The Mi Smart Speaker sounds just as good as the Google Home, and costs less than half as much.
If there's one trait that defines Xiaomi, it is value. Regardless of whatever Xiaomi product you pick up from Chinese manufacturer's portfolio — whether it's a $100 entry-level phone, $600 value flagship, or even a $2,000 laser projector — you know that you're getting a great value.
Xiaomi used this value-focused approach to considerable benefit in the handset market, and it is now doing the same with the smart home category. Xiaomi has a vast ecosystem of smart products, and its latest offering in this segment is one that I've been particularly looking forward to for some time.
The Mi Smart Speaker is a smart speaker with Google Assistant integration, much like the Sonos One, Sonos Move, JBL Link 300, Bose Home Speaker 500, and others. You get the full range of features that Google Assistant has to offer, the ability to add the speaker to an existing multiroom configuration within the Google Home app, and so much more. And because this is made by Xiaomi, you're getting incredible value as well.
This isn't the first time Xiaomi is making a smart speaker, but its initial offerings have been limited to China and feature the manufacturer's own XiaoAI assistant. This particular model debuted in China earlier this year, and is now available in India, with availability in other global markets kicking off later this year.
Xiaomi is positioning the Mi Smart Speaker as an alternative to the Google Home, touting significant gains in audio at a lower cost. The Mi Smart Speaker is now up for sale in India for ₹3,499 ($48), and will be coming to other global markets later in the year. With Xiaomi undercutting Google by a significant margin, let's take a look at what the Mi Smart Speaker has to offer, and why it may just be the ideal smart speaker in India.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker
Bottom line: The Mi Smart Speaker delivers everything you're looking for in a Google Assistant speaker, and does so on a budget. You get similar audio quality as the Google Home for less than half the price, and a design that emulates the Sonos One.
The Mi Smart Speaker is a Google Assistant speaker, so in terms of functionality it is identical to the Google Home or Nest Mini. The speaker has an interesting design with a metal grille that has 10,531 perforations, and the overall aesthetic is similar to what you get on the Sonos One. The design allows it to stand out from what Amazon and Google offer in this segment.
The Mi Smart Speaker delivers Google Home-level performance for the price of a Nest Mini.
There is a light ring at the top that gives you a visual indicator for any notifications — à la Echo — and you get a control surface with four buttons: volume down, play/pause, mute, and volume up. There's a Mi logo at the front, and rubber feet at the bottom ensure the speaker stays planted on a surface.
There are two far-field mics at the top that do a great job picking up your voice commands from all the way across the room. The Mi Smart Speaker is taller than the Google Home and Echo, and is twice as heavy as the Google Home. The power unit for the speaker sits inside the housing, and you get Wi-Fi ac connectivity.
Powering the Mi Smart Speaker is a 2.5-inch driver that delivers 12W of sound. The sound signature is warm and inviting, and the speaker sounds just as good as the Google Home and Echo. That's a big deal when you consider the Mi Smart Speaker costs less than half as much as Google and Amazon's offerings.
A key feature on the Mi Smart Speaker is Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity. You can connect to the speaker as you would to any regular Bluetooth speaker, making it that much more versatile. You can also pick up two speakers and create a stereo pair.
Because the Mi Smart Speaker is a Google Assistant speaker, it has Chromecast built-in, and you can set it up and configure settings via the Google Home app. In terms of features, it is identical to the Google Home: you can get your daily briefing and run Google Assistant routines, ask queries, get timer and notification alerts, and so much more.
The Mi Smart Speaker also ties in seamlessly with your existing multi-room configuration. I have three Google Homes, a Nest Hub, and five speakers hooked up to Chromecast Audio, and I was able to add the Mi Smart Speaker to that configuration from within the Home app without any hassle. And because of Chromecast built-in, it showed up as a Cast target for Spotify and Tidal.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker What needs work
The Mi Smart Speaker has the same set of features as the Google Home, and I didn't run into any issues with it in my usage. Xiaomi mentions that it is in charge of delivering firmware updates for the device, so that may be an issue down the line if Google decides to add new features to Assistant. With Xiaomi handling the firmware, the speaker may not get the new additions at the same time as Google's own speakers.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker The competition
If you're looking to get started with a smart speaker, the Echo Dot is the obvious choice. The 4th-gen Echo Dot is now on pre-order for ₹4,499 ($61) (or $60 in the U.S., and it comes with an interesting new spherical design that delivers better sound. The Echo Dot's low cost makes it an ideal option to get started with Alexa.
If you're like me and are invested in Google's ecosystem, the ₹3,999 ($55) ($50 in the U.S. is a better choice. While the Nest Mini does a great job as an Assistant-enabled device, the sound quality is lackluster. That's an area where the Mi Smart Speaker handily beats Google's offering.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker Should you buy?
You should buy this if ...
You want a smart speaker with Google Assistant integration
The Mi Smart Speaker offers the same functionality as Google's first-party Google Home and Nest Mini.
You want great audio at an affordable cost
You get the same audio quality as a Google Home or Echo at less than half the price.
You want seamless integration with the Google Home app
Want to add the Mi Smart Speaker to your existing multi-room audio setup? You can do that with ease.
You should not buy this if ...
You don't want a smart speaker
Not sold on the idea of a Google Assistant-enabled smart speaker yet? Then the Mi Smart Speaker is not for you.
At ₹3,499 ($48), the Mi Smart Speaker is positioned against the Echo Dot and Nest Mini in terms of price, but it delivers performance that's equivalent to the Echo and Google Home, which cost twice as much. That's what makes the Mi Smart Speaker so enticing.
A bulk of smart speaker purchases are in the $25 to $50 category, and by offering the Mi Smart Speaker for under $50, Xiaomi is clearly going after Echo Dot and Nest Mini buyers. In doing so, it has offered one of the best Google Assistant speakers in the market today.
Xiaomi's differentiator is that the Mi Smart Speaker delivers incredible sound quality for the asking price. I've used the speaker alongside the Google Home and Echo, and it is on par in terms of audio quality. Xiaomi has once again managed to beat the incumbents by offering a speaker that has excellent value, and if you're looking to get started with a Google Assistant smart speaker, the Mi Smart Speaker is the default option for under ₹5,000.
4.5out of 5
The Mi Smart Speaker is now on sale in India, and Xiaomi will bring the speaker to global markets, including the UK, Europe, and other countries. It won't see a formal launch in the U.S., however, so if you're looking to pick it up from the U.S., you'll have to do so from Amazon UK.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker
Bottom line: The Mi Smart Speaker costs the same as the Nest Mini but offers a feature-set that's more in line with the Google Home. It has Bluetooth connectivity, excellent audio quality, and the value on offer is incredible.
Google's new Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 phones won't be launched in India.
What you need to know
The Pixel 4a will finally be available to purchase in India starting October 17.
It will be sold in the country via Walmart-owned e-commerce giant Flipkart.
The price for the Indian market, however, hasn't been revealed yet.
Google's budget-friendly Pixel 4a, which was launched in August, will finally go on sale in India later this month. Replying to a query from a fan on Twitter, Google has revealed that the Pixel 4a will be available in India from October 17.
Hi Roger, we appreciate your interest in our Pixel devices. The Pixel 4a launches in India on October 17th and will be available for purchase on Flipkart. To learn more about the Pixel 4a check out the official blog post here: https://t.co/EOgWtQ7NMg Appreciate it.
