Whether you’re a cord cutter or a regular Internet user, Internet speed is something you think about often. Perhaps that’s because good Internet speeds lead to a better, faster browsing experience. No buffering, no slow loading, no eye-rolling. Most importantly, good Internet speed allows you to enjoy all of your favorite Internet activities like online gaming, movie streaming, file sharing and video calls, without any interruptions.
But, do you really know what the best Internet speed is for your device? Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) has probably tried to sell you several options that cater to your needs. After all, the way you use the Internet largely determines your Internet connection speed. Your options include fiber optic, DSL, satellite, and of course, cable.
The best way to find out what your Internet speed should be is to look at your bandwidth requirements. This is in addition to a number of other factors that’ll contribute to overall network performance. Read on to find out more about this here.
How to Check Your Internet Speed
The fastest way to figure out what your optimal Internet speed should be is to do an Internet speed test.
The Internet speed test works for all devices, including PCs, iPads, iPhones, Androids etc. Select the “Start Test” button to begin the speed test. The results might take a while depending on your current Internet speed.
Now, if you’re using a Firestick, Fire TV or Android TV box and want to check your Internet speed, you can use this article.
The Firestick device from Amazon is the media device of choice for cord-cutters all around the world. That’s because it offers side-loading skills that open up your streaming options and it’s available at an affordable price.
What is a Good Internet Speed?
Now that you know what your Internet speed is, it’s easier to figure out the type of service package that’ll work for you.
Of course, there are many other factors at play here which you must consider before you make that final choice. For instance, a casual movie streamer will need a different package from a professional gamer. Likewise, a master’s college student that needs to process large files will need a different network package from a busy digital marketer that makes regular Skype calls.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most taxing online activities that’ll determine your Internet speed:
- Video conferencing
- Online gaming
- Movie streaming with Kodi or other APK’s
- File sharing
- Downloading games, music and files
- Regular web browsing and email use
Recommended Download Speeds
1 Mbps – Only pick this speed if you plan on doing general social media browsing; regular emailing without massive attachments; standard web surfing.
2.5 Mbps to 3 Mbps – Pick this speed if you plan on playing online games on your Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox or share big files.
6 Mbps – This speed is suitable for avid online gaming enthusiasts.
8 Mbps – This speed works for a game of Fortnite and for watching instructor-led courses online.
25 Mbps – You’ll want this speed if you plan to do long web conferences, torrent and HD movie downloads.
Upload Speeds
Upload speeds will also play a role in deciding what a good Internet speed is for you. For instance, you need a consistent network connection for regular WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Skype communication. It’ll also come in handy when you’re doing Skype calls or saving and accessing files on Cloud.
A fast Internet speed in this regard usually translates to getting clear Google Hangout calls and quick loading times when uploading files to Dropbox. To avoid lags during an online gaming session, you’ll want to consider latency, which basically refers to the time it takes for your computer to transfer data to a server.
If you’re only using the Internet to look at social media and emails, then high Internet speed shouldn’t be a concern for you.
If you’re taking an online course that comes with videos, PDFs and live chats; a speed of about 8 Mbps should hit the spot.
But, for cord cutters that want to enjoy 4K UHD streaming and downloading, the recommended Internet speed is 25 Mbps.
Connection Type
In comparison to satellite and DSL broadband, fiber broadband offers the most reliable and quickest service, especially if you’re connecting from a home network.
Mobile broadband is gaining popularity as well thanks to recent improvements. If you can’t figure out what a good Internet speed is for you, speak with your ISP to get a more personalized recommendation.
VPN Connection
Connecting to the Internet without a VPN is like driving without a seatbelt nowadays. You never know what might happen so it’s best to stay prepared. A VPN protects you from data theft, cyber-crime, data throttling, geo-blocking and all manner of cyber threats by encrypting your connection. It might even help to boost your internet speed, granted that you’re connected to a server that’s close to your actual location.
A VPN like IPVanish might even help you side-load content and apps that you wouldn’t be able to access otherwise.
Conclusion
Most of us won’t notice the Internet speed until we start seeing that our device is taking longer to stream content, upload or download files. It can be quite frustrating to suffer through the lag caused by slow Internet speeds when you’re trying to get through a video call or play an online game.
Fortunately, good Internet speed is just one consultation with your ISP away. All you need is to be aware of all the factors that affect your network connection to find a package that suits your needs.
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