In RootMetrics’ first-half 2022 U.S. results, AT&T led the reported reliability, speed, data, call and text categories. Verizon led accessibility, and T-Mobile had the highest reported median download speed. The headline that AT&T “won” needs a qualification: the July 20, 2022 coverage said RootMetrics’ overall designation was a tie, not an outright solo win. These are historical results, not a ranking of carrier performance in 2026. Droid Life’s report of the results cited RootMetrics’ 1H 2022 report.
Who led each category in RootMetrics’ 1H 2022 results?
The results covered more than download speed. The reported category leaders were:
| Category or measure | Reported leader |
|---|---|
| Reliability | AT&T |
| Speed category | AT&T |
| Data | AT&T |
| Calls | AT&T |
| Texts | AT&T |
| Accessibility | Verizon |
| Highest median download speed | T-Mobile |
| Overall designation | Tie, as described in the July 20, 2022 coverage |
These are the reported 1H 2022 U.S. results, not current carrier standings. The category leaders and overall tie are described in the contemporaneous coverage.
What did “AT&T wins” mean?
AT&T led more of the named categories than either rival, which is why the coverage characterized it as the practical overall winner. But category count and the report’s overall designation are not the same thing: the same coverage said RootMetrics called the overall result a tie. The careful takeaway is that AT&T had the broadest set of reported category wins, not that it won every measure or secured an uncontested overall victory.
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There is also an apparent wrinkle: AT&T led the report’s “speed” category, while T-Mobile had the highest median download speed. Those labels may describe different measures or scoring constructs. The available coverage does not define them well enough to reconcile them technically, so AT&T’s category result should not be read as a claim that it had the fastest downloads.
How large was T-Mobile’s median download-speed lead?
The published figures for the first half of 2022 put T-Mobile well ahead on median downloads:
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| Carrier | Reported median download speed |
|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 124.5 Mbps |
| Verizon | 51.7 Mbps |
| AT&T | 42.2 Mbps |
These are historical median results reported for RootMetrics’ 1H 2022 U.S. comparison, as summarized on July 20, 2022—not speeds a customer should expect today or at a particular address. A median is not a peak-speed promise, and the figures do not establish performance in weak-signal areas or during congestion. The report of the results provides the figures.
What did Verizon’s accessibility win establish?
Verizon led the accessibility category in the reported results and was described as close behind AT&T in several important categories. The available account does not define precisely how RootMetrics measured accessibility, so it would be too strong to translate the win into a specific claim about coverage, successful connections, or performance everywhere. Treat it as a result in that report’s category, not proof that Verizon is most accessible at every location.
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What the results can—and cannot—tell a customer
A national comparison can help frame trade-offs, but it cannot tell you which network will work best at your home, office, commute or rural property. Signal and capacity can vary between nearby locations, inside buildings, at busy times, and along travel routes. The 2022 results also cannot settle today’s choice: network deployments, spectrum use, congestion and plan policies can change over time.
Use the historical ranking as context, then compare the service and total cost you would actually get:
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- Check your places, not just the national result. Review each carrier’s coverage for your home, workplace and regular routes; where possible, test service locally before moving your primary number.
- Match the metric to your use. Calls, texts and dependable access may matter more for some households; large downloads, video or hotspot use may make data performance more important.
- Compare the full plan terms. Check recurring charges, taxes and fees, data and hotspot limits, device financing, and how the plan handles video and congestion. The RootMetrics results did not measure plan value or establish what a customer would pay.
- Check whether it is a carrier plan or an MVNO. An MVNO may use a major carrier’s network but have different priority during congestion, roaming access, 5G availability, hotspot allowances, video policies, support or device rules. A result for a facilities-based carrier is not a guarantee that every plan using its network will behave identically.
- Test before making an expensive switch where practical. A prepaid option or trial can help reveal indoor signal and busy-hour performance at the places you rely on. Confirm the offer’s current terms before signing up.
How much should you rely on this comparison?
The contemporaneous summary identifies the categories and speed figures, but it does not provide enough detail to independently assess the test sample, geographic weighting, scoring formula, confidence intervals, or how results varied by urban, suburban and rural area. It also does not establish how the scores broke down by network generation. The original RootMetrics 1H 2022 report is the relevant source for its methodology; do not infer those details from the category labels alone.
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