RootMetrics released a 5G report showing which carrier led the way in the categories of 5G availability, speed, and data reliability during the first half of 2021.

It also includes detailed performance results across multiple performance categories to provide insight into carrier performance trends and show how the 5G race might change going forward.

AT&T delivered the Best 5G experience in 1H 2021. The carrier edged past Verizon in 5G speed across three critical speed metrics.

AT&T – 5G experience
T-Mobile – 5G availability
Verizon — 5G data reliability

T-Mobile offered the most widespread 5G availability of any carrier and delivered faster speeds compared to those in 2H 2020. T-Mobile’s speed gains were largely due to the carrier using far more mid-band spectrum than it did last year.

Verizon lived up to its reputation for offering outstanding reliability, delivering the most reliable 5G experience in 1H 2021. Verizon also showed rapid 5G growth and strong speeds, as shown in the most recent RootMetrics 5G Scorecard.

AT&T leads for speed: In addition to offering the best overall 5G experience in 1H 2021, AT&T edged ahead of Verizon to win a close race for speed. AT&T recorded the fastest 5th percentile, median, and 95th percentile Everyday 5G download speeds in 20 cities, compared to 16 for Verizon, and 13 for T-Mobile.

T-Mobile wins the race for 5G availability, with users seeing the most widespread availability of any carrier: The only carrier to record 5G results in each of the 125 cities RootMetrics tested, T-Mobile easily won the race for 5G availability.

T-Mobile recorded the highest 5G availability in 81 cities, a total nearly twice as high as that of AT&T (44) and nine times higher than that of Verizon. T-Mobile’s availability shined in Wichita, KS, where the carrier recorded nearly ubiquitous availability of 98.6 percent, the highest of any carrier in 1H 2021.