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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchVerizon reclaimed the strongest overall national position in RootMetrics’ United States RootScore Report, second half of 2025. The result favors Verizon on composite performance, reliability and several everyday-use measures—not necessarily on raw download speed. T-Mobile remained a formidable speed competitor, and AT&T tied Verizon in some categories.
For consumers, that makes Verizon a reliability-first choice rather than an automatic winner for every address, device or budget. The report was discussed in January 2026 and measures conditions from the second half of 2025, not network performance in every location during late 2026.
Which report put Verizon back on top?
The headline refers to RootMetrics’ U.S. RootScore Report for the second half of 2025. RootMetrics tests the three major national networks across multiple U.S. markets, then publishes national and market-level results across distinct performance categories.
“Latest” needs a date attached: the result was reported on January 26, 2026, and remained the specifically identified RootMetrics edition cited in available coverage as of August 18, 2026. It is not a test conducted in August 2026. Verizon’s own comparison page continues to cite the report when discussing network reliability: Verizon plan comparison.
#1 Best Overall
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Verizon says its testing attribution involved the best commercially available smartphones and all available network types. RootMetrics’ independent results should still be separated from Verizon’s marketing interpretation of those results.
Verizon’s RootMetrics announcement provides the carrier’s account of the findings.
What “back on top” means in the results
Verizon led the cited national overall-performance result and held the leading position in reliability, responsiveness, data performance and video performance. The available summary also reports ties in voice and messaging, while speed was not an uncontested Verizon win.
Rank #2
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| Category | National result reported | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Overall performance | Verizon | A broad composite result across the measured experience |
| Network reliability | Verizon | Consistency and dependable connectivity |
| Network responsiveness | Verizon | How quickly the network responds to interactions |
| Data performance | Verizon | General mobile-data experience |
| Video performance | Verizon | Streaming and video usability |
| Call performance | Verizon and AT&T tie | Voice experience was not a solo Verizon victory |
| Text performance | Verizon and AT&T tie | Messaging performance was also shared |
| Network speed | T-Mobile and AT&T tie in the available summary | Verizon did not have an uncontested speed win |
The report summary separately describes T-Mobile as dominant in median download speeds. Those statements can coexist: a carrier can lead typical download speed while another leads a composite that includes reliability, responsiveness, video and other measures. Do not turn Verizon’s overall award into the claim that it is the fastest network.
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The available coverage says Verizon’s score grew or held steady in seven of eight categories. It says AT&T declined or held steady across all eight, while T-Mobile improved in speed and video and was unchanged in the remaining categories.
That supports the “back on top” framing, but the publicly available summary does not provide the full numerical table, exact point gaps, award counts or a statistical significance analysis. It is therefore not possible to say from this material whether Verizon’s lead was large, or whether a narrow shift in scores and market awards changed the national order. Readers should treat the result as a ranking signal, not evidence of a dramatic technical gulf.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Why the result does not settle the speed debate
Peak or median download speed is only one part of a mobile connection. Reliability matters when a call must stay connected, responsiveness matters during interactive use, and video performance reflects more than a single speed test. Conversely, a composite lead does not make a slower connection preferable for someone who routinely downloads large files or has excellent T-Mobile mid-band 5G at home and work.
Verizon publishes its own expected 5G Ultra Wideband ranges for the six months ending February 28, 2026: approximately 163–622 Mbps down, 9–48 Mbps up and 35–55 milliseconds of latency. These are Verizon disclosures based on its internal and commissioned testing, not a replacement for RootMetrics’ independent national ranking. See Verizon’s network-performance disclosures.
What the ranking means for a Verizon customer
- Reliability-first use: The result strengthens Verizon’s case for people who care most about consistent calls, messages and data access.
- Frequent travel: A national composite result may provide more confidence across regions, but the route you actually travel still matters more than the national label.
- Price-sensitive use: Network leadership does not automatically justify a higher monthly bill, especially if you use little data or would not use premium features.
- Heavy-speed use: T-Mobile may be the better fit where its local 5G delivers stronger typical speeds.
