Virgin Media M250 Broadband Review: Is It Worth the Hype?
Virgin Media M250 delivers blazing 264Mbps downloads for £29/month but skimps on uploads (25Mbps) and uses an older router. Great for big households if you can tolerate annual price hikes and patchy customer service.
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).
Key Takeaways
- 264Mbps downloads for £29/month – great for busy households
- 25Mbps uploads lag behind competitors like BT
- Comes with older Hub 3 router (Wi-Fi 5)
- 18-month contract vs industry-standard 24 months
- Watch out for annual price hikes (RPI + 3.9%)
Speed Breakdown: More Than Enough for Netflix Binges 🚀
Virgin Media M250 delivers 264Mbps download speeds – enough for 10+ 4K streams simultaneously. But the 25Mbps upload speed feels stuck in 2010. Compared to EE’s 150Mbps plan that offers 30Mbps uploads, it’s clear Virgin prioritizes downloads.
Household Guide:
- 1-2 people: Overkill
- 3-4 people: Sweet spot
- 5+ with gamers/streamers: Consider M350
Use our download time calculator to check your needs.
What Can You Do with 264Mbps?
Stream 4K/UHD content on multiple devices simultaneously
Download time with 264 Mbps connection
Number of concurrent HD streams for family viewing
Upload time to cloud storage
Maximum download speed in megabytes per second
Stream your gameplay or content to platforms like Twitch or YouTube
Support for multiple connected smart home devices
Support for remote work activities including file sharing and video meetings
Virgin Media M250 Speed Comparison Tool
What this means for you:
The Router Dilemma: Hub 3 vs Hub 5 🛠️
M250 comes with the Hub 3 router – functional but dated:
- Wi-Fi 5 (2014 standard)
- Struggles with thick walls/large homes
- No Wi-Fi 6 support like Vodafone’s Router
Virgin’s faster plans (M350+) get the Hub 5 with Wi-Fi 6. For M250 users, consider a mesh system (£100-200) if coverage is spotty.
Price & Contracts: The Fine Print 💸
| Feature | Virgin M250 | EE 150Mbps | Three 5G Hub |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | £29 | £31 | £24 |
| Contract Length | 18 months | 24 months | 1 month |
| Avg Speed Consistency | 95% | 97% | 80-300Mbps* |
| Customer Service Rank | ⭐⭐½ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Source: Ofcom 2024 report | *5G speeds vary by location
Watch Out For:
- £60/month post-contract price
- Annual hikes tied to inflation + 3.9% (2023 hike: 10.4%)
Pro Tip: Set a calendar reminder 1 month before contract ends!
Customer Service: Virgin’s Achilles’ Heel 😤
Virgin Media receives 14 complaints/100k users – double BT’s rate. Common gripes:
- Long wait times (avg 12 mins)
- “Robotic” troubleshooting
- Billing errors during price hikes
That being said, they have taken a lot of the bad reviews and customer frustrations onboard and have been working at improving the customer service experience.
Alternatives Worth Considering 🔄
1. Three 5G Hub (Check Coverage)
- No contract, average 150Mbps
- £24/month – perfect for renters
2. Vodafone Full Fibre 74
- 18Mbps uploads + Wi-Fi 6 router
- £25/month
3. Virgin M350
- £38/month for Hub 5 + 362Mbps
- Better for smart homes
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: Who Should Buy It? 🏆
Get It If:
- You want fast downloads cheaply
- Your house is under 1200 sq ft
- You’ll remember to renegotiate after 18 months
Avoid If:
- You upload videos/TikToks daily
- You hate billing surprises
- Your walls are as thick as a castles
Final Thoughts
Virgin Media M250 is like a turbocharged family sedan – zippy downloads (264Mbps) for streaming marathons, but the 25Mbps uploads feel like a cramped backseat. While the £29/month price tag revs up value, the annual price hikes (RPI + 3.9%) and Hub 3 router leave it stuck in traffic compared to its competitors.
My recommendation: Grab M250 if you’re a 4K-streaming household under 1,200 sq. ft. Use the savings vs M350 (£9/month extra) to buy a TP-Link Deco mesh (£99) instead of upgrading.
Still torn? Need more speed? See our Virgin Media Gig1 Review or eye up Three’s 5G Hub (£24/month, no contract) for flexibility.
FAQs 🔍
Can I upgrade to the Hub 5 router?
Not officially, but some users report success by complaining about Hub 3 issues.
Is the 18-month contract a pro?
Yes! Most providers lock you in for 24 months.
How bad are the price hikes really?
In 2023, customers saw 10.4% increases. Use MoneySavingExpert’s guide to challenge them.
