Articles by Samuel Contreras

Bought in bulk

Mint Mobile

From $15/month at Mint Mobile

Pros

Unlimited talk and text on all plans
T-Mobile LTE speeds
Upgrade plan at any time
Data as a hotspot

Cons

Must buy in bulk
No multi-line savings

Mint Mobile is known for providing great value if you are willing to buy three or more months of service at a time. All plans come with data access, unlimited talk and text, and the ability to use your data as a hotspot. Mint Mobile is a great fit for most smartphone users.

Great flexibility

Consumer Cellular

From $15/month at Consumer Cellular

Pros

Flexible data options
Share the plan with two lines
AARP discounts
Robust AT&T network

Cons

Hotspot not officially supported
More limited phone selections

Consumer Cellular lets you tailor a plan to your personal usage without needing to buy any more than you need. With plans ranging from calling only up to 25GB of data, Consumer Cellular can be a good fit for smartphones and basic phones alike.

…

Single-line, multi-month

Mint Mobile

From $15/month at Mint Mobile

Pros

Unlimited talk and text on all plans
T-Mobile network with 5G support
Upgrade plan at any time
Hotspot on all plans
International calling and texting

Cons

Must buy in bulk
No multi-line perks

Mint Mobile offers a great value to people that are willing to buy mobile phone service in bulk. With three data tiers in 3GB, 8GB, or 12GB packages, Mint Mobile has a plan that should work for the majority of smartphone users powered by the T-Mobile network with LTE and 5G at no extra cost.

Two big networks

US Mobile

From $3.50/month at US Mobile

Pros

T-Mobile or Verizon LTE
Save with a custom plan
Perks for two or more unlimited lines
10GB international data with the unlimited plan

Cons

Current 5G coverage is weak
Phone selection is weak
No international calling

Any user can put together a plan that works for them on US Mobile without giving up quality or speed thanks to a choice between th…

TP-Link Archer AX6000

Incredible Wi-Fi 6 speeds
Streamlined setup
Premium build

$300 at Amazon

Linksys MAX-STREAM Mesh

Ultra affordable
Mesh-compatible
Easy setup

$130 from Amazon

Best Wi-Fi 6 Routers:

1. TP-Link Archer AX6000
2. Linksys MAX-STREAM Mesh
3. Netgear 4-Stream WiFi 6
4. Asus RT-AX92U
5. TP-Link Archer AX1500
6. Linksys Velop MX5
7. Netgear Nighthawk MK62
8. Netgear Nighthawk AX5400
9. ASUS ROG Rapture AX11000
10. NETGEAR Orbi Home Mesh

The best Wi-Fi 6 routers get us closer to 5G speeds at home. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) has arrived and promises to push Wi-Fi speeds over 10Gbps by combining 2.4GHz and wider 5GHz bands to provide a better experience and much wi…

AT&T has one of the most developed 5G networks out right now with millimeter-wave coverage alongside low-band coverage in several cities. Both networks are available to customers with phones capable of connecting to both networks. AT&T has been aggressively expanding its 5G network and now approximates coverage for 120 million people with 190 markets. 80 Million are covered by the more accessible low-band network. Here’s what you need to know if you are considering switching to, or upgrading your phone on AT&T.

Jump to:

When will my area get 5G?
Cities covered
Which phones work with 5G?
Which plan do I need?
What tech is AT&T using?
What is 5Ge?
Is 5G worth it for most people?

When will my area get 5G?

As of July 23, 2020, AT&T has officially launched its nationwide 5G network.

As far as 5G goes, AT&T is building two networks. One network is a low-band sub-6 5G deployment at 850MHz. The majority of customers will see 5G on this network. The other ne…

Next generation

TP-Link Archer AX6000

$300 from Amazon

Pros

Fast AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 speeds
Eight Ethernet ports
2.5Gbps WAN ports
Professional design

Cons

Only dual-band
Large size

TP-Link’s Archer AX6000 offers great Wi-Fi 6 speeds for a reasonable price without giving up enthusiast features. With eight Ethernet ports to keep your wired devices connected and even a 2.5Gbps WAN port, this router can keep speeds high on both a wired and wireless network.

Gaming Performance

TP-Link Archer C5400X

$300 from Microsoft

Pros

Fast AC5400 tri-band speeds
Eight Ethernet ports
NVIDIA GeForce Now QoS

Cons

Garish design
Large size
Wi-Fi 5 becoming outdated

The TP-Link Archer C5400X is a focused, high-speed gaming router with some of the best wireless speeds for a Wi-Fi 5 device. With QoS software developed with NVIDIA, this router keeps speeds and pings consistent even with a lot of connections. Eight Ethernet ports let you get all of your console connected.

