%XWSKRQHVFDQ¶WDGGDVPDQ\FKDQQHOVWRD
FKDQQHO6RLIWKH\¶UHLQPRGHWKH\¶UHJLYLQJXS
channels so they can use that extremely narrow, often
0+]FKDQQHODQGWKHUHVXOWLVVORZHU
performance: also known as “faux G.” For AT&T, using
a 5G phone in testing was often a step backward from
RXU*RQO\SKRQH
AT&T also says it has a fast, “5G+” high-band network
in 35 cities. I’ve tested it in Dallas, Las Vegas, and New
<RUN8QIRUWXQDWHO\$7 7GRHVQ¶WR̆HUPDSVRIWKDW
network, and our drivers never seemed to encounter it,
even though they went near locations where I’ve tested
it before.
T-Mobile uses a somewhat wider low-band 5G channel
than AT&T does. T-Mobile’s 5G speeds were faster than
VSHHGVDWWKHVDPHORFDWLRQVLQWHVWFLWLHVDQG
they were slower in seven. T-Mobile is also starting to
use mid-band 5G, though, which might be the sweet
spot. In Philadelphia, a mid-band city, T-Mobile’s 5G
ZDVSHUFHQWIDVWHUWKDQLWV,Q:DVKLQJWRQ
another mid-band city, it was 330 percent faster than
70RELOHDOVRKDVDKLJKEDQGQHWZRUNLQVHYHQ
cities, but we didn’t see any results that just screamed
out “high-band 5G.”
%XW70RELOH¶V*VSHHGVVX̆HUHGWKLV\HDUZKLFKLV
why it won only one city. I have some theories about
this. T-Mobile is in the middle of integrating a huge
number of Sprint customers, who have been given
access to T-Mobile’s network. We’ve seen networks slow
down because of congestion before; most famously, it
happened when Verizon got the iPhone in 2011.
70RELOHLVKDQGOLQJWKHLQÀX[RIQHZFXVWRPHUVRQLWV
QHWZRUNGHFHQWO\LQPRVWSODFHVEXWWKHÀRRGPD\EH
setting it back somewhat.
For AT&T,
using a 5G
phone in
testing was
often a step
backward
from our
4G-only
phone.