Wi-Fi vs Ethernet: Which Is Faster and When It Matters
The simple answer
A good Ethernet cable is faster and steadier than Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is more convenient. For most people the best setup is Wi-Fi for phones and tablets, and a cable for anything that stays in one place and needs to be reliable.
Speed
Ethernet delivers close to the full speed of your plan, because the signal travels down a cable with no walls or interference. Wi-Fi speeds depend on distance, obstacles, the Wi-Fi standard of your router and device, and the other networks around you.
Wi-Fi standards list large theoretical maximums, often in the gigabits per second, but those are lab figures that use several antennas and perfect conditions. Real-world Wi-Fi speeds are usually a fraction of the headline number, and they fall as you move away from the router. The best way to know what you get is to test in the room where you use the device.
Ping and jitter
Ethernet usually has a lower and steadier ping than Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi shares the air with every other wireless device, so packets can be delayed and resent, which raises jitter. For online games, video calls and live streaming, that steadiness often matters more than raw speed.
Reliability
A cable does not drop out when a neighbor's network gets busy or a microwave runs. Wi-Fi can drop, slow or change speed through the day. If a device must always work, such as a work computer or a console, use a cable.
Which cable should you buy
- Cat5e: supports 1 Gbps up to 100 meters and is fine for most homes.
- Cat6: supports 1 Gbps up to 100 meters and 10 Gbps over shorter runs, up to about 55 meters.
- Cat6a: supports 10 Gbps up to 100 meters and is useful if you plan for the future.
Check that the ports on your router and your device match the speed you want. A gigabit port cannot deliver more than 1 Gbps, whichever cable you use.
Who should use a cable
- Gaming consoles and gaming PCs, for a lower, steadier ping.
- Desktop computers and work-from-home setups.
- Streaming boxes and smart TVs, especially for 4K.
- Network storage and anything that moves large files.
Who is fine on Wi-Fi
- Phones and tablets.
- Laptops you carry around.
- Smart speakers, bulbs and plugs, which need very little speed.
When you cannot run a cable
- Mesh Wi-Fi adds nodes around the house. It is best when the nodes connect to each other by cable.
- Powerline adapters send the network through your electrical wiring. Results vary with the age and layout of your wiring.
- Moving the router to a central place often helps more than people expect.
How to compare on your own network
Use the speed test on a cable, then on Wi-Fi in the same room, and compare the download, upload and ping. The gap tells you what Wi-Fi costs you. If Wi-Fi in a room is much slower, read how to improve your Wi-Fi signal at home.