Virgin Media M125 Review: A Solid Entry to Full Fibre
Stepping into Virgin Media’s network often means accessing some of the fastest widely available speeds in the UK, and the M125 plan is your entry ticket. Delivering an average download speed of 132Mbps, it’s designed for smaller households that need a reliable connection for streaming, working, and browsing, but don’t require the power (or price) of a gigabit plan.
But as Virgin’s most affordable package, does it represent the best value, or are you better off spending a little more for a much faster plan? This review breaks down the specs, real-world performance, and the all-important pricing to see if the M125 is the smart choice for your home.
Virgin Media Broadband
Great Speed and Reliability
✅ You crave speed and reliability for streaming/gaming.
✅ Bundling TV/mobile saves you money (especially with Volt).
✅ Future-proofing matters (Gig1/Gig2).
Virgin Media M125 Speed Comparison Tool
What this means for you:
Speed & Performance: Reliable for Everyday Use
Key Stats
| Metric | Virgin Media M125 |
|---|---|
| Average Download Speed | 132Mbps |
| Upload Speed | 20Mbps |
| Minimum Speed Guarantee | 50% of advertised speed (66Mbps) to the hub |
Real-World Performance
- Typical Usage: The 132Mbps speed is more than enough for a household of 2-4 people to browse, stream in HD or 4K, and make video calls simultaneously. Virgin Media suggests it can comfortably support 5-9 active devices.
- Gaming: The connection offers low latency (12-15ms), which is excellent for responsive online gaming. However, downloading large game files (e.g., a 100GB game takes about 1 hour 50 minutes) can be a test of patience compared to faster plans.
- Uploads: The 20Mbps upload speed is sufficient for video calls and sharing small files, but may feel slow for large cloud backups or content creation.
Who is 132Mbps For?
✅ Small households and couples with moderate internet use .
✅ Remote workers who need a reliable connection for video conferencing .
✅ Casual gamers who play online multiplayer games .
✅ Streaming HD or 4K video on multiple screens .
❌ Households with multiple heavy downloaders.
❌ Users who frequently upload very large files.
What Can You Do with 125Mbps?
Plan Breakdown: Competitive Pricing with a Caveat
Virgin Media M125 is offered on a 24-month contract. The pricing is highly competitive, but it’s crucial to be aware of the annual price increase.
Plan & Pricing Overview
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Standard Monthly Cost | £22.99 – £23.99 per month (for new customers) |
| Contract Length | 24 months |
| Setup Fee | Typically £0 (online only) |
| Annual Price Increase | Fixed £3.50 per month every April for customers who joined from 9 Jan 2025 |
The Value Trap -While the M125 is cheap, the M250 plan (264Mbps) is often available for just £24.99/month. For an extra £2, you get double the download speed, making M125 a harder sell unless your budget is absolutely fixed at the lowest possible price.
Bundles and Add-ons:
- Broadband Only: The base plan includes unlimited usage.
- With Phone: Adds a digital landline with weekend calls for around £30.99/month. Anytime calls to UK landlines and mobiles cost an extra £8/month.
- With Flex TV: For an extra £5/month, you get a streaming box with 150+ channels and the option to add premium services like Sky Sports on a rolling monthly basis.
Price Comparison – How Virgin Media M125 Stacks Up
| Provider | Plan Speed | Monthly Cost | Key Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Media M125 | 132Mbps | £22.99 | Virgin’s own fast network, competitive entry price |
| Virgin Media M250 | 264Mbps | £24.99 | Double the speed for a small price jump |
| Sky Full Fibre 150 | 145Mbps | £27.00 | Better customer service, but slightly more expensive |
Router & Hardware: Good, But Check Which Model You Get
The router you receive can vary, which impacts your Wi-Fi experience.
Hub 3 (Older Standard)
- Wi-Fi 5 Technology: Older but still capable.
- Best For: Smaller flats and homes. May struggle with coverage in larger properties.
Hub 5 (Newer Standard)
- Wi-Fi 6 Technology: More efficient, offering better performance and stability for multiple devices.
- Best For: Most households, especially those with many connected devices.
Recommended Upgrade: WiFi Max
- For £8/month, you can add Virgin’s mesh Wi-Fi system, which includes up to three pods and guarantees a 30Mbps signal in every room (or a £100 credit if it fails). This is highly recommended for larger homes.
Customer Service: An Area for Improvement
Virgin Media’s customer service has room for improvement compared to some rivals.
- Ofcom Complaints: Virgin Media had 12 complaints per 100,000 customers in a recent report, which is higher than Sky’s 5 complaints.
- Automatic Compensation: Virgin is part of Ofcom’s automatic compensation scheme, so you’ll be paid for service issues like delays fixing faults or missed engineer appointments without having to ask.
Virgin Media Broadband
Great Speed and Reliability
✅ You crave speed and reliability for streaming/gaming.
✅ Bundling TV/mobile saves you money (especially with Volt).
✅ Future-proofing matters (Gig1/Gig2).
Verdict: Great for Small Homes, But Check the Upgrade Price
Choose Virgin Media M125 if:
✅ You are a small household of 1-3 people with standard internet needs.
✅ Your budget is absolutely fixed at the lowest possible price.
✅ You want access to Virgin’s fast and reliable network without paying for top-tier speed.
Consider paying for M250 if:
❌ The M250 plan is only £2-3 more per month (it often is) – the value for money is significantly better.
❌ You frequently download large files or games.
❌ You want more future-proofing for your connection.
Final Thoughts
Virgin Media’s M125 is the reliable city car of broadband – perfect for zipping around town on your daily errands, but you’ll feel its limits the moment you hit the motorway. It delivers a solid 132Mbps that’s perfectly adequate for small households streaming and browsing, all on Virgin’s famously responsive cable network.
At £23/month, it’s competitively priced, but it’s caught in a classic value trap: the M250 plan costs just £2 more for double the speed, making the M125 feel like paying for a smaller engine. The provided router could be the older Hub 3, and Virgin’s customer service remains a known pothole on an otherwise smooth road.
My take: Go for the M125 only if your budget is absolutely locked at the lowest possible price for a reliable connection. For literally everyone else, spend the extra £2 for the M250 – it’s one of the most no-brainer upgrades in broadband. If you’re an O2 customer, the free Volt boost to M250 makes this an outright steal.
Still torn? Compare all fibre deals here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the real-world upload speed?
You can expect upload speeds of around 20Mbps . This is sufficient for video calls and sharing small files, but may feel slow for large cloud backups or content creation.
What happens if my speed drops below the guarantee?
Virgin guarantees a minimum download speed of 50% of the advertised speed (66Mbps) to your hub. If it falls below this for three consecutive days and the issue is on Virgin’s side, you can leave your contract without an early termination fee.
Can I use my own router with Virgin Media?
Yes, it is possible to use your own router with Virgin Media’s connection, which can be beneficial if you want more advanced networking features than the provided hub offers.
How does the annual price increase work?
For customers who joined from 9 January 2025, Virgin Media applies a fixed price increase of £3.50 per month every April. This replaces the older inflation-based (RPI) model and provides more certainty about future costs.
Is there an early termination fee?
Yes. If you cancel your 24-month contract early without a valid reason (like a breach of the minimum speed guarantee), you will be charged an early disconnection fee. The exact amount is calculated based on the monthly charges remaining in your contract.
What are Volt benefits?
If you have both Virgin Media broadband and an O2 mobile plan, you can get Volt benefits. For M125 customers, this includes a free speed boost to M250 (264Mbps) and double data on your O2 mobile plan at no extra cost.
