Wi‑Fi vs Ethernet: speed, latency and stability

Ethernet and Wi‑Fi can reach the same Internet service but behave differently on the local link. Wi‑Fi shares radio airtime and depends on signal and interference, while wired Ethernet usually provides a more stable local connection.

Why Wi‑Fi and Ethernet behave differently

Ethernet and Wi-Fi can reach the same Internet service but have different local-link behaviour. Wi-Fi shares radio airtime and is affected by interference and signal quality; switched full-duplex Ethernet avoids those radio effects.

How to compare the two connections fairly

Test the same device and destination first over Ethernet and then over Wi-Fi. If Ethernet is stable but Wi-Fi is not, inspect signal level, channel congestion, band and distance from the access point before blaming the ISP. For the same control measurement on both connections, use the 2ip speed test.

When Wi‑Fi is really the bottleneck

Technical reference: IEEE 802 networking principles.