Key Takeaways

  • Download Speed: How fast you can steam video or load pages (Mbps).
  • Upload Speed: Crucial for Zoom calls and gaming (sending data).
  • Ping (Latency): The delay. Lower is better. High ping = lag.
  • Jitter: The stability of your ping. High jitter causes stuttering.

You pay for "1 Gigabit", but your game lags. Why? Because marketing focuses on throughput, but usability depends on latency and stability.

The Metrics

Download Speed (Mbps)

The headline number. 25 Mbps is enough for 4K Netflix. Anything over 100 Mbps is usually "fast enough" for a family. 1000 Mbps (Gigabit) is overkill for most, but downloads games quickly.

Upload Speed (Mbps)

Often ignored. If you are a YouTuber or work from home, you need this. 10 Mbps is the minimum for a reliable HD Zoom call.

Ping (ms)

The time it takes for a signal to go to the server and back.
0-20ms: Perfect.
20-60ms: Good.
100ms+: Noticeable lag.

Why Wi-Fi is slower

Wi-Fi is radio waves. Distance, walls, and microwaves interfere with it. You will usually lose 30-50% of your speed on Wi-Fi vs Ethernet. Always test with a cable for true results.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is my speed different on different sites?
Speed tests connect to the nearest server. If you test on Google, you are testing your speed to Google. If you test on Fast.com, you are testing to Netflix. Real-world speed depends on where the website is hosted.
Who steals my bandwidth?
Background updates (Windows, Steam, iCloud) are the usual suspects. Also, check if your neighbor is stealing your Wi-Fi (see our Wi-Fi Security guide).

Test your speed now.
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