What's a good broadband speed for Playstation and Xbox?
Boasting powerful hardware with support for high-definition 4K TVs, these are the fastest gaming consoles ever made.
But a 4K TV isn’t the only thing you’ll want. These consoles are more reliant on internet access than ever before!
To get the most out of them, you’ll need to ensure your broadband speed and Wi-Fi router are up to the job.
Broadband for games consoles: the key points
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- Speed: 1.6Gb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£33.99 per month
£37.99 from 31st March 2027
£41.99 from 31st March 2028
- Speed: 1.6Gb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
£65 per month
£68.50 from 1st April 2027
£72 from 1st April 2028
- Speed: 1Gb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£31 per month
Price may rise during contract
Why internet speed matters for games consoles
Long gone are the days when buying a game meant scouring the shelves of your local store to discover new releases. You can now browse an online catalogue (Playstation Plus for the PS5, PS4 and classic Playstation or Microsoft Store for the Xbox) and download everything to the console's hard drive without touching a box or discs.
There are even versions of both consoles without a disc drive, so downloads are the only way to install games.
Boxed games are still around, but they’re becoming less relevant. Many games never get released on disc and even when there is a physical copy you may still have to download something before playing.
And it’s standard for games to receive post-release patches and updates which fix bugs and add new content. Without a fast broadband speed, downloading updates and new titles can take hours.
What broadband speed do I need for gaming?
Online multiplayer games don’t really need a high-speed broadband package, and you can get away with slower speeds, especially if you live on your own. But you’ll still want to aim for a decent minimum speed for the best experience. Other devices and users in your home sharing the Wi-Fi connection will affect your performance.
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What’s the difference between the Playstation 5 and Playstation 5 Digital Edition?
There are two different models of Playstation 5. They have the same basic hardware and the same performance, but the Digital Edition doesn't have a disc drive.
That means that broadband speed is even more important for Digital Edition owners because games can only be installed by downloading.
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What’s the difference between the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S?
Microsoft has also chosen to launch slightly different versions of its new Xbox. Like the PS5 Digital Edition, the Xbox Series S lacks a disc drive, so fast broadband is essential.
The Series S is also slightly slower than the Series X. This means games can't run as fast or support the same resolution. Some games do have a slightly smaller download size as a result, but it’s not a huge difference, and fast fibre broadband is still recommended.
Xbox Series X download speed: how long does it take to install games?
The table below shows the estimated time (rounded to the nearest hour) it could take for game downloads using a PS5 and Xbox Series X/S at various connection speeds.
| Download Time (approx.) (hrs) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | 10Mb | 35Mb | 100Mb | 500Mb | 1Gb |
| Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (145.7GB) | 32hrs | 9hrs | 3hrs | 38mins | 19mins |
| Marvel's Spider-Man (53.76GB) | 12hrs | 3hrs | 1hr | 14mins | 7mins |
| Hogwart's Legacy (80.20GB) | 18hrs | 5hrs | 2hrs | 21mins | 10mins |
It’s important to note that this assumes you're receiving the full possible transfer rate at all times, but it is unlikely to work that way. Speed fluctuations can increase the time it takes to finish downloads.
With big releases now often exceeding 100GB in size, you can see that on slower broadband connections, it can take a very long time to get hold of a new game. And while that download is in progress, it’s going to slow down anything else you might be doing with the broadband.
Recommended broadband speeds for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
We recommend the following broadband speeds for owners of the next-generation games consoles.
Minimum speed: 30Mb
A speed of at least 30Mb will be fast enough to download games without waiting all day. It’s also fine for playing online games.
However, if multiple people share the connection, 30Mb may feel slow. This kind of speed is available to more than 95% of the UK using fibre optic broadband on the BT Openreach network.
- Speed: 35Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
£26 per month
£29.50 from 1st April 2027
£33 from 1st April 2028
- Speed: 36Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
£24.99 per month
£28.99 from 31st March 2027
£32.99 from 31st March 2028
Recommended speed: 50Mb-100Mb
If available in your area, a faster fibre optic package is worth the investment. It’ll significantly cut download times and offer more bandwidth for a shared household.
- Speed: 74Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£24.99 per month
£28.99 from 31st March 2027
£32.99 from 31st March 2028
- Speed: 67Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£23 per month
Price may rise during contract
Nice to have, but not essential: 100Mb+
While not everyone has this option, more homes now have access to 100Mb+ broadband speeds. Entry-level full fibre deals can be surprisingly affordable and often come with great rewards for new customers.
Virgin Media deals typically start at 132Mb with it's new entry-level M125 package, going all the way up to 2 Gigabit speeds in some areas.
- Speed: 1.1Gb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
£24.99 per month
£28.99 from 1st April 2027
£32.99 from 1st April 2028
- Speed: 1.1Gb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
£37.99 per month
£41.99 from 1st April 2027
£45.99 from 1st April 2028
How to check your broadband speed
Not sure how fast your internet is? Use our speed test tool to check your current broadband speed. If it's lower than expected, you might want to consider upgrading.
Do I need a new Wi-Fi router for the PS5 and Xbox Series X?
In most cases, you don’t need to upgrade your Wi-Fi router. The free router from your ISP should be fine, unless it’s very old.
Don't get too bogged down in the technical details.
If you’d like to learn more, our introduction to setting up a wireless connection can help. All you really need to know is that any router made in the last decade is compatible.
Need more tips for reliable gameplay and faster download times? Read more Broadband for Gaming tips.
What broadband package should I choose for the best PS5 and Xbox Series X experience? The round-up
- For smooth online gaming, aim for at least 30Mb
- For fast downloads, choose 50Mb-100Mb broadband
- For the best experience, 100Mb+ is ideal, but not necessary
- Always choose an unlimited data plan
Find the best broadband deals for gaming
Looking for a broadband deal that’s perfect for gaming? Use our postcode checker to compare fibre packages in your area.