The ethernet port on the PS5 is a standard gigabit ethernet port capable of supporting speeds of 1 Gbps. This is the same as the previous generation PS4 and not truly next generation, with standards of 2.5 Gbps and 10 Gbps emerging into the consumer market.
That said, the gigabit ethernet interface is fast enough to take full advantage of most internet connections, including gigabit offerings from Xfinity, Spectrum, and Verizon. For the vast majority of people, the gigabit ethernet port is not going to limit their speed.
To take full advantage, you will need a router that has gigabit ethernet ports, a proper ethernet cable, and a suitably fast internet connection. The speed test utility on the PlayStation 5 shows that speeds of 945+ Mbps are easily obtainable.
Unfortunately, downloads from PlayStation Network appear to max out at about 400 Mbps currently. This is the result of server-side throttling, a very common technique used by most online services. 400 Mbps is still a decent download speed but disappointing to anyone who has a 500+ Mbps internet connection.
At 400 Mbps a 20 gigabyte game download takes just under 8 minutes. That is fast for sure but still slow when you consider that at true gigabit speeds, that same download would take a mere 2 minutes 45 seconds.
Given that the average broadband speed in North America is 135 Mbps, according to speedtest.net, this is likely not an issue for most people who are still severely limited by their internet connection. At 135 Mbps, that same 20-gigabyte file would take 19 minutes and 45 seconds. That is still not a terrible result. Overall, download speeds on the PlayStation 5 (PS5) console are much faster than with previous generations of PlayStation consoles.
If your internet speed is much lower, don’t despair. The recommended minimum download speed for PlayStation Network (PSN), according to Sony, is only 5 Mbps, and anything 3.5 Mbps or higher is supported. Despite popular belief, online gaming is not that bandwidth intensive. Latency is king when it comes to online gaming.
If your latency is high, you will experience lag when playing games online. No amount of download speed will fix your latency. Latency and bandwidth are completely different metrics. You do not need a lot of bandwidth to play online multiplayer games. Of course, downloads will take much longer. That same 20-gigabyte download on a 5 Mbps internet connection would take over 8 hours and 45 minutes.
Overall the gigabit ethernet port on the PS5 is more than sufficient to deliver next-generation speeds but is not cutting edge by today’s standards. The PS5 does support WiFi 6 but using ethernet is still the best option for stable performance and the fastest speeds possible.
Even if your internet speed is low, using ethernet will reduce your latency greatly. Latency is king for online gaming, and raw speed really does impact gaming performance that much. The PS5 ethernet port speed is not limiting your gaming experience in any way.
FAQ
Does PS5 have a Gigabit Ethernet port
Yes the ethernet port on the Sony PS5 has a single gigabit ethernet port to allow for a hardwired connection to the internet. Connecting your PS5 using ethernet is highly recommended if you want the best online gaming performance and the fastest downloads.
Does Ethernet cable make PS5 faster
Connecting your PS5 via ethernet will improve your download speeds when compared with connecting via WiFi. Most importantly ethernet improves the stability of your connection resulting in less lag. The best ethernet cable for PS5 is a quality Cat 6 cable.
Is Ethernet better for PS5
Connecting your PS5 with an ethernet cable will greatly improve your download speeds when compared with connecting via WiFi. More importantly ethernet improves the stability of your connection resulting in less lag. Ethernet is the best option for connecting your PS5 to the internet.