Wi-Fi is fine, but Ethernet is faster
Q: Is it better to connect to my home internet using Wi-Fi or Ethernet? I have heard conflicting stories.
A: If you look at the specs in regards to data transfer speeds and reliability, Ethernet wins hands down.
Transfer speeds over gigabit Ethernet can be as high as, well, a gigabit as it supports a theoretical maximum data rate of one gigabit per second, or 1,000 Mbps. That’s not how fast your internet access is, because that is dependent on the speed of your service. But a fast and reliable Ethernet network means that there’s no transfer speed bottleneck created between your device and your modem, which means you can transfer data between the modem and your networked device at optimum speed on your network.
Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is a bit more convoluted. Speeds are dependent on the hardware you are using and the quality of the signal between the device and the router.
For example, my 802.11n access point will support theoretical speeds of 450Mbps, which should provide ample throughput for my 125Mbps internet service. But in my home office I generally only see transfer rates between 50Mbps and 75Mbps.
This is because my access point is in a room across the house. The choice ultimately comes down to accessibility. I am not prepared to run Ethernet from my living room to my office, so I rely on the Wi-Fi to provide me with internet connectivity and I accept the performance hit that comes with this choice.
However, my streaming devices are primarily in my living room and each of them connect to my router using Ethernet so they can maximize the full potential of my Internet connection.
It all just boils down to what’s practical for you in your situation. You can look into investing in Ethernet drops in all of your rooms and install Wi-Fi amplifiers and repeaters to help with your mobile devices. But sometimes even slower overall speeds are good enough for most situations, and I encourage you not to get bogged down in transfer speeds.