Both LTE and WiFi are popular wireless technologies that allow you to access the internet. LTE is a highly secured wireless cellular network whereas WiFi is a wireless technology that has revolutionized the way we network computers and electronic devices together. In this article, we’ll explore the difference between LTE vs WiFi speed along with their pros and cons.
LTE vs WiFi Pros and Cons: Which Is Better?
This review guide is an LTE vs WiFi faceoff in which we’ll be discussing their differences in terms of speed, security, and power consumption. Both technologies offer the comfort and convenience of wireless Internet but are different in many ways. By the end of the article, you’ll be able to make out which one is better from different viewpoints.
Basic Difference Between LTE vs WiFi
So, what is fundamentally different between LTE and WiFi networks? Let’s find out.
What is LTE Network?
Let’s understand the LTE network with the following points:
- LTE is short for Long Term Evolution and is a standard for 4G devices.
- It takes advantage of radio waves which deliver wider coverage when compared to microwaves in 3G and WiMAX.
- Most modern smartphones, whether 5G or 4G, happen to support LTE.
- To use LTE, you need to have an LTE device and at least a 4G carrier.
What is Wi-Fi Network?
Wi-Fi is a type of wireless local area network (LAN) protocol that’s very popular among netizens because of its inexpensive data plans and ease of access. The protocol is facilitated by a device known as a router, which can connect many computing devices to the wireless network and enable data communication between them.
Also Read: Fiber vs Copper Internet
1. Speed
In terms of speed, there’s a huge difference between the potential speeds that both can achieve. While 4G LTE can reach a maximum speed of up to 1 Gbps, the two popular WiFi generations these days, the WiFi 6 and 6E, offer speeds up to 10 Gbps. Moreover, the latest WiFi 7 can hit up to 40 Gbps.
However, one thing to note here is that the above are maximum speeds, hence less frequent in real life. You may witness these speeds only at certain times and situations of the day, so do keep this in mind.
To sum it up, at present, WiFi can reach much higher speeds than LTE, but the latter is not that bad from a practical viewpoint.
2. Security
Whenever anyone is using the Internet, one of the factors that worries them is security. There’s no denying that no network can be absolutely secure, but LTE is more secure than WiFi.
Here’s why,
Broadly speaking, there are many reasons why LTE is dominating those security billboards. It specifically ensures the following:
- High-security standards
- Dedicated cyber security professionals
- Large scale and size
- Encryption by default
On the other hand, WiFi lags behind in these aspects, except for the fact that in WiFi, users need to turn the encryption on manually, hence is less secure than LTE.
3. Battery
One of the most popular arguments in the LTE vs WiFi faceoff is that LTE drains more battery. While this might be true to an extent, it’s actually how these networks work to provide the Internet that makes a difference.
For instance, it is essential for LTE to maintain a cellular connection continuously, especially if there are towers that are far. Also, if a mobile network signal is weak, the mobile has to work more to maintain the signal, hence depleting more battery. On the other hand, a study infers that WiFi can be less efficient than LTE.
Hence, there’s no single answer to this. In some cases, WiFi might consume more power than LTE, and in others, it might be otherwise.
Also Read: What are Disadvantages of 5G Over 4G?
4. Power Consumption
When it comes to power, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has published an analysis paper. In the paper, after measuring energy efficiency at four different locations, it’s safe to say that it is higher in WiFi than LTE in all these places. This also means that the former consumes lesser power.
Similarly, three other analyses imply the same. Hence, we can conclude that LTE should generally consume more power than LTE.
We hope that you got a clear picture of the LTE vs WiFi faceoff along with factors like
- Fundamental difference
- Speed
- Security
- Battery
- Power consumption
Still, if you have any doubts or suggestions about LTE vs WIFI, or if you feel there’s something missing, you can let us know in the comment section.
“Similarly, three other analyses imply the same. Hence, we can conclude that LTE should generally consume more power than LTE.”
I think that should be “…consume more power than WiFi.”
One application would be trail camera’s where battery life is important. Most are LTE, considering anything within WiFi range of a farmhouse would have to be close (<200'). One vendor uses 900 MHz to mesh cameras to one HOME unit with LTE connectivity to the world. Now we have Halow and LoraWan available too. There is the KISS principle… LTE avoids all the home router and networking variables. Few, few people know how to create effective indoor/outdoor WiFi mesh networks. I think other concerns are how a vendor can monetize a solution to extract subscription fee's.