All products and promotions are independently selected by our experts. To help us provide free impartial advice, we will earn an affiliate commission if you buy something. Click here to learn more
Hunting for the most dependable mobile network in the UK? Look no further than EE.
That's according to the results of a comprehensive new study from RootMetrics, which conducted more than 500,000 tests across the UK to deliver a verdict on the mobile operator with superior connectivity for everything from video streaming to mobile gaming. According to RootMetrics, EE secured victory in 127 of 128 possible categories, establishing its position as the go-to choice for anyone who wants consistent performance.
The RootMetrics team drove over 22,000 miles of roads and visited nearly 800 indoor locations across the UK to test the overall performance of the four biggest mobile networks in a variety of scenarios
|ROOTMETRICS PRESS OFFICE
It's the twelfth time that EE has outflanked its rivals in the annual RootMetrics study.
Whether you're making video calls, streaming content from YouTube or Netflix, downloading playlists or podcasts, or playing the latest mobile games, the findings suggest you'll experience better connectivity with EE than its rivals. Your phone, tablet, or laptop switches to mobile networks whenever you're not connected to Wi-Fi.
According to RootMetrics, the performance gap between EE and its competitors was the most striking when examining download speeds. If you're after the fastest connection, EE's average download speed across the UK was recorded at 110.8Mbps – more than twice as fast as its nearest competitor, Vodafone, which clocked average downloads at 48.4Mbps. Close behind was Three UK at 45.7Mbps, with Virgin Media O2 in last place at 36.2Mbps.
For the twelfth consecutive year, EE outflanked Three, Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone in RootMetrics' test
|ROOTMETRICS PRESS OFFICE
And if you've got a 5G-compatible handset in your pocket and want to take advantage of the fastest possible mobile internet, EE scored another crucial victory. Its average 5G download speeds topped 241.2 Mbps nationwide and covers 87% of the UK population, whilst its faster 5G Standalone service covers more than 34 million people.
Three followed in second place with 217.3Mbps, then Vodafone (163.8Mbps) and Virgin Media O2 (98.7Mbps).
Save £156 and unlock a FREE Netflix subscription with EE All-Rounder SIM
For a limited time, EE has slashed its All Rounder SIM-Only deal from £42 a month down to just £29 — saving £156 over the course of the first year with this deal. Since it's a SIM-only plan, pop the SIM card into your existing iPhone or Android handset and that's it. You can even keep your UK mobile number. All-Rounder comes with a choice of Netflix Standard with Adverts or Google One Premium 2TB at no extra cost. EE offers no-charge roaming in the EU too
EE All Rounder SIM
$42
$29
Save £180 on unlimited 5G data from Giffgaff
For a limited time, Giffgaff has slashed £10 off its unlimited 5G SIM-only plan — that's a whopping £180 off the 18-month contract. Best of all, it works with your existing iPhone or Android handset, so there's no need to consider an expensive upgrade. You can keep your current UK mobile number. For just 50p per day, Giffgaff offers unlimited UK calls and texts, unlimited fast 5G data in the UK, and 5GB to use when roaming in Europe
Giffgaff Unlimited 5G SIM
$25
$15
Get 50% off unlimited 5G mobile data from Three UK
Three UK has slashed 50% off its Unlimited 5G data SIM-only for a limited time. For the first six months of your new SIM-only plan, you'll enjoy as-much-5G-data-as-you-can-use for half price. That means you'll be able to stream films, playlists, and podcasts away from a Wi-Fi connection without worrying about an unexpected bill. Three doesn't charge extra to roam in 49 Europe destinations, and new subscribers will unlock a one-year subscription to Paramount+ too
Three Unlimited Data SIM
$29
$14.50
Discussing the results, EE Chief Executive Officer, Claire Gillies said: "While others are busy making promises, we are focused on delivering the best network to connect the lives of millions of people across the UK every single day.
“Everyone has their own unique connectivity needs and what this research shows is that whether you are streaming in Southampton, gaming in Glasgow, or video calling your friends in Cardiff, the nation gets a better network experience on EE."
RootMetrics conducts separate tests to evaluate 5G download speeds from the biggest mobile networks
|ROOTMETRICS PRESS OFFICE
Elsewhere, Three earned 30 awards in major cities and maintained its total of four awards at the nationwide level. Three of those came for Text Performance — in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales — while the fourth was for Call Performance in Northern Ireland. Three’s median download speeds in major cities remained generally similar with the last time that RootMetrics conducted one of its tests, with speeds above 50Mbps in 14 markets.
If you're living in Northern Ireland, Vodafone tied with EE with the same award-winning performance from RootMetrics. The operator earned a total of five awards in Northern Ireland, including recognition for network reliability. Vodafone’s average speeds in major cities topped 50 Mbps — hitting that mark in 12 out of 16 markets. However, the operator saw a decline in award totals this time around.
To complete the rigorous tests, the RootMetrics team completed drive and walk tests throughout the nation's 16 largest cities and rural communities in each home nation. The journey covered more than 22,000 miles of roads and nearly 800 indoor locations, examining real-world mobile performance in diverse scenarios.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- You've got two weeks until Amazon closes its streaming service in UK
- Best VPN deals
- Hackers are stealing common passwords as Gmail attacks spike
- Secret Samsung code will DOUBLE the storage on latest Galaxy phones
- Best mattress toppers
This rigorous approach ensures the results reflect genuine user experiences rather than laboratory conditions, providing reliable guidance for anyone considering switching mobile providers, RootMetrics says.
More From GB News