Articles by Samuel Contreras

Best answer: Not yet. Visible is planning to bring nationwide 5G support to its network before the end of 2020 for 5G compatible phones but hasn’t yet launched the network update.

Unlimited LTE today with 5G later: Visible ($40 per month at Visible)
Prepaid Verizon Nationwide 5G: Verizon Prepaid (From $35/mo. at Verizon Prepaid)

Nationwide 5G is coming to Visible

Visible uses Verizon’s network and so far, it’s only worked with LTE. With coverage in most of the country and speeds that are good enough for pretty much anything you’ll need to do on a phone, it has been a solid option and still is. Verizon is getting ready for the next generation of its wireless network though, and that starts with nationwide 5G, which is coming to Visible.

Visible will be using Verizon’s nationwide 5G network, which shares LTE spectrum with DSS, or Dynamic Spectrum Sharing, which allows towers with upgraded equipment to dedicate existing spectrum to 5G. This really means that in places that have co…

Buy in bulk

Mint Mobile

From $15 per month at Mint Mobile

Pros

T-Mobile LTE network
Unlimited talk and text
Unlimited plan is available
Free calls to Canada and Mexico
Hotspot on every plan

Cons

Must buy in bulk
Unlimited plan slowed at 35GB

Save money by buying in bulk. Plans come with unlimited talk and 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.

Big on data

Boost Mobile

From $10 per month at Boost Mobile

Pros

T-Mobile or Sprint network
Unlimited data
Hotspot on all plans
Unlimited music streaming
Shrink-it! Plan reduced bill

Cons

Unlimited plan slows at 35GB

Whether you have better Sprint or T-Mobile coverage, Boost Mobile has a plan for you with plenty of data and great international calling and roaming options. You can save money with multiple lines on either network.

Mint Mobile will be cheaper overall, but Boost has a lot of features going for i…

Verizon 5G is growing fast as with one of the largest mmWave networks paired with a growing nationwide network using spectrum sharing. The mmWave network is called Ultra Wideband and has been around for quite a while now but the coverage was very limited. On October 13, 2020, Verizon launched its nationwide 5G network and is looking to catch up to T-Mobile and AT&T, both of which launched nationwide 5G networks in late 2019. With coverage in most big cities, Verizon expects to cover 200 million people.

Understanding how each carrier will deploy 5G can be confusing but we’ve been keeping tabs on all of them. Here is everything you need to know about Verizon’s newest and fastest wireless network.

Jump to:

When will my area even get 5G?
What tech is Verizon using?
Which devices should I get to be 5G ready?
Which plan do I need for access?
Does it do home internet?
Is 5G worth it for most people?

Unlimited data

Verizon Play More Unlimited

From $80/mo. At Verizon

Plen…

What you need to know

Verizon’s nationwide 5G network is available now with the right Samsung Galaxy phone.
More 5G capable phones will support the new network in the coming weeks with a software update.
Several Samsung Galaxy 5G phones are receiving updates now to use the network.

Verizon Wireless recently announced a nationwide 5G network to fill in the gaps between its faster Ultra Wideband 5G. This new network was announced at Apple’s iPhone event on October 13, 2020, and uses DSS to share its existing LTE spectrum with 5G as needed. Verizon says this network covers 200 million people.

Android phones are fully capable of supporting this network and according to George Koroneos, Verizon tech storyteller, few models from Samsung are the first to be updated to access nationwide 5G on Verizon. If you have a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G series device, S20 5G UW, S20 Ultra 5G, S20+ 5G, A71 5G UW, or A51 5G UW, keep an eye out for a software update that will allow you to hop on th…

Buy in bulk

Mint Mobile

From $15/month at Mint

Pros

Cheaper monthly rates
Lots of plan options
Unlimited talk and text
Free hotspot access
Works with most unlocked phones

Cons

Coverage isn’t quite as dense as Visible’s

Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile to power its network, and while that means coverage isn’t quite as expansive, you get a lot of bang for your buck. Plans are sold in bulk, meaning you have a bigger upfront cost but save a lot of money month-to-month. And, unlike Visible, you can use Mint Mobile with just about any Android phone.

Verizon’s network

Visible

$40/month at Visible

Pros

Unlimited talk, text, and data
Verizon’s LTE network
Free hotspot access (5Mbps)
Taxes and fees included
Save more with Party Pay

Cons

Only works with select Android phones
No international support

Want access to Verizon’s incredible LTE network for a fraction of the cost? That’s what Visible brings to the table. For just $40 per month all-in, you get unlimited talk, …

Starter Wi-Fi 6

Eero 6

$129 at Amazon

Pros

Wi-Fi 6 increases mesh performance
AX1800 delivers enough speed for more people
Compatible with all existing Eeros

Cons

Dual-band Wi-Fi is worse for mesh performance
Only one open Ethernet port on the base router

Eero 6 is a solid upgrade to the base Eero line. It brings with it Wi-Fi 6, which takes the 5GHz performance up to 1200Mbps with compatible devices. Even if you haven’t upgraded your wireless devices to take advantage of Wi-Fi 6, it ensures a faster connection between the different routers in your mesh.

