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PCMag’s 2020 test found that AT&T phones connected to 5G were slower than AT&T 4G phones in 21 of 22 cities. That is a striking result, but it does not prove that 5G is generally slower than 4G: it describes one carrier, one test period and the early state of 5G deployment. Later reports show that the answer changes with the carrier, location and metric being measured.
What PCMag’s 2020 test actually showed
In a September 8, 2020 report, Ars Technica’s Jon Brodkin described PCMag’s annual mobile network test as finding slower speeds on AT&T 5G phones than on AT&T 4G phones in 21 of 22 cities. The comparison was specific to AT&T; it was not a finding that every carrier’s 5G was slower than its LTE network.
In that same reported comparison, average download speeds were 103.1 Mbps for AT&T, 74 Mbps for T-Mobile and 105.1 Mbps for Verizon. These are the carriers’ reported averages in that test, not a promise about what a customer would see on either 4G or 5G in a particular place.
Why AT&T’s 5G could lose to its 4G
The report said AT&T phones often received only 5 MHz of 5G spectrum. That narrow allocation constrained throughput, while AT&T’s LTE network remained strong. Under those conditions, connecting to the newer network did not guarantee a speed improvement.
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A 5G indicator tells you the phone is connected using 5G; it does not certify that the connection is faster than the same carrier’s LTE at that spot. The spectrum layer available locally, congestion, indoor or rural coverage, the phone’s supported bands and plan provisioning can all affect the comparison.
What more recent network reports say
Later reports do not give one universal winner because they measure different things over different periods. The figures below retain the metric and period reported; they should not be read as a single, directly comparable head-to-head speed test.
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| Report and period | Finding | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Opensignal, January 2025 report; observations from September 1 through November 29, 2024 | Overall Experience scores: AT&T 60.8, T-Mobile 63.8 and Verizon 61.1. Verizon users averaged 2 Mbps faster than T-Mobile users and 7 Mbps faster than AT&T users. | The overall-experience score and the reported average-speed comparison are different measures; neither establishes that one carrier wins every location or use case. |
| Opensignal, June 2025 report | T-Mobile had the highest reported 5G Download Speed score at 252.4 Mbps. AT&T scored 167.8 Mbps, less than 2 Mbps behind Verizon. | This report’s 5G download-speed result favored T-Mobile; it does not undo the 2020 AT&T-specific finding or predict an individual customer’s speed. |
| RootMetrics results for the second half of 2024, reported by Light Reading in February 2025 | AT&T led overall performance, reliability, speed and data performance. Verizon won Best 5G, Fastest 5G and Most Reliable 5G. T-Mobile had nearly 92% 5G availability, compared with 81.2% for AT&T and 64.5% for Verizon. | A carrier can lead one measure and not another. Availability, 5G-specific awards and overall performance answer different questions. |
Why “fastest 5G” depends on what and where you measure
Carrier rankings can shift with the test’s dates, locations, devices and definition of performance. Download speed is only one part of the experience; availability, reliability, overall performance and latency are separate considerations. A network that scores well across a broad set of locations may not be the fastest at your home, workplace or commute.
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- Coverage and availability: A 5G service may be available in one place but not another, and reported availability percentages describe the test’s measured experience rather than guaranteed coverage at every address.
- Network conditions: Congestion and the spectrum layer serving your phone can influence real-world throughput.
- Phone and plan: Your device needs to support the relevant bands, and plan provisioning can affect what network service is available to you.
- Test methodology: Check whether a result is about 5G speed, overall speed, reliability, availability or a composite experience score, as well as the period and locations it covers.
How to find out whether 5G is better for you
If your phone seems slower on 5G than on LTE, compare the two on your own carrier rather than relying on a national ranking. Keep the comparison as consistent as possible: use the same phone and location, check more than once, and compare at different times if the result varies. Note whether the phone is indoors or outdoors and whether the connection is 5G or LTE. A single result can reflect local conditions rather than the carrier’s performance everywhere.
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- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
For choosing a carrier, prioritize evidence for the places you actually use your phone. Compare local coverage and 5G availability, then consider speed, reliability and plan limits. Broad awards or national averages can narrow the options, but they cannot establish which carrier performs best at your specific address.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you buy a 5G phone if LTE works well?
A 5G phone is required to use 5G, but buying one does not guarantee a faster connection. The phone must support the bands used by the carrier in the places you visit; it cannot compensate for weak local coverage or unfavorable network conditions. If you are choosing a device, verify its compatibility with your carrier and the bands relevant to your area, then weigh 5G access as one capability rather than a speed guarantee.
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