T-Mobile Home Internet Review – ClassyBuzz

Like

No contractsNo knowledge capsSimple, inexpensive pricingAggressively aggressive with its phrases and perks

Do not Like

Speeds could varyMax. obtain speeds do not match fiber and cableHome web clients deprioritized over cellular

Product particulars

Worth vary
$50 per 30 days ($30 for eligible T-Mobile Magenta Max clients)

Pace vary
33 – 182Mbps

Highlights
Limitless knowledge, tools included, no contracts, no extra charges

Particular presents
Worth Lock assure, 15-day Take a look at Drive, free Paramount Plus for 12 months, $10 off per 30 days on Philo TV for a yr

On this article:

T-Mobile needed to be feeling fairly happy about its 5G home internet offering. Within the first half of 2022, it rolled out an aggressive “Internet Freedom” marketing campaign with the tagline, “Free yourself from internet BS.” The corporate additionally made a splash with the American Buyer Satisfaction Index’s 2022 survey outcomes, which positioned newcomer T-Mobile Home Internet second amongst all nationwide web service suppliers. Not too shabby.

Nevertheless it hit a minor pace bump in early 2023 when over 30,000 T-Mobile Home Internet clients had been lower off from service in mid-February resulting from a software program replace that crippled their modems. A T-Mobile spokesperson shared with ClassyBuzz that almost all clients have been reconnected and mentioned, “We’re persevering with to supply our Home Internet clients choices to trade their gadgets if wanted.”

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T-Mobile Home Internet began rolling out as a pilot program early in 2021, and considered one of my (now former) ClassyBuzz colleagues, Rick Broida, was one of many first to provide it a check run. By April 2021, T-Mobile introduced it had launched its residence broadband service nationwide. A brief yr later, it proclaimed it had expanded its availability to 40 million households, and ClassyBuzz’s Eli Blumenthal gave it a attempt.

We have been conscious of T-Mobile’s need to make use of 5G to interrupt into the house web sport for fairly a while. However now that the corporate’s residence broadband providing is established, what does that imply for you? Does 5G residence web provide one thing new? Is T-Mobile Home Internet a viable choice to switch your present ISP? 

Sarah Tew/ClassyBuzz

First, the value is true: T-Mobile expenses $50 a month (and that is diminished to $30 for eligible Magenta Max cellular clients). On prime of that, you do not have to fret about lengthy-time period contracts or knowledge caps. Fairly candy, proper?

Positively, however it’s early days but. Though T-Mobile Home Internet is at present out there to over 40 million properties throughout the US, many places and addresses cannot get it. Whereas 5G is the marquee participant on this invoice, T-Mobile depends on 4G LTE to assist develop its residence web service space. Because of this of the 5G residence web suppliers, T-Mobile will provide the slowest speeds on common. However let’s dig into the main points.

T-Mobile’s Wi-Fi Gateway modem-router.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile Home Internet availability

After we begin discussing any ISP, it is at all times good to start by answering the basic query: Can I get this service? T-Mobile Home Internet is obtainable to over 40 million households throughout the nation. That makes it the US’s most generally out there 5G residence web service. By comparability, Verizon’s 5G Home Internet service has rolled out in approximately 900 markets but is available to around 30 million homes. In the meantime, T-Mobile is open to signups in over 600 cities, but more households, many within rural areas.

To explore a complete list of the available cities and towns, refer to this T-Mobile Home Internet PDF. 

When will T-Mobile Home Internet get to my space?

As talked about, T-Mobile is essentially the most broadly out there 5G residence web service. However when you think about that US Census data places the overall variety of households within the nation at over 122 million, about 67% of households stay ineligible for T-Mobile Home Internet. 

A T-Mobile spokesperson did not have particular particulars on enlargement plans however highlighted that greater than 10 million households within the present footprint are inside rural America. Moreover, there is a give attention to increasing entry for small cities and communities. For these exterior the present availability window, T-Mobile’s website mentions that enlargement may take six months or extra and permits events to place their title on the listing for down the street.

That mentioned, T-Mobile additionally introduced a Home Internet Lite service, open to anybody inside a T-Mobile service space. Whereas that broadens the corporate’s availability footprint, it would not be proper to incorporate this as a part of T-Mobile Home Internet as Lite comes with a 100GB knowledge cap. 

T-Mobile Home Internet plans and pricing

Simplicity is without doubt one of the largest issues that jumps out at me after I take a look at T-Mobile Home Internet. There is not an array of tiers and choices from which to decide on as a result of there’s one plan and one plan solely.

T-Mobile Home Internet pricing

Plan

Max speeds

Month-to-month worth

Tools price

Information cap

Contract

T-Mobile Home Internet

33-182Mbps obtain, 6-23Mbps add

$50 ($30 for eligible Magenta Max cellular clients)

None

None

None

One dimension suits all

There aren’t many qualifiers when discussing T-Mobile Home Internet plans. It is one plan, one worth and no extra charges. The premise of 5G residence web is that, not like typical internet connection types (including coaxial cable lines, fiber-optic internet and digital subscriber line), you’re not reliant on underground constructions and deployments to get you connected. Instead, it’s a fixed wireless service that provides you with a router that connects to a cellular signal.

T-Mobile provides its Wi-Fi Gateway device, a combination modem and Wi-Fi 6 router compatible with T-Mobile’s 4G LTE and 5G networks. As you can see from the chart, the only variable is the average download and upload speed you’ll experience. At the bare minimum, T-Mobile says all eligible households will see average download speeds of 33 megabits per second. Depending on your location and the placement of the T-Mobile Gateway, you might see download speeds as high as 182Mbps or more.