As confirmed by Google in August, the Pixel 4a will be sold in India exclusively via Flipkart. A landing page) for the phone is already live on the Flipkart website, although it doesn't mention the October 17 launch date.
Even though the phone's India launch date has now been confirmed, its price is yet to be revealed. While the Pixel 4a is priced at just $349 (₹25,600) in the U.S., it is expected to cost around ₹30,000 ($409) in India for the lone 6GB/128GB version.
Unfortunately, however, Google will not be bringing its new Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 phones to India. The Pixel 4a will be the only phone that the search giant will launch in the country this year.
Google's Pixel 4a features a 5.81-inch FHD+ display with a hole-punch cutout on the top-left corner for an 8MP selfie camera. Under the hood is an 8nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G chipset, paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage. Around the back of the phone is a single 12.2MP camera with support for up to 4K video recording. It also comes with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers, and a 3140mAh battery with 18W fast charging.
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Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. Android Central may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network. Please note that the offers mentioned below are subject to change at any time and some may no longer be available.
American Express is known for offering some of the best travel credit cards on the market, but the issuer also has quite a few cash-back card options to choose from as well. These days, the ability to redeem cash back to help you save money might be higher on the priority list than stocking up points for a vacation.
Two of the more notable cash-back cards are the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. Both offer bonus rewards at U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets, but there are also divergent bonus categories to consider — along with different earning rates and annual fees.
Today, we're walking through the benefits offered by both and when it makes sense to choose one over the other.
The information for the Blue Cash Everyday card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
When you should get the Blue Cash Everyday
Objectively, the Blue Cash Preferred is definitely the superior card. But the Blue Cash Everyday does have two benefits the Blue Cash Preferred does not: 2% back at U.S. department stores and no annual fee (see rates and fees).
Department stores are a bonus category you don't often find anymore. If you're looking for a card that specifically earns bonus rewards at U.S. department stores, this card will be more helpful than the Blue Cash Preferred. However, keep in mind that you can get 2% cash back with the no-annual-fee Citi® Double Cash Card across all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill). This has the potential to be more lucrative if you're considering applying for the Blue Cash Everyday based mostly on that rare department store bonus category.
Something you really should consider is your monthly budget. Both cards earn bonus rewards at U.S. supermarkets and gas stations, though at differing rates. You'll need to earn enough rewards with the Blue Cash Preferred to offset the cost of the $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). If you are a credit card beginner who is only going to spend $100-$200 per month total on your card, the no-fee Everyday might be the better choice.
For the vast majority of those looking for a credit card, the Blue Cash Preferred is the better choice. For starters, for the same spending requirement, you're getting an extra $100 with your welcome offer. That alone will cover your Preferred's annual fee for the first year. Plus, you're getting a higher earning rate across the board — an extra 3% at U.S. supermarkets, an extra 1% at U.S. gas stations, and additional bonus categories in transit and streaming services.
Let's say you spend an average of $150 per month on groceries, $80 on streaming, $150 on gas and/or transit combined and $100 at department stores — which evens out to a modest $480 in card spending per month within the potential bonus categories. With the Blue Cash Preferred, that would mean $231.60 in rewards over the course of the year. The Blue Cash Everyday would earn $123.60.
Even after you factor in the $95 annual fee (see rates and fees) with the Blue Cash Preferred, it still comes out on top, with $136.60 in rewards each year. And $430 in card spend per month is a conservative estimate for most people's monthly budgets in these categories.
Something else to consider is that the Blue Cash Preferred comes with return protection. If you try to return an eligible item within 90 days from purchase date and the merchant refuses to take it back, Amex will refund up to $300 per item, excluding shipping and handling charges, up to a maximum of $1,000 per year per cardholder account.
It's no secret that the Blue Cash Preferred is the all-around better card. You're getting a better welcome offer, higher earning rates, expanded bonus spending categories and superior protections. Even though the card does come with a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees), the higher bonus you'll earn after spending $1,000 in the first three months makes the card worth it over the Everyday, no matter your budget for the first year. And if you continue to spend more than a couple hundred dollars on the card per month, you're going to end up getting more value with the Preferred, even after your first year with the card.
Featured image by The Points Guy staff.
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred, click here.
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Sonos filed its first lawsuit against Google earlier this year.
What you need to know
Sonos has filed a new lawsuit against Google over patent infringement.
The company has accused the search giant of infringing five of its wireless audio patents.
Sonos had filed its first lawsuit against Google in January this year.
Connected speaker maker Sonos has filed another lawsuit against Google, accusing the search giant of infringing five of its wireless audio patents. Sonos had filed its first patent lawsuit against Google in January this year. Five months later, Google countersued Sonos over patent infringement.
"Since 2015, Google's misappropriation of Sonos's patented technology has proliferated. Google has expanded its wireless multi-room audio system to more than a dozen infringing products, including the Google Home Mini, Google Home, Google Home Max, and Pixel phones, tablets, and laptops. And Google has persisted in infringing even though Sonos has warned Google of its infringement on at least four separate occasions dating back to 2016," the complaint reads.
The move comes just ahead of Google's "Launch Night In" event, where it is expected to announce a new Chromecast, Nest-branded smart speaker, Pixel 4a 5G, and the Pixel 5. The patents in the new lawsuit are related to the technology used for the transfer of streaming music from a user's device, audio settings based on environment, and "zone scene management."
Sonos is seeking an injunction from further infringement of the patents-in-suit, along with legal fees and damages sustained due to Google's violation of its patents.
Despite its compact size, the Sonos One offers impressive sound and works with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It also includes four far-field microphones and supports Apple AirPlay 2 as well.
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In-between league fixtures, the round of 16 in the Carabao Cup takes place this week with a number of top Premier League teams still involved in the competition. Today's fixture list sees Manchester United travel to Brighton & Hove Albion for the second time in five days. Don't miss a moment with our Brighton vs Manchester United live stream guide.
These two sides will be familiar with each other after having met just this past weekend in the Premier League. United came out on top in that game with a controversial injury-time penalty securing the 3-2 victory.
In their opening league game, the Red Devils lost 3-1 at home to Crystal Palace with former United forward Wilfried Zaha finding the net twice, making it three points from six in the Premier League thus far. In the Carabao Cup, Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side saw off lower league opposition in the form of Luton Town to progress to today's fourth-round tie.
It's one win and two defeats for Brighton in the Premier League so far with that defeat to Man United as well as a 3-1 loss to Chelsea on opening day. In between those fixtures, the Seagulls beat Newcastle United and also won two games in the Carabao Cup against Portsmouth and Preston North End to get this far.
Graham Potter's men will be seeking revenge for the weekend's disappointing late defeat at the hands of Manchester United. Knocking the five-time league cup winners out of the competition would likely go some way to fulfilling that desire.
Read on for full details on how to get a live stream of Brighton vs Manchester United no matter where you are in the world with our guide below.
Brighton vs Manchester United: Where and when?
All eyes will be on the Amex Stadium on Wednesday for this match which is set to take place behind closed doors. Kick-off is at 7:45pm BST local time.
That makes it a 2:45pm ET / 11:45am PT start for U.S. folks tuning in. For those watching the game from Australia, it's a 4:45am AEST start on Thursday morning.
