Is 900 Mbps Worth It for Home Internet? An In-Depth Guide
If you‘re wondering whether upgrading to 900 Mbps internet is worthwhile for your home, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the pros, cons, and what speeds you actually need.
At a Glance: Is 900 Mbps Worth It?
For hardcore gamers, large families with tons of devices, and busy offices, 900 Mbps internet can definitely be worth the upgrade. The ultra-fast speeds enable multiple high-bandwidth activities like 4K streaming, video calls, and online gaming simultaneously across many devices without lag or buffering.
However, for general web browsing, email, social media and casual streaming, 900 Mbps is serious overkill for most households. More affordable plans like 100 Mbps or 200 Mbps will provide the same experience for everyday internet use at nearly half the price.
Keep reading as we dive into the nitty-gritty details on real-world 900 Mbps performance and when it‘s worth the splurge.
What is 900 Mbps Internet?
When your internet service provider advertises speeds up to 900 Mbps, they are referring to maximum wired download speeds in ideal conditions.
- 900 Mbps = 900 megabits per second
This is equivalent to downloading a 5 GB high definition movie in around 40 seconds.
To put that in perspective, the average internet speed in the US is 115 Mbps. At that speed, it would take over 6 minutes to download a 5 GB HD movie.
900 Mbps is nearly 8x faster than the average connection in America. It‘s blazing fast, but also comes at a premium price usually $100+ per month.
Real-World Ethernet Download Times at 900 Mbps
To understand what 900 Mbps internet feels like in normal use, check out how long some common downloads take:
| File Size | Time to Download at 900 Mbps |
|---|---|
| 5 GB HD movie | 40 seconds |
| 50 GB video game | 6 minutes |
| 1 GB software update | 11 seconds |
| 8K video clip (500 MB) | 5 seconds |
Benefits:
- Download/update large files and games extremely quick
- Buffer-free 4K and 8K video streaming
- Smooth gaming, video calls, conferencing
- Instant access to cloud data
WiFi vs Wired Speeds
One key thing to understand is that 900 Mbps refers to maximum wired speeds. Over a WiFi wireless connection, you‘ll typically only get 50-80% of your internet plan‘s speed, depending on your router setup and signal conditions.
For example, if you pay for 900 Mbps internet but connect wirelessly, you‘ll probably only get 400-700 Mbps speed to your device.
There are a few ways to maximize WiFi speeds:
- Upgrade to a high-end router like Mesh WiFi systems
- Position router centrally in your home
- Connect devices via 5GHz band instead of 2.4GHz
- Upgrade devices to have the latest WiFi 6 adapters
Even with the above optimizations, WiFi speeds will be slower than wired. To take full advantage of 900 Mbps, connect your main devices directly to your router via Ethernet.
When is 900 Mbps Worth It?
For typical household web browsing and 1080p video streaming, anything above 100 Mbps internet speed is overkill. Many families can get by just fine on 50 Mbps plans.
You‘ll really only see the benefits of 900 Mbps in the following use cases:
Multi-User Households
The more people simultaneously using the internet in your home, the faster your connection needs to be. According to McAfee‘s 2021 household bandwidth report, the average home now has 25 connected devices!
If you have kids gaming, parents video calling, and 4K streaming to multiple TVs at once, a plan like 900 Mbps ensures everyone gets super fast speeds. No more buffering or lag.
4K and 8K Video Streaming
While Netflix recommends just 25 Mbps download for 4K streaming, that‘s for 1-2 devices at once. If you want pristine 4K video on multiple TVs simultaneously, 900 Mbps gives you headroom for 4-5 streams at a time.
8K streaming is emerging as well, which requires bare minimum 100 Mbps per stream for proper quality.
Gaming
Online multiplayer gaming requires very fast response times and consistent connections. While you can game on 50 Mbps internet, upgrading to 900 Mbps gives you an advantage, especially if you have multiple gamers under one roof.
Offices and Remote Work
Remote offices with lots of employees video conferencing and transferring large files at once are a perfect use case for 900 Mbps business class internet. Smoother calls and lightning fast file collaboration.
Smart Homes
If you have dozens of connected smart home devices – think cameras, doorbells, lights, thermostats – pulling data in real-time, the network congestion can slow things down. 900 Mbps gives you plenty of bandwidth for seamless smart home management.
When is 900 Mbps Overkill?
While it sounds cool to have nearly gigabit internet speeds, here are some situations where it‘s probably overkill:
Light Users
If you mostly just browse the web, check email, and watch some Netflix, you‘d likely see no difference between 900 Mbps and 100 Mbps. Light users can save money by opting for affordable 50-100 Mbps plans.
Seniors
Many seniors are light internet users focused on web browsing and basic streaming. Maxing out their plan with 900 Mbps will have zero benefit.
