Skip to Content

U Mobile Review: Malaysia’s Budget SIM Card (+Speedtests)

The telecom market in Malaysia is highly competitive. With more than 15 mobile operators to choose from, including U Mobile, it can be a challenge to find the best SIM card for your situation. However, U Mobile may be the best budget option in Malaysia.

But, being the cheapest is often associated with having the worst service in terms of data allowance, coverage, and speeds. Is that the case with U Mobile?

U Mobile is the smallest full operator in Malaysia. A Malaysian full operator is an operator that has at least a 3G network and a 4G/LTE network. U Mobile has 3G and 4G/LTE coverage Maxis’ 2G network where necessary.

The other full operators are Digi, Maxis/Hotlink, and Celcom. You also have three 4G/LTE-only operators that, at the time of writing, offer only 4G/LTE services, like Yes 4G. And we are not even mentioning all the Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in the country.

With so much choice, should you go with U Mobile? I decided to find out when I was in Malaysia and decided to do this in-depth review. Some of the findings related to U Mobile may be surprising.

U Mobile Review by Phone Travel Wiz

Original publication: 16th of September 2020. Last updated: 15th of January 2024.


Table of Contents

U Mobile Frequencies

This is a section many readers skip because it is too technical and boring. However, this is probably the most important section of this review.

An operator could have the best plans out there with the fastest speeds. However, if your phone does not support the operator’s frequencies, then the SIM card will not (entirely) function when inserted in your phone.

U Mobile, and the Malaysian operators in general, use frequencies that are used mainly in Africa, Asia, and Europe, which are referred to as ITU regions 1 and 3. U Mobile uses the following frequencies:

  • 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
  • 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)

To learn whether your device supports these frequencies or not, go to this site to find out.

U Mobile SIM Card

As always, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator.

Although many Malaysian operators seem to have 5G trials right now, it is unclear whether 5G will be available to U Mobile prepaid customers any time soon.

Moreover, the official rollout of 5G in Malaysia has been pushed from the 3rd quarter of 2020 until at least 2022, as per the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (also known as MCMC – the linked document is in Malay).

Instead, the MCMC wants Malaysian operators, including U Mobile, to shut down their 3G network by the end of 2021 and upgrade their current 4G/LTE networks in terms of fixed broadband speeds (25 Mbps to 35 Mbps) and population coverage (from 91.8% to 96.9%).

U Mobile Coverage

Besides being aware of what frequencies an operator uses, knowing about the nationwide coverage an operator has is probably the second-most important thing to be aware of. Especially the places you will be staying at and visiting.

U Mobile has a coverage map on their website. Below is their coverage map in West Malaysia, also known as Peninsular Malaysia.

U Mobile Coverage Map
U Mobile coverage in Peninsular Malaysia

Below is U Mobile’s coverage map in East Malaysia on Borneo with the states called Sabah & Sarawak and Labuan Federal Territory

U Mobile Coverage Map
U Mobile coverage in East Malaysia

All those grayish dots are places U Mobile is planning on launching antennas soon.

Besides looking at the coverage map an operator provides, I always look at the coverage maps on the Speedtest app because they are the most reliable crowdsourced coverage map checker.

Plus, it makes it easy to compare the coverage of multiple operators on one app instead of having to go to numerous websites.

Moreover, some operators do not even have a coverage map on their website, so the Speedtest coverage checker may be your only reliable tool to look at an operator’s coverage.

U Mobile Coverage Map according to Speedtest.net
U Mobile coverage in Peninsular Malaysia by the Speedtest App
U Mobile Coverage Map according to Speedtest.net
U Mobile coverage in East Malaysia by the Speedtest App

All these maps show that U Mobile does have good coverage throughout Malaysia, especially in West Malaysia. The coverage on East Malaysia with all Malaysian operators is worse than in West Malaysia.

According to Opensignal, U Mobile has the worst 4G Coverage Experience and 4G Availability compared to the other Malaysian full operators.