Watch Brighton vs Manchester United online from outside your country
We have details of all the US, UK, Australian, and Canadian broadcasters of the Carabao Cup further down in this guide. If you're looking to watch the Brighton vs Manchester United game, but find yourself away from home then you'll run into problems when trying to stream your domestic coverage online from abroad as its likely to be geo-blocked.
That's where a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can be a lifesaver. They allow you to virtually change the ISP of your laptop, tablet, or mobile to one that's back in your home country, letting you watch as if you were back there.
VPN's are incredibly easy to use and have the added benefit of giving you a further layer of security when surfing the web. There are lots of options, and we recommend ExpressVPN as our #1 pick due to its speed, security, and ease of use. It can be used on a vast array of operating systems and devices (e.g. iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Fire TV Stick, Roku, games consoles, etc). Sign up for ExpressVPN now now and enjoy a 49% discount and 3 months FREE with an annual subscription. Or give it a try with its 30-day money-back guarantee. Looking for other options? Here are some alternatives that are on sale right now.
No matter where in the world you may be, a VPN is one of the easiest ways to watch Brighton vs Manchester United. Get in on this deal now!
How to stream Brighton vs Manchester United live in the UK
Sky Sports has got the broadcast rights to this Carabao Cup game between Brighton and Manchester United with the game being shown on its Sky Sports Football and Main Event channels and for streaming via its Sky Go app. If you're don't have Sky Sports as part of your TV plan, you can get a Now TV Sky Sports monthly pass for just £25 that also gets you access to all of Sky's sports channels and coverage of not only the Carabao Cup, but the Premier League, UEFA Nations League games, NFL, select MLS games, and much more.
How to stream Brighton vs Manchester United live in the U.S.
For viewers in the U.S. ESPN+ is the easiest and best way to watch Carabao Cup games including Brighton vs Manchester United. ESPN holds the exclusive rights for Carabao Cup soccer in the States so should be your go-to place.
How to stream Brighton vs Manchester United live in Australia
To get your fix of Carabao Cup football Down Under, you'll need to tune in to BeIN Sports. You can subscribe to BeIN Sports Connect for AU$19.99 per month or AU$179.99 per year and access all of the Carabao Cup fixtures. It comes with a two-week trial, too.
Alternatively, subscribing to Kayo Sports gets you access to Carabao Cup football among many other sports, competitions, and leagues from AU$25 per month. If there's something else on that service you want to watch, then it might be a better value overall.
How to stream Brighton vs Manchester United live in Canada
Sports streaming service DAZN is the sole rights holder for live Carabao Cup matches in Canada.
The network is offering a one-month free trial followed by a rolling $20-a-month or annual subscription of $150. The dedicated DAZN app is available for iOS and Android phones and tablets, as well as Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Chromecast, Apple TV plus most modern Smart TVs. Of course, if you are outside Canada, you can follow the VPN route above and tune in with a DAZN log-in all the same.
Two titans of German football meet in this year's DFL-Supercup as domestic double winners Bayern Munich take on Bundesliga runners-up Borussia Dortmund. Read on to find out how to watch this match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund no matter where in the world you are.
The DFL-Supercup is the traditional curtain-raising game for the domestic soccer season in Germany, though the global pandemic put a pause on those plans and sees the game take place after the season has already begun.
Similar to the Community Shield game in England, the DFL-Supercup sees the Bundesliga champions from the previous season face off against the winners of the DFB-Pokal cup competition. Since Bayern Munich won both of those honors last season, the Bundesliga runners-up are awarded the Supercup berth.
Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga at a canter last season. That title was their eighth successive league win in what has been almost a decade of domestic dominance. FCB also lifted the DFB-Pokal for a record 20th time last campaign in a thrilling final that saw the German champions beat Bayer Leverkusen 4-2. On top of that domestic success, Bayern went on to win the Champions League, seeing off French champions PSG and asserting themselves as the best side in Europe.
Despite finishing second in the Bundesliga title-race once again last season, Borussia Dortmund are actually the holders of the DFL-Supercup after beating Bayern Munich in the same showpiece fixture in 2019. A win in today's game would see BVB equal Bayern Munich's record for the most Supercup wins.
This year, the DFL-Supercup is being played after the domestic campaign has already begun and represents Bayern Munich's third game in seven days, owing to their participation in the UEFA Super Cup, meaning some star players are likely to be rested.
So far this season, both teams have recorded one victory and one defeat in the Bundesliga with Dortmund also winning in the DFB-Pokal first round. Munich beat Europa League champions Sevilla 2-1 to lift the UEFA Super Cup last week.
Read on for full details on how to get a live stream of this DFL-Supercup clash between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund with our guide below.
Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund: Where and when?
The DFL-Supercup is being played at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, behind closed doors.
Kick-off is set for 8:30pm CEST local time today, September 30. That makes it a 7:30pm BST start for those tuning in from the UK and Ireland and a 2:30pm ET / 11:30am PT kick-off start for U.S. folks tuning in. If you're looking to watch the match in Australia, it's a 4:30am AEST kick-off on Thursday morning.
How to watch Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund online from outside your country
We have details of all the US, UK, and Canadian broadcasters of the DFL-Supercup further down in this guide. If you're intent on watching Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund but find yourself away from home then you'll run into problems when trying to stream your domestic coverage online from abroad as it's likely to be geo-blocked.
That's where using one of the top VPN (Virtual Private Network) picks can be a lifesaver. They allow you to virtually change the ISP of your laptop, tablet, or mobile to one that's back in your home country, letting you watch as if you were back there.
VPN's are incredibly easy to use and have the added benefit of giving you a further layer of security when surfing the web. There are lots of options, and we recommend ExpressVPN as our #1 pick due to its speed, security, and ease of use. It can be used on a vast array of operating systems and devices (e.g. iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Fire TV Stick, Roku, games consoles, etc). Sign up for ExpressVPN now now and enjoy a 49% discount and 3 months FREE with an annual subscription. Or give it a try with its 30-day money-back guarantee. Looking for other options? Here are some alternatives that are on sale right now.
No matter where in the world you may be, a VPN is one of the easiest ways to watch Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund. Get in on this deal now!
How to watch Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund online in the U.S.
ESPN+ has exclusive broadcast rights to the 2020/21 DFL-Supercup in the States. Kick-off for the Arsenal vs Liverpool game in the U.S. is at 11:30am ET / 8:30am PT.
If you find yourself unable to access ESPN+'s coverage because you're out of the country, remember that you can use a VPN to tune into your usual coverage just like you would at home. Of the many options, ExpressVPN as outlined above, remains one of the best services currently out there.
How to stream Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund live in the UK
The DFL-Supercup match will be broadcast on BT Sport, the exclusive rights holder for German football in the UK. The game being shown on its BT Sport 1 channel as well as via its BT Sport app for streaming. If you're not yet signed up with BT Sport, you can get a monthly pass for just £25 that gives you access to BT's Premier League football, Women's Super League, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, and more.
How to stream Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund live in Canada
Sportsnet is the rights holder for live FA Community Shield this season in Canada and will be showing the match between Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund, with kick-off set for 11:30am ET / 8:30am PT.
If you're already a Sportsnet subscriber as part of your TV package, you can stream Sportsnet online at no extra charge. The network is also available on a streaming-only basis with plans starting from just CA$9.99 a month.
