My smart TV's Ethernet port turned out to be slower than Wi-Fi, and the spec sheet never mentioned it
My smart TV has an Ethernet port from the wrong decade.
After connecting an Ethernet cable to their smart TV, the author discovered that the Ethernet port was significantly slower than their Wi-Fi connection. Despite paying for a 500Mbps internet plan, the TV only delivered around 100Mbps when connected via Ethernet, compared to 110-120Mbps on Wi-Fi. The spec sheet of the TCL 4K Mini-LED TV mentioned Ethernet connectivity but did not specify the maximum speed.
The owner's manual only noted a single Ethernet LAN category. This apparent discrepancy is a common issue among expensive TV buyers, as manufacturers focus on faster Wi-Fi standards while leaving Ethernet ports at 100Mbps. Despite the lower speed, the author found the wired connection reliable for game streaming. Additionally, connecting the TV to a network switch revealed that other devices could access Gigabit speeds, while the TV remained at 100Mbps.
The author resolved the issue by purchasing a USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet LAN network adapter, but noted that the TV's USB port and operating system may not support such adapters, complicating the upgrade. For most users, a 100Mbps Ethernet connection is sufficient for streaming services, but those who stream games locally or use high-bitrate remuxes may benefit from a faster USB Ethernet adapter, depending on the TV's compatibility.
Written by urgent.news from XDA Developers's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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