Should Your Family Switch to 5G? What Small Town Testing Reveals

A journalist tested 5G cellular service from all three major carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon) in a small town to see how the newer technology performs outside of big cities. The testing used three Samsung phones to measure the actual signal strength and performance families can expect when they are not in urban areas or on major highways. This matters to families who live in smaller communities or rural areas and are considering upgrading to 5G phones or plans.

If you are thinking about switching carriers or buying new phones for your family, understanding which service actually works best in your type of community can save you money and frustration. The results show real differences between carriers in how well their 5G networks reach beyond major metropolitan areas. Before making any decisions about phone upgrades or carrier switches, take these steps:

1. Check if 5G coverage is actually available in your specific town or neighborhood by visiting your carrier's coverage map online.
2. Ask friends and neighbors in your area which carrier works best for them.
3. Remember that having a 5G phone does not help if the towers near you only support 4G.
4. Consider whether you actually need 5G speeds for how your family uses phones (streaming, social media, and video calls work fine on 4G). When evaluating any technology upgrade for your family, focus on what you actually need rather than what sounds newest. 5G can offer faster speeds, but 4G LTE service is still reliable and sufficient for most everyday activities. Save your money if the coverage in your area is not strong yet, and wait until the networks are more built out in smaller communities.