Opensignal 4G Coverage Experience in Malaysia Chart
Opensignal 4G Availability Chart in Malaysia

This can cause an issue if you are staying in less populated areas. Opensignal found in late 2019 that U Mobile had the worst 4G availability in places that have a population density of fewer than 50 people per square kilometer, with a 4G availability figure of 40.6% compared to Celcom’s 74.3%, who has the best 4G availability in general and in less populated areas.

4G Availability in Malaysian thinly populated rural areas by Opensignal

Although I will talk about speeds a bit later, be aware that U Mobile is not so much focused on speed but rather on 4G coverage and 4G user experience.

Woon Ooi Yuen, the CTO of U Mobile, told SoyaCincau that U Mobile “[…] is not shouting much about speed. However, customers should experience an average speed between 10 Mbps to 30 Mbps.”

How to Buy a U Mobile Prepaid SIM Card & U Mobile SIM Card Price

You can buy a U Mobile Prepaid SIM card, called UNLIMITED FUNZ, for 10 MYR in U Mobile service centers and from select resellers, such as Tesco, 7-Eleven, and 99 Speedmart. The SIM card will come with 6 MYR in credit, unlimited data for select social media apps, and select popular gaming apps for 5 days.

It is possible to order a U Mobile SIM card online. However, a mandatory top-up of 30 MYR applies, making the minimum order value 40 MYR, and it can take up to 3 business days to receive the SIM card.

Besides buying a U Mobile SIM card in a U Mobile service center or online, you can also visit a handful of resellers to get yourself a SIM card. Be aware that you will have to manually register and activate your SIM card by yourself with the WeChat app – more about that later.

The following stores sell U Mobile SIM cards:

  • 7-Eleven
  • 99 Speedmart
  • BHP Petrol
  • Cold Storage
  • Econsave
  • Giant
  • Happy Mart
  • Mercato
  • myNEWS.com
  • Tesco
U Mobile SIM Card Resellers

Back when I bought my U Mobile UNLIMITED FUNZ starter pack, I got 200 MB of high-speed data, 1 GB basic internet a month (unrestricted web browsing at 64 Kbps), and 6 MYR in credit for 5 days. This was many months before I wrote this review.

U Mobile Tourist SIM Card Price & Availability

Tourists visiting Malaysia can also take advantage of U Mobile’s Tourist SIM offer, which may be referred to as the Traveler’s SIM. The SIM Tourist SIM itself is free, but a minimum top-up of 30 MYR is required.

U Mobile Tourist SIM (Traveller's SIM)

The U Mobile Tourist SIM is sold in three locations Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA 2) and Tawau Airport in Sabah. The following two plans are available for the U Mobile Tourist SIM:

PriceDataApp Data*Basic Internet at 64 KbpsHotspot DataLocal MinutesValidity
12 MYR1 GBUnlimited1 GB1 GBN/A7 days
30 MYR1 GBUnlimited1 GB3 GBUnlimited30 days

* Unlimited app data applies to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, WeChat, Facebook Messenger, imo, Viber, and PUBG Mobile.

How to Register and Activate a U Mobile SIM Card

U Mobile SIM cards are registered and activated upon purchase if done in a U Mobile service center or, if ordered online, on the U Mobile Online Store. If you buy your U Mobile SIM card from a reseller, like 7-Eleven, then you can use the WeChat app to register a U Mobile SIM card.

As a reminder, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC for short) mandates that all users, regardless of their nationality, are required to register as long as they are subscribers of a Malaysian prepaid SIM card. This, therefore, also applies to tourists, (long-term) travelers, migrant workers, and students.

SIM card registration means that your personal details (such as your full name, date of birth, and passport information), will be stored in a database. This is why you need to bring your passport when buying a U Mobile SIM card in a U Mobile service center

Otherwise, you will not be able to purchase a U Mobile SIM card or any Malaysian SIM card for that matter. Be aware that bring photocopies of your passport are not allowed.

U Mobile Prepaid SIM Card Registration Requirements

Registering and Activating a U Mobile SIM Card as a Tourist

I recommend tourist and short-term visitors to purchase a U Mobile SIM card in a U Mobile service center. This is the fastest and most convenient way to get a U Mobile SIM card and to get the SIM card activated.

