Here are the best ways to optimise your internet connection for a glitch-free online gaming experience on your smartphone.

Do you feel like your online gaming experience is not as fluid as you want it to be despite having a capable smartphone? It might not entirely have to do with your phone. The network you are connected to while playing games such as BGMI, COD: Mobile, and Garena Free Fire plays a pivotal role in your gameplay.

Having a stable internet connection is crucial for an uninterrupted gaming experience.

How fast should your internet connection be for online gaming?

While speed isn’t necessarily the most important parameter, it is recommended to have a connection with at least 5 Mbps download speed and 1 Mbps upload speed—speeds that even basic mobile (4G/5G) and broadband plans can provide. However, the stability of the network matters more than the actual speed.

If you’re downloading a game for the first time, a faster connection will help you download the game and in-game data more quickly. This is usually a one-time requirement. Once downloaded, you don’t necessarily need a fast connection, though it doesn’t hurt to have one.

Online smartphone gaming is trickier than PC/console gaming

Most PCs and gaming consoles are hard-wired to a router, which significantly reduces ping (Packet Internet or Inter-Network Groper) to almost zero. This means there is virtually no delay between pressing a key or button and the game registering the input.

While some smartphones can connect to an Ethernet cable using a dongle, most mobile gamers rely on Wi-Fi or cellular data, which can significantly impact online gaming performance..

What is ping?

Ping is measured in milliseconds (ms), and a lower number always represents better gaming performance.

Here’s a breakdown:

0 to 20 ms → Excellent performance

20 to 50 ms → Good performance

50 to 100 ms → Average performance (may cause slight delays)

100 to 150 ms →Below average performance

100+ ms → Poor performance (could lead to an unpleasant experience)

To achieve low ping, an advanced router supporting Wi-Fi 7 or Wi-Fi 6/6E is recommended.

How to measure ping?

Most online games like BGMI and COD: Mobile display ping on the screen in real time. This value fluctuates based on the stability of your internet connection.

While many apps and services claim to improve ping, most don’t make a significant difference. Some VPNs can slightly optimise network routing, but the best way to reduce ping is to position yourself in an area with strong network coverage. Sitting near your router, ideally within line of sight, can significantly lower latency and enhance gaming performance.

Mobile data or Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi is generally better for online gaming than mobile data, but it’s not always that simple. Network type and frequency play a role in latency:

5G vs. 4G: Ping is usually lower on a 5G network compared to 4G.

Wi-Fi frequencies: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi has higher ping than 5GHz or 6GHz Wi-Fi.

Real-world testing

In my testing on the Samsung Galaxy S25+ (review), while playing COD: Mobile, I observed the following ping values.

Jio 4G → 56 ms

Jio 5G → 43 ms

2.4GHz Wi-Fi → 36 ms

5GHz Wi-Fi → 23 ms

With the mobile data, there is also the risk of network congestion, where more people using the same tower could also affect the network latency.

These numbers will vary depending on your device, network, and location. However, my test clearly shows that a Wi-Fi network offers a better online gaming experience compared to a 4G/5G mobile network.

Source;Indian Express.in 

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