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Is 5G home internet a good idea for apartment dwellers?
National 5G providers like T-Mobile 5G Home Internet are nice alternatives to the fully wired provider your landlord might recommend. T-Mobile has the biggest 5G network in the U.S., and its equipment did well in our real-world testing. Verizon and AT&T also offer 5G or 4G LTE home internet that might be available if your new place is an older neighborhood or a rural area.
The following plans get it right when it comes to price, speed, and quality of service. What’s available to you will depend on your exact location.
Data as of 12/17/24. Lower prices may require bundling with mobile phone service. See disclaimers.
Benefits of 5G home internet
Internet service from 5G providers is easy to install. Just decide where to put your Wi-Fi gateway, plug it into a standard power outlet, log in on the mobile app on your phone, and follow the on-screen instructions to set up your network and devices. It should take about 15 minutes.
Freedom from contracts and the early termination fees they come with is another good reason to choose 5G home internet. If you don’t like the service for any reason, just let your provider know and return your equipment. It’s like it never happened.
Modern Wi-Fi gear is another big benefit of 5G home internet. With each of the top three providers, you get a free gateway that makes it easy to connect your phones, laptops, gaming consoles, and smart speakers. Then, you can control it all in a free mobile app.
Reasons to skip 5G home internet
Fixed wireless internet uses the same technology cell phones use, so it’s subject to some of the same problems. If your apartment is far from the nearest 5G tower or if a lot of your neighbors are trying to get online at once, for example, you could see slower internet speeds. Unfortunately, 5G home internet service is deprioritized relative to mobile traffic on the same network.
Limited plan choice is something else to keep in mind with 5G internet providers. While some cable and fiber internet companies offer a wide range of plans, companies like T-Mobile and AT&T offer only one option for 5G home internet.
Crowded Wi-Fi channels can also be a problem with 5G home internet in apartments. You can usually get around this problem by connecting your high-bandwidth devices (such as a 4K TV or gaming console) directly to your gateway using an Ethernet cable. However, devices you can’t hardwire (like smartphones and laptops) may face signal interference.
Limited router choice is also a consideration. If you choose 5G home internet, your all-in-one gateway is included, and it functions as both a modem and router. If you’ve already invested in a router with all the bells and whistles, it may be wasted on a 5G home internet connection.
Before you decide on home internet for your apartment, It’s important to consider your current mobile phone provider. Every 5G home provider we review offers steep discounts for bundling your home internet plan with one of its mobile phone plans.
On the other hand, it’s possible to bundle mobile phone service with many cable and fiber internet providers, and it’s a good way to save money. Xfinity Mobile, for example, gives you two lines for just $30 each per month if you already have Xfinity internet. Spectrum gives you a free line of unlimited mobile phone service for a year if you already have Spectrum internet, and monthly prices after that first year are just $29.99 per line, if you have at least two lines.
Learn more about mobile and internet bundles.