Ookla: T-Mobile Continues to Dominate US Mobile Experience

Ookla continues to declare T-Mobile as the Best Mobile Network, the Best 5G Network and the fastest mobile network (both overall and on 5G) in its latest US Speedtest Connectivity Report.

However, there are some key differences between it and Ookla's previous analysis. For example, T-Mobile is now the sole mobile operator in first place for gaming and video experiences, both overall and on 5G.

In the last report, T-Mobile didn’t manage this sweep as Verizon users reported the best 5G video experience. 

In addition, the ‘Un-carrier’ has extended its lead on 5G Consistency.

Last time, T-Mobile beat Verizon by about half of a percentage point, but it now leads by nearly two percentage points.

In other words, the proportion of T-Mobile’s 5G mobile samples that met or exceeded 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload, has risen to 79.3% versus Verizon’s 77.4%.

However, as was the case last time around, T-Mobile doesn’t have it all its way.

Once again, the operator is third place for mobile coverage with a Coverage score of 24.8% versus Verizon’s 30.4% and AT&T’s 26.8%

The relative lack of change is perhaps to be expected given the maturity of all three operators’ 5G rollouts.

Different methodologies, different results?

One thing that can potentially create confusion is that Ookla-owned Rootmetrics’ recent report had T-Mobile and AT&T sharing the US Network Speed RootScore Award, while Verizon won best 5G experience honours.  

A key difference is that the results in this latest report were gathered by analysing crowd-sourced data, while RootMetrics' methodology is based on drive- and walk-testing.

In addition, most mobile phone users spend the majority of their time indoors, so it’s not surprising that the results would differ significantly.

“RootMetrics and Speedtest are both Ookla brands, built intentionally to answer different questions,” says Mark Giles, Industry Research and Analysis Director at Ookla.

“RootMetrics uses controlled, engineering-grade drive and walk testing. It uses Android-based smartphones purchased off the shelf from carrier stores, with all networks tested side by side at the same time and place, using random sampling used to select test locations.

“Speedtest, meanwhile, aggregates millions of real-world, user-initiated tests across every device type, location and time of day, including homes and private spaces RootMetrics can't reach.

“When headline "winners" differ, it's usually because the two are measuring genuinely different things – network capability versus real-world experience – not because one is right and the other wrong.

“To be candid about the trade-offs: Speedtest can't control for device, location, or timing the way a same-time, same-place drive test can; RootMetrics can't run continuously or reach private spaces like homes and offices, since its testing is limited to publicly accessible locations."

He adds that in contrast to Rootmetrics, Speedtest covers both fixed and mobile. In addition, both methodologies cover metrics that the other cannot support. 

Speedtest analyses coverage, gaming and consumer sentiment, while Rootmetrics measures call, text and reliability performance.

"That's why we publish both reports rather than picking one," Mark says.

He adds that on the most directly comparable metrics – such as 5G speeds in 1H 2026 – results were "directionally consistent" between the two reports. For example, Fastest 5G was a three-way tie with RootMetrics vs. T-Mobile on Speedtest, but T-Mobile led on median 5G download speed in both datasets (404.70Mbps RootMetrics, 314.38Mbps Speedtest).

One tidbit worth mentioning from the RootMetrics report (which, like the more recent Ookla’s report, uses January-June 2026 as its data collection period) is that in the big cities covered by RootMetrics’ metro-area testing, 87% of Verizon’s samples used 5G standalone technology, versus the 24.7% seen in the first half of 2025.

Who is the US’ top broadband provider?

Turning to the fixed broadband side of things in Ookla’s latest Speedtest Connectivity Report, there’s also a lack of change at the top, with Ookla still reporting AT&T Fiber as offering the Best Internet while also being the Fastest Fixed Network.

One key difference is that, in contrast to Ookla’s previous report, AT&T Fiber is in outright first place for network Consistency.

Previously, there was no outright winner due to a lack of statistical differences. This time, AT&T Fiber wins with a score of 95.2%, comfortably beating Spectrum’s (Charter Communications) and Cox’s scores of 93.7% and 93.4%, respectively.  

It’s the same story in terms of customer sentiment, with AT&T Fibre now the top-rated ISP by Speedtest users, whereas last time, there was a statistical tie between it and Frontier Fiber.

There’s some good news for Verizon – it provided the Best Fixed Gaming Experience, winning with a score of 93.75 compared to AT&T Fiber’s score of 92.70 points. Last time around, Frontier Fiber held this recognition. 

However, this time there are no clear winners for fixed video experience with AT&T Fiber and Verizon statistically tying, despite AT&T Fiber winning outright in the previous report.