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Gaming headphones may be a beloved necessity for most PC gamers, but I've never been a fan. My glasses frames get jammed into my temples and ears over long play sessions, my tinnitus becomes more noticeable thanks to the noise cancellation, and the headbands quickly get itchy and sweaty. So, when Panasonic contacted me about testing a soundbar specifically for PC gaming that could serve as a headphone replacement, I felt practically giddy.
The Panasonic SoundSlayer is, on paper, the headphone substitute that gamers like me have been seeking out. Along with Bluetooth and optical, it supports 4K HDR passthrough from your graphics card to your monitor. At 17" W x 2.06" H x 5.25" D, it is surprisingly deep for a compact soundbar, but should hopefully fit under most monitors. It supports dedicated RPG, FPS, and dialogue settings — though these are a relabeling of features like 3D audio or voice modes that you'll find on most soundbars nowadays.
In practice? It's a small soundbar with solid performance and cool features that doesn't quite live up to the expectations that Panasonic set for it with its $299 price tag. It lives up to the crisp sound you get with headphones, but not necessarily the 3D directionality or diverse gaming audio modes.
At a glance
Panasonic SoundSlayer
Bottom line: The Panasonic SoundSlayer produces excellent sound quality in a small package that will fit with most PC gaming setups. Even without a subwoofer, the bass performance will benefit action-heavy games while the 3D object Atmos tech immerses you inside of various gaming worlds. As a four-pound, 17" soundbar, however, it won't reach the sound quality of other 2.1ch soundbars at a cheaper rate.
Unless you have a large monitor base (like me), you'll have no trouble fitting this soundbar on your desk beneath your monitor, despite its girthy frame. In my case, I rest the SoundSlayer on the base and have no problems. It has a solid top that makes it easy to keep clean, and you can put things on top of it without messing up the sound quality (as would happen with open-top bars). I personally think its thin-but-deep build gives it a distinct and cool look, but fully acknowledge that my aesthetic opinions aren't that reliable.
Panasonic packs its 80W subwoofer and two tweeters into the body of the SoundSlayer, which I prefer to a discrete subwoofer. A separate device may produce better quality bass in theory, but I don't have anywhere to put a sub behind my desk and neither will many other gamers. It also sports two full-range drivers.
Powerful bass is one of the SoundSlayer's greatest strengths.
Bass ended up being one of the SoundSlayer's greatest strengths, for a variety of media. In games like Horizon: Zero Dawn and Destiny 2, the action sounded distinct and dangerously close. When I rested my hands on the desk, I could feel the vibrations emanating from the speaker when thunderjaws tried to body slam me or tearblast arrows knocked off components, particularly with the Game mode with 3D Surround activated.
The same applied when listening to music. I tested the Music mode on percussion-heavy rock or hip-hop like All Along the Watchtower and WAP, and the rich bass and low tones came across loud and clear.
You'll find four main sound modes on the remote: Standard, Music, Cinema, and Game. I never found any reason to use Standard, while Music and Cinema are self-explanatory. Anyone buying a SoundSlayer will spend the bulk of their time in Game mode, and thankfully I found it to perform well in a variety of genres.
Marketing for the SoundSlayer focused on specific game modes for different genres — FPS, RPG, and Voice for cutscenes and dialogue-heavy games — but that's slightly misleading. The Game button corresponds to the immersive RPG mode that was designed for games like Final Fantasy XV. But the FPS "mode" is actually toggled by the 3D Surround button, which can be used with Game mode or any other mode. The same goes for Voice, which is triggered by the CLR Dialog button. So, technically, you can have the RPG, FPS and dialogue settings all active at once if you want.
I don't like that the remote relies on different language than the official marketing, as I spent a good amount of time trying to figure out how to access the "missing" audio modes. But I brought the modes up in this section because the FPS, or 3D Surround option is a game-changer. Whether you're listening to music, watching films or playing games, this mode truly enhances the quality of the sound into something rich and immersive.
"FPS" mode is basically Atmos, and will benefit your gaming audio no matter which genre you choose.
Once I realized 3D surround wasn't just for Dolby Atmos content, I kept it on most of the time during PC play sessions. The exception was when my partner was in the room watching TV or vice versa, as the setting tends to make the audio bounce across the whole living room. She is a fellow Horizon: Zero Dawn fanatic, and while she put the soundbar through its paces on the PC, I was able to comfortably watch sports on our TV in the same room using our Vizio 2.1 soundbar. Despite being just fifteen feet apart, the sounds didn't overlap in an annoying way.
In other words, as long as you keep the SoundSlayer at a reasonable volume, it provides good audio quality directly in front of it but won't necessarily annoy your loved ones or roommates elsewhere in your apartment or home.
One gaming setting
Panasonic SoundSlayer What I don't like
Loud music, explosions, orchestral crescendos: the Panasonic SoundSlayer is built for that kind of thing. When the sounds playing are more subtle, the limitations of the soundbar become more apparent.
Deep-voiced singers sounded normal, but listening to high tenor bands like Fleet Foxes and Whitney, or quiet classical pieces like Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, the SoundSlayer sounded slightly more artificial in recreating the notes.
As I mentioned before, I had expected the SoundSlayer would lend itself to trying out different modes for different games. If you're like me, though, most of you will probably stick with "Game" and "3D surround" for everything you play. I never really found a need to use the clear dialog option in any of the games I tested.
For whatever reason, Panasonic decided to make the 3D surround indicator bright orange. I'm sure this made sense to someone, but it stands out distractingly compared to the other green indicators, making me feel like I shouldn't be using it.
Unlike with headphones, I had trouble differentiating which audio source came from one direction or the other.
Then there's the fact that the 3D mode didn't add the directional sounds I expected, considering the Dolby Atmos label. In multiple games, I tried turning away from enemies and tilting the camera left and right, trying to see if I could tell which way they would approach from; the resulting audio was more faded and quiet than instructive. (As a disclaimer, my living room doesn't have a good layout for sounds to bounce back towards me, which may partially explain the issue.)
Finally, for the sake of not slaying your electric bill, the SoundSlayer shuts down automatically if it doesn't detect any sounds for 20 minutes. What makes this frustrating is that using your computer during this period doesn't necessarily reset the counter if you're performing tasks unrelated to audio like checking email. Once it shuts down, if you've connected the soundbar via passthrough from your graphics card, it shuts down your monitor for a few seconds while it recalibrates to pass through while the soundbar is off. Needless to say, it's annoyed me every time it happened.
Panasonic SoundSlayer The competition
Compared against other cheap Dolby Atmos soundbars, the Panasonic SoundSlayer can really only compete with the Soundcore Infiniti Pro, another affordable (for Atmos) 2.1ch soundbar that technically offers Atmos but really just creates an indistinct bubble of excellent-sounding audio. At more than twice the length of the SoundSlayer, the Infiniti Pro won't work for PC gamers but would be a better choice under your TV set.
Other Atmos soundbar sets require rear speakers and have even larger soundbars with upward-facing drivers, making it even less likely they'd work for PC gamers. Perhaps the best alternative for that specific demographic is the Razer Leviathan, which has a leg up on the SoundSlayer in some key areas: it costs less, supports NFC tech for single-tap pairing of your smartphone, is a 5.1ch soundbar instead of 2.1, and is a couple inches less deep for an easier desk fit. It also has a separate subwoofer, which you may or may not see as a positive.
Panasonic SoundSlayer: Should you buy it?
You should buy this if ...
You can spare the $300
You want Atmos without spending hundreds more
You need something that fits under a monitor
You prefer bass-heavy music
You'd like a soundbar you can fit in luggage
You should not buy this if ...