Be aware that some U Mobile service centers may not sell any of the plans mentioned on the U Mobile site or in this review and will only sell more expensive plans. More about that later.

Registering and Activating a U Mobile SIM Card when Bought Online

Those who buy a U Mobile SIM card on the U Mobile Online Store will have to enter their personal details while ordering the SIM card. SIM cards ordered online will be automatically activated after 48 hours. Otherwise, you can manually activate the SIM card via the Online Store if you do not want to wait 48 hours.

U Mobile Online SIM Card Activation

Registering and Activating a U Mobile SIM Card with WeChat

If you purchase a U Mobile SIM card from a reseller, such as Tesco, 7-Eleven, 99 Speedmart, Giant, or gas stations, then you can register the SIM card with the WeChat app (Android/iOS) with the following five steps:

  1. Open WeChat, press “+”, and scan the QR code given by the store assistant
  2. Press “Start” and scan the SIM card barcode on the U Mobile UNLIMITED FUNZ starter pack
  3. Take a photo of your MyKas (Malaysians) or Passport (Non-Malaysians)
  4. Verify your personal details, or fill them in if missing or incorrect
  5. Press the camera icon to allow your phone to scan your face (tip: make sure the room is well-lit)

Congratulations – you have successfully registered and activated your U Mobile SIM card!

U Mobile Prepaid SIM Card Registration Steps with WeChat

How to Top Up a U Mobile SIM Card & How to Get a Top-Up Voucher

You can top-up your U Mobile SIM card with reload vouchers, which are sold in U Mobile stores, select retail partners, 7-Elevens, and ATMs, through text or shortcode, or you can top-up online on the Prepaid Top Up Online page, which accepts international debit and credit cards.

U Mobile top-up vouchers are sold in four denominations. Although U Mobile does not state the credit validity of each top-up, I assume it is about the same as its competitors (Digi, Maxis/Hotlink, and Celcom), which would result in the following table:

Reload AmountCredit Validity
10 MYR10 days
30 MYR30 days
50 MYR50 days
100 MYR100 days

U Mobile top-up vouchers are, besides in U Mobile service centers, available in many places throughout Malaysia, such as:

  • ATMs (Alliance Bank, Bank Island, Bank Muamalat, Maybank, UOB, etc.)
  • Pharmacies (Caring Pharmacy, Cosway, Guardian, RedCap Pharmacy & Waston)
  • Gas stations (BHPetrol, Caltex, Preton, Petronas & Shell)
  • Electrical chains (EGO Onking, H&L, Senheng & Sony)
  • Hypermarkets & Supermarkets (AEON, Cold Storage, Giant, Tesco, Village Grocer, etc.)
  • Convenience stores (7-Eleven, 99 Speedmart, Circle K, Family mart, Happymart, etc.)
  • Terminal merchants (e-pay, Mobilityone & Razer)
  • E-wallets (Boost, GoPayz, Touch ‘n Go eWallet & WeChat Pay)
Hypermarkets and Supermarkets selling U Mobile SIM cards
Hypermarkets and Supermarkets selling U Mobile SIM cards

Below are two ways to redeem your U Mobile top-up voucher, and three ways to top-up online:

Let’s go through each top-up method. Click on the links above to jump to your preferred top-up method.

Activate a U Mobile Top Up Voucher via Shortcode (USSD)

You can activate a U Mobile Top Up Voucher through shortcode, also known as USSD code, by dialing *138*14-DigitVoucherCode#. For example, if your voucher code is 12345678901234, then you would dial *138*12345678901234#. A confirmation SMS will be sent to you within seconds.

U Mobile Shortcode (USSD) Top Up Instructions

Activate a U Mobile Top Up Voucher via SMS

You can activate a U Mobile Top Up Voucher through SMS by texting the 14-digit top-up code to 22126. For example, if your voucher code is 12345678901234, then you text 12345678901234 to 22128. A confirmation SMS will be sent to you within seconds.

