. Wi-Fi 6E utilizes 6GHz spectrum to enable more consistent speeds in congested areas than was possible at 5GHz. If you are ready for Wi-Fi 6E or just want to be ready for the next generation, these routers all offer great 6GHz performance. The best Wi-Fi 6E router for you will come down to backward compatibility and software preferences.

What are the best Wi-Fi 6E routers?

The Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 is one of the fastest routers ever made, with plenty of speed for both Wi-Fi 6E devices and older devices. With full RGB lighting, this router’s gaming roots are clear, but that also means this router is packing great optimization software and even comes with a gaming optimized 2.5Gbps Ethernet port.

The Linksys Hydra Pro 6E is another solid option with a more modest design and a lower price. This AXE6600 router gives up some speed for older devices but supports a full 4804Mbps on the 6G…

Buy in bulk

Mint Mobile

From $15/mo. at Mint Mobile

Pros

T-Mobile LTE network
Unlimited talk and text
Free calls to Canada and Mexico
Hotspot on every plan
5G on all plans

Cons

Minimum term is three months
Unlimited plan is slowed at 35GB

Save money by buying in bulk. Plans come with unlimited talk, text and have no overages after you’ve used your data. Speeds are lowered, but you can upgrade your plan mid-cycle or easily add more data.

One month at a time

Cricket Wireless

From $30/mo. at Cricket Wireless

Pros

AT&T LTE network
Service in Canada and Mexico (unlimited plans)
Unlimited talk and text

Cons

SD quality videos (unlimited plans)
Speed limits
5G is only on the most expensive plan

Take advantage of the massive AT&T network without the contracts. You can start as small as just talk, text, and 2GB of data, then go all the way up to unlimited data with 15GB of hotspot data.

Cricket has an advantage in travel to Canada and Mexico with i…

Unlimited for less

Visible

$40/mo. at Visible

Pros

Unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data
Unlimited hotspot (5Mbps)
Verizon LTE and Nationwide 5G
Lower unlimited price
Party Pay savings

Cons

No international service
Fewer available phones
No roaming or 3G service

Visible offers a great unlimited option for smartphone users covered by the Verizon LTE and 5G network, which is most people. With a simple flat rate, this is a great option for heavy and light data users alike.

Even more options

Verizon Prepaid

From $40/mo. at Verizon

Pros

Verizon Nationwide 5G, LTE, 3G, and roaming
Loyalty discount rewards after consistent payments
Mexico and Canada calling available
Unlimited talk and text
Unlimited plans include data in Mexico and Canada

Cons

Lower tier unlimited plan hotspot costs extra
Expensive for large data plans
Autopay required for lower prices

Verizon Prepaid offers some excellent options for a wide range of people, whether they just need to …

Expectedly fast and surprisingly cheap

The TP-Link Archer AX73 gets all of the specs right on paper with a fast AX5400 Wi-Fi 6 connection, USB 3.0, and Wi-Fi 6 support. It supports MU-MIMO, OFDMA, 160MHz, and DFS for extra 5GHz channels. The design is nice and compact, and the coverage is reasonable for the price, but some connection issues keep me from completely recommending this router, especially if you plan to connect a lot of devices.

The Archer AX73 is easy to set up and works well with the TP-Link Tether app. This also includes HomeShield for free parental controls and basic security options with the ability to subscribe for more. If you’re looking for one of the cheapest fast WI-Fi 6 routers around, the Archer AX73 makes all of the right sacrifices for most people.

TP-Link Archer AX73 review:

Price and availability
What’s good
What’s not good
The competition
Should you buy?

TP-Link Archer AX73

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