You're mainly getting it for a TV
You want something for in-game strategic advantage
You want true Atmos with discrete rear speakers
Your gaming budget can't afford it
It's easier to judge a soundbar kindly when you receive a review unit for free. Yet the high price of the Panasonic SoundSlayer will make it difficult for many gamers to pull the trigger on the device.
If you regularly use gaming headphones for the sake of tactical performance, so you can hear which direction enemy footsteps are coming from, stick with your headphones. If, however, you want quality audio for games from a casual enjoyment perspective, along with 3D audio for your gaming and movie-watching, then the SoundSlayer is worth considering even at its high price.
3.5out of 5
4K passthrough ensures that gamers can use the soundbar even if their monitor has only one HDMI port, or you can connect via optical or Bluetooth if you'd prefer. Just consider the layout of your room before buying. With my desk facing outward towards the rest of the room, it's harder to get directional surround sound because the sound travels too far before bouncing back. If your desk is perpendicular to a closer wall, you may get a better result.
In the end, I intend to keep using my SoundSlayer soundbar and the 3D setting regardless of the shape of my home. It's freed me from my headphones, and feels like a wide wave of sound washes over me as I play. If I need to figure out if someone's behind me, I'll just use my eyes.
At a glance
Panasonic SoundSlayer
Bottom line: The Panasonic SoundSlayer features an optical port, HDMI input/ output with 4K passthrough and Arc, and Bluetooth connectivity. The integrated subwoofer and tweeters do a remarkable job at generating clean bass audio. While the price is high, you'll find very few Atmos-compatible devices for cheaper.
In-between league fixtures, round three of the Carabao Cup takes place this week with a number of top Premier League teams still involved in the competition. Last season's EFL Cup winners Manchester City travel to nearby side Burnley for today's round of 16 game. Don't miss a moment with our Burnley vs Man City live stream guide.
Burnley come into today's game having yet to pick up a point in the Premier League. The Clarets opened their 2020/21 top-flight campaign with a 4-2 hammering away at Leicester and were beaten 1-0 at home by Southampton a week later.
Sean Dyche's side has seen more success in the cup this year, beating fellow Premier League side Sheffield United on penalties in the second round before dispatching of the Championship's Millwall 2-0 in the third round in order to progress to the round of 16.
Manchester City started their Premier League season more strongly with a 3-1 win at Wolves on opening day. The Citizens followed that up with a 2-1 win at home to Bournemouth in the third round of the Carabao Cup in order to earn a place in the round of 16.
It hasn't all been plain sailing for Pep Guardiola's men, though. In their last outing, the Sky Blues were humiliated by Leicester in a 5-2 defeat at the Etihad. Despite Pep's side having the majority of possession and chances in the game, Man City gave away three penalties and ultimately sealed their own fate.
Read on for full details on how to get a live stream of Burnley vs Man City no matter where you are in the world with our guide below.
Burnley vs Man City: Where and when?
All eyes will be on Turf Moor on Wednesday for this match which is set to take place behind closed doors. Kick-off is at 7pm BST local time.
That makes it a 2pm ET / 11am PT start for U.S. folks tuning in. For those watching the game from Australia, it's a 4am AEST start on Thursday morning.
Watch Burnley vs Man City online from outside your country
We have details of all the US, UK, Australian, and Canadian broadcasters of the Carabao Cup further down in this guide. If you're looking to watch the Burnley vs Man City, but find yourself away from home then you'll run into problems when trying to stream your domestic coverage online from abroad as its likely to be geo-blocked.
That's where a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can be a lifesaver. They allow you to virtually change the ISP of your laptop, tablet, or mobile to one that's back in your home country, letting you watch as if you were back there.
VPN's are incredibly easy to use and have the added benefit of giving you a further layer of security when surfing the web. There are lots of options, and we recommend ExpressVPN as our #1 pick due to its speed, security, and ease of use. It can be used on a vast array of operating systems and devices (e.g. iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Fire TV Stick, Roku, games consoles, etc). Sign up for ExpressVPN now now and enjoy a 49% discount and 3 months FREE with an annual subscription. Or give it a try with its 30-day money-back guarantee. Looking for other options? Here are some alternatives that are on sale right now.
No matter where in the world you may be, a VPN is one of the easiest ways to watch Burnley vs Man City. Get in on this deal now!
How to stream Burnley vs Man City live in the UK
This Carabao Cup game between Burnley and Man City is not being televised so is instead being streamed directly at the Carabao Cup website on an individual game basis. You can buy a pass for the game for £10 and stream the coverage live via the site in full HD with live commentary.
How to stream Burnley vs Man City live in the U.S.
For viewers in the U.S. ESPN+ is the easiest and best way to watch Carabao Cup games including Burnley vs Man City. ESPN holds the exclusive rights for Carabao Cup soccer in the States so should be your go-to place.
How to stream Burnley vs Man City live in Australia
To get your fix of Carabao Cup football Down Under, you'll need to tune in to BeIN Sports. You can subscribe to BeIN Sports Connect for AU$19.99 per month or AU$179.99 per year and access all of the Carabao Cup fixtures. It comes with a two-week trial, too.
Alternatively, subscribing to Kayo Sports gets you access to Carabao Cup football among many other sports, competitions, and leagues from AU$25 per month. If there's something else on that service you want to watch, then it might be a better value overall.
How to stream Burnley vs Man City live in Canada
Sports streaming service DAZN is the sole rights holder for live Carabao Cup matches in Canada.
The network is offering a one-month free trial followed by a rolling $20-a-month or annual subscription of $150. The dedicated DAZN app is available for iOS and Android phones and tablets, as well as Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Chromecast, Apple TV plus most modern Smart TVs. Of course, if you are outside Canada, you can follow the VPN route above and tune in with a DAZN log-in all the same.
When Twitter introduced voice tweets earlier this summer as a way to send more personalized messages, it caught a lot of flack for not including accessibility features. Now, the company said it will add transcriptions for voice tweets as part of an i...
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You're probably aware of Amazon's Echo lineup of smart speakers, but did you know that there are now Echo Show smart displays in different sizes? These awesome devices let you view live TV and sports, check recipes, make video calls, control compatible smart home devices, and more.
For today only, you can save as much as $57 on an Echo Show device at Woot thanks to a stellar open-box promotion meaning you don't have to wait until Amazon Prime Day for a deal. Prices start at just $64.99 for these unused devices that each carry a 90-day warranty.
Amazon's Echo Show line is easily the most versatile of its Echo devices. Rather than just being a smart speaker like the majority of Echo devices, the Echo Show also has a built-in screen that lets you view your photos, movies, and shows from services like Prime Video and Hulu, weather forecasts, and more. Best of all, you just simply have to ask Alexa to find what you're looking for.
These devices can control compatible smart home devices too; ask Alexa to turn off your Philips Hue lights when it's time to go to bed or turn on your Fire TV right before your favorite show starts. The number in the Echo Show's name refers to its screen size, so the Echo Show 5 has a 5-inch screen while the Echo Show 8 has an 8-inch screen. The original Echo Show is the largest with a 10.1-inch display.
Shipping at Woot is generally $6 per order, though you can score free shipping by logging in with an Amazon Prime account before checking out. If you're not a Prime member already, consider starting a free 30-day trial to score free shipping at Woot and Amazon, exclusive members-only discounts, and more.
