You will likely agree that PC and console are the best way to play games, but sometimes you just want to take your game with you.
Whether it’s on your phone, tablet, or portable gaming device, you probably still need the internet as most games today are online.
Thanks to portable hotspots, it has become relatively easy for people to remain connected while being on the go.
The important question is if a mobile hotspot is good for gaming.
Although this depends on how much data a particular game needs, but we can safely say that mobile hotspot can actually be good for gaming!
Table of Contents
Can You Use a Mobile Hotspot for Gaming?
Mobile hotspots are essentially portable WiFi, which can come from a standalone device or turning your smartphone into a mobile hotspot.
The former is a small device that can easily fit in your hand, ranging in price and data plan.
The more common way to get a mobile hotspot is through smartphones, the process of which is known as tethering.
When you tether, you are using your phone as a mobile hotspot to use the data plan on your phone to connect to the internet.
As long as your data plan is fast and enough for the game you want, there is no reason for you not to be able to play online games on it!
Though whether or not it can provide quick and smooth connection really depends on your mobile network provider.
Setting up tethering will vary from phone to phone, but it is usually easy to access in Settings or Manage Connections.
Once your phone has become a mobile hotspot, you can simply connect your gaming device to the network.
However, it would be best to understand that a mobile data network is naturally less suited for gaming purposes than an actual WiFi is.
This is usually because the ping is not as good.
How Much Data does Mobile Hotspot Use for Gaming?
Now you know that you can use a mobile hotspot for gaming, especially when you’re in a pinch.
It then comes down to one question: how much data does hotspot use for gaming?
Naturally, online gaming will take up some data, just like anything else you do online.
While different games need various amounts of data, most won’t spend too much of your monthly broadband budget.
Games such as Final Fantasy XIV takes as little as 20MB per hour, while intensive ones like Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) could require up to 700MB.
Other popular games, including PUBG, League of Legends, World of Warcraft, and Minecraft, use around 40MB of data each hour.
So, the good news is that even the most data-consuming game will consume much less than Youtube or Netflix streaming!
Although you should be aware that you may spend more data on chatting than on the game itself.
Live voice chats through in-game features or external apps like Discord is necessary when playing multi-player games but will add data consumption.
A 2-person voice call requires up to 45MB an hour, which will increase with more team members.
How do I Optimize My Mobile Hotspot for Gaming?
Worry not, as there are several tips and tricks to optimize your mobile hotspot for gaming.
By minimizing data usage and using it more effectively, it will cost you less while giving you a better connection.
Try to limit multimedia use, such as streaming videos and viewing pictures.
Compared to online games, these could consume much higher bandwidth!
You should also pay attention to applications running in the background, from email to social media and location-based apps.
Ensure that only the most necessary ones are allowed to run in the background so that you won’t be wasting data.
Another thing we recommend doing is to monitor your data usage.
Avoid using it over your limits, as paying for overuse is more expensive than the plan itself!
Lastly, set your hotspot to generate shorter, low-power WiFi.
This means your gaming devices should be closer to the mobile hotspot but will extend its battery and effectivity.
These are just some ways we have found to work when it comes to optimizing a mobile hotspot for gaming.
Hopefully, you are able to enjoy a smoother and faster gameplay experience once you have tried these methods.
Is 4G LTE Fast Enough for Online Gaming?
To determine whether 4G LTE is fast enough for online gaming, we first need to know the internet speed requirement for online games in 2021.
According to this blogpost by Xfinity, most gaming console manufacturers recommend having at least 3Mbps of download speed and 0.5 to 1 Mbps of upload speed.
On the other hand, Verizon, a well-known telecommunication provider in the United States, states that 4G LTE can give you download speed up to 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speed between 2 to 5 Mbps.
Looking at this number, we can quickly determine that 4G LTE is fast enough for online gaming.
Fortnite itself only requires a minimum of 3Mbps of download speed.
In Conclusion, is 4G LTE fast enough for online gaming in 2021?
If you’re a casual gamer, then 4G LTE is more than fast enough for your needs.
However, if you’re a serious gamer and need every millisecond of speed, then you might want to consider getting a fiber internet connection instead.
Final Thoughts: Are Mobile Hotspot Good for Gaming in 2021?
Overall, a mobile hotspot is an excellent way for you to stay connected to the internet while on the go or whenever public WiFi is not available.
Not to mention that a private hotspot is more secure than public connections.
This means you can easily play online games on your portable console or other devices anywhere you are.
While different games may consume different amounts of data, it can be helpful for you to know the best ways to optimize your mobile hotspot too!
