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- Google Fi now moves Pixel 9 and newer phones between two 5G carriers automatically.
- Google hasn’t named the two carriers, though Fi has been long-running on the T-Mobile network.
- Any other SIM or eSIM on the phone has to be disabled.
- The limited-time Google Pixel 11 Pro deal for new subscribers ends November 18.
Google Fi Wireless is rolling out a “super network” that automatically switches Pixel 9 and newer phones between two 5G carriers to cut down dead zones. The feature is free on every US Google Fi plan, but it needs Fi on an eSIM with other SIMs disabled. After years without a second US network, Google says new eSIM tech makes carrier switching faster.
Google Fi began rolling it out today, and it moves Pixel 9 and newer phones between two 5G networks in real time. Which two carriers, you may ask? Google didn’t disclose that information.
When TheVerge asked to comment, the senior product manager Jane Harnett declined to name the networks, and CNET got the same non-answer. Fi’s FAQ says coverage currently runs through T-Mobile, and then Engadget says one is probably T-Mobile. Though Google has simply said they bring the “fastest speeds and most expansive coverage in the nation”.
How the hopping works
Google Fi has done this before. Project Fi switched between T-Mobile and Sprint until the two merged in 2020. The old method waited for service to drop, then slowly swapped SIM profiles without knowing if the other network was better.
The new version keeps two eSIM profiles on standby concurrently while the Android OS and Pixel device continue to monitor live connection quality, checking for better signal availability before jumping onto it, which is a real improvement.
Harnett says Fi rebuilt the experience “from the ground up for the modern era”.
The fine print you will be needing
The feature, at the moment, requires you to have a Pixel 9 or newer device with Fi on eSIM. If you carry a travel eSIM or a work line, you have to choose between the two for this to work flawlessly.
The US feature is included on all four Fi plans, but Google limits the international version to Unlimited Premium and Flexible. Wi-Fi Auto Connect+ encrypts your connection automatically.
In 2027, the WiFi Auto Connect+ and Super Network are expected to be released for Samsung and Motorola phones.
If you are a new subscriber, you will get $500 off plus $599 in credits over 24 months on a Pixel 11 Pro, which adds up to $1,099 if you stay within the same network for the whole term. This is a limited-time offer and will end on November 18, which means you have about eight days to decide whether this is worthy enough for your needs.
