Head-to-Head Comparison
Amazon Leo vs AST SpaceMobile
Side-by-side comparison of speeds, latency, pricing, coverage, and hardware - updated 2026-03-28.
Data sourced from FCC filings, official specs, and independent speed tests. Upcoming provider specs are based on announced projections.
The Verdict
Amazon Leo wins for most users with faster speeds (100-1000 Mbps vs 10-120 Mbps) and similar latency.
Winner for most users
Amazon Leo
Amazon's LEO broadband - launching 2026
Max Speed
1000 Mbps
Latency
20-40ms
From
TBD
Satellites
212
Satellite broadband direct to your phone
Max Speed
120 Mbps
Latency
20-40ms
From
TBD
Satellites
6
Amazon Leo vs AST SpaceMobile - Full Specs Comparison
| Spec | Amazon Leo | AST SpaceMobile |
|---|---|---|
| Download Speed | 100-1000 Mbps Winner | 10-120 Mbps |
| Upload Speed | 10-40 Mbps Winner | 2-10 Mbps |
| Latency Lower is better | 20-40ms | 20-40ms |
| Starting Price Lower is better | TBD | TBD |
| Data Caps | Unlimited | TBD |
| Equipment Cost Lower is better | TBD | Free Winner |
| Installation | Self-install | Self-install |
| Portable | Yes | Yes |
| Orbit Type | LEO | LEO |
| Constellation | 212 in orbit / 7,736 planned Winner | 6 in orbit / 243 planned |
| Countries Available | 5 countries Winner | Not yet available |
| Status | Upcoming | Upcoming |
Speed Comparison - Amazon Leo vs AST SpaceMobile
Amazon Leo offers faster download speeds at 100-1000 Mbps compared to AST SpaceMobile's 10-120 Mbps. That is up to 8.3x faster at the high end.
Upload speeds: Amazon Leo 10-40 Mbps vs AST SpaceMobile 2-10 Mbps. Speeds are advertised ranges and vary by location, time of day, and congestion.
Latency Comparison - Amazon Leo vs AST SpaceMobile
Both providers offer similar latency: Amazon Leo at 20-40ms and AST SpaceMobile at 20-40ms. Both operate in LEO orbit.
Lower latency is better. Under 80ms is good for gaming. Under 300ms works for video calls. GEO satellites (35,786 km) have 600ms+ latency due to signal travel time. LEO satellites (550 km) achieve 20-60ms.
Pricing Comparison - Amazon Leo vs AST SpaceMobile
Neither provider has announced public consumer pricing. Both may be enterprise-only or still in pre-launch phase.
Amazon Leo Plans
Amazon targeting $400 consumer terminal; Leo Nano even cheaper
AST SpaceMobile Plans
No consumer plans announced
No equipment - uses existing smartphones
Coverage & Availability - Amazon Leo vs AST SpaceMobile
Amazon Leo is available in 5 countries. AST SpaceMobile is not yet available for consumers. ~212 satellites in orbit (Mar 2026). Consumer beta targeting Q1 2026 launch in US, UK, France, Germany, Canada. Target: ~700 by mid-2026, 26 countries by end-2026. FCC expanded authorization to 4,500 additional satellites (Feb 2026). FCC half-constellation deadline: 1,616 by July 2026 - Amazon requested 24-month extension (Jan 30, 2026).
Amazon Leo only (5)
Hardware & Installation - Amazon Leo vs AST SpaceMobile
Both providers offer self-installation - no technician visit needed.
Amazon Leo
- Equipment
- TBD
- Dish Type
- Phased-array (compact form factor)
- Installation
- Self-install
- Portable
- Yes
Amazon targeting $400 consumer terminal; Leo Nano even cheaper
AST SpaceMobile
- Equipment
- Free
- Installation
- Self-install
- Portable
- Yes
No equipment - uses existing smartphones
Pros & Cons
Amazon Leo
Advantages
- + Amazon's $10B+ investment ensures long-term commitment
- + Three terminal tiers up to 1 Gbps (Leo Ultra)
- + Potential Prime subscription bundle
- + FCC expanded authorization to 7,736 satellites (Jan 2026)
- + Enterprise preview already running
Limitations
- - No confirmed consumer pricing yet
- - Only ~212 of 7,736 satellites in orbit so far; FCC deadline extension pending
- - Years behind Starlink in operational experience
AST SpaceMobile
Advantages
- + No dish or special equipment - works with existing phones
- + Partnerships with AT&T, Vodafone, Rakuten
- + Next-gen BlueBirds support up to 120 Mbps per cell
- + Game-changer for dead zones and emergency connectivity
Limitations
- - Beta service not yet publicly available
- - Only 6 satellites in orbit - coverage is intermittent until 45-60 sats deployed
- - Lower speeds than dish-based services
- - Depends entirely on carrier partnerships for consumer access
Which Should You Choose? Amazon Leo vs AST SpaceMobile
Gaming
EitherBoth have low latency suitable for gaming: Amazon Leo at 20-40ms vs AST SpaceMobile at 20-40ms.
Streaming
Amazon LeoAmazon Leo's 100-1000 Mbps easily handles 4K streaming. AST SpaceMobile's lower range (10-120 Mbps) may struggle with multiple streams.
Budget
NeitherNeither provider has announced consumer pricing yet.
Rural / Remote
Amazon LeoAmazon Leo is available now in 5 countries. AST SpaceMobile has not launched yet.
Business
Amazon LeoAmazon Leo's higher max speeds (1000 Mbps vs 120 Mbps) and 20-40ms latency make it better for business use.
Mobile / RV
EitherBoth Amazon Leo and AST SpaceMobile support portable use, making either suitable for RV and travel use.