Can I stream on 4G?

As a passionate gamer and content creator myself, I know the struggles of trying to stream gameplay or other content without access to superfast home internet. The good news is – streaming over 4G is totally possible if you set the right expectations and make a few tweaks!

Can You Stream on 4G?

The short answer is yes. 4G LTE networks are realistically capable of 5-50 Mbps speeds on average which works for standard definition to 1080p streaming. However, quality and reliability varies between carriers, locations, and times of day.

Let‘s dig deeper on what kind of internet speeds are recommended for different streaming qualities:

As you can see, a 4G connection can reasonably handle up to 1080p if you have strong enough cellular signal. But there are some other factors impacting real-world experience:

4G Speed Comparison Between Carriers

Not all 4G networks are equal. OpenSignal compared average 4G download speeds across U.S. networks and found noticeable differences:

• Verizon: 33.4 Mbps
• T-Mobile: 28.9 Mbps
• AT&T: 26.3 Mbps

So if you‘re a Verizon customer, your 4G streaming experience will likely be better compared to other networks. However, even 6 Mbps 4G can stream 720p video.

Data Usage Streaming Over 4G

Streaming burns through data quickly, so pay attention to your monthly data limits! Here‘s an estimate of how much data you‘ll use streaming video or music:

• SD Video: 500MB per hour
• HD Video: up to 2GB per hour
• Music: 85MB per hour

Tip: Use a data compression plugin like Streamlabs OBS to save up to 50% of your data usage while streaming!

Dealing With Network Congestion

Avoid peak congestion times like evenings when everyone is home streaming video. Limit yourself to 720p or lower quality. Or try connecting multiple 4G devices to combine bandwidth.

Should You Wait for 5G Instead?

5G brings faster peak download speeds (up to 1-2 Gbps) and lower latency. This will enable immersive cloud gaming and 8K streaming over cellular. But the catch is that 5G has limited range right now.

Verizon 5G is available only in certain neighborhoods of select cities. AT&T and T-Mobile have wider low-band 5G covering over 200 million people – but speeds are closer to 4G LTE for now.

So 4G streaming will remain relevant for quite some time as carriers build out 5G capacity. By 2025, 5G could cover over 85% of the population so there is light at the end of the tunnel!

The Bottom Line

Streaming over 4G is definitely possible and unlocking 5G‘s full potential is still years away. Focus on getting the most out of your 4G connection – test speeds frequently, tweak encoding settings, watch your data usage, and try workarounds during peak hours.

With the right prep work and expectations, you can become part of the revolution of gamers and creators unleashing their passion out to the world from wherever they go! Good luck and happy streaming!