U Mobile SMS Top Up Instructions

Top Up Your U Mobile SIM Card with the MyUMobile App

You can reload your U Mobile SIM card with the MyUMobile app, which is available on both Android and iOS. To do so, open the app, tap on Top Up My Account, and press the reload value you want.

U Mobile Top Up With the MyUMobile App Instructions

Top Up Your U Mobile SIM Card with U Mobile Self Care

It is possible to top up your U Mobile SIM card with U Mobile Self Care, which is the portal for U Mobile customers. To do so, Log in to Self Care, press Top Up My Account, and press the preferred reload value.

U Mobile Top Up With Self Care Instructions

Top Up Your U Mobile SIM Card with U Mobile Online Prepaid Top Up

You have the possibility to top up your U Mobile SIM card without having to log in to your U Mobile account. To do so, head to the Prepaid Top Up page, enter your phone number and email address, choose the desired top-up value and select your payment method (American Express, MasterCard, and Visa – international debit and credit cards are accepted).

U Mobile Top Up With Online Prepaid Top Up Instructions

U Mobile Prepaid Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers

The U Mobile UNLIMITED FUNZ SIM card comes with various plans that include unlimited data for select games (like PUBG Mobile), social media (Facebook, Instagram & Twitter), and messaging (Facebook Messenger, imo, Viber, WhatsApp & WeChat).

Some of these plans are data-only plans, while others include local minutes. The following U Mobile Prepaid Plans are available:

Let’s go through each of these plans. Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.

U Mobile Prepaid Plans

U Mobile Daily & Weekly Data Plans

The Daily & Weekly Data Plans are short-term data-only plans that come with high-speed data. Most plans come with free streaming for KKBox, Tonton, and YouTube for between 2:00 – 10:00 (2 AM – 10 AM).

U Mobile Daily & Weekly Plans

The following Daily & Weekly Data Plans are available, which can be activated by dialing *118*2*1#:

PriceDataMUSIC ONZFree Streaming (Night & Morning)Validity
2 MYR100 MBNoNo1 day
5 MYR1.5 GBUnlimitedYes, for KKBOX, TONTON & YouTube1 day
9 MYR1 GBUnlimitedYes, for KKBOX, TONTON & YouTube7 days
15 MYR500 MBUnlimitedYes, for KKBOX, TONTON & YouTube15 days

Dial *118*2*3# or text USAGE to 28118 to check the data balance of your Daily & Weekly Data Plan.

The 15 MUSIC ONZ apps and sites are:

  • Ais Kacang
  • Apple Music
  • BMF 89.9
  • CITYPlus FM
  • Fly FM
  • Hot FM
  • Joox
  • KKBOX
  • Kool FM
  • KupiKupi FM
  • One FM
  • Smule
  • Spotify
  • SYOK
  • Tidal
U Mobile Music Onz Apps

U Mobile Daily & Weekly Data Plans Data Booster

If you are (almost) out of data, then you can buy a Booster Plan, specifically for the Daily & Weekly Data Plans, for 10 MYR that comes with 1 GB for 3 days. The Booster Plan can be purchased by dialing *118*# or texting BOOST to 28118. Dial *118*2*3# or text DATA2 to 28118 to check the data balance of your Daily & Weekly Data Plan.

U Mobile Booster Plan for the Daily and Weekly Plans

U Mobile Giler Unlimited Prepaid

The Giler Unlimited Prepaid Plans are combo plans that come with unlimited data at throttled speeds (up to 6 Mbps), hotspot/tether restrictions (up to 6 GB), and unlimited local calls.

U Mobile Giler Unlimited Prepaid Plans

The following Giler Unlimited Prepaid Plans are available, which can be activated by dialing *118*1*1#:

PricePlan NameDataSpeedHotspot/Tether AllowanceLocal CallsValidity
12 MYRGX12Unlimited3 Mbps1 GBUnlimited7 days
30 MYRGX30Unlimited6 Mbps6 GBNone30 days
35 MYRGX38Unlimited6 Mbps6 GBUnlimited30 days

Dial *118*1*3# to check your Giler Unlimited Prepaid balance.

