In the battle for the best internet connection, the humble Ethernet cable often gets overlooked in favor of the convenience of Wi-Fi. But when it comes to raw performance, a wired connection is the undisputed champion. Here’s why.
Speed and Bandwidth
Modern Wi-Fi (like Wi-Fi 6) is incredibly fast, but it's a shared, half-duplex medium. This means devices have to take turns talking, and the signal degrades over distance and through obstacles. An Ethernet cable, on the other hand, provides a direct, full-duplex connection for a single device, meaning it can send and receive data simultaneously without interference.
Winner: Ethernet. It consistently delivers the full speed of your internet plan, while Wi-Fi speed can fluctuate dramatically.
Latency (Ping) and Stability
This is where Ethernet truly shines. A wired connection offers an extremely low and stable ping because there is no wireless interference. Wi-Fi signals are prone to interference from other networks, microwaves, and physical objects, which causes ping spikes and jitter.
For competitive online gaming or high-stakes video conferencing, that stability is non-negotiable.
Winner: Ethernet, by a large margin. It is far more reliable for real-time applications.
When is Wi-Fi Good Enough?
For most day-to-day activities like streaming 4K video, browsing social media, or casual work calls, a strong, modern Wi-Fi connection is more than sufficient. Its convenience is undeniable, especially for mobile devices.
Conclusion
If you have a device that stays in one place and requires the absolute best performance—like a gaming PC, a console (PS5, Xbox), or a work-from-home desktop—you should always use an Ethernet cable if possible. For everything else, a good Wi-Fi network is the perfect solution.