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CNET
8 hours ago
- Business
- CNET
My Week With AT&T Internet Air Left Me Bummed
With all the talk of a possible recession, tariff uncertainty, the high price of eggs and market fluctuations, it can be challenging to part with your money. Once you decide to spend a bit, you want that purchase to be worth it. If it isn't, falling short of what you hoped for can be especially frustrating. When it comes to home internet, I often say that the best broadband connection is one you never notice. With steady buffering and long load times, AT&T's 5G internet offering, AT&T Internet Air, never let me forget that I was using it. Seemingly overnight, we've seen a rise in 5G home internet popularity. One report found that 89% of new broadband subscriptions in the past two years came from just two 5G providers: T-Mobile and Verizon. So when AT&T launched AT&T Internet Air late in 2023, I was excited to see how it compared. I was quickly disappointed. I have as friendly a testing environment as you'll ever find for an internet provider. I live alone in a one-bedroom apartment, and the list of connected devices I own is shockingly short: Just my iPhone SE, Apple TV 4K and a MacBook Pro that I use to work from home. That's not much strain to put on a Wi-Fi network, but even so, AT&T Internet Air couldn't handle it. That's why I have a hard time recommending the service to anyone. AT&T's wireless internet connection consistently delivered download speeds below 10 megabits per second -- a far cry from the 90Mbps to 300Mbps it advertises. That said, wireless internet speeds are more dependent on location than wired options like cable and fiber, so your experience may be much better than mine was. (Subscribers on AT&T's subreddit reported speeds in the 150Mbps to 300Mbps range.) Locating local internet providers There were things I liked about AT&T Internet Air -- namely, the easy setup and useful app -- but that's like saying I like everything about a car except the fact that it can't go above 25 miles an hour. Internet providers have one job -- to deliver a fast, reliable connection -- and on that front, AT&T Internet Air was an unequivocal bust. Read more: My T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Experience: What I love and What I Wish Were Better Joe Supan / CNET Setting up AT&T Internet Air All in all, it only took me 11 minutes to set up AT&T Internet Air. It truly couldn't have been simpler. The box only comes with two items: A gateway device and a power outlet. I followed the instructions in the box, downloaded AT&T's Smart Home Manager app and scanned the QR code on the device. The app suggested that I place the gateway device near a window and facing west if possible. I was able to find a spot that checked both boxes near my desk, where I'd need the strongest internet speeds possible. Once I'd landed on a location, the app ran a quick test and gave me the approval. I was now ready to test out the connection. AT&T Internet Air speed and reliability There's no way around it: AT&T Internet Air's speeds were incredibly disappointing, and the speeds I was getting would be basically unusable for most people. It boils down to the advertised speeds versus the actual speeds you get. After dozens of speed tests throughout the week, AT&T Internet Air averaged a download speed of 5.86Mbps and 9.87Mbps upload in my apartment. The highest download speed I got at any point was 10.63Mbps, while upload speeds peaked at 14.38Mbps. At the same time, my $50 Connect More plan through Xfinity -- advertised as 300Mbps download -- returned average speeds of 321/109Mbps. AT&T Internet Air's latency was also very high, with an average ping rate of 298ms. That's bad news if you plan on doing any online gaming, where 40ms or lower is considered ideal. AT&T says that users typically experience download speeds between 90Mbps and 300Mbps and upload speeds between 8Mbps and 30Mbps. My upload speeds fell within that range but I never came close to 90Mbps download. The highest I got was 14.38Mbps. (I used Ookla for all of my speed tests, which is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Wireless internet like AT&T Internet Air or T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is inherently more erratic than a wired connection like cable or fiber. Because it transmits data wirelessly from a cellular tower, it's more vulnerable to network congestion and weather disruption. That's why router placement is particularly important -- if you don't have a clear line to the nearest tower, your internet connection will suffer. But I did have a clear line. I could find a spot for the router right against a window facing west, just as I was instructed during setup. The problem didn't seem to be the location of my home, either: AT&T's coverage map shows the entire city of Seattle blanketed in 5G Plus speeds, which it describes as its fastest tier. AT&T's coverage map indicates that I should have been able to access AT&T's fastest speed tier. AT&T I tried moving the router to a few different locations over the course of testing but speeds never improved. In fact, it got even slower when I moved it to another room or away from the window. AT&T recommended calling customer support to help determine the best spot for the device based on where the closest cell tower is. Wireless internet providers like AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon all include a caveat in the fine print that says they may temporarily slow your speeds if the network is congested. That might explain my test results if they were all happening at 'internet rush hour' -- the hours between 7 and 11 p.m. when traffic is highest. But I tested AT&T Internet Air at various times throughout the day and never saw much of a difference. How was it using AT&T Internet Air? If anyone can get by with slow internet speeds, it's me. I live alone and I don't do any bandwidth-stressing activities like online gaming and the only devices connected to the internet are my phone, laptop and streaming device. But even with that minimal setup, AT&T Internet Air struggled to pull its weight. Zoom meetings at work were reliably unreliable, to the point where I had to switch back over to my Xfinity connection several times. Working in Google Docs, the connection would routinely drop out, causing me to wait a few seconds before I could continue writing this review. AT&T Internet Air's range was basically limited to the room with the router. When I ran speed tests in my bedroom -- one wall away from the router -- my connection slowed to a mere 1Mbps in download and upload speed. It was a frustrating experience. I found myself switching back over to Xfinity or cellular data on my phone every time I wanted to do something like watch a YouTube video from the group chat or take a FaceTime call. I don't need gig speeds -- I probably don't even really need 100Mbps speeds -- but I do need at least 15Mbps, which is what Netflix recommends for streaming in 4K. Unfortunately, AT&T Internet Air failed to clear even that low bar. How does AT&T Internet Air compare to other 5G internet providers? 5G home internet has taken off in the past few years and AT&T is later to the party than competitors T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet. In general, using 5G technology for home internet has been an unequivocal success. A survey from J.D. Power released last summer found that customer satisfaction is higher for wireless customers than cable or fiber, even though it received lower performance scores. 'A lot of the concerns I had heard about fixed wireless access were that it's just never going to be as fast as fiber,' Carl Lepper, senior director of the technology, media and telecommunications intelligence practice at J.D. Power, told me at the time. 'But for a lot of people, affordability trumps that. And it's not often that you need superfast speeds, depending on how you're using your internet.' 5G home internet often reaches rural households where cable and fiber aren't available and it's a significant step up from the satellite or DSL service that those internet users are typically stuck with. And because 5G providers are cellphone carriers first and foremost, they offer significant savings when you bundle home internet with a cellphone plan. Provider Monthly price Advertised download speeds Advertised upload speeds AT&T Internet Air Read full review $60 ($47 with an eligible AT&T wireless plan) 90-300Mbps 8-30Mbps T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review $50-$70 ($30-$50 with cellphone plan) 87-415Mbps 12-56Mbps Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review $50-$70 ($35-$55 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) 300-1,000Mbps 20-75Mbps Show more (0 item) Shop providers at my address Those savings aren't quite as significant with AT&T as they are with T-Mobile and Verizon, but paying $47 a month for home internet is still a solid deal. If you're not bundling with a cellphone plan, AT&T Internet Air is on the expensive side and there's no guarantee that it will make up for it with faster speeds -- as my week with AT&T showed. The final verdict: AT&T Internet Air could still be useful for some After those disappointing results, you might be surprised to learn that I still wouldn't swear off AT&T Internet Air completely. Other customers have clearly gotten faster speeds than I did -- Reddit users regularly report speeds north of 700Mbps -- and there's a chance my apartment is just in a particularly bad location for the service. Unlike T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, AT&T Internet Air does not offer a free trial, so you'll be out at least $60 if you sign up and find out the speeds aren't fast enough. I'd still recommend going with T-Mobile or Verizon first if you want to try out 5G home internet, but AT&T Internet is still worth a shot if you're stuck with limited options. I tried AT&T Internet Air for a week FAQs: What is AT&T Internet Air? AT&T Internet Air is a 5G fixed wireless connection that offers a singular plan. Pricing starts at $60 monthly or $47 if you bundle it with an eligible AT&T wireless plan. In areas where AT&T's faster fiber service is unavailable, this fixed wireless option could be an alternative for some. Is AT&T Internet Air fast? AT&T Internet Air advertises download speeds of 90Mbps to 300Mbps and upload speeds of 8Mbps to 30Mbps. However, after conducting a dozen speed tests at home, my actual speeds were significantly lower than what was advertised. The highest speed I was able to reach for upload was 14.38Mbps, which is on the lower end of that range. With AT&T Internet Air, I only averaged 5.86Mbps download and 9.87Mbps upload. Compared to other 5G providers, Verizon and T-Mobile advertise much faster speeds, topping out at 415Mbps and 1,000Mbps, respectively. However, it's worth noting that even if you get faster speeds at your home with a 5G fixed wireless connection, your speeds can be temporarily slowed down during network congestion. In addition, AT&T's latency is very high, which can be pretty bad if you're a gamer. The average ping rate that I received at home was 298ms. For online gaming, your ping rate should be 50ms or lower.
Phone Arena
8 hours ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
T-Mobile settlement checks now going out and they appear to exceed expectations
After months of waiting, T-Mobile is finally sending out payments to its users affected by the 2021 data breach. In February, it was reported that the settlement checks would start going out soon, with an update on the settlement website pegging April as the target month. The website later said that the payment was delayed until May. In 2021, a cyberattack exposed the personal information of 76 million T-Mobile customers in the US. T-Mobile agreed to pay $350 million to settle a claim against it by customers for not adequately protecting sensitive information. It looks like notice of payments are now being sent to T-Mobile users affected by the breach. Some users have received a Virtual Prepaid Mastercard while others have had direct deposits into their Zelle accounts. The mode of payment depends on the payment option you chose. —rruhrruh, Reddit user, May 2025 —Iluvorlando407, Reddit user, May 2025 —lerriuqS_terceS, Reddit user, May 2025 Some customers aren't sure if the emails about the payments are legitimate, but according to the settlement website, the distribution of payments has indeed started. The website notes that the payments will be sent out over the following several weeks. — T-Mobile settlement website Customers who spent money to mitigate the impact of the breach were promised up to $25,000, while others were told to expect $25, or $100 if they lived in California on August 1, not clear how much each user has received, but two user say they got $56.54, which is more than $25 promised. This might be because there were fewer claims than expected. Of course, $56.54 isn't a huge amount, but it's important to remember that the $350 settlement fund will also be used for other expenses such as paying attorney's fees and providing identity defense services. Besides, the settlement payments aren't necessarily so much about compensating customers for what they went through as they are about serving as a statement about holding huge corporations accountable for their inactions and oversights. Switch to Total 5G+ Unlimited 3-Month plan or Total 5G Unlimited and get a free iPhone. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Buy at Total Wireless
Digital Trends
21 hours ago
- Business
- Digital Trends
T-Mobile just launched its best iPhone 16 offer ever
If you want to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro, T-Mobile just launched one of its best deals ever, one that will convince you to switch providers. Right now, there are several different ways you can get an iPhone 16 Pro for free when you switch to T-Mobile and sign up for a new Experience Beyond plan. There are no trade-in gimmicks here, just a free iPhone 16 Pro paired with a stacked and versatile phone plan. Even T-Mobile calls this its 'best iPhone offer ever,' and we can't disagree. How to get an iPhone 16 Pro on T-Mobile So how does this iPhone 16 offer work? Let's assume you have a phone already. If you're still paying it off, T-Mobile will pay the balance for you, up to $800 a line, up to four lines. The best part: You get to keep the phone. This isn't a trade-in offer. Get a new iPhone, pay off your balance, and keep the phone. It's a sweet deal. T-Mobile pays off your phone via prepaid MasterCard credits over 24 months. If you don't have a balance to pay off, or even a phone at all, T-Mobile will still give you an iPhone 16 Pro for free when you switch to T-Mobile and opt for the Experience Beyond plan. What is T-Mobile Experience Beyond? For this offer to work, you need to switch to T-Mobile and add a new line. That makes this a good option for families, which is what Experience Beyond is designed for. T-Mobile Experience Beyond gets you unlimited data in the US and a ton of benefits, including unlimited premium data, 60GB of high speed hotspot data per month, texting and data outside the US, and even some free streaming subscriptions. You'll save at least 20% when you switch from an AT&T or Verizon plan, and your new rate will be locked in for five years. You can use T-Mobile's savings calculator to see exactly how much you'll save. The first big bonus is the ability to upgrade devices. Your devices are all guaranteed to be eligible for an upgrade every year. New iPhones come out quickly, so this is a good way to stay at the cutting edge. The T-Mobile Experience Beyond plan also gets you a ton of data. Unlimited in North America, 30GB per month in Mexico and Canada, 250GB of high speed hotspot data per month, and even access to T-Mobile's beta satellite program, T-Satellite. You and your family will be connected anywhere and anytime. The Experience Beyond plan costs $170 per month for three lines (including the third line for free). When you sign up you get a five year price guarantee, so you don't have to worry about your bill mysteriously increasing after a few months. If you've been eyeing the iPhone 16 Pro, switching to T-Mobile is a great way to get one without paying anything extra. In fact, T-Mobile is covering the balance of your old phone, and letting you keep it too. Check out T-Mobile's iPhone 16 Pro offer on the Experience Beyond plan today.
Fast Company
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
‘I still think I'm dreaming': Kai Cenat's ‘Streamer University' now has its first graduating class
The class of 2025 have now graduated from Kai Cenat's 'Streamer University.' Last week, 120 students—handpicked from more than a million applicants—attended the University of Akron for a four-day live-in boot camp. Of course, the whole thing was streamed by Cenat as well as attendees. Cenat, who has 17.3 million Twitch followers and ranked No. 24 on Forbes 's list of the top-earning creators in 2024, with estimated earnings of $8.5 million, first announced his plans in February, explaining how he wants to help streamers both big and small learn from his success. Cenat introduced each of the inaugural class from behind his principal's desk during an hour-long meet-and-greet video, available to watch on YouTube. Enrollment was free, with food and accommodations on the college campus covered. Each student was also given a T-Mobile phone to livestream the entire experience. They did not disappoint. Content was streamed across nearly 1,000 different Twitch channels with over 719,000 peak concurrent viewers and over 27 million total hours of watch time, per Twitch Tracker. In addition to snippets from inside the classrooms, other viral clips show students skipping class, trashing dorm rooms, and fighting with water guns (which ended with one student being hospitalized). Follower boosts for grads Despite some bad behavior, many students reported major follower growth from attending the university. 'Before and after streamer uni,' one participant posted on X. According to screenshots, her average views rose from below 100 to nearing 10,000. 'I still think I'm dreaming,' she wrote. While livestreaming their experiences, students were also enrolled in lessons taught by 'professors,' aka popular influencers. The curriculum covered 'Defense Against Hating' and 'Internet Beef,' among other subjects. During the grand finale awards ceremony, rapper Drake made a surprise appearance with a virtual message for both students and faculty. 'Year one is officially in the books. Congratulations,' Drake said from behind a desk. 'To be able to organize this incredible academia event . . . is something that has never been done before. Show love to your dean, the one and only Kai Cenat.' Cenat's success has apparently not gone unnoticed by other streaming giants. During a recent Twitch stream filmed from his office, Cenat hinted that major streaming services had all expressed an interest in bringing 'Streamer University' to their platforms. However, the 23-year-old emphasized the importance of maintaining creative autonomy. 'With an idea like this so original, you gotta keep it where it's at,' he said. 'I want y'all to learn something, bro. Y'all channels, and who you are as a person. This y'all idea, this is your guy's stuff. Treat your platform as you would treat other platforms.'
Phone Arena
a day ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
How has AT&T fared in 2025? We'll know very soon
Is AT&T still a popular choice of network carrier in the U.S., or is it going the way of Verizon and losing subscribers by the hundreds of thousands? The numbers from the first quarter of this year paint a very promising picture for the company and, come July, AT&T will release the earnings report for the second quarter of anecdotal claims have alleged that AT&T , similar to Verizon , is performing much worse compared to T-Mobile. The 'un-carrier' remains a favorite for many new and old subscribers in the United States. People from multiple regions across the U.S. say that T-Mobile 's physical stores are packed with customers, while AT&T and Verizon 's stores look empty. However, that isn't even half of the full picture. A lot of users don't visit physical stores, and similar claims to the above exist in favor of AT&T stores outperforming competitor locations in other neighborhoods. AT&T has a massive network across the country, with many areas where it provides the best cellular service. While it's quite clear that Verizon is losing subscribers, AT&T is very likely doing quite well for itself, even if it's not as successful as T-Mobile for now. AT&T remains many Americans' choice of carrier. | Image credit — PhoneArena Q1 2025 went really well for AT&T , and I'd bet that the same holds true for Q2. The company will probably showcase further growth, and discuss how it can attract even more new customers. It also helps that T-Mobile has recently been in hot water for price hikes and its controversial T-Life app. Verizon is also making mistakes due to its new AI tools, and customers are fed up. Users claim that their bills often feature services that they never signed up for. This presents a golden opportunity for AT&T to swoop in and snatch away users from both of its biggest rivals. The earnings report will be released on July 23, and a conference call will be held to discuss the results. I also expect AT&T to talk about its collaboration with AST SpaceMobile to bring satellite cell service to dead zones and directly compete with T-Mobile 's partnership with Starlink. Switch to Total 5G+ Unlimited 3-Month plan or Total 5G Unlimited and get a free iPhone. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Buy at Total Wireless
