Competition in the world of home internet has been a dream for many cord cutters. Now thanks to T-Mobile and others finally, there is real competition for home internet. No longer are you limited to DSL, Cable, and maybe a fiber internet option. Now there are a growing number of other options, including T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet.
The question now is should you spend your money on T-Mobile 5G Home Internet? Is it worth the cost? Can you stream what you want with it?
Disclaimer: T-Mobile provided Cord Cutters News with a review unit for this review. T-Mobile did not get to see our review before we posted it live and had no requests or limitations on our ability to test out their home internet service. We tested it in my personal home over several weeks, not at a T-Mobile test site.
Here is our quick review of the T-Mobile 5G Home Internet:
Pricing:
T-Mobile’s 5G internet service skips equipment rentals and is available for $50/month with no contracts.
If you have a Go5G Plus or Magenta Max plan from T-Mobile, you may qualify to get T-Mobile Home Internet for just $30 a month.
Speeds
T-Mobile advertised the service as a 100 Mbps down speed. In our testing, we regularly got over 200 Mbps down, but sometimes it would fall into the 100 Mbps range.
One note we did move the modem around to different windows and found that putting the modem on the south side of our house gave us the best speed vs the north side.
Also, moving the modem by a window helped improve the internet speed vs having it in the middle of our house.
Speeds for T-Mobile Home Internet will very depending on where you live. So I may get 200 Mbps down, but your speed may be different.
Is T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Fast Enough For Streaming?
Yes, we were able to stream Amazon, Paramount+, YouTube TV, and more without issues using T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet.
There are a few services that lock you into a home IP location. Because T-Mobile’s Home Internet changes your IP address often, it makes using Hulu with Live TV, for example, very difficult.
Most streaming services need 15 Mbps to 20 Mbps for a 4K stream. Even at just 100 Mbps, you should easily be able to stream the movies and TV shows you want, even at 4K.
Setup
Setting up my modem was very easy. I plugged it in and downloaded the T-Mobile app. It only took a few minutes to follow the steps in the app.
Help With Early Termination Fees:
T-Mobile is also offering up to $750 to help you pay off early termination fees with your current internet provider so you can make the switch.
Here are the full terms for the $750 help with termination fees:
Limited-time offer; subject to change. Qualifying credit, Internet Service Provider Early Termination Fee, and new Home or Business Internet service required. ISP’s ETF, up to $750, paid via virtual prepaid Mastercard, which you can use online or in-store via accepted mobile payment apps; no cash access & expires in 6 months. Submit proof of ETF & 90+ days in good standing w/ ISP within 60 days of new Internet service activation and be active and in good standing when processed. We might ask for more information. One offer per eligible address; max 5/account. T-Mobile Virtual Prepaid Mastercard is a rebate for the new service; for any tax implications, consult a tax advisor. Cards issued by Sunrise Banks N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. This card may be used everywhere Debit Mastercard is accepted. Registration, activation, acceptance, or use of this card constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in the Prepaid Card Agreement. This promotion is not associated, sponsored, or endorsed by Mastercard or Sunrise Banks N.A. Allow 8 weeks from fulfillment of offer requirements. May not be combinable with some offers or discounts. Why pay more vs. regular rates of cable competitors with greater than 10% population coverage according to Dec. 2022 FCC Communications Marketplace Report.
Test T-Mobile Home Internet before You Pay:
T-Mobile now offers a 15-day free trial of T-Mobile Home Internet, letting you test it out before you get locked into it.
Here are the legal details of the 15-day test drive:
Cancel within 15 days of Home Internet service activation. Limited-time offer; subject to change. Qualifying new Home Internet line and timely gateway return required. Refund via one-time bill credit. Max 1/account. May not be combinable with some offers or discounts.
Final Thoughts
For the average American who wants to watch videos, check email, and surf the web, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet should easily be what you want. Dedicated gamers who really want that crazy fast internet may want to consider other options. For those who are not dedicated gamers t-Mobile 5G Home Internet may be perfect for them.