Currently, T-Mobile utilizes more of its 4G LTE network to expand its availability, so don’t expect full 5G capabilities.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile Home Internet speeds: Isn’t 5G supposed to be faster?

The hope and promise of 5G and its capabilities have not yet been fully realized. My colleague Eli Blumenthal has wonderfully detailed the basics of 5G and how not all “5G” is the same. In summary: Faster 5G speeds come with shorter ranges. The farther the distance, the less speed on the top end.

For T-Mobile to hit the road running with availability to over 30 million households at its launch, it needed to lean on its 4G LTE network and its growing 5G network. That’s why my ClassyBuzz colleagues averaged just over 40Mbps download speeds with T-Mobile Home Internet, and some households may get up to just over 100Mbps. Anecdotally, we’ve heard of some users seeing download speeds as high as 300Mbps. Still, T-Mobile’s FAQ section guarantees clients will “see typical obtain speeds between 33-182Mbps.” So, which may be loads of pace for a lot of, however do not anticipate the upper obtain speeds you would possibly get with fiber web or cable plans. At the very least not but.

On the plus aspect, no hidden charges

One of many vital wins for T-Mobile Home Internet is its straightforwardness. There is not any pesky small print. ISPs are infamous for his or her hidden charges and entice pricing that tries to lure you in with engaging promo costs however then stick you with a bigger invoice after these phrases expire. That is not the case right here.

T-Mobile Home Internet options no knowledge caps, so you do not have to worry knowledge overage charges. There is not any tools price for the Gateway gadget, so you do not have to determine an extra month-to-month value to tack on to your common invoice. It additionally requires no annual service contracts, so you haven’t any early termination charges looming over your head. These are all interesting points of this service and make it very engaging to attempt T-Mobile Home Internet if out there in your space.

T-Mobile Home Internet offers and promotions

Along with the above shopper-pleasant approaches, T-Mobile can also be making an attempt to sweeten the pot for potential clients. 

First, households with eligible Magenta Max plans can save $20 month-to-month. T-Mobile additionally presents new clients a yearlong Paramount Plus subscription for free (a $60 value). Third, you can subscribe to Philo TV for $15 a month for one year ($10 off per month). Fourth, home internet customers can now participate in T-Mobile Tuesdays, the company’s weekly discount and free perks promotion. 

Additionally, T-Mobile boasts a Price Lock guarantee, which means no rate changes for as long as you remain a customer. It also runs a “Worry-free Test Drive” promotion during which customers can try the service for 15 days with a money-back guarantee. Lastly, T-Mobile is offering customers $50 back in a virtual prepaid Mastercard if they switch over to T-Mobile Home Internet from another provider.

T-Mobile Home Internet vs. competitors

Regarding availability, T-Mobile is ahead of its 5G home internet competitors, Starry and Verizon. Starry is available in five major metropolitan areas: Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, DC. Verizon is available in more cities than T-Mobile (currently 900) but is behind T-Mobile’s total households covered.

However, Starry and Verizon have the upper hand on average download speeds. Starry customers typically see consistent download speeds of 200Mbps, and Verizon’s 5G Home Internet plans average around 300Mbps. What Starry and Verizon have given up regarding widespread availability, they currently make up for in the average speeds they deliver.

All three 5G home internet providers share freedom from all the hidden fees and pricing games that many cable and fiber ISPs play. With 5G, the monthly rate is the monthly rate. There are no added fees, equipment rental charges, data caps or binding annual contracts.

So, how good is T-Mobile Home Internet, really?

Regarding 5G, we’re much closer to the beginning than the end of where everything will shake out. If it’s speed you’re after, T-Mobile’s 5G home internet service might not impress you if you have other cable and fiber internet providers available at your address. But if you’re in a rural or less developed area where DSL or satellite was your only previous option, T-Mobile will feel lightning fast by comparison.

Overall, T-Mobile has positioned itself as a viable option in the home internet space, making it an intriguing player to watch as it expands its 5G infrastructure. If nothing else, since it demands no contract commitment, it’s an opportunity to try a different option and maybe even use it as leverage to negotiate with your current internet service provider. Hopefully, the more options we have as consumers, our internet service will improve in the long run.

T-Mobile Home Internet FAQs

Are there data caps with T-Mobile Home Internet?

No. T-Mobile Home Internet features unlimited data. Customers will not have any potential data overage fees or charges hanging over their heads. That said, T-Mobile Home Internet customers could find their service slowed in cases where the company prioritizes its mobile users over its fixed wireless customers.

Does T-Mobile Home Internet come with a router?

Yes. One of the appealing aspects of T-Mobile Home Internet is that its monthly fee — $50 a month if you use AutoPay and $30 a month for eligible Magenta Max mobile customers — includes a 5G Gateway (a modem/router combo device). The T-Mobile equipment lease is included in the one fee, and all that’s required is that you return the device when you end service with T-Mobile.

Is T-Mobile Home Internet faster than satellite internet?

For the most part, yes, but not unequivocally. As T-Mobile says in its Open Internet policy, “many elements have an effect on the pace and efficiency that clients expertise, together with … proximity to a cell website, climate and the encompassing terrain,” so your obtain speeds, which common between 33-182Mbps, are usually not assured. However clients ought to see obtain speeds larger than these sometimes achieved by HughesNet (common of 25Mbps) and Viasat (12-100Mbps). The Starlink plans boast the next vary (20-250Mbps) however are usually not as broadly out there as T-Mobile Home Internet. It is also far more costly — $110-$135 a month, plus a one-time tools price of $599.