Xfinity Mobile is yet another addition to the umbrella of internet services by Comcast. It’s (only) available to existing customers. The idea is that you already getting the cable and internet from them, you might want to add the mobile to the mix.
The value you obtain from bundling these services is unparalleled. This is what at least the subscribers think. But is it true? Let's find out!
Xfinity Mobile Customer Reviews
Some long-term users have shared their feedback about the service. Here's what they have to say:
Xfinity Mobile Plans
Plan | Download Speed | Upload Speed | Price | Data Cap |
---|---|---|---|---|
By the gig | 450 Mbps | 50 Mbps | $15/mo | 1GB |
$30/mo | 3GB | |||
$60/mo | 10GB | |||
Unlimited Intro | 450 Mbps | 50 Mbps | $45/mo | 20GB |
Unlimited Plus | 450 Mbps | 50 Mbps | $55/mo | 30GB |
Unlimited Premium | 450 Mbps | 50 Mbps | $65/mo | 50GB |
Is Xfinity Mobile Good? [Detailed Review]
I have been a loyal Xfinity customer for two years now, and I recently got their cellular plan last month to work on my phone to use fast internet on the go alongside unlimited calls and messages.
Aside from basic web browsing and sending emails, I used the internet to stream movies and play online games. In the subsequent sections, you will find my honest opinions and experiences in using the network, alongside its pros and cons, so you can make an informed decision.
So without further ado, let’s delve deep into it.
Internet Speed
Xfinity Mobile uses Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband and C-band. 5G Ultraband is the fastest 5G by Verizon which I tested from Miami Beach, Florida. Also, it’s worth mentioning that I subscribed to the Unlimited Intro plan.
Using the Ookla speed test tool, I witnessed download speeds of 448 Mbps and upload speeds of 41 Mbps.
Now I moved a bit farther where the Ultraband was not available, and the 5G speeds dropped to 110 Mbps and 25 Mbps, respectively, for downloads and uploads.
After the entire day of using the 5G network for several tasks, I exhausted the set data limit of 20GB, and the speed dropped to 60 Mbps and 12 Mbps. But the speeds are still enough to stream 4K videos and stay online on other tasks without any issues.
Performance & Reliability
Aside from speeds, performance primarily depends on latency, so let’s discuss that first. When using the Ultraband, values stay at 8ms, dropping off to 23ms, where Ultraband was unavailable. Further, exhausting my data limit, the latency value drops to 44ms.
I tested the gaming performance on my iPhone 15 (base), and to be honest, I wasn’t disappointed a tad. In peak performance areas, bandwidth-intensive FPS and battle royale games went like a breeze.
While in the other (where Ultraband wasn’t available), performance wasn’t that good, but I still managed to play games like Pokemon Go, Clash of Clans, and League of Legends. And the thing is, there aren’t many fluctuations when you are sticking to a place to play games, stream movies, or download files.
Aside from gaming, the network was used to stream high-quality videos, web browsing, and send emails. Irrespective of where you are or within the data limit, these tasks were free of any jitters or drop-offs.
Availability / Accessibility
Xfinity Mobile operates on Verizon’s 5G network covering around 69% of the US population or 230 million people in ballpark numbers. While its 4G LTE network covers about 99% of Americans.
Here’s the coverage map of Xfinity Mobile 5G (Ultraband & C-band), as reported by FCC.
Here is the list of cities where Verizon’s 5G Ultraband is available:
Akron | Des Moines | Miami | San Jose |
Albuquerque | Detroit | Milwaukee | Sarasota |
Anaheim | Durham | Minneapolis | Sioux Falls |
Ann Arbor | Fort Wayne | Nashville | Spokane |
Arlington | Grand Rapids | New York | St Petersburg |
Atlanta | Greensboro | Oklahoma City | St. Louis |
Baltimore | Hartford | Omaha | St. Paul |
Boise | Hoboken | Panama City | Syracuse |
Boston | Indianapolis | Philadelphia | Tampa |
Charlotte | Jersey City | Phoenix | Tucson |
Chicago | Kansas City | Providence | Washington DC |
Cincinnati | Las vegas | Raleigh | |
Cleveland | Little Rock | Richmond | |
Columbus | Los Angeles | Salt Lake City | |
Dallas | Louisville | San Diego | |
Denver | Memphis | San Francisco |
Costs & Contracts
In contrast to its other services (cable or fiber), Xfinity has a few fees attached to its mobile service. You won’t need to pay any access or activation fees, and only its monthly data plans range from $15 to $65 as long as you only connect the smartphone.
