Before I joined CNET, all I cared about was Wi-Fi. When I joined the broadband team, I realized that while I was throwing the word around, I didn’t really understand it. What is Wi-Fi, and is it better than that ugly cable called Ethernet?
The answer is subjective and depends on your specific internet needs and setup, and it’s important information to know when setting up your home internet and choosing the best broadband provider for your household.
So after more than nine months of covering broadband at CNET, we decided to test both at home to see the real difference and determine which is better, faster, cheaper and more secure.
The answer may surprise you.
read more: Having trouble with your home Wi-Fi? Here are some easy steps to boost your Wi-Fi
Internet experiment at home
Wi-Fi is a mode that connects your devices to a local network. Whether you’re cooking in the kitchen or sitting on the couch, you can go online without worrying about connecting to a modem or router. Ethernet is the opposite: it’s a wired connection that requires a coaxial or fiber optic cable that connects directly to your router. It might seem less convenient, but it can sometimes result in a more reliable and faster connection.
We used Ookla’s Speedtest, CNET’s #1 speed test, to compare internet speeds over Wi-Fi and Ethernet to see which is faster. You might be surprised by the difference. I was surprised too.
On Wi-Fi, download speeds hovered around 126 Mbps. On Ethernet, download speeds jumped to 395 Mbps, just 5 Mbps away from what I’m actually paying for each month.
While I didn’t notice much lag when streaming over Wi-Fi, I did notice a noticeable difference when using an Ethernet cable. Movies, shows, and live TV loaded much faster on Hulu, HBO Max, and Netflix. I decided to leave the Ethernet cable plugged into my PlayStation 5 indefinitely to maximize response times.
This got me wondering: why is Ethernet faster than a Wi-Fi connection?
When you connect a device to your router using Wi-Fi:
What is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity and refers to a completely wireless network connection. Once you set up your router, you can wirelessly connect your computers, mobile devices, and TVs to the Internet.
While the closer you are to the router the stronger your connection may be, you should be able to access the internet no matter where you are in your home. Our CNET colleague Trisha discovered this by experimenting. Get gigabit speeds at home.
You can also purchase a Wi-Fi extender to broadcast the signal to each room, reducing dead zones and creating a more reliable internet connection throughout your home. The TP-Link RE605X is CNET’s pick for best Wi-Fi router thanks to its affordable price, support for Wi-Fi 6 speeds, and easy-to-use features.
An ethernet cable connected to a router.
What is Ethernet?
Before the advent of Wi-Fi, the primary way to connect devices was Ethernet, which offered a wired connection via a cable that plugged directly into your router.
With a wired connection, you have to be near your equipment to get online. You can also have it wired into your home with an Ethernet cable, similar to cable wiring, but this can be a costly procedure.
What does the future hold for Ethernet?
Ethernet has undergone many changes over the past decade, even more so with the rise of artificial intelligence.
Due to the rise and demand for AI, Ethernet connection speeds are evolving and are predicted to increase to over 800 gigabits, according to the Ethernet Alliance.
Wi-Fi vs. Ethernet
Wi-Fi and Ethernet have advantages and disadvantages depending on your personal needs. Here’s what you need to know.
Wifi
Strong Points
- Convenience
- Mobility
- Affordable
Cons
- congestion
- Limited range
- Security risks
Ethernet
Strong Points
- Reliability
- Faster Speed
- Secure connection
Cons
- Movement is restricted
- Limited number of devices that can be connected
- Fee
Which one is cheaper?
While the cost of Wi-Fi and Ethernet may seem similar because you pay for the service and not the mode of Internet connection, Wi-Fi is actually significantly cheaper than Ethernet. This is mainly due to the installation costs and the complexity of setting up your home or office for a wired Ethernet connection. Wi-Fi can handle many more devices than a regular Ethernet cable. To make it worthwhile, you will need to install switch boxes or Ethernet jacks throughout your home to connect multiple devices to the Internet.
Which is faster?
One of the biggest advantages of Ethernet is speed: Because your devices connect directly to your router (versus a wireless connection via Wi-Fi), it provides faster bandwidth, which is the amount of data that can be transferred over your internet connection.
Ethernet boasts more stable speeds because wired signals don’t fluctuate as easily as wireless signals. You also don’t have to worry about latency issues and slow connections that can occur due to local network congestion. Plus, lower latency means better online gaming performance. Ethernet may provide a smoother experience for online gamers.
Which is safer?
One advantage of Ethernet over Wi-Fi is that it is a safer and more secure connection. Hackers can more easily intercept data transmitted over Wi-Fi, but to hack via Ethernet they would need to be physically connected to the router.
Which is better overall?
It’s not practical to always have an Ethernet connection. Wi-Fi lets you access the Internet from anywhere in your home without connecting to a router. Ethernet limits mobility, making it impractical for multiple people and multiple devices to be connected.
Testing our internet speed with an Ethernet cable helped us pinpoint the cause of our slow connection. Based on the dramatic difference between our Wi-Fi and Ethernet speed tests, we determined that our Wi-Fi connection was the cause of our slow service, rather than our ISP throttling our speeds. Connecting an Ethernet cable to your PlayStation 5 can help you get faster speeds and reduce lag for an optimal gaming experience.
I haven’t taken any steps to strengthen my Wi-Fi signal yet, but I might move my router to a more central location in my apartment or get an extender to keep my speeds consistent. My colleague Ry Crist has detailed other ways to speed up my Wi-Fi, and I plan to follow his advice.
What is it all about?
When it comes to home broadband, both Wi-Fi and Ethernet have their advantages: Wi-Fi offers mobility and convenience, allowing you to access the internet from anywhere in your home, while Ethernet offers a faster and more secure connection.
Many of us have homes and apartments filled with smart devices that make Wi-Fi more convenient, and Ethernet is a great tool for improving responsiveness, especially for gamers who want less lag when gaming online.
Wi-Fi and Ethernet FAQ
Can I use both Wi-Fi and Ethernet?
Many homes use Ethernet cables for certain devices that are located in one place and require a high-speed connection, like game consoles and TVs. For mobile devices, Wi-Fi is a better choice, as it lets you carry your smartphone or tablet everywhere without having to plug it in.
What types of Ethernet cables are there?
Ethernet cables come in coaxial, twisted pair and fiber optic. There are seven types of Ethernet cables on the market: CAT5, CAT5E, CAT6, CAT6A, CAT7, CAT7A and CAT8. Each has a different purpose, cost and distance they can cover, so do your research before buying one for your home.
How do I set up an Ethernet connection?
Setting up an Ethernet connection is a very simple process. Most cables require you to plug one end into your router and the other end into your device. Change the adapter settings to an Ethernet connection and you’ll be able to access the Internet.
