
As the next step in wireless Internet, many users are wondering: Is Verizon 5g home internet good for gaming?
Luckily, we know how the gaming performance of Verizon 5G Internet is. Verizon’s Home Internet relies on its ultra-fast 5G network that can offer you speeds up to 1000 Mbps.
It does make an interesting choice for gamers. Before you jump in and get the service, we need to find out if it’s worth it or not.
Verizon 5G Home Internet is an excellent service that offers fast 5G speeds that can reach up to 1000 Mbps. Ping times are also relatively low at around 50ms to 100ms. As a gamer, it’s an excellent internet service to have to play your favorite online games.
Let’s take a look at what you need to know about Verizon 5G Internet and gaming so you can make an informed decision if it’s the right connection for you.
What You Need to Know on Verizon 5G Home Internet Gaming
Verizon’s 5G Home Internet service is unlike most providers. It’s primarily powered by Verizon’s 5G network, which means that it’s transmitted via cell towers rather than wires.
There are advantages and disadvantages to it, but it’s a connection that you can certainly game on.
1. Connection Quality
Verizon’s 5G network is one of the best out there. It’s fast and reliable, allowing you to do different internet activities like gaming.
2. Connection Consistency
Since it’s not a wired connection, it’s prone to interference. Bad weather can affect it, but with 5G technology, it’s not limited compared to its predecessors.
3. Internet Speeds
You really have nothing to worry about when it comes to Verizon’s 5G speeds. It’s incredibly fast and can offer you speeds between 300 Mbps to 1000 Mbps.
4. Latency
If this was 4G, we would have an issue with latency and overall ping times. However, 5G has improved all that with latency improved to be as close to a wired connection.
We can now check out all the details that you need to know if you can use 5G Internet for gaming.
The Low-Down with Gaming On Verizon 5G Home Internet
Verizon’s 5G Home Internet service is certainly a convenient solution for those that don’t have ready access to a wired connection.
It can provide you with fast speeds with decent latency that’s perfect for gaming.
However, these two performance indicators might not be enough especially if you’re going to use it with console and multiplayer gaming.
Let’s dive into the different aspects that you’re going to encounter if you want to play your favorite games on Verizon’s 5G Home Internet connection.
Difference Between Wired Internet vs 5G Home Internet for Gaming
It all boils down to reliability. With wired connections, you can be sure that you’re not going to experience sudden outages due to the weather and interference.
However, not everyone has access to decent wired internet like cable or fiber.
Improvements in technology, especially 5G internet has made it possible for wireless connections to match wired ones in terms of bandwidth and latency.
The only bottleneck that you’re going to face is reliability as 5G over-the-air internet can suddenly drop you from your game’s servers.
Let’s look at these two types of internet services side by side:
- 5G Home Internet can be as fast as wired connections like cable and fiber.
- The latency with 5G Home Internet can match wired connections.
- 5G Home Internet wins in the convenience factor.
Is Verizon’s 5G Home Internet Speeds Enough for Gaming
There is no question that Verizon’s 5G speeds are enough for gaming.
In fact, in most of their service area, the download and upload speeds for 5G Home Internet can get up to 1,000 Mbps on the Plus plan.
Even if you get their standard plan, you’re still going to enjoy speeds up to 300 Mbps, which is more than enough for you to play your favorite games.
With these speeds, you don’t even have to worry about insanely large game updates.
These speeds should allow you to download gigabytes of game files in a few minutes.
Here are some of the speeds you need for gaming:
- Fortnite: at least 20 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload.
- Valorant: at least 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload.
- League of Legends: at least 50 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload.
- Overwatch 2: at least 10 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload.
- Most online AAA games: at least 30 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload.
Pro Tip: As long as you have an internet connection that’s 50 Mbps or faster, you should be able to play all of your favorite games.
Will Verizon 5G Internet Affect My Ping
Apart from speed, the other performance indicator you need to look at is latency.
It’s not usually advertised by internet providers, but if you look for it, you’re going to see it from others’ experiences.
We’ll save you all the trouble and let you know what you expect when it comes to gaming ping times with 5G Internet.
Here are some of the ping times to expect for Verizon 5G:
- Expect ping times between 10ms to 50ms on most online games.
- The farther the game server’s location the higher the ping times.
- Ping times with 5G internet are not always that stable so expect it to fluctuate.
Tip: Ping times below 100ms are generally considered excellent and won’t affect your gaming experience.
Issues When Using Verizon 5G Internet for Gaming
Now, you’re not going to have issues where the 5G Internet is not going to be fast enough, because it is.
You’re also not going to have any problem with latency since it’s quick and is enough for most games. However, the main problem you’re going to face with 5G Internet is its network type.
Since it’s mobile internet, it won’t provide you with the optimum network type to connect to game servers.
You’re going to run into problems with NAT types which can prevent you from connecting to a lot of online games.
Here are the main issues you’re going to face using the wrong NAT type:
- You won’t be able to do port forwarding to connect to servers.
- You can’t join peer-to-peer games because you have the wrong NAT type.
Note: The only way to resolve these issues would be to connect to a different ISP or use a connection tunneling service like a VPN.
Optimizing My Verizon 5G Internet for Gaming
A connection like Verizon’s 5G Internet can be enough for gaming. However, if there’s a choice, you would still opt for a wired connection.
As an alternative, you can always make do with 5G internet.
Since we know that it can be affected by speed and ping fluctuations, plus the sub-optimal connection types, there’s a workaround that you can do to fix all these.
By connecting to a reliable VPN, you should be able to eliminate all these problems with your 5G Internet.
Here’s how to properly optimize your 5G Internet connection:
- Using a VPN will eliminate any NAT issues you will encounter.
- Connecting to a VPN will also stabilize your internet speed and ping.
- Close all games and apps first before connecting to the VPN.
VPN: AtlasVPN is not just for added privacy, it’s also a way to improve your connection for gaming. It’s a fast VPN service with optimized servers for better speed and ping times.
Verdict: Is Verizon 5G Home Internet Good for Gaming
As long as you’re not a competitive gamer, you should have no issues using 5G Home for your gaming needs.
You will be able to play the latest games and even a few esports titles like League, Valorant, and Fortnite.
If you have specific connection needs, you can always invest in a fast and reliable VPN that can help you optimize your internet.
You can also contact Verizon for additional assistance regarding their 5G Home Internet service.
Bottom Line
Is Verizon 5G Home Internet good for gaming? Now that you have the answer, you can make that choice whether to get it or choose a wired internet provider.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to availability. If there’s no decent wired connection in your area, Verizon 5G Internet is an excellent alternative.
Read Next: How To Return Verizon 5G Home Internet?

Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.