Mobile speed test (4G and 5G)
Run the speed testFree, no signup, runs in your browser.
You can test your phone’s mobile data in the browser, without installing an app. Mobile connections behave differently from home broadband, so it helps to know what affects the result and how much data a test uses.
Before you test: data use
A speed test has to move real data. On mobile, choose Reduced data mode, which uses up to 25 MB. HowFast selects it automatically when your browser reports Data Saver or a cellular connection (not every browser shares this). The dashboard shows the maximum before you start and counts the data used during the test. Standard mode uses up to 200 MB.
To test the mobile network rather than Wi-Fi, turn Wi-Fi off first.
Why mobile results vary so much
- Signal strength. Moving a few metres, or from a window to the middle of a building, can change speed several times over.
- Network load. You share a cell with everyone nearby. Speeds drop at busy times and in crowded places.
- Technology in use. Your phone switches between 5G, 4G LTE and older networks depending on coverage. The icon at the top of the screen shows which one it is using.
- Your plan. Some plans limit speed for video, after a data allowance, or on hotspot use.
- The phone itself. Older phones support fewer bands and lower peak speeds.
Because of this, run two or three tests in the same spot and look at the range rather than one number.
4G vs 5G
| 4G LTE | 5G | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical download | Tens of Mbps, sometimes more | Often hundreds of Mbps on mid-band 5G; varies widely |
| Latency | Usually 30–70 ms | Often lower than 4G on the same network |
| Coverage | Very wide | Growing; fastest bands have short range |
“5G” covers very different networks. Low-band 5G can perform much like 4G; mid-band 5G is where most of the speed gains are; millimetre-wave 5G is extremely fast but only over short distances outdoors.
Reading a mobile result
- Latency and jitter are usually higher and more variable than on home broadband, which can affect calls and games even when speed is high. See jitter.
- Bufferbloat is common on mobile networks; latency often rises a lot while uploading.
- Location on the Network card comes from your IP address. On mobile networks this often points to a city some distance away; this is normal and doesn’t affect the measurement.
- If the browser reports a cellular connection, the result carries the note “Mobile data: results vary with signal.” and its confidence is marked Low.
Using your phone as a hotspot or home internet
5G and 4G home routers and phone hotspots work well for many households. Place the router near a window facing the nearest mast, and test at different times of day before relying on it for work calls or gaming. What is a good internet speed explains what each activity needs.