Is Ethernet faster than WiFi?

An internet connection is as good as its speed. A slow internet connection can be annoying and may leave you more frustrated than ever.

A computer can connect to the internet via either Wi-Fi also known as a Wireless network or an Ethernet connection. Both options have their pros and cons with a Wi-Fi’s biggest advantage being the lack of a cable which makes it possible to use over a wider range. With Ethernet, how far the internet can reach depends on the length of the Ethernet cable. Despite this, is Ethernet faster than Wi-Fi?

Ethernet is faster than Wi-Fi because it is more stable, reliable, and has a lower latency.

Ethernetvs Wi-Fi

When the wireless connection arrived, it helped us keep our physical space tidier due to the use of less or no cables at all. However, a debate has been raging over the speeds that Wi-Fi provides compared to the old Ethernet cable. With Wi-Fi, you don’t need to be in the same room with the router for it to connect. Besides, you don’t have to keep connecting to the internet all the time, once you key in the password and use a Wi-Fi network once; it remembers your device and automatically connects next time you’re in the vicinity. This happens even when you didn’t intend on connecting which ends up slowing down the connection. With Ethernet, you need to be physically in the same room with the router and connect directly. When you leave the room and come back with your PC, you need to physically connect it again.

Another reason why Ethernet is faster is because of the effects of the building structures like concrete walls which can cause a signal loss and reduce the Wi-Fi signal strength.

Wi-Fi speeds have however gotten faster over the last decade with new standards such as 802.11ac and 802.11n offering maxim speeds of 866.7 Megabytes per second and 150 Megabytes per second respectively. An Ethernet connection on the other hand depends on the type of Ethernet cable with a CAT6 cable that can offer speeds of up 10Gb/s while a CAT5 supports a maximum speed of 1Gb/s. Cat8 was launched some years back and can go as high as 40Gb/s. These speeds are consistent compared to Wi-Fi speeds.

How can I speed up my Ethernet connection?

Ethernet connections have faster speeds than wireless connections and if you experience a slump in speeds then try these hacks. First, check and make sure that both Ethernet cable ends are properly plugged into the respective ports. This is because an issue with the physical connection can have a huge impact on the speeds.

Another method to boost your speeds is by replacing your Ethernet cable with a better category cable since the speeds depend on the type of cable you use. Shorter Ethernet cables have better speeds with Cat6 cables supporting up to 10Gb/s while the latest Cat8 has maximum speeds of up to 40Gb/s.

The third method you can try is connecting your PC directly using a DSL modem or cable instead of going through a hub or router. Using a router or hub can decrease your network speeds. If this doesn’t work, then you can delete unnecessary files from your PC. If your PC doesn’t have enough storage space, it can have an impact on your computer’s performance generally and will end up affecting your Ethernet connection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I use both Ethernet and Wi-Fi together at the same time?

Yes, you can. For instance, you can use Ethernet for streaming on say your Smart TV and Wi-Fi on other devices. It’s also possible to connect your PC to both Ethernet and Wi-Fi at the same time and use both or either. This however depends on the version of your Windows software.

Does using Ethernet improve streaming quality?

An Ethernet cable like Cat5 that has a speed of 1Gb/s is more stable and reliable than Wi-Fi and also does not suffer from any obstructions like the wall. This is what a streaming service needs to avoid buffering of videos. An added advantage is that it frees up Wi-Fi for other connected devices like your phone.

A summary table

Final Thoughts

Connecting your devices to the internet shouldn’t be a hassle. Faster speeds mean you will enjoy good streaming and gaming services besides the normal tasks done over the internet. Using an Ethernet connection guarantees you faster speeds and safer connections over Wi-Fi. You can also choose to have some devices run on Ethernet and others on Wi-Fi.