Mobile service became substantially faster across the three major U.S. networks during the first half of 2026, but the latest testing does not produce one simple winner for consumers shopping for a cheaper plan.
The combined nationwide median download speed for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon reached 334 Mbps, according to reporting on Ookla’s latest RootMetrics results. That is about 74% higher than the 192 Mbps recorded in the first half of 2024. The share of download tests conducted over 5G also climbed to 93%, up from 84% a year earlier, as Light Reading reported.
The practical takeaway is bigger than a speed-test trophy. With all three networks improving, more consumers may be able to choose a lower-priced prepaid carrier or MVNO based on price and plan terms without accepting obviously inadequate performance. That opportunity still depends heavily on where the customer lives, works, and travels.
T-Mobile led the download medians
T-Mobile posted the highest nationwide median download speed at 392 Mbps, rising from 374.5 Mbps in the second half of 2025. Verizon recorded 302 Mbps, a much larger jump from 226.5 Mbps, while AT&T improved from 193 Mbps to 228.7 Mbps.
Those figures came from a broad testing program rather than a small collection of user-submitted screenshots. RootMetrics conducted about 3 million tests from January through June, covering all 50 states and 125 major metropolitan markets. Its technicians drove more than 243,000 miles and completed more than 6,900 indoor tests. The testing used current flagship Android phones.
Yet T-Mobile’s higher median did not translate into an uncontested overall victory. TechRepublic’s account of the findings says Verizon received the highest broader national score at 98.4, narrowly ahead of AT&T at 98.3 and T-Mobile at 97.3. RootMetrics considers performance across its national test sample rather than simply awarding first place to the carrier with the highest median download number.
That distinction matters because a fast urban 5G connection cannot compensate for weak service on a customer’s commute, inside a workplace, or along frequently traveled rural roads. Download speed is also only one part of the experience. Calls, reliability, responsiveness, uploads, and consistency can have more influence on whether a plan feels dependable.
The networks improved in different ways
The results show how close the competition has become while also revealing different strengths. An analysis from IT Connection found that AT&T earned or shared five national RootScore awards and won the call category outright. T-Mobile shared the network-speed award with AT&T, led in 5G availability at 96.1%, and delivered median downloads of at least 200 Mbps in 123 of the 125 tested metropolitan markets.
Verizon, meanwhile, won or shared six national awards and collected the most awards across state and metro testing. Its 5G availability increased from 80.2% in the second half of 2025 to 89% in the first half of 2026. Verizon also raised its count of major markets with median downloads of at least 200 Mbps from 104 to 123.
For shoppers, that makes claims such as “fastest” or “best network” less useful without the methodology and location attached. A carrier can lead one national download measurement while another performs better across RootMetrics’ wider scoring system. Both statements may be accurate, but neither guarantees the better connection at a particular home.
What this means for wireless bills
The improving network baseline strengthens the case for testing less expensive service that runs on the same underlying infrastructure. Customers considering an MVNO should identify its host network, then confirm coverage at the places where they actually use their phones. A low monthly price is not a saving if calls repeatedly fail indoors or data becomes unusable during a daily commute.
Consumers also should not assume that an MVNO will reproduce every result obtained on a major carrier’s flagship plan. Network priority, high-speed data allowances, video restrictions, hotspot limits, and device capabilities can affect the experience. The RootMetrics tests used flagship hardware, while a budget phone with an older modem or fewer supported spectrum bands may not reach the reported medians.
The encouraging part is that ordinary tasks do not require anything close to a 300 Mbps connection. Navigation, messaging, music, and typical video streaming can work well at far lower speeds. Once a network is consistently fast enough, plan price, taxes, data priority, hotspot access, roaming, and customer support become more meaningful differentiators than another jump in peak download performance.
Before moving a family line or financing a new phone, shoppers should test the prospective network locally when possible. A short prepaid trial or secondary eSIM can expose indoor dead zones and congestion without immediately porting the main number. The new national results show that consumers have stronger networks to choose from; they do not eliminate the need to verify which one delivers value in the locations that matter.