Best 2021 ethernet cables: Start to get a steady connection with these hardwire solutions

 

(Pocket-lint) - With a top ethernet cable, your patchy internet connection can be transformed from subpar to excellent, enabling you to forego the Wi-Fi fragility and receive a direct line from your router.

Although Wi-Fi is the most convenient way to get a connection on your devices, it also faces problems with overlapping signals in the air and may therefore be unreliable, whether they are gaming consoles, smart home tech, or computers. It can help to solve this problem by running an ethernet cable from your router or modem, effectively providing a hardwired path for the Internet to take to your computer.

But even the ethernet cable approach poses its problems with many of our devices sitting far away from the connection point. The easy part is to figure out the length that the wire needs to be, but you'll also have to decide what your internet speed is, and find the correct Cat, which is short for 'Category' and sadly has little to do with felines.

Generally speaking, the higher the Cat number, the more advanced the cable is and it will be able to handle the higher speeds. If you have download speeds of approximately 10-20Mbps, for instance, something that is Cat-5 or above will be just fine.

We've chosen some of the best you can buy to help lead you across the vast network of wired internet connections.

Choose from the top ethernet cables today

AmazonBasics Cat-6 Ethernet Cable

In most situations, this AmazonBasics 14-foot Cat-6 cable is the perfect alternative, transmitting data up to 1GB per second and supporting up to 250MHz bandwidth transmission.

Simply put, for most homes, that's more than enough speed, allowing you to receive a more reliable link when fed into an access point.

As well as 25-foot and 50-foot options (for when you just need to run the wire around the house), this model is also available in smaller lengths, and all are available for a reasonably affordable price.

DBillionDa Cat-8 Ethernet Cable

For most households, this Cat-8 cable represents overkill, but it's a solid option for those who live in areas with a lot of interference and those who want to be future-proof.

The cable itself is capable of supporting 40 GB per second data transmission, with the design also being anti-corrosive, waterproof, and robust - even capable of being buried for outdoor use.

This model is 6-feet, but it is also available, including one that runs 100-feet long, in 12 other variants.

DanYee Cat-7 Ethernet Cable

DanYee's Cat-7 cable is certainly one to consider if you prefer the longevity you normally get from braided nylon choices.

Not only can it prevent fraying, but it can also produce exceptionally high velocities (up to 10 GB per second) and enable up to 600 MHz bandwidth transmission.

This 10-feet cable is available in longer and shorter variations, like the other options on this list, and also features the regular RJ45 fitting.

Jadaol Cat-6 Ethernet Cable

This 50-foot cable - bundled with 15 clips - is a top list to consider if you already know you want to run your ethernet cable through door frames, over skirting boards, and up the stairs.

The Cat-6 cable's flat nature allows it to sit smoothly on walls, allowing transmission of up to 250MHz of bandwidth and transmitting up to 10GB of data per second.

This is a good middle ground between some Ethernet cables' overkill design and the Cat-5/Cat-5e versions, which will become obsolete sooner or later.

Vandesail Cat-7 Ethernet Cable

This high-speed Cat-7 ethernet cable may be thin, but for those who want to connect to a computer that is near their access point, that makes it the best choice.

So, if you have a PC or games console near your router, this should offer fantastic speeds, supporting up to 1000MHz bandwidth and up to 10GB per second data speeds.

It also features a flat design, which ensures that when placed on a wall, it sits attractively.

Rhinocables Cat-5e Ethernet Cable

This Cat-5e Rhinocable offering is a solid choice if you just want a very cheap ethernet cable that can provide data speeds that are ideal for most homes.

Up to 1 GB per second of transmission can be used for this 5-meter cable, although there are also sizes ranging between 12cm and 50 metres.

This allows you to customize the wire for the job, with 11 colours that allow you to align it with the paint you're mounting on the wall.

Jonifun Cat-7 Ethernet Cable

Another Cat-7 cable, but one that is certainly worth considering if you need a flat mounting style - and it even comes bundled with clips to lock it around your skirting board, conveniently.

Since it's on the more advanced end of the ethernet cable spectrum, you'll get support for bandwidth of 750MHz, and data transfer of up to 10GB per second.

For most houses, that is more than enough, of course, and will remain accessible for a long time to come.

Ugreen Cat-7 Ethernet Cable

For you to consider, Ugreen has another Cat-7 cable, and one that is available in a wide range of lengths.

It features a flat design, like others, with the wiring inside helping to provide up to 600 MHz transmission rate and data transfer of up to 10 GB per second.

It's simple-looking, but it's a perfect way to ensure a good link between a device and your access point.