Xfinity Mobile, a wireless phone service offered by Comcast, is one of the best-kept secrets. Xfinity started offering the service in 2017. Xfinity Mobile is an MVNO (which stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that uses Verizon’s network. It does not own any network infrastructure of its own.
Verizon’s wireless network is probably the best in the world. But if you try to get a wireless plan with Verizon, it can be expensive. But Xfinity offers you access to the Verizon network for a fraction of the cost. With Xfinity Mobile, you will have access to Verizon’s 5G and 4G LTE networks. Also, you will have access to millions of Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots for free.
Which network tower does Xfinity Mobile use?
Xfinity Mobile does not have any cell phone network towers of its own. It uses Verizon’s cell phone towers.
MVNOs and Deprioritization
One of the reasons MVNOs can offer attractive pricing is that they can be prioritized when the network is congested. What this means is that during times of heavy network traffic, your data speeds will slow down.
I have Xfinity Mobile service and I have barely seen my data speed slow down. But this is something to be aware of if you sign up with Xfinity mobile.
Xfinity Mobile Eligibility Requirements
You must be an Xfinity internet customer to sign up for Xfinity Mobile. If you are in an area where Comcast doesn’t offer internet service, you cannot sign up for Xfinity Mobile.
Canceling Xfinity internet but keeping Xfinity Mobile
Also, if you cancel your Xfinity service but would like to keep the Xfinity mobile service, Comcast will add $20 per line. So if you are canceling the Xfinity internet plan, you should consider moving to another wireless service provider.
Xfinity Mobile Pricing
For about ~$15/month (plus taxes), you can get unlimited calling and texting, and 1 GB of data. You can get 3GB for $30 per month and 10 GB for $60 per month. Unused data is lost and does not roll over from month to month.
You can also get unlimited data per line for $45 per month. If you get more than one line, your cost will be $30 per month. Note that the unlimited data is per line and cannot be shared like the By The Gig plans above.
But here’s the cool thing. You can share your Per Gig plan with the family. Let’s say you and your wife don’t use much data and use less than 1GB of data per month. Both of you could have mobile phone service for about $15 per month (plus taxes).
Quality of Video Streaming
Xfinity Mobile’s By the Gig plans will reduce video resolution to 720p for phones and 1080p for tablets.
Unlimited plan users will get 480p resolution on their phones. Xfinity offers the option to upgrade to 720p resolution on phones and 1080p resolution for tablets for $20 per month.
I watch Netflix, Amazon Videos, and ESPN+ with a By The Gig on my phone. The video quality has been more than acceptable.
Phones Selection
Not all phones are supported on the Xfinity network. Don’t panic though. Popular iPhones, Galaxy, Pixel, and Moto phones are all supported.
You can bring your own device (BYOD). Check your phone compatibility on the Xfinity website. BYOD devices can be iOS or Android as long as they pass Xfinity’s phone compatibility check.
Xfinity Mobile Offers
From time to time, Xfinity has sales on certain phones. Watch out to get great deals. If you bring your own device, Xfinity offers $50 to $100 gift cards. That can pay for 5 months of mobile phone service if you are a light user.
Bottom Line
Xfinity Mobile can help cut your mobile phone bills. The service is not well known and you have to be an Xfinity internet customer to use it. Xfinity Mobile uses the Verizon network. The service quality is great even with some prioritization when the network is congested.