Wi-Fi vs Ethernet: How much faster is a wired connection?

Did you know that a wired internet connection is faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi? Well, it’s true.

That being said, wired connections are not always practical, especially if you have a household full of eager internet users.

In this article, we’ll look at Wi-Fi vs Ethernet, in terms of speed, latency, and reliability. Then, we’ll suggest a few situations in which opting for a wired connection is a practical, beneficial decision.

Let’s get right into it.

Wi-Fi vs Ethernet: Speed

Wi-Fi has improved significantly over the years, now supporting speeds of over 800Mbps. While most of us don’t experience — or need — such speeds in everyday use, Wi-Fi’s enhanced capability means it can handle just about every online task with ease.

Ethernet, on the other hand, can theoretically deliver speeds of up to 10Gbps. That said, your connection is still limited by what your internet service provider offers in your area — and in Australia, average speeds remain below 25Mbps.

Where Ethernet truly shines is consistency. Unlike Wi-Fi speeds, which can fluctuate throughout the day, Ethernet delivers a constant, reliable connection. It also offers a significant speed advantage when transferring data across a local network — for example, backing up multiple devices to a NAS or shared hard drive is considerably faster over a wired connection.

Understanding the strengths of both technologies is exactly why a tailored wired & wireless network setup makes such a difference in real-world performance.

Wi-Fi vs Ethernet: Latency

Latency is the delay or ‘lag’ before a transfer of data begins following an instruction for its transfer. Latency is often referred to as ‘ping.’

If reducing latency is a key concern – which it is for many online gamers – a wired Ethernet connection is definitely the way to go.

If you use the internet primarily for streaming videos, checking your email, reading the news, and browsing Facebook, latency won’t be much of a concern.

Wi-Fi vs Ethernet: Interference and reliability

An Ethernet connection experiences less interference and is more reliable than Wi-Fi. Things like your home’s layout, your modem, your neighbours’ networks, and the number of connected devices will interfere with wireless connections. This can result in a number of issues, including:

• Sometimes your devices will lose signal completely.
• Higher latency. Interference can increase latency.
• Slow speeds. Interference can also slow down speeds drastically.

When to opt for an Ethernet connection

Although it may seem like an Ethernet connection is the best option, properly installed Wi-Fi can still offer excellent speeds and superior convenience. Plus, there are many situations in which using an Ethernet connection just doesn’t make sense:

• If you tend to move your device around often
• If you connect to the internet via a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet
• If your laptop doesn’t have an Ethernet port. You can buy Ethernet adaptors, but excess peripherals can be annoying

There are some situations, however, when opting for a wired internet connection is definitely a better option:

• If you use a desktop computer
• If you want faster communication between devices on your local network
• If you play online games, and want the best possible speed, reliability, and latency

Both Ethernet and Wi-Fi have their benefits. Whether you should opt for one over the other depends on your unique circumstances.