Gigabit speed mesh

Eero Pro 6

$229 at Amazon

Pros

Wi-Fi 6 tri-band delivers gigabit speed
Compatible with all existing Eeros
Dedicated backhaul keeps mesh speed high

Cons

More expensive
Only one open Ethernet port on the base router

Eero 6 Pro has all of the best features Eero 6 has with a little more of everything. A tri-band connection allows the mesh to hit gigabit speeds with an extra 5GHz band. D…

Best answer: Yes. In November 2019, actor Ryan Reynolds purchased an ownership stake in Mint Mobile. Reynolds has continued to be a major part of the company’s marketing, whether that’s appearing in commercials or even calling customers.

Tons of high-speed data with no contract: Mint Mobile Unlimited (From $30/mo. at Mint Mobile)
Great Mint Mobile network compatibility : Google Pixel 4a ($350 at Amazon)

It’s a bit unconventional

On November 25, 2019, actor Ryan Reynolds purchased an ownership stake of Mint Mobile saying, “it’s a bit unconventional which is why I like it.” Ryan Reynolds is known for playing roles such as Deadpool, Green Lantern, and even Detective Pikachu. While Reynolds has become the owner, David Glickman still serves as Mint Mobile’s CEO. Still, Reynolds has been responsible for bringing a lot of attention to the Mint Mobile brand.

Mint Mobile is a prepaid carrier based on T-Mobile’s LTE and 5G network that differentiates itself by offering mobile phone se…

What you need to know

Google Wifi is now available for $99 for a single unit and $199 for three.
The power supply now connects with a USB-C cable to match the rest of Google’s lineup.
Google Wifi has the same AC1200 speed and 1,500 sq ft of coverage.

Google’s entry-level mesh system, Google Wifi has been updated with a new price and an updated power supply with a USB-C connector. As reported by The Verge, Google’s original Google Wifi router has received a price drop down from $129 for a single unit to just $99. The three-pack has come down from $299 to $199. There are a couple of changes to the housing including an updated logo on top and it’s now being made out of partially recycled plastic. Google states that 49% of the device’s plastic is made with recycled material.

Google Wifi is still only available in white (Google calls it snow) and is limited to AC1200 speeds meaning this isn’t a good fit for someone with a gigabit internet connection though MU-MIMO is supported to he…

eero

Fits anywhere

$99 at Best Buy

Pros

Whole-house coverage
Easy setup
Compatible with other Eeros
Two Ethernet ports on base units

Cons

Relatively low top speed
Only dual-band

An eero mesh is a great way to expand your network through your entire home with several options for expansion, including eero, eero 6, eero Pro 6, and eero Beacon depending on how much speed you need and how much room you have.

Google Wifi

The name you know

$118 at Amazon

Pros

Whole-house coverage
Easy setup
Works with Nest Wifi
Two Ethernet ports on each unit

Cons

Google collects data
Only dual-band

Google Wifi is simple to use, easy to set up, and inexpensive; you can even run a cable to a switch should you need to do it. Consistent automatic updates ensure your network is secure and functioning well. You can add more Google Wifi or Nest Wifi nodes to expand the network as well.

Both Google Wifi and eero are excellent entry-level mesh Wi-Fi systems and each delivers on their m…

Big on speed

TP-Link Deco M9 Plus

$236 at Best Buy

Pros

Fast AC2200 Wi-Fi speeds
Tri-band Wi-Fi keeps mesh speed high
Two gigabit Ethernet ports
ZigBee smart home hub

Cons

More expensive

The TP-Link M9 Plus offers great specs in a tiny package. This white plastic puck can use its tri-band Wi-Fi to create a fast mesh network at high speeds even when connected to a mesh point. The Deco M9 makes a great start to a mesh network and the inclusion of two Ethernet ports on each node makes upgrading your home network a breeze.

Big on value

TP-Link Deco M5

$170 at Amazon

Pros

AC1300 speeds are enough for standard browsing
Small footprint
Great price
Two gigabit Ethernet ports

Cons

Dual-band will hamper mesh performance

Punching well above its weight in performance, the TP-Link Deco M5 surprises with its snappy AC1300 Wi-Fi speeds and mesh capabilities. The small package and expandability with other Deco products make it a great starter for your mesh network. T…