A national award cannot correct for weak indoor coverage, a poorly placed local tower, congestion, an older phone, unsupported bands, temporary outages or plan-level prioritization. Someone with poor Verizon service at home has evidence about that address—not evidence that the RootMetrics national result is false.
Rank #4
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- 50MP** camera system with OIS. Capture sharper low-light photos and smoother videos with an unshakable camera system featuring Optical Image Stabilization.
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Does Verizon’s 2026 plan redesign change the value calculation?
Verizon introduced its Simplicity Plan in June 2026, alongside Verizon One bundling mobile with eligible Fios or 5G Home Internet. Verizon describes Simplicity as including 5G Ultra Wideband, unlimited premium data, 10 GB of mobile hotspot data, Canada and Mexico roaming and satellite texting. Details and eligibility are on Verizon’s comparison page.
Verizon announced a $30-per-line introductory price for customers switching to Verizon against a stated regular price of $45 per line. The figures exclude taxes and depend on the promotion’s conditions, which can include eligibility, line count and AutoPay or paperless-billing requirements. Existing customers should not assume they receive the switcher offer.
Existing myPlan customers can remain on that structure or review current Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Ultimate options. The official myPlan page is the appropriate place to compare a current account. Add-ons, credits, device financing, protection and expiring promotions can make the final bill materially different from an advertised line price.
Best Value
- Immersive 120Hz display* and Dolby Atmos: Watch movies and play games on a fast, fluid 6.6" display backed by multidimensional stereo sound.
- 50MP Quad Pixel camera system**: Capture sharper photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity—and explore up close using the Macro Vision lens.
- Superfast 5G performance***: Unleash your entertainment at 5G speed with the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 octa-core processor.
- Massive battery and speedy charging: Work and play nonstop with a long-lasting 5000mAh battery, then fuel up fast with TurboPower.****
- Premium design within reach: Stand out with a stunning look and comfortable feel, including a vegan leather back cover that’s soft to the touch and fingerprint resistant.
When each carrier is the more sensible choice
Verizon
- Best fit when reliability and broad composite performance are your top priorities and Verizon is strong at your locations.
- Its included premium data, hotspot, roaming and satellite-texting features may improve value if you would otherwise buy them separately.
- Less compelling when the local signal is weak or the extra features do not justify the price.
T-Mobile
- Strong candidate for customers prioritizing typical download speed or whose local mid-band 5G is clearly better.
- Check home, workplace and regular travel routes rather than assuming the national speed reputation applies everywhere.
Compare current offers at T-Mobile’s plan page.
AT&T
- Worth considering where its local coverage, bundle, device promotion or price is superior.
- The cited summary gives AT&T ties in speed, call and text categories, but not the leading overall position.
See AT&T’s wireless plans for current terms.
Prepaid and MVNO options
Verizon Prepaid and Visible can offer lower-commitment access to Verizon’s network. Underlying-network access does not guarantee the same priority, roaming, video treatment, hotspot allowance or support as postpaid service. Review Verizon Prepaid and Visible terms before treating them as equivalent substitutes.
How to check before switching
- Enter your home, workplace and frequent destinations into each carrier’s coverage tools.
- Ask people who use each network inside the buildings where you spend time; outdoor map coverage can overstate indoor usability.
- Confirm the exact phone model and supported 5G bands.
- Match the test to your need: calls, consistency, speed, video, gaming latency or hotspot use.
- Calculate the complete recurring bill, including taxes, fees, AutoPay, device payments, protection, activation and the end date of promotional credits.
- Check roaming, hotspot, video-management and network-priority terms, especially for prepaid and MVNO service.
The bottom line for shoppers
RootMetrics’ second-half-2025 U.S. report puts Verizon back in the overall and reliability lead, with additional wins in responsiveness, data and video performance. It does not establish Verizon as the fastest carrier everywhere: T-Mobile remains the key speed challenger, and AT&T shares several category ties. Use the ranking to identify Verizon as a strong reliability-first option, then let address-level performance, your phone, usage pattern and total post-promotion cost decide whether it is worth switching or staying.
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