Asid…

A great balance

Nest Wifi

$169 at Amazon

Pros

Compact size
Features WPA3
Multiple expansion options
More affordable
Enough speed for most people

Cons

Relatively slow Wi-Fi 5
Less range than Alien

Nest Wifi focuses on using multiple routers and mesh points to build a Wi-Fi network for consistent coverage. With multiple options for expansion, from Nest Wifi points to Google Wifi routers, it’s easy to build a robust network even in a home with a lot of interference. Nest Wifi is extremely flexible and has plenty of speed for most people.

Ultimate speed and coverage

Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien

$379 at AmpliFi

Pros

Fast Wi-Fi 6
Four Ethernet ports
Great coverage
Touchscreen display

Cons

Large size
Not compatible with older AmpliFi mesh points

The AmpliFi Alien from Ubiquiti is a truly impressive Wi-Fi 6 router with incredible speed capabilities and an attractive design that stands alone. Most people will be able to get away with just one of these routers but it…

Big speed and coverage

Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien

$699 at AmpliFi

Pros

Fast combined wireless 7865Mbps speeds
Greater coverage
Color display
AmpliFi Teleport VPN included
Sleek design

Cons

Only one Ethernet port on node
No dedicated backhaul

In terms of raw speed and performance, the Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien exceeds the Orbi WiFi 6 in device bandwidth. The Alien also sports an attractive design with a nice display on the front of the main router with network statistics. The AmpliFi Teleport app also makes secure browsing on a public connection a breeze.

Multi-gig WAN

Netgear Orbi WiFi 6 (RBK852)

$700 at Amazon

Pros

2.5Gbps WAN
Fast AX6000 speed
Eight total Ethernet ports
Dedicated backhaul

Cons

Slower Wi-Fi
Less coverage

A dedicated 5GHz 2400Mbps band for connecting to other routers will help the Orbi WiFi 6 stay fast with demanding connections on any of the nodes. Access your gigabit connection all over the house including wired devices thanks to four LAN …

More data

Metro by T-Mobile

From $30/mo. at Metro by T-Mobile

Pros

Larger data packages
No overage charge
Multi-line discount
Unlimited talk and text

Cons

More expensive
No international roaming

Metro by T-Mobile is a great option for someone that needs a lot of data. If you find yourself using more than 12GB of data and are unwilling to change your habits, Metro is the best option. Discounts for bringing more lines help narrow the price gap as well.

Bulk savings

Mint Mobile

From $15/mo. at Mint Mobile

Pros

Free calls to Mexico and Canada
No overage charge
Unlimited talk and text
international roaming options

Cons

No multi-line discounts
No stores for support
Minimum of three months

Mint Mobile is a great value for many people. Most people will find the data packages to be more than enough. Buying in bulk can also be convenient if you want to get service for a family member or child without adding them to your plan.

Both networks run on the same …

The Fastest Velop

Linksys Velop MX10

$600 at Best Buy

Pros

5,282Mbps combined wireless speed
Eight total Ethernet ports
Works with older Velop nodes
WPA3 support
Less expensive

Cons

Not as fast as Alien

The Linksys Velop MX10 comes with a base and a node that can provide more than enough coverage for even large homes with plenty of speed for the vast majority of people thanks to a fast Wi-Fi 6 backhaul. If you are looking to make the most of your gigabit internet connection, the Velop MX10 should be able to keep up even if you’re connected to the node.

No Compromises

Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien

$699 at AmpliFi

Pros

7685Mbps combined wireless speed
Five total Ethernet ports
WPA3 support
Integrated touch screen
AmpliFi Teleport is included

Cons

Only one Ethernet on the node
More expensive

Ubiquiti doesn’t hold anything back with the AmpliFi Alien. With a sleek matte black housing and color display on the front, this is easily one of the best looking wireless…

Data focused

Mint Mobile

From $15/month at Mint Mobile

Pros

Unlimited talk and text
5G support
Unlimited 2G data
Hotspot included
Free calls to Mexico, Canada

Cons

Only uses T-Mobile
All plans require data

Mint Mobile makes a lot of sense for most smartphone users with good T-Mobile coverage thanks to three data sizes that work for most people. With 3, 6, and 12-month options available, you save money the more you’re willing to buy in advance. All plans come with unlimited talk and text, including free calls to Mexico and Canada

Max flexibility

Republic Wireless

From $12.50/month at Republic Wireless

Pros

Sprint or T-Mobile network
Unlimited talk and text
Hotspot included
Plan flexibility

Cons

Data can get expensive
No international calling
Can’t choose your network
No 5G

Republic Wireless has a plan that can grow with you without the risk of buying more than you need. Data can be added to plans at $5 per 1GB with base plans starting at 1GB, 2GB, or w…