Be aware that if you go over your hotspot data allowance, then you can still tether, although that will be at reduced speeds (64 Kbps).

You can get extra high-speed data, unthrottled data speeds for 24 hours, or extra data for tethering (hotspot) with the Data Booster 5, Turbo Booster, and Hotspot Booster add-ons, which are described below.

U Mobile Giler Unlimited Prepaid Boosters (Data Booster 5, Turbo Booster & Hotspot Booster)

U Mobile Giler Unlimited Prepaid Data Booster 5

The Data Booster 5, which is available for the GX30 and GX38 plans, is an add-on that comes with 10 GB high-speed data for 5 MYR that is valid for 14 days. Data Booster 5 can be activated by dialing *118*1*2*3#.

Be aware that the Data Booster 5 add-on does not grant you extra data for tethering (hotspot). You would need the Hotspot Booster for extra hotspot data.

U Mobile Giler Unlimited Prepaid Turbo Booster

The Turbo Booster is an add-on that allows you to use your unlimited data allowance at full speeds for 24 hours, which will cost you 5 MYR. Turbo Booster can be activated by dialing *118*1*2*1#.

U Mobile Giler Unlimited Prepaid Hotspot Booster

The Hotspot Booster is an add-on that grants you an additional 3 GB for tethering (hotspot) for 3 days, costing you 3 MYR. Hotspot Booster can be activated by dialing *118*1*2*2#.

U Mobile Giler Talk GT30

The Giler Talk GT 30 plan is a plan that comes with 1 GB of high-speed data, unlimited local calls, and unlimited data for select games (like PUBG Mobile), social media (Facebook, Instagram & Twitter), and messaging (Facebook Messenger, imo, Viber, WhatsApp & WeChat) for 30 days.

U Mobile Giler Talk GT30

Be aware that you need the UNLIMITED FUNZ pack and at least 10 MYR on your SIM card to take advantage of the unlimited data for the aforementioned apps.

Moreover, after exceeding your 1 GB data allowance, your speeds will be throttled at undisclosed speeds (probably 64 Kbps). However, U Mobile may decide to completely shut off your internet connection.

You can activate the Giler Talk GT30 plan by dialing *118*3*6*1#. Dial *118*3*6*3 to check your Giler Talk GT30 balance.

U Mobile Unlimited Mobile Internet (UMI Plans)

The Unlimited Mobile Internet Plans, also known as UMI plans, are combo plans that come with high-speed data and local minutes. All plans come with VIDEO ONZ, Unlimited MUSIC ONZ, Unlimited data for select apps, and free streaming at night for KKBox, TONTON & YouTube.

U Mobile Unlimited Mobile Internet (UMI Plans)

The following UMI plans are available, which can be activated by dialing *118*3*1*1#:

PriceDataUnlimited Internet for Select AppsVIDEO ONZMUSIC ONZFree Streaming (Night & Morning)Local CallsFree On-Net CallsLocal SMSValidity
20 MYR1.5 GBYes500 MBUnlimitedKKBox, TONTON & YouTube20 minutesYesN/A30 days
26 MYR2.5 GBYes2.5 GBUnlimitedNoN/AN/AN/A30 days
30 MYR2.5 GBYes2.5 GBUnlimitedKKBox, TONTON & YouTube30 minutesYesN/A30 days
36 MYR2 GBYes7.5 GBUnlimitedYouTubeN/AN/AN/A30 days
38 MYR7.5 GBYes2 GBUnlimitedKKBox, TONTON & YouTube150 minutesYes30 SMS30 days
50 MYR4 GBYes4 GBUnlimitedKKBox, TONTON & YouTube50 minutesYesN/A30 days

Dial *118*3*1*3# to check your UMI plan balance.

