You upgraded to gigabit internet, ran a speed test on your phone or laptop, and saw a number well below 1 Gig. It's one of the most common questions about the home internet, and it doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem with your plan.
Chris Cholas, SVP of Product & Technology at Hotwire Communications, addressed this question on At Home With Hotwire. The answer starts with a simple idea: your internet plan and your device are two different things.
The short answer: A gigabit plan describes the total speed coming into your home, not the speed every individual device will receive. Your phone, tablet, or laptop may not be capable of reaching 1 Gig over Wi-Fi, so the limit may be the device or Wi-Fi connection – not your internet plan.
A gigabit plan provides up to 1,000 megabits per second of internet capacity to your home. That capacity is shared across everything connected to your network, including phones, TVs, laptops, smart speakers, cameras, and more.
Think of it as the size of the pipe coming into your home. A bigger pipe gives all your connected devices more room to work at the same time, even if no single device uses the full capacity.
That's why the number on your internet plan may not match what you see on a speed test from one phone or laptop. The plan represents the capacity available to your home, while the speed test measures the connection to one device.
Most devices simply aren't capable of reaching gigabit speeds over Wi-Fi. As Chris explains, the speed a device can achieve depends in part on its hardware and capabilities.
A device's Wi-Fi technology, processor, and ability to handle data can all affect its maximum speed.
And even if a device is technically capable of higher speeds, your actual Wi-Fi performance can vary based on factors such as:
In other words, a gigabit internet plan doesn't guarantee a gigabit speed test result on every device.
A computer connected directly to the router with an Ethernet cable is the best way to test the speed your internet plan can provide.
A wired connection removes many of the variables that can affect Wi-Fi performance. With the right Ethernet connection and a computer capable of handling the speed, a hardwired device can reach gigabit speeds.
For everyday activities such as streaming, video calls, and browsing, phones and laptops don't need anywhere near a gigabit to work well. The real benefit of a gigabit plan is having enough capacity for many devices to perform well at the same time.
Does gigabit internet mean every device gets 1 Gig?
No. Gigabit refers to the total internet capacity available to your home. The speed each device receives depends on its hardware, Wi-Fi connection, and other factors.
Why is my laptop faster than my phone on the same Wi-Fi?
Different devices have different Wi-Fi hardware and capabilities, so they can achieve different speeds even when they're connected to the same network.
Is a gigabit plan useful if my devices can't reach 1 Gig?
Yes. A gigabit plan provides more overall capacity for your household, which is especially helpful when multiple devices are streaming, gaming, working, video calling, or otherwise using the internet at the same time.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube for more on Wi-Fi, connected devices, and the factors that can affect your internet experience at home.