Articles by Samuel Contreras

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 their expensive C-band spectrum release, 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 more than 305 million people in the U.S., including a lot of coverage in rural areas. This is mostly thanks to T-Mobile’s low-band 600Mhz (n71) spectrum, which offers excellent coverage and speeds comparable to fast LTE. T-Mobile is also improving its 5G network with Sprint’s mid-band 2.5GHz (n41) spectrum in addition to its o…

What you need to know

Metro by T-Mobile and T-Mobile are coming to 2,300 Walmart stores and Walmart.com.
This deal more than doubles T-Mobile’s presence in large national retailers.
Metro by T-Mobile plans and devices will be available starting October 18, followed by T-Mobile on November 1.

T-Mobile and Walmart announced that Metro by T-Mobile plans and devices will come to Walmart retail locations followed by T-Mobile. The carrier’s services will be available in 2,300 Walmart locations as well as Walmart.com. T-Mobile is also looking to expand into around 1,000 Best Buy locations.

While T-Mobile already has locations across the country inside stores, this deal with Walmart will more than double T-Mobile’s presence in large retail locations, not to mention T-Mobile’s own stores around the country.

Starting October 18, 2021, Metro by T-Mobile’s three unlimited plans and affordable 5G devices will be available in Walmart stores and on Walmart.com. Metro by T-Mobile is a prepaid …

Best answer: Yes, Tello uses the T-Mobile network for its customers, including LTE and 5G support. All Tello plans come with 5G support, but you may need to upgrade your phone to use it.

Does Tello support 5g?

Tello uses the T-Mobile network for all of its connectivity with full LTE and 5G support. While some customers with older Tello activations may still be using the Sprint network, these people will be transitioned to the T-Mobile network soon with a phone upgrade or may have already been moved over if they have a compatible phone.

To get access to 5G on Tello, you’ll need a phone capable of using T-Mobile’s 5G network— that’s band n71 for most coverage and n41 for improved speeds. Most of the best Android phones available today support this network, including Samsung’s Galaxy S20 and S21, 5G Google Pixels, and even iPhone 12 phones. There are also cheaper Android phones with 5G, such as the OnePlus Nord N200 5G sold by Tello.

T-Mobile’s 5G network covers 305 million Amer…

Greater savings potential

Mint Mobile

From $15/mo. at Mint Mobile

Pros

T-Mobile network with 5G
Unlimited talk and text on all plans
Hotspot included
Great multi-month savings

Cons

Must buy in bulk
Unlimited plan only has 35GB at full speed

Mint Mobile offers plenty of data for most people with a set of four plans targeted squarely at smartphone users. Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s network with full 5G support and hotspot data included with every plan. Unlimited talk and text also come with every plan.

Flexible plans

Tello

From $5/mo. at Tello

Pros

T-Mobile network with 5G
Prices start low
Flexible plans can work for most people
Hotspot included

Cons

Phone support can be confusing
Unlimited plan only has 25GB at full speed

Tello has a plan that works for just about anyone, whether they only want talk and text or need enough data for heavy smartphone usage. Tello has moved its network to T-Mobile, allowing for improved coverage and 5G support. Tello also…

The best Wi-Fi 6 routers get us closer to multi-gigabit 5G speeds at home. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) has arrived and promises to push Wi-Fi speeds up to 2.4Gbps per device to provide a better experience and more extensive coverage at home. Not only that, but most of these routers come with great software, including parental controls, to make your life easier. The new Wi-Fi standard is becoming increasingly common in phones and laptops. So now is the right time to invest in one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers on the market.

What are the best Wi-Fi 6 routers?

The TP-Link Archer AX90 is a great balance for most people, whether you’re a gamer looking for a fast and stable connection or just want something that provides consistent coverage. OneMesh is included for easy expansion, and HomeShield keeps your connection secure. The AX6600 connection is perfect for families or streamers with plenty of capacity for dozens of devices.

The second best option is the Linksys MAX-STREAM Mesh Router, which i…

Plan ahead

Mint Mobile

From $15/mo. at Mint Mobile

Pros

Lots of data
Unlimited calls and texts
Compatible with most phones
Discounts in bulk

Cons

Must buy at least three months

Buy in bulk to save money for service on T-Mobile’s network with Mint Mobile. Plans come in 4GB, 10GB, and 15GB packages with an unlimited plan with up to 35GB of high-speed data. Calls and texts are unlimited, and calling to Mexico and Canada is included.