U Mobile Unlimited Mobile Internet (UMI Plans)

The select apps for unlimited data are:

  • Facebook
  • Facebook Messenger
  • imo
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Viber
  • Waze
  • WeChat
  • WhatsApp
U Mobile UNLIMITED FUNZ Pack Unlimited Data Apps

The VIDEO ONZ apps and sites are:

  • Astro Go
  • BFM
  • Crunchyroll
  • Dailymotion
  • Dimsum entertainment
  • Eros Now
  • Facebook
  • HeroTalkies
  • Iflix
  • KOOCAN
  • MOX
  • NJIO Now
  • ONFM
  • Pocketimes
  • StarLive
  • The Edge TV
  • tonton
  • Twitter
  • Unifi playTV app
  • Viki
  • Viu
  • Youku Tudou
  • YouTube
  • YouTube Gaming
  • YouTube Kids
  • YuppTV
U Mobile Video Ons Apps

The MUSIC ONZ apps and sites are:

  • Ais Kacang
  • Apple Music
  • BMF 89.9
  • CITYPlus FM
  • Fly FM
  • Hot FM
  • Joox
  • KKBOX
  • One FM
  • Smule
  • Spotify
  • SYOK
  • Tidal
  • Kool FM
  • KupiKupi FM

U Mobile Music Onz Apps

U Mobile EPIKKK Video3

The EPIKKK Video3 is a plan that comes with 3 GB for TikTok and YouTube for 3 days, costing 3 MYR. EPIKKK Video3 can be activated by dialing *118*3*4*1#. Dial *118*3*4*2# to check your EPIKKK Video3 balance.

U Mobile EPIKKK Video3 Plan

U Mobile Plans Sold in Select U Mobile Service Centers

For some reason, I was not able to purchase any of the attractive plans mentioned above. Instead, I had to choose from one of these relatively expensive four plans.

Unknown U Mobile Prepaid Plans sold in a U Mobile Service Center in Kuala Lumpur

I am not sure why this U Mobile service center had plans that differ from the ones that had on their website, but I could only choose from these four.

Sure, I could have gone to another U Mobile service, but they also could have had the same four plans – I did not want to risk it,

Moreover, I did not know one could buy SIM cards from select resellers, like 7-Eleven, and activate it later with WeChat. I probably would have done so if I knew, as these plans are expensive compared to other U Mobile plans.

U Mobile Speed Test Results

Now, it is time to know whether U Mobile is fast or not.

We already learned that some of the more popular U Mobile plans, the Giler Unlimited Prepaid plans, come with throttled speeds (6 Mbps), meaning that your speeds should be predictable.

However, some plans come with high-speed data that is not capped at 6 Mbps, or one can buy a Booster that allows you to use your unlimited data plan without throttled speeds.

Even then, it is good to know what speeds you can expect with U Mobile.

In the coverage section, I mentioned that U Mobile is not too fuzzed about speeds but instead on coverage, as stated by U Mobile’s CTO.

While I was in Malaysia, I got a plan that did not come with throttled speeds, so I could see what speeds you can get if you get one of U Mobile’s non-capped speed plans.

I did three speed tests with U Mobile: one speed test was done at a restaurant somewhere in Kuala Lumpur (I do not recall which one), one on the 5th floor in the Pavillion Mall in Kuala Lumpur, and one test at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (while sitting at the Old Town White Coffee, to be exact).

There were my results:

U Mobile Speed Test in a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur
Unknown restaurant in Kuala Lumpur
U Mobile speed test in Pavillion Mall in Kuala Lumpur
Pavillion Mall (5th floor) in Kuala Lumpur
U Mobile speed test at Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Old Town White Coffee in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (terminal 1 – KLIA)

Those are decent speeds. Sure, they are not super fast but they are not extremely slow either (except for that result in the mall – every other Malaysian operator I tried in that mall had a download speed of at least 20 Mbps).

When looking at U Mobile’s average download speed, I got an average download speed of 20 Mbps (this includes two speed tests that are not shown in this article but are live speed tests for my U Mobile video review and Malaysia SIM card comparison video in Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur).

This average download speed was slightly higher than Celcom’s but lower than Digi’s and significantly slower than Maxis/Hotlink.

