I ditched T-Mobile for Mint and found 3 major drawbacks of smaller carriers - and their workarounds
Downsizing from a 'big three' carrier can save you big money, but it has its downsides. Here's how I'm adapting to them.
After switching from T-Mobile to Mint Mobile, a smaller carrier, I discovered three main drawbacks of MVNOs, along with workarounds to address them.
Firstly, data deprioritization occurs when bandwidth is allocated to customers with higher Quality of Service Class Identifiers (QCI), such as those on premium 5G plans. MVNO customers like myself may experience slower speeds in congested areas like events or busy cities. Two solutions include limiting data connectivity to LTE or using a VPN with public Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi in areas like bars, gyms, and airports may offer better connectivity than the provider's network.
Secondly, hotspot data limits are stricter with MVNOs. I found my monthly data allowance on Mint being quickly drained by multiple devices using my hotspot. To avoid this, I upgraded to a higher data plan or set a metered connection on my computer, which helps limit background data usage. This way, I can still use my phone's hotspot for remote work or other needs without exceeding my data limit.
Lastly, international roaming with an MVNO can be more expensive and limited compared to major carriers. Mint requires purchasing data passes ranging from $5 to $20 for single or multi-day use, which may not be sufficient for data-heavy activities like navigation, searching, and uploading photos while traveling. An alternative solution is to invest in an international eSIM from providers like Airalo or Holafly, which often offers cheaper and better-optimized roaming profiles for various destinations, including cruise ships and ferries.
Written by urgent.news from ZDNet's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
