Is 5G better than WiFi?

[Supergodman12]

[MrOracle]

For WHAT?

Both are wireless data connections.

The primary advantage of 5G (or 4G or even 3G) is that there's a huge network of base stations (which we call cell towers) that allow you to move around almost anywhere in a country and still remain connected. But, typically, the connection is slower. The other disadvantages are that you have no control over this network, and you have to pay a monthly fee to use it - in the form of a cellular data subscription.

The primary advantages of WiFi is that it's a privately-owned connection with a limited userbase that the owner controls and secures, it likely allows access to resources on the private network in addition to access to the Internet (so, you can print, you can control devices on the network, such as lights or music, you potentially have access to files on other computers on the network, etc.), and if you have 802.11ac (recently renamed WiFi 5) or better, your connection certainly has the possibility of being faster - though this is also dependent on your device, as less expensive devices usually don't support the fastest speeds.

On my home network, where I have WiFi 6 access points, my primary smartphone (which supports WiFi 6 with a 2x2 connection, which allows link speeds of 1200/1200), I typically speed-test at 850-900 Mb/s in both directions. On another phone that only has WiFi 6 with a 1x1 connection, it's only about half that speed (425-450 max). On another older phone, that has WiFi 5 at 2x2, it also maxes out at 425-450.

The main downside of WiFi - I suppose - is that it intentionally has very limited range. Everyone has to share the same very tiny amount of radio frequencies, and the only way that works is to limit the strength of WiFi radios to a very, very low level. That way, you don't have a radio that's blasting RF out and obliterating your neighbors' WiFi networks. All WiFi gear is very strictly limited by the FCC for that reason, and if you need more coverage, you have to use more access points (which are the "radio" portion of WiFi).

I have one customer with a very large home, big yard, and a pool cabana that is the size of my whole house, and I've got 13 WiFi access points on his property in order to provide him good WiFi coverage everywhere he wants it. Some people ask me why I don't just get a more powerful access point, but that's the thing: that doesn't exist, and if it did, using it would be illegal because it would interfere with the neighbors, and the FCC is very quick to make arrests and issue out huge fines for things like that.

[Supergodman12]

It says my network speed is 65 mps

[Supergodman12]

Mbps*

[MrOracle]

Is that your cellular (5G) connection or your Wi-Fi connection?

I'm in the Bay Area of California, so a reasonably tech-friendly place. In some areas, at the right time of day, 5G can get close to 500 Mb/s but during the day it's usually 200-240, and if driving around, there are areas where it will drop below 30, and in hilly areas, you can lose it entirely. That's the nature of cellular connections. Though the phone companies have added a lot of smaller cells to fill in the gaps in coverage. It will never be perfect, but dropouts are pretty rare.

[Supergodman12]

It's my cellular 5G

[AviatorTom]

I'll give you some Speedtest data and let you decide.

My phone is on 5G... 662MB download, 17MB upload

My PC is on WiFi... 124MB download, 23MB upload

[llorando]

Depends on the speed of the Internet the WI-FI is connected to, and the speed of the Wi-Fi itself. 5 and 6 GHz wi-fi connected to decently fast Internet will be better than 5g.

[NamerOfStars]

Is 65 miles per hour better than a car?

[Samantha36]

My WiFi is 124 mbps and my 5g is 31 mbps

[QuietRunner]

for security reasons it can be