Then again, this was a small sample size primarily in Kuala Lumpur, but it does give you an insight of what to expect with U Mobile if you get a plan that does not have capped speeds.

When looking at U Mobile’s upload speed, it was quite decent, with an average upload speed of 15 Mbps.

Surprisingly, U Mobile’s upload speed was significantly higher than the one of Digi in the locations I tried.

When recording the live speed test footage, Digi jumped to 3G once, and the upload speed at the airport was sad (0.05 Mbps), which may be why Digi’s average upload speed was so disappointing.

Before you get all excited, you need to know that the average download speed in Malaysia is slightly above 24 Mbps in Malaysia, while the average upload speed is close to 11 Mbps, according to the Speedtest Global Index.

Malaysia Average Speeds according to the Speedtest Global Index
Average mobile broadband speeds in Malaysia

Opensignal did as study (April 2020) and found that the average download speed with U Mobile is 7.4 Mbps, while the average upload speed is 6.1 Mbps. This can be attributed to the capped speeds with some of U Mobile’s plans.

Average Malaysian Download Speed Experience according to Opensignal
Average Malaysian Upload Speed Experience according to Opensignal

Be aware that speeds are affected by many factors, including the load on the network, the distance between your device, U Mobile’s tower, and the server location of the website or app you are using, and your general location.

Speedtest found that Sarawak, a state in East Malaysia, has the fastest average download speed of 25.71 Mbps, while the slowest average download speed can be found in Perlis, Malaysia’s smallest state at the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, at 16.49 Mbps.

According to the same study, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur has an average download speed of 22.18 Mbps.

Average Speeds in Malaysian States according to Speedtest

Should You Get a U Mobile Prepaid SIM Card?

I would recommend U Mobile for anyone wanting to buy a Malaysian SIM card. With cheap plans, generous data allowances compared to its competitors, and attractive perks, U Mobile can be labeled as Malaysia’s budget SIM card.

U Mobile’s coverage was good, even though it is the worst on paper compared to the other full operators (Digi, Maxis/Hotlink, and Celcom).

Speed-wise, although my speed test results showed decent speeds, browsing the web and watching YouTube videos on SD (480P) or HD (720P) was sometimes slow or resulted in buffering.

U Mobile SIM Card

In my Hotlink review, I explained that because I was forced to buy the Hotlink Tourist SIM card, I decided to make my Hotlink SIM card my primary SIM card.

A primary SIM card is a SIM card I use more than the other SIM cards I buy for testing purposes. I usually buy a larger data pack for my primary SIM card compared to the other SIM cards. However, that does not mean I do not try the other SIM cards I buy.

It is inconvenient to keep switching SIM cards and keep track of how much data I have used with each plan. That is why I select a primary SIM card.

As I already knew that U Mobile was slower than Hotlink and that U Mobile was the smallest operator full operator in Malaysia, I did not make U Mobile my primary SIM card.

Moreover, my initial tests with U Mobile did not produce favorable results to make it my primary SIM card.

Adu from Phone Travel Wiz holding U Mobile and Hotlink SIM Cards

One thing that bothered me is that the U Mobile service center was selling plans that were much different than the ones shown on the site. I am still not sure if that was because this service center was in a touristy location in the center of Kuala Lumpur or for another reason. Either way, it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Besides that, U Mobile is a relatively good operator from the many choices you have in Malaysia. With low prices, attractive and unique perks, and decent speeds, U Mobile can be considered to be the budget option in Malaysia.

In short, I would recommend U Mobile for those wanting to buy a Malaysian SIM with cheap plans and are not too fuzzed about high speeds and are instead interested in large data allowances or unlimited data at capped speeds. Although U Mobile has its flaws, those are countered by their unique features. As a result, they deserve their 4-star rating.

Malaysia SIM Card Review Series

This U Mobile review is part of my Malaysian SIM Card Review series, where I reviewed five different SIM cards (Digi, Maxis/Hotlink, Celcom, U Mobile & Yes 4G).

I would recommend reading those reviews too before deciding on which Malaysian SIM card you want to buy.

A happy Adu with his Malaysian SIM Cards