Budget Shoppers
900 Mbps plans cost $100-300 per month, over 2x more than basic plans. If you‘re trying to save money on your internet bill, 100 Mbps will still provide blazing speeds for 1/2 the price.
Small Households
A single user or couple that doesn‘t do high bandwidth activities like gaming and 4K streaming won‘t notice any benefit from upgrading to 900 Mbps. 100 Mbps is plenty for households of 1-3 people.
Internet Speed Recommendations
Here are the recommended internet download speeds based on your household size and use case:
| Household Size | Light Use | Moderate Use | Heavy Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 people | 50 Mbps | 100 Mbps | 200+ Mbps |
| 3-4 people | 100 Mbps | 200 Mbps | 400+ Mbps |
| 5+ people | 200 Mbps | 400 Mbps | 900+ Mbps |
Typical "light" use includes web, email, social media, and 1080p streaming.
"Moderate" includes streaming on multiple devices, online gaming, video chatting.
"Heavy" use means frequent 4K streaming, VR gaming, video production.
Comparing Internet Speed Tiers
To determine if upgrading from your current speed to 900 Mbps is beneficial, compare the different tiers most providers offer:
| Download Speed | Good For | Price Per Month |
|---|---|---|
| 50 Mbps | Web browsing, email, social media, 1-2 people | $20-40 |
| 100 Mbps | Light streaming, gaming, small households | $40-60 |
| 200 Mbps | Moderate streaming, gaming, medium households | $50-80 |
| 500 Mbps | Heavy streaming, ultralow latency gaming | $70-120 |
| 900 Mbps | 4K/8K streaming, VR gaming, smart homes, large families | $100-300 |
As you can see, plans with 900 Mbps and above are premium services priced for performance. For moderate use, 200 Mbps or 500 Mbps plans are "sweet spot" options before getting into overkill territory.
Gigabit connections with 1000 Mbps provide almost no practical benefit over 900 Mbps – you‘ll never hit those speeds over WiFi anyways.
When Does Speed Start to Matter?
For web browsing and email, you likely won‘t notice a difference between 5 Mbps and 500 Mbps. According to Akamai‘s State of the Internet report, the minimum internet speed required for modern web use is just 15 Mbps.
Streaming is where faster speeds become more important:
| Activity | Minimum Speed | Ideal Speed |
|---|---|---|
| SD Video Streaming | 2-5 Mbps | 5+ Mbps |
| HD Streaming | 5-10 Mbps | 25+ Mbps |
| 4K Streaming | 20-30 Mbps | 50+ Mbps |
| 8K Streaming | 50+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps |
| VR Gaming | 30+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps |
| Video Conferencing | 2-5 Mbps | 25+ Mbps |
For optimal streaming, gaming, and calls, shoot for at least 100 Mbps. Go higher if you have many simultaneous users.
Key Factors to Consider
When deciding what internet speed you need, look at these key factors:
Household size – More people using the internet requires higher speeds
Devices – Smart home gadgets, TVs, and computers all consume bandwidth
Activities – Video streaming, gaming, and video calls need high speeds
WiFi vs Wired – Wired connections achieve faster speeds than wireless
Router quality – High-end routers better optimize performance
Analyze your household‘s unique setup across these areas to narrow down the ideal speed tier. 900 Mbps is overkill for many, but makes sense for the right use cases.
Do I Need Home Network Upgrades?
Before upgrading your internet plan, make sure your home network equipment can handle the speed:
Modem/Router – Need a high quality combo unit or separate modem and router. Look for support for DOCSIS 3.1 (cable) or fiber internet.
WiFi Protocol – Router should support latest WiFi 5 (802.11ac) or WiFi 6 (802.11ax) for max wireless speeds.
Ethernet Cabling – Use Cat 5e or Cat 6 cables to connect devices to your router.
Devices – Computers, phones, and smart home tech need modern networking hardware to fully utilize 900 Mbps.
Mesh WiFi – To maximize WiFi speeds and coverage across large homes, install Mesh router systems.
Upgrading legacy network gear prevents your devices from taking advantage of faster internet plans.
Conclusion: Evaluating if You Need 900 Mbps
900 Mbps home internet delivers extremely fast speeds – but comes at a premium price tag. Evaluate your family‘s internet activities and devices used.
For 4K streaming, online gaming, video production, and busy homes with many heavy users, 900 Mbps brings a noticeable benefit. Lighter use cases like web browsing and standard streaming won‘t see any difference compared to affordable 100 Mbps plans.
Weigh speed vs price and aim for the "sweet spot". 200-500 Mbps suits many family‘s needs for medium to high use. Unless you have gigabit fiber available, getting the full 900 Mbps over WiFi is unlikely – but wired speeds will still be blazing fast for large downloads and low latency activities.
