// ZDNET — MOBILE & WEB
Google Fi now switches between the best mobile networks automatically – how it works
Pixel users also get a bonus Wi-Fi upgrade. Here's what to know.
From left to right: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8, Google Pixel 11, Google Pixel 11 Pro XL.
Google Fi wireless customers with Pixel phones just got a serious upgrade to their mobile and Wi-Fi connections for free.
Google has announced two new “super network” connection features for Fi Wireless: one that automatically switches between two of the largest 5G cellular networks, and another that automatically connects to premium Wi-Fi in millions of locations without you needing to log in.
The features are rolling out today for Pixel 9 phones and newer models on every Google Fi plan. If you’re not a current Fi customer, you can sign up for a free seven-day trial to test it alongside your current carrier.
Here’s how the new mobile connection feature works: if your main connection slows or becomes unstable, Fi will automatically move to a secondary connection. This not only means you’ll have the fastest option when your connection is good, but you’ll have fewer dead zones when service is limited.
Also: I compared Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T 5G coverage on a road trip – and the winner surprised me
The feature will run on MEP (Multiple Enabled Profiles) technology, which allows a single eSIM chip to host and run multiple SIM profiles simultaneously. Footnotes in Google’s release note that you’ll need to have “any non-Fi SIMs disabled.”
Google Fi originally offered automatic switching between two networks when the service debuted a decade ago, but it was between Sprint and T-Mobile, which merged in 2020. Google didn’t reveal what the “two of America’s best 5G cellular networks” were, but ZDNET has reached out to ask. The service usually runs on T-Mobile. Along with T-Mobile, the three biggest carriers are AT&T and Verizon, so it’s likely the second carrier is one of those.
In addition to a mobile connection upgrade, users are getting better Wi-Fi, too. Wi-Fi Auto Connect+ will automatically connect you to faster Wi-Fi in millions of locations like airports and malls (Google defines “faster” as two times better reliability and 30% improved latency compared to normal Google Fi cellular networks) without you having to log in or head to your settings. These connections will be automatically encrypted, Google said, keeping your online activity safe.