Start small

Ting Mobile

From $10/mo. at Ting Mobile

Pros

Low cost of entry
Lots of hotspot data on the unlimited plans
Cheap entry price
Compatible with most phones

Cons

Gets expensive with lots of data

Ting is a great value for many people, especially light users looking for a plan that starts cheap but can still use data without getting too expensive. Ting also has great options for those that need a lot of data with two unlimited plans that come with 22GB or 35GB of data.

Ting’s Flex plan is a great starting point for…

The fastest Eero

Eero Pro 6

$229 at Amazon

Pros

Fast tri-band AX4200 Wi-Fi is fast enough for gigabit connections
Compact size compared to other Wi-Fi 6 routers
Eero software is easy to use and stable
Mesh expansion with all other Eeros

Cons

Only two Ethernet ports per node
Eero Secure and Secure+ require a subscription

Eero Pro 6 is not only the fastest Eero ever, but its speed is on par with other routers at its price. AX4200 tri-band Wi-Fi makes this router a great fit for those trying to make the most of their gigabit internet connection. It’s also one of the most compact Wi-Fi 6 routers at this speed.

Still enough for most

Eero Pro

$199 at Amazon

Pros

Solid tri-band AC2200 Wi-Fi for consistent mesh performance
Compact size
Eero software is easy to use and stable
Mesh expansion with all other Eeros

Cons

Only two Ethernet ports per node
Eero Secure and Secure+ require a subscription
Slow performance for the price

The Eero Pro is a solid router, eve…

If you’re looking for a great T-Mobile alternative, there are a ton of options with a wide variety of plans. A lot of MVNOs use T-Mobile’s network, either exclusively or in combination with other carriers, thanks to its growing coverage, 5G, and great compatibility with unlocked phones. These carriers even work with 5G if you have a compatible phone. Metro by T-Mobile is a great fit for most people, thanks to plenty of data options and multiline savings.

Best overall: Metro by T-Mobile

Metro by T-Mobile isn’t technically an MVNO since T-Mobile owns it. However, Metro operates independently and has different policies, pricing, and features. Metro offers plans with unlimited calling and texting. The price differences come down to the data packages available at 2GB, 10GB, or unlimited. Plans start at $30 per month, which includes all taxes and extra fees.

All plans come with unlimited talk and text, and the 10GB comes with unlimited music streaming. The cheapest unlimited plan come…

A mesh that boosts performance with a 6GHz backhaul

The ZenWiFi ET8 from Asus is a Wi-Fi 6E mesh system with two compact nodes and solid AXE6600 speeds. Mesh systems work by connecting multiple nodes (the backhaul) to cover a larger area than a single router can. With the 6GHz spectrum newly enabled by Wi-Fi 6E, a faster and more consistent backhaul can be used to keep speeds high even on older devices that only support 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi.

Moving to 6GHz for the backhaul makes a lot of sense on paper since a mesh system can take advantage of the new spectrum immediately and pass those advantages on to 5GHz devices connected to the mesh. This is easily one of the best Wi-Fi 6E routers you can get. The hardware is all here for a great home networking experience, and as long as Asus’ software can keep up, its performance lives up to the specs in almost every area.

Asus ZenWiFi ET8 review:

Price and availability
What you’ll like
What you won’t like
The competition
Should you b…

The best prepaid phone plans eliminate the things you don’t need while keeping all the features that matter most. The days of being locked into a lengthy wireless contract are over, as there are a plethora of prepaid options that allow you to pay for your phone service on a month-to-month basis. We’ve taken the liberty of breaking down the top prepaid wireless options for you in this handy guide.

Check your coverage

One of the first things you should consider when deciding on a prepaid carrier is the coverage provided in your area. Prepaid carriers often have a smaller coverage map than postpaid carriers because of their limited roaming agreements, so it’s good to re-check your area, even if you’ve used the carrier before.

Your phone will need to support the network your prepaid carrier uses as well. Luckily, most of the best Android phones are unlocked and support these networks. Getting an unlocked phone also makes it easier to switch carriers if you ever need to.

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