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AT&T smokes T-Mobile in download speed after 5G SA deployment

T-Mobile's key advantage is being eroded.

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By Anam Hamid

Updated: Oct 09, 2025, 9:41 PM

AT&T has deployed 5G Standalone (SA) across the US, five years after its rival T-Mobile's 5G SA network went up. The company's SVP and Network CTO, Yigal Elbaz, subtly dismissed T-Mobile's lead by claiming that being the first doesn't mean you are the most reliable. He might have been right.

AT&T appears to have overtaken T-Mobile in 5G download speeds

YouTube channel Tech Life Channel tested how 5G speeds compare on T-Mobile and AT&T. He parked his car near a tower that hosted both networks and conducted the test.

AT&T achieved a download speed of 1,543 Mbps and an upload speed of 132 Mbps. T-Mobile clocked in a download speed of 1,120 Mbps and an upload speed of 138 Mbps. The results were similar when he ran the test again.

Latency was lower on T-Mobile's network, meaning its users should experience fewer delays than AT&T's. That's understandable, given T-Mobile's deployment of the Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable Throughput (L4S) tech in late July. The L4S minimizes content load times, leading to a better real-time experience when using time-critical apps such as gaming, where delays can undermine the experience severely.

Similarly, T-Mobile's slight edge in upload speeds is unsurprising, considering its increased its focus on uplink speeds.

AT&T may need a while to catch up, considering T-Mobile is the only company to have activated 5G Advanced. It's a new 5G category and enables new technologies such as L4S and uplink Tx switching.

Peak speeds only give carriers bragging rights

While AT&T trumped T-Mobile in download speeds in Tech Life Channel's tests, it's worth remembering that he was situated near a tower. That's not where most users use their phones, so these peak speeds may not mean much for an average user.

Also, the speed tests weren't conducted in a controlled environment. We don't even know if the phones had the same modems.

Besides, these record-breaking speeds have few implications in real-world use, given T-Mobile achieved peak speeds of 6.3 Gbps in March, but the median 5G download speed is 299.36 Mbps.

Has T-Mobile lost its 5G lead?

Apparently.

25.47%

No, tests like these mean nothing.

26.87%

T-Mobile is still ahead.

47.66%

T-Mobile's 5G lead is under threat

Even though this was just a casual test, the broadly similar testing conditions provide an initial idea of how AT&T's network has improved after the rollout of 5G SA.

AT&T's 5G SA isn't live for everyone, but the company is working on expanding availability.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.

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