T-Mobile Magenta Max still throttling Netflix and Youtube
Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 7:49 pm
I thought I would give T-Mobile a try in my location. Subscribed to the Magenta Max plan that is supposed to allow streaming up to 4k and no throttling on video.
Appears T-Mobile still isn't honest about their throttling or network congestion. WeHe on my phone shows they still throttle some streaming services.
For a $90/month plan this seems to me to be unacceptable when they are bragging about HD streaming.. At least Verizon's $90/month plan is up front about throttling to 720p or less. Oddly, T-Mobile don't seem to throttle Disney or Hulu which I don't watch anyway.
Typically when Netflix streams through ATT it will burst up to 20mb/s for 30-60 sec then drop down to to a trickle for 1-2 minutes then cycle again to 20mb/s, this actually gives a very nice stable 1080p stream. T-Mobile is making Netflix poke along typically under 2mb/s causing the resolution to keep shifting which is annoying to watch.
My T-Mobile connection is not 5g (nor is my ATT connection), both are 4G LTE usually using Band 2 or Band 66 with fair signal strength. Apparently T-Mobile isn't using their 600mhz b71 band here either both the iphone and 4g modem i have can use this band but its not showing up.
I am not sure if those that have access to 5g on t-mobile might have better luck. I am in a very rural area. At least when ATT says their not throttling Netflix, it appears they are telling the truth for the most part except for occasional congestion.
With the Magenta Max plan there is no option to enable HD streaming, it is supposed to be included with the plan. On ATT you do have to activate HD streaming but the option does work.
I had hopes that T-Mobile would be a good alternative, but at least for now it is not delivering as promised.
Appears T-Mobile still isn't honest about their throttling or network congestion. WeHe on my phone shows they still throttle some streaming services.
For a $90/month plan this seems to me to be unacceptable when they are bragging about HD streaming.. At least Verizon's $90/month plan is up front about throttling to 720p or less. Oddly, T-Mobile don't seem to throttle Disney or Hulu which I don't watch anyway.
Typically when Netflix streams through ATT it will burst up to 20mb/s for 30-60 sec then drop down to to a trickle for 1-2 minutes then cycle again to 20mb/s, this actually gives a very nice stable 1080p stream. T-Mobile is making Netflix poke along typically under 2mb/s causing the resolution to keep shifting which is annoying to watch.
My T-Mobile connection is not 5g (nor is my ATT connection), both are 4G LTE usually using Band 2 or Band 66 with fair signal strength. Apparently T-Mobile isn't using their 600mhz b71 band here either both the iphone and 4g modem i have can use this band but its not showing up.
I am not sure if those that have access to 5g on t-mobile might have better luck. I am in a very rural area. At least when ATT says their not throttling Netflix, it appears they are telling the truth for the most part except for occasional congestion.
With the Magenta Max plan there is no option to enable HD streaming, it is supposed to be included with the plan. On ATT you do have to activate HD streaming but the option does work.
I had hopes that T-Mobile would be a good alternative, but at least for now it is not delivering as promised.