If you're not sure about which Echo Show device is right for your home, you can learn more about the devices in this guide to the Best Echo Show in 2020.
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Images reveal a fully-working device in retail demo mode.
It comes hours before Google's September 30 event to announce the phone.
Google is hosting its Pixel 5launch event later this evening, and just hours before the event, Jon Prosser has leaked photos of the new device in full.
Posted to Twitter this morning by Prosser were the following images:
The leaked photos look at whole lot like previous leaks of the phone that we've seen, featuring a small, hole-punch camera on the front, metal chassis, and a dual-set of rear cameras.
Previously it has been rumored the Pixel 5, will ship with a 6-inch 90Hz FHD+ OLED display, Gorilla Glass 6, Snapdragon 765G, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Keeping all of it running will be a 4,000mAh battery with fast-charging.
The phone leaked by Prosser appears to be a device in retail demo mode and is the clearest leak yet we've seen of the new device.
Google will unveil the phone later today in all of its glory, at its Google Pixel 5 Event, which takes place at 2 pm ET/ 11 am PT. Nothing says "Launch Night In" like an 11 am start time...
Alongside the Pixel 5, Google is expected to announce a new Pixel 4a 5G, a new Chromecast which features built-in Android TV, and a successor to Google Home dubbed Nest Audio. There are also murmurings of a new nest Learning Thermostat, but this is unconfirmed.
If rumors are correct, the Pixel 5 will be available in both black and a very cool and subtle matte green color reminiscent of Samsung's Mystic Green.
If you want to tune in to the Google Pixel event, make sure to check out our live streaming guide below:
The Pixel 3a was hailed as one of the best affordable phones of 2019, and for 2020, we have its successor in the form of the Pixel 4a. The camera is better than ever, performance is plenty fast, the battery is reliable, and there's even a headphone jack. Assuming you're a fan of smaller phones and don't mind the boring design, the Pixel 4a is one of the best deals out there.
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All of the major U.S. carriers are hard at work on their 5G strategy. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have launched 5G networks and are aggressively expanding those networks through 2019 and into 2020. Recently, Sprint's 5G network was devoured by T-Mobile and taken offline as T-Mobile recycles Sprint's spectrum. 5G service not only provides faster speeds but also reduced response times, allowing for new services and cloud computing not previously available.
5G is taking hold in the U.S. and it's no coincidence that many of the best 5G phones are also some of the best Android phones in general. For now, the major difference between LTE and 5G will be speed, but as coverage continues to roll out to new areas, more services that rely on instant connectivity should become possible.
Frequencies and coverage
Carrier
Bands
Verizon
n261 (28GHz)
T-Mobile
n71 (600MHz)
n41 (2.5GHz) from Sprint
n260 (39GHz)
n261 (28GHz)
AT&T
n5 (850MHz)
n260 (39GHz)
Building a 5G network is a balance between capacity and coverage. With the high-frequency bands, known as mmWave, carriers get access to huge chunks of spectrum, allowing for fiber-like speeds over the wireless network. While it's not the first time the frequencies of mmWave bands have been used, this is the first time it has become economically feasible to use them for mobile broadband.
Lower frequencies are less susceptible to interference, meaning fewer but larger towers need to be built to cover an area than mmWave. Since there is less lower-frequency spectrum available, plus more people will be sharing one tower, speed is much more limited. With mmWave, you will have a tower for smaller areas like a neighborhood. This is kind of like how your Wi-Fi is very fast but only works in your home.
While T-Mobile is making the most out of its 600MHz and 2.5GHz spectrum for a solid balance of coverage and speed, Verizon and AT&T will be leaning heavily on DSS, or dynamic spectrum sharing that allows towers to share spectrum between LTE and %G on the fly.
Where Verizon has 5G
Verizon started small, with only a few cities deploying what it calls 5G Ultra-Wideband (UWB). In short, this version of 5G uses significant chunks of high-frequency bandwidth, around 28GHz, that produce very high speeds but suffer in other areas such as coverage over distance and building penetration. While coverage is dense enough in cities to be included on the list, coverage is still only available in parts of the cities outdoors.
Verizon UWB 5G has made it to 36 cities so far but continues to be spotty at best. Verizon has released a set of maps to help you pinpoint where 5G is available in your cities. This is a helpful addition, but it does show off some of the main coverage weaknesses of UWB.
At this time, it is easy to be discouraged about such minimal 5G coverage, but this deployment is only a start for Verizon — it has continued to deploy new cities regularly. Early tests have been positive with us seeing speeds up to 1.4 Gbps. Although these massive speeds are impressive, they probably won't hold up under a full Chicago load, but it's still exciting to see. We're also seeing more specific expansion to places like NFL stadiums or race tracks. While great as a tech demonstration, this doesn't offer much to the customer just yet.
Eventually, Verizon will deploy some sort of sub-6 5G with a combination of DSS sharing its existing LTE spectrum or on its newly acquired spectrum. While it's not going to be hitting phones any time soon, Verizon is working hard to get as much new spectrum as it can.
Verizon has kept focused on its UWB 5G network delivering fiber-like speeds in denser urban areas with a shared-spectrum sub-6 network coming in the future.
Where T-Mobile has 5G
T-Mobile started building a 28GHz or 29GHz high-band mmWave network in the middle of 2019 before following it up with 5G on its 600MHz spectrum. While this lower-frequency 5G isn't as fast as we've seen with mmWave networks, its extensive coverage area makes it more practical for users. Add to that T-Mobile's future usage of its acquired Sprint 5G spectrum and the T-Mobile 5G network is poised to be one of the most capable in the nation. Samsung's Galaxy S20 series phones will all support both the low-band and mid-band spectrum with the larger S20 models supporting high-band as well.
Nationwide coverage
T-Mobile already has an interactive 5G coverage map ready to go. The Samsung Galaxy S20 series, as well as the LG V60 5G, are confirmed to work with both the Sprint and T-Mobile 5G network when the time comes. Some older phones will work with both networks such as the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McClaren. Looks for bands n41 and n71
Notably, on June 1, 2020, T-Mobile announced a partnership with carrier GCI in Alaska to provide 5G coverage in Anchorage. This makes T-Mobile the first carrier to have 5G coverage in all 50 states.
Metro by T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, Google Fi, and several other T-Mobile-based prepaid carriers also offer 5G on supported phones. Unlike AT&T and Verizon prepaid carriers, there's no special plan or additional fees to use it.
Layer cake and 5G SA
T-Mobile's sub-6 network is on bands n71 and n41 (Sprint) at 600MHz and 2.5GHz, respectively. Its mmWave network is on n260 and n261 at 39GHz and 28GHz. Simply put, a higher frequency has less range and has worse building penetration but much greater potential for high speeds.
In our earlier testing, the raw speed with T-Mobile's n71 600MHz sub-6 network increases compared to LTE weren't anything to write home about. The problem is twofold since there is relatively less bandwidth available on this long-range spectrum and that a phone may prefer to connect to a weaker 5G signal over a stronger LTE signal. This puts 5G in a worst-case scenario for head to head speeds.
To improve this, T-Mobile will continue to upgrade more towers with 5G capabilities. One of the most significant developments has been the move to standalone 5G or 5G SA. Earlier deployments of 5G required a connection to LTE to work correctly. This setup could severely limit network responsiveness and coverage. With 5G SA, T-Mobile is reporting around a 30 percent increase in its 5G coverage as well as a 40 percent improvement in latency.
