)
Ethernet vs WiFi: What’s the difference?
)
If you’re looking for superfast internet speeds, you’ll need to think about whether to use WiFi or an ethernet cable to get connected. Let’s explore the differences between Ethernet vs WiFi and the benefits of each of them
By Virgin Media Edit
- Published
- 18 March 2025
What is ethernet?
Ethernet is a type of wired connection that use special cables, called Ethernet cables to connect you to the internet. It’s faster and more reliable than most WiFi connections, making them a go-to choice for people that need a reliable connection when they’re online, like gamers, remote workers, and anyone that transfers large amounts of data over the internet.
Ethernet connections are faster and more stable than WiFi because they use physical cables, which are not affected by interference like wireless signals. They’re plugged in directly from your router your device, making them useful for businesses, data centers, and gaming setups where fast and reliable internet makes the difference.
Today, modern Ethernet cables offer some of the fastest internet speeds you can get, with Cat5e cables supporting speeds up to 1 Gbps and Cat6a and Cat7 cables can handle 10 Gbps or more. These high-speed connections are useful for businesses, data centers, and gaming setups where fast and reliable internet is necessary.
While WiFi is becoming more common for everyday internet use, Ethernet remains essential for situations that require speed, stability, and security. Many offices, gaming enthusiasts, and professional users still prefer Ethernet for its performance advantages.
What is WiFi?
WiFi is a technology that allows devices like smartphones, laptops, and smart TVs to connect to the internet without using wires. Instead of cables, WiFi uses radio waves to send and receive data between devices and a router, which is connected to the internet. This makes it easy to access the internet from anywhere within the WiFi signal range, without needing to plug in a cable.
WiFi uses a router that sends signals to nearby devices. When you open a website or stream a video, your device sends a request through WiFi to the router, which then retrieves the data from the internet and sends it back to your device. This process happens very quickly, allowing you to browse the internet, watch videos, or play games wirelessly. However, the speed and strength of a WiFi connection can be affected by obstacles like walls, distance from the router, and interference from other electronic devices.
WiFi comes in different versions, each offering faster speeds and better performance than older versions. For example, older WiFi standards like WiFi 4 (802.11n) were slower, while newer ones like WiFi 5 (802.11ac) and WiFi 6 (802.11ax) provide much faster speeds, better range, and the ability to connect more devices at once. The latest version, WiFi 7, can use an extra frequency band, reducing congestion and making internet connections smoother.
Ethernet vs WiFi: What’s the difference?
Ethernet and WiFi connect you to the internet, but in different ways. Ethernet is a wired connection, meaning it requires a physical cable to connect your device to a router or network switch, while WiFi can connect your device to the internet wirelessly, without using cables.
In terms of your actual connection, Ethernet gives you a faster and more stable connection than WiFi, meaning you’re less likely to experience sudden drops in speed or connectivity issues. That’s because with Ethernet data travels directly through a cable without interference, while WiFi signals can be blocked or slowed down by obstacles or interferences.
It’s important to remember, however, that there are a few things that can affect the speed of your ethernet connection. The first – and most obvious – is your broadband package. You’ll only get speeds up to a maximum of the top speed advertised by your provider for your particular package. For example, with our M350 broadband package, the average download speed is 362Mbps, so you should expect to see speeds around this figure. Using an ethernet cable can’t magically add more speed to your plan!
If you’re unsure what speed you need, check out all of our broadband deals to see what speed is best for your home.
Key differences between WiFi and ethernet
Ethernet is a wired connection that requires a physical cable to connect your device to the internet. WiFi, on the other hand, is a wireless connection that allows devices to connect without cables. Ethernet provides a direct, uninterrupted link, making it more stable, while Wi-Fi offers more flexibility and convenience.
Ethernet is typically faster than WiFi because it doesn’t suffer from interference or signal weakening. While modern WiFi can reach ultrafast speeds, its performance can be affected by factors such as distance from the router, walls, and other wireless devices. This makes Ethernet the better choice for users who need consistently high-speed internet, like competitive gamers or live streamers.
