Have you ever wondered which is faster – 4G or Wi-Fi? If you’re thinking about purchasing a data plan and are trying to weigh up the benefits of 4G and Wi-Fi, look no further than this article. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of both kinds of internet connection and will explain in depth what Wi-Fi and 4G actually are so you can make an informed decision when purchasing a data plan.
What Actually is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi is a connection that is provided by a wireless network. Wi-Fi uses wireless networking technology which allows devices such as iPads, smartphones and laptops to connect to the internet. This is all done through a Wi-Fi router – Wi-Fi routers usually take the form of a box that is placed in a communal space in your house. This router has a limited range and often needs a password in order to connect to it (this stops your neighbours from being able to access your Wi-Fi for free).
The fact that Wi-Fi can only operate in a limited range is a definite downside of Wi-Fi connection – people often find it hard to find Wi-Fi routers that cover a whole house, especially if the house is especially big or has many floors. A solution to this that many people opt for is to buy a Wi-Fi extender which is a small device that you plug directly into a plug socket – it picks up the Wi-Fi connection from the main router and bounces it to areas around the house that need it. Wi-Fi is good as it doesn’t depend on signal, unlike 4G, but it can often be temperamental and, of course, it is limited to where there is a Wi-Fi router in the surrounding area.
What Actually is 4G?
4G is the fourth generation of mobile phone technology, following on from 3G (the third-generation mobile phone technology) and 2G (the second). When 3G came along, it became possible to access web browsing, make videos calls and download music on the move – 4G simply builds upon these concepts but does everything much faster. When using 4G, you shouldn’t notice much of a difference between the connection speed of Wi-Fi. Web pages should load in an instant and you should have no problem downloading music on the go, or even watching videos on your smartphone.
Benefits of Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi provides a stable and solid connection for your home that doesn’t depend on signal connection. Some cities have better signal connection than others so it’s important not to rely fully on 4G for your home (even if you have unlimited data) as you might have poor signal in your home. Wi-Fi is usually a stable and reliable source of connection and, despite the usual problems that you might have in a house (like it being too large for the router to span over the whole house) or the connection dropping in a thunderstorm, you shouldn’t have too many problems.
The problem with Wi-Fi is that you are very limited to where the router reaches. Even if you have Wi-Fi in your home, it’s often good to have 4G on your phone so that if there is a problem with the Wi-Fi, you have a backup. Being in modern-day society and needing our phone for things like listening to music, using Google maps or simply texting our friends, it’s also essential not to rely on Wi-Fi as we need a connection that doesn’t rely on being close to routers when we’re walking around outside.
Benefits of 4G
4G networks will give you a very fast connection and what’s better is that you can get this connection wherever and whenever, providing there is some degree of mobile phone service, which in today’s society, there is almost everywhere. 4G is a great piece of technology to have – it means you can stream videos, music, text your friends and facetime your parents – all whilst walking down a busy street! The 4G network is 10 times as fast as the 3G network and offers extremely high voice quality. It also means it is very good when downloading big files and very good at streaming videos in crisp quality. Depending on your service provider, you could even use 4G to play video games.
Many people will use their 4G connection on their mobile phone to provide a hotspot for their laptop when they are, for example, working in a cafe, as this often provides a much better connection than the open Wi-Fi of many public spaces. Some public spaces will also charge you to use their Wi-Fi, so having 4G is great for when public Wi-Fi just doesn’t cut it. Think about when you’re out and about and your boss tells you that you’ve done a report wrong or that your presentation needs looking over – you can simply go into your nearest public space, turn on your 4G hotspot, and get to work, without having to find a cafe or restaurant that will provide you with good, stable Wi-Fi access free of charge.
So, Which One is Faster?
When thinking about which technology is faster, 4G has to beat Wi-Fi hands down. With a 4G connection, you can connect to the internet inside and outside your house. With our busy modern-day lives, it’s absolutely essential that we are able to access the internet when we’re not at home. 4G means that we can find new places, browse the internet when walking around, and message our friends on social media apps. Even though 4G relies on signal service, this is a small price to pay for connection almost everywhere you go – especially in cities, which is where 4G connection is most essential to be able to navigate a busy place.
4G means that you will have a backup source of internet connection when your Wi-Fi is being dodgy and means that you can hotspot devices like laptops and iPads wherever you go. A fast, efficient and stable connection has never been more available than with 4G connection. If you want fast and efficient 4G connection, you’ll need a mobile phone data plan. If you’re after a speedy connection for affordable prices, look no further than Lebara sim only plans. Lebara sim only plans are 30-day rolling plans, so customers can change or cancel anytime. There is also no credit check needed, meaning that setting up your plan is easy and quick and absolutely anyone can apply! The plan runs on the award-winning network Vodaphone and provides fast, reliable service wherever you go – head on over to the Lebara website to check out their plans and decide which one is best suited to your needs.
Whether or not you have a good Wi-Fi connection in your house, having fast and efficient 4G connection is essential if you want to be able to browse the web on your mobile phone when you’re out and about. Once you have a good service provider and are set up with a data plan that allows you fast connection, your life will be made significantly easier! If you feel like you don’t go on your phone or need to access the internet much when you are outside, there is always the option of choosing a plan with only a few megabytes of 4G data – this will be cheap but will ensure that you can access the internet on your phone when the time comes that you need it.