Another upgrade is the added support for n41 2.5GHz 5G. Sprint managed to secure quite a bit of spectrum, so speeds are a decent upgrade over LTE for the most part, but it doesn't reach nearly as far. Of course, T-Mobile customers with compatible phones and Sprint customers with a Galaxy S20 series phone will be able to access both bands on T-Mobile's 5G network.
T-Mobile now has 5G active on its 2.5GHz spectrum in 81 cities with speeds around 300Mbps peaking close to 1Gbps.
Mid-band 2.5GHz 5G is available in the following cities.
California
Citrus
La Puente
Los Angeles
Paramount
San Fernando
Willowbrook
Florida
Azalea Park
Holiday
Progress Village
Westchase
Georgia
Atlanta
Gainesville
Mableton
North Atlanta
Winder
Illinois
Bellwood
Calumet City
Chicago
Chicago Heights
Glendale Heights
Hanover Park
Ingalls Park
Northlake
Indiana
Merrillville
Maryland
Towson
**Massachusetts
Holbrook
Waltham
Michigan
Bangor
Decatur
Minnesota
Maplewood
New Jersey
Camden
Cliffside Park
Fort Lee
Hasbrouck Heights
North Arlington
Palisades Park
Paterson
Roselle
Totowa
New York
Copiague
East Williston
Freeport
Garden City
Garden City Park
Harbor Isle
Hempstead
Island PArk
Lindenhurst
Long Beach
Malverne Park Oaks
Middle Island
Mineola
New York
Plainview
West Hempstead
Williston Park
North Carolina
Clemmons
Kernersville
Pineville
Stallings
Statesville
Winston-Salem
Oregon
Aloha
Newberg
Sherwood
Pennsylvania
Braddock
Colwyn
Darby
East Lansdowne
Kerrtown
Meadville
Philadelphia
Rankin
Yeadon
Texas
Dallas
Houston
Nassau Bay
Virginia
Bailey's Crossroads
Bull Run
Highland Springs
Lake Barcroft
Newport News
Sudley
Tysons Corner
Washington
Geneva
Oak Harbor
Snohomish
Washington D.C.
Finally, if you're looking for pure speed, mmWave is the answer but has a range more similar to Wi-Fi than sub-6 5G. With a tower struggling to cover a city block and useless on the far side of a brick wall, it's better suited to very dense areas and even buildings like stadiums. With the cost of tower installation multiplied by the vast number of towers needed, mmWave is going to take years to build out.
High-band, millimeter-wave coverage is available in parts of these cities.
Atlanta
Cleveland
Dallas
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
New York
What about Sprint and Sprint customers
Sprint has now been rebranded as T-Mobile, but for now, Sprint customers will continue to use the Sprint network. In time Sprint customers will be brought to the T-Mobile network, but it has yet to announce a date when that could happen.
Only Sprint customers with a Galaxy S20 phone are currently able to access 5G from a Sprint plan since these phones have been updated to support T-Mobile's nationwide 5G network. T-Mobile is refarming Sprint's 5G spectrum for use as part of its network. That means, however, that Sprint customers with an older 5G phone like the Galaxy S10 5G will get kicked back to LTE since the Sprint version doesn't work with T-Mobile's network. Sprint's coverage maps don't even show 5G anymore.
T-Mobile is allowing customers that are still making payments on Sprint 5G devices like the Galaxy S10 5G, LG V50 ThinQ, or the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G to upgrade to a Galaxy S20 for a discount. T-Mobile is also crediting the customers that purchased the HTC 5G hotspot.
In the long run, T-Mobile will be able to build a fast and robust network with all of that spectrum, but it is a real drag for those that were already using Sprint's 5G network.
T-Mobile is building a nationwide 5G network on low-band and high-band spectrum. It isn't charging customers any more to get on it. With T-Mobile, all you need is the phone and coverage to get 5G.
Metro by T-Mobile is an MVNO with a big focus on data, and that isn't changing. Like its big brother T-Mobile, all plans on Metro get 5G for no extra charge.
Where AT&T has 5G
AT&T certainly has one of the most impressive lists of cities with available 5G coverage. AT&T has launched the majority of its 5G network for business use. AT&T started with millimeter wave, or mmWave before the more recent release of the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G alongside its low-band 850Mhz deployment for consumers.
On June 5, 2020, AT&T began using Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) to share portions of the spectrum currently only used for LTE with its 5G network. This will allow towers to use spectrum as needed and provide a smooth transition to 5G without needing to take portions of LTE fully offline. This network has launched in parts of north Texas though it will likely see much more extensive use later in the year.
If you're on AT&T and you want to access 5G, you'll need either the Unlimited Elite or Unlimited Extra plan. While there will likely be some improvement over LTE using this 850Mhz 5G, it's not going to hit the super-fast speeds we've seen with millimeter-wave. Still, the 850Mhz deployment should have much better coverage than mmWave and be faster than 4G LTE. AT&T is adding 5G access to the Unlimited Started plan starting August 7, 2020.
5G is now shown on AT&T's standard coverage maps which makes it easier than ever to see how far this coverage has made it. It does take a while for these maps to get updated, so check out the entire list for the most up-to-date locations.
On August 21, 2020, AT&T MVNO Cricket Wireless launched 5G support on a few of its plans. 5G is available with Cricket's top-end unlimited plan as well as its Simply Data plans data-only plans. Cricket is also supporting mmWave with what it's calling Cricket 5G+. AT&T's 5G network still isn't the biggest, but it has had some robust growth over the past months and has a solid coverage map, so you can see if you are covered.
Cities with AT&T 5G service
Alabama
Anniston
Birmingham
Dothan
Florence
Franklin County
Gadsen
Huntsville
Mobile
Tuscaloosa
Alaska
Anchorage
Arizona
Gila
Mohave County
Phoenix (mmWave only)
Arkansas
Clay County
Cleburne County
Cross County
Fayetteville-Springdale
Franklin County
Fort Smith
Little Rock
Madison County
Ouachita County
Polk County
Pope County
California
Alpine County
Bakersfield
Chico
El Dorado County
Fresno
Kinds County
Los Angeles (sub-6 and mmWave)
Madera County
Menlo Park (mmWave only)
Modesto
Mono County
Oakland (mmWave only)
Redding
Redwood City (mmWave only)
Sacramento
Salinas
San Bruno (mmWave only)
San Diego (sub-6 and mmWave)
San Francisco (sub-6 and mmWave)
San Jose (sub-6 and mmWave)
San Luis Obispo
Santa Barbara
Santa Cruz
Santa Rosa
Sierra County
Stockton
Tehama County
Vallejo
Visalia-Tulare
West Hollywood (mmWave only)
Yuba City
Colorado
Colorado Sprints
Denver
Fort Collins-Loveland
Greeley
San Miguel County
Connecticut
Bridgeport
Hartford
New Haven
New London-Norwich
Deleware
Kent County
Wilmington
Florida
Bradenton
Calhoun County
Citrus County
Collier County
Daytona Beach
Dixie County
Fort Myers
Fort Pierce
Fort Walton Beach
Gainesville
Glades County
Hamilton County
Hardee County
Jacksonville (sub-6 and mmWave)
Jefferson County
Lakeland
Melbourne
Miami (sub-6 and mmWave)
Miami Gardens (mmWave only)
Monroe County
Ocala
Orlando (sub-6 and mmWave)
Pensacola
Putnam County
Sarasota
Tallahassee
Tampa
Walton County
West Palm Beach
Georgia
Albany
Athens
Atlanta (sub-6 and mmWave)
Bleckley County
Chattooga County
Dawson County
Early County
Hancock County
Jasper County
Liberty
Macon
Marion County
Warren County
Whitfield County
Worth
Hawaii
Maui County
Idaho
Boise City
Boundary County
Elmore County
Idaho County
Illinois
Adams County
Alton-Granite city
Aurora-Elgin
Bureau County
Champaign-Urbana
Chicago
Clay County
Joliet
Mason County
Montgomery County
Springfield
Vermilion County
Washington County
Indiana
Bloomington
Brown County
Decatur County
Elkhart-Goshen
Evansville
Fort Wayne
Gary
Huntington County
Indianapolis (sub-6 and mmWave)
Kosciusko County
Muncie
Newton County
Randolph County
South Bend
Warren County
Iowa
Sioux City
Kansas
Brown County
Lawrence
Topeka
Wichita
Kentucky
Fulton County
Lexington-Fayette
Louisville (sub-6 and mmWave)
Mason County
Meade County
Trimble County
Louisiana
Baton Rouge
Beauregard Parish
Caldwell Parish
Claiborne Parish
Houma-Thibodaux
Iberville Parish
Lafayette
Lake Charles
Monroe
Morehouse Parish
New Orleans (sub-6 and mmWave)
Shreveport
St. James Parish
West Feliciana Parish
Maine
Portland
Maryland
Baltimore (sub-6 and mmWave)
Cumberland
Frederick
Garrett County
Hagerstown
Kent County
Ocean City (mmWave only)
Massachusetts
Boston
New Bedford
Springfield
Worcester
Michigan
Alger County
Allegan County
Battle Creek
Benton Harbor
Cass County
Cheboygan County
Detroit (sub-6 and mmWave)
Flint
Jackson
Kalamazoo
Manistee County
Muskegon
Newaygo
Minnesota
Duluth
Fargi-Moorhead (North Dakota/Minnesota)
Chippewa County
Hubbard County
Koochinching County
Le Sueur
Milwaukee
Minneapolis
St. Cloud
Mississippi
Jackson
Missouri
Bates County
Callaway County
Columbia
De Kalb County
Joplin
Kansas City
Leake County
Moniteau County
Saline
Springfield
St. Louis
Montana
Beaverhead County
Billings
Deer Lodge County
Great Falls
Lincoln County
Mineral County
Nevada
Lander County
Las Vegas (sub-6 and mmWave)
Reno
Storey County
New Hampshire
Portsmouth
New Jersey
Atlantic City
Hunterdon County
Long Branch
New Brunswick
Ocean County
Sussex County
Trenton
Vineland
New Mexico
Colfax County
Grant County
La Cruces
Lincoln County
San Juan County
Santa Fe County
New York
Albany
Binghamton
Buffalo
Chautauqua County
Elmira
Glen Falls
Jefferson County
New York City (sub-6 and mmWave)
Orange County
Otsego County
Oxnard
Poughkeepsie
Rochester
Syracuse
Utica-Rome
Yates County
North Carolina
Anson County
Charlotte (mmWave only)
Hickory
Raleigh (mmWave only)
Ohio
Ashtabula County
Cincinatti
Cleveland (mmWave only)
Clinton County
Columbiana County
Columbus
Dayton
Hamilton
Hancock County
Lima
Mansfield
Mercer County
Morrow County
Perry County
Ross County
Sandusky County
Springfield
Steubenville
Tuscawaras County
Williams County
Youngstown
Oklahoma
Grant County
Oklahoma City (mmWave only)
Oregon
Clatsop County
Eugene-Springfield
Lincoln County
Medford
Portland
Salem
The Dalles
Pennsylvania
Allentown
Altoona
Bedford County
Bradford County
Crawford County
Erie
Greene County
Harrisburg
Huntington County
Jefferson County
Johnstown
King of Prussia (mmWave only)
Lancaster
Lawrence County
Lebanon County
Northeast
Philadelphia (sub-6 and mmWave)
Pittsburgh
Reading
Sharon
State College
Union County
Wayne County
Williamsport
York
Puerto Rico
Adjunta Municipality
Aguadilla
Aibonito Municipality
Arecibo
Ceiba Municipality
Ciales Municipality
Mayaguez
Ponce
Rincon Municipality
San Juan
Rhode Island
Newport County
Providence
South Carolina
Anderson
Calhoun County
Cherokee County
Laurens County
Oconee County
South Dakota
Kingsbury County
Marshall County
Tennessee
Chattanooga
Fayette County
Giles County
Lake County
Maury County
Memphis
Nashville (sub-6 and mmWave)
Texas
Abilene
Amarillo
Atascosa County
Austin (sub-6 and mmWave)
Beaumont
Brownsville
Bryan-College Station
Burleson County
Chambers County
Cherokee County
Concho County
Corpus Christi
Dallas (sub-6 and mmWave)
Edwards County
Fannin County
Galveston
Houston (sub-6 and mmWave)
Killeen-Temple
Laredo
Lubbock
Navarro County
Newton County
Parmer County
Runnels County
San Antonio (sub-6 and mmWave)
Sherman-Denison
Tyler
Victoria
Waco (sub-6 and mmWave)
Wilson County
Utah
Beaver County
Box Elder County
Provo
Salt Lake City
Virginia
Caroline County
Danville
Frederick County
Madison County
Washington
Bellingham
Clallam County
Ferry County
Kittitas County
Okanogan County
Olympia
Pacific County
Richland-Kennewick
Seattle
Spokane
Tacoma
Yakima
Washington DC
West Virginia
Charleston
Grant County
Huntington-Ashland
Monongalia County
Parkersburg-Marietta
Raleigh County
Tucker County
Wheeling
Wisconsin
Kenosha
Madison
Racine
Sheboygan
Wood County
Wyoming
Casper
Sheridan County
5GE is not 5G
If you have an AT&T phone, you have seen your phone indicate a 5GE connection even if you don't have a 5G phone or plan that supports 5G. This is because 5GE is not 5G. To deploy 5G, a carrier needs a fast fiber connection to the network and upgraded equipment. A 5GE connection is technically LTE but with the most modern hardware and close to a best-case scenario. You may get speeds faster than typical LTE with 5GE, but the fact of the matter is, it's just good 4G LTE.
AT&T has stopped advertising this name recently, but some people with LTE phones may still see it pop up in some areas. For what it's worth, 5GE represents the best of what LTE can do and should be able to deliver great performance.
Real 5G is available in these cities on AT&T. Keep in mind that not all 5G phones support the mmWave network.
AT&T's 5G network has been playing coverage catchup with its sub-6 rivals but is closing the gap fast and already covers more than 120 million people in the US.
5G devices are becoming more capable with advancements in 5G modems such as the newer X55 modem from Qualcomm that has replaced the X50 as the most capable 5G chip.
5G is one of the more exciting things to happen to wireless networking in years and has the same exhilarating feeling that the move to 3G had. If you are a wireless enthusiast and want an easy way to see how 5G is shaping up worldwide, Ookla, the company famous for its internet speed test, has a map showing new locations as providers send them in.