If you extend it further to your tablet or smartwatch, you must pay an additional fee of $10 per month. This makes it the most affordable 5G internet available, bettering Verizon and AT&T.
But the latter adds promos like free HBO Max subscriptions and bundled international data access. For similar services, Xfinity charges $5/$10 for a daily pass or data for a megabyte if you're traveling overseas.
Besides, you must continue paying $25 if you want to stick with Xfinity Mobile while discontinuing its Internet services. But as the connection comes with a no-contract setup, you can opt out of it at any time without having to pay any termination fees.
Another thing worth mentioning is Xfinity Mobile’s HD pass. If you have a 4G smartphone, paying $20 extra for the unlimited plan would let you stream HD videos once data is exhausted. But in 5G, there’s no HD pass, and you can watch HD videos without having to pay for a pass.
Installation & Setup
Installation is no rocket science and doesn’t need calling a technician, just like Xfinity self-install. Just follow the below-mentioned stepwise process to get it done within a few minutes, as follows:
Step 1: If you bought a new smartphone, open the box and take out the contents: nanoSIM card, charger, and any accessories.
Step 2: Open the browser on your laptop, search xfinitymobile.com/activate, create or log in to the existing account, and choose your phone.
Step 3: Next, select whether to get a new number or retain the existing number.
Step 4: Press Activate. It takes around 10-15 minutes to complete the process.
Step 5: You should receive an activation email that includes a new number if you’ve asked for one. If not, ignore it and proceed to the next step.
Step 6: Insert the Xfinity nanoSIM card and explore unlimited possibilities with high-speed 5G internet.
Xfinity Mobile Customer Service
Setting up Xfinity mobile was a breeze and it took around a minute or two to complete. You’d find many FAQ pages on the Mobile app to find answers about billing, switching data plans, and setting up a service.
If you’ve any other questions, contact their customer support through Facebook messenger, text, or app chat with an estimated time given. Or you can directly call them at (888) 936-4968.
I first contacted them when the internet on my brother’s iPhone 13 wasn’t working properly and was frequently getting disconnected. The technicians took control of the phone and got it fixed in no time. Although I saw many complaints online about poor customer service, my experience was decent enough.
Learn More About Xfinity Mobile
Comcast launched the Xfinity Mobile service in 2017, and its growth curve has been going upward since then.
You would be surprised to know that the service provider doesn’t use or, rather, they don’t have their own cellular towers. In this case, Verizon’s network is coupled with the provider’s network hotspots.
In certain situations, getting an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) is a better deal than subscribing to a major carrier whilst enjoying similar coverage.
The speed cuts down to an extent due to increasing traffic. But, this service is more about combining with other packages and getting more value out of it.
If you're an existing customer of their cable internet, you can add the mobile service and enjoy unlimited data, text, and talk at a mere $45 every month. Also, make sure you have a 5G-enabled device to access the internet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Xfinity Mobile uses Verizon’s 5G network.
Xfinity Mobile was launched on April 6th, 2017.
You get multiple plans for Xfinity mobile, starting from $15 to $65.
Xfinity Mobile is much cheaper compared to Verizon, and since both use the same network, speeds are excellent and the same. But you must be an existing Xfinity customer to access its mobile services, which isn’t the case with Verizon.
Xfinity is a well-known name in the networking space for its internet, television, and home security services. There’s only one adjective to describe Xfinity Mobile: unique, primarily because of its plan structure, bundle-only model, and rock-bottom prices. But it also comes with certain limitations, so make your decision accordingly.
That's it for now, take care and goodbye!