With an internet speed of 10mbps, you can expect to download files at about 1.19 MB/sec. Currently, in order to be considered high speed broadband internet, your download speed must be at least 25 mbps and your upload should be at least 3 mbps.
Although this does not meet the minimum standards in order to be considered high speed broadband, you can still do quite a bit with only 10 mbps. To put this into perspective, standard web browsing and opening emails should not be an issue with 10 mbps. Video streaming and gaming is another area of concern for most internet users.
In order to stream on a platform like Netflix, you will need at least 3mbs for the standard stream. If you plan on gaming, you will only need about 3 mbps down and 1 mbps up in order to have decent playable ping under 100ms.
Examples of File Sizes and Download Times Using 10mbps
The following is a small table showing some common file sizes and the time it would take to download these files if your internet speed was 10mbps.
| Amount of Data | Amount of Time to Download |
| 25mb | 20 seconds |
| 50mb | 16 seconds |
| 100mb | 1 minute 23 seconds |
Is 10 Mbps Slow for Internet?
For today’s standards, with 4K and even higher resolutions becoming available for streaming, 10 mbps internet is on the slower side. You will still be able to perform basic tasks like internet browsing, checking emails, downloading and uploading small files within a reasonable timeframe, as well as streaming in high definition 720p with not much issues.
Is 10 Mbps Fast Enough for Netflix?
| Netflix Stream | