3 Minutes
AT&T Rises to the Top in 2025 Network Performance
In an industry fueled by competition and claims of network superiority, AT&T has emerged as the clear leader in the latest national network performance report. While T-Mobile and Verizon have spent recent months publicly debating who offers the best wireless service in the United States, third-party analytics firm RootMetrics has settled the issue—at least for the first half of 2025.
RootMetrics' Data: Millions of Tests, One Winner
RootMetrics, renowned for its rigorous mobile analytics, conducted over 3 million real-world tests across the nation's top three wireless carriers—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Their 2025 mid-year RootScore report assessed multiple network performance areas, including reliability, speed, call quality, and 5G capabilities.
AT&T scored an impressive 97.7 out of 100 for overall network performance, narrowly edging out Verizon's 97.5, with T-Mobile coming in at 95.9. Notably, AT&T claimed the crown for both network reliability and fastest overall speeds. Call quality also saw AT&T take the lead, while it tied with Verizon for data and text messaging performance.
Key Product Features and Network Comparisons
AT&T’s dominance spans several critical use cases:
- Reliability: Most consistent connections and minimal dropped calls.
- Speed: Industry-leading data transfer rates for everyday mobile tasks, from browsing to streaming.
- Call Performance: Crystal-clear voice calls with fewer interruptions.
Verizon wasn’t far behind, standing out with the quickest response times and best-in-class video streaming performance. When it came to 5G-only metrics, Verizon took the lead, securing awards for best, fastest, and most reliable 5G network access.
T-Mobile’s Urban and 5G Strengths
T-Mobile, despite ranking third in overall RootScore standings, excelled in areas vital for city dwellers and power users. According to the report, T-Mobile offered the highest 5G availability and fastest 5G speeds in major metropolitan areas. Impressively, it was the only carrier to achieve median download speeds of 100 Mbps or higher in all 125 tested markets—an essential consideration for users relying on high-speed data.
Advantages, Market Relevance, and User Considerations
AT&T’s strong showing reflects the company’s continued investment in expanding and optimizing its mobile network infrastructure. Both Verizon and T-Mobile remain key competitors, offering features and strengths tailored to different user segments. For example, T-Mobile’s widespread 5G coverage and fast download speeds are major draws in urban centers, while Verizon’s edge in 5G reliability appeals to early adopters and enterprise customers.
This new data adds a fresh twist to the never-ending debate over America’s best mobile network. Just this month, Opensignal named T-Mobile as the leader using its own testing methodology, highlighting the fact that carrier rankings can vary depending on who does the measuring and how.
The Bottom Line: Choose the Network That Works for You
Ultimately, RootMetrics’ findings underline that AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all offer highly competitive, state-of-the-art mobile services. For most consumers, the best choice is still the carrier that delivers optimal coverage and performance where they live, work, and travel. These latest results provide valuable context but remind us that real-world experience should guide your decision.
As 5G technology continues to mature, expect this fierce competition—and the innovation it inspires—to keep raising the bar for wireless connectivity across the United States.
Source: phonearena
Comments