Remember: the actual speed you’ll get depends on the speed of your broadband package. If you need a speed upgrade, use our helpful postcode checker to see what speeds are available in your area.
Ethernet generally provides a more stable and reliable connection than WiFi since it isn’t affected by physical obstacles, interference, or too many devices on the network. WiFi can experience slowdowns, dropouts, or lag if there are multiple users or if the signal is blocked by walls or furniture.
WiFi is much more convenient than ethernet because it allows users to move freely with laptops, smartphones, tablets, and smart devices. Ethernet requires a cable connection from your router to your device, making ideal for desktop computers, but not so convenient for mobile devices or devices in shared spaces like your living room.
Unless your router is in the same room as your device, you'll need likely have to drill holes in your walls so your ethernet cables can connect.
The good news is that there are alternatives. The best is a powerline network adapter, which is a device that allows you to use your home’s own electrical wiring as your network. You’ll still need ethernet cables, but just one for connecting your device to the nearest socket, and one for connecting your router to the nearest socket. The rest of the journey – the long bit – all takes place within your electrical wiring.
Something else to keep in mind is that more and more modern homes are being built with ethernet cables inside the walls. This means you’ll just need two short cables at each end; the rest of the journey happens on the hidden cable in the walls.
Ethernet has lower latency and ping compared to WiFi, which is essential for things like competitive online gaming, video conferencing, and live streaming. That’s because WiFi can cause extra l latency due to interference, distance, and network congestion, making Ethernet the preferred choice for users who need minimal lag.
However, when it comes to activities that need high speeds, you’ll need a superfast broadband package regardless of if you use ethernet or WiFi. If you need ultrafast speeds, be sure to check if our gigabit broadband deals are available in your area to see if you can get our fastest speeds yet.
Is ethernet better than WiFi for gaming?
If you’re playing first-person shooters where every millisecond counts, using ethernet over WiFi can be a great way to improve speeds and reduce ping and latency. That’s because there’s a direct, wired connection, so data can travel from your device to the game server, and back to the device without anything standing in its way.
While ethernet is often better than WiFi when it comes to speed, stability, and reliability, it’s nowhere near as convenient. For game consoles in shared spaces like your living room, you’d need to have an ethernet cable trailing through your living room from your router to your console.
While WiFi can sometimes be slower or less stable than ethernet, modern routers are usually fast enough for most gaming. If you’re unsure if your WiFi speeds are enough, you can use our helpful broadband speed checker to measure your download speed, upload speed, ping and latency on your device.
Are long ethernet cables bad for gaming?
From a broadband speed perspective, not really. While technically it takes data longer to travel through a long cable as opposed to a shorter one, the effects of using a long ethernet cable won’t be noticeable.
From a practical perspective, long cables can be a bit frustrating. Imagine your router is down in your living room, and you want to connect to a gaming PC that’s in the study – upstairs, and on the other side of your home. A long cable between your router and PC can be a trip hazard, and if you’re renting your home, your landlord may not be too happy if you decide to drill a few holes for the cable!
What’s the best WiFi for gaming?
The faster your WiFi is, the better experience you’ll get when you’re gaming online. But lots of things can slow your speed down, like the distance from your router, obstacles blocking the signal, and most importantly, your broadband package.
If you care about speeds, you’ll want to get the fastest broadband package you can get to make your gaming experience silky smooth. If you’re package is locked at 100 Mbps and there’s lots of you using the internet at home, you probably won’t have enough speed for everyone to game online.
A great way to help improve your experience is to ensure you’ve got a good broadband package suitable for gaming, such as gaming broadband. Check out all of our gaming broadband deals to find a package that suits your home and gives you to speeds you need.
Browse the Virgin Media range
)
)
)
)
Virgin Media services are only available in eligible Virgin Media network areas. All of the products on this page are subject to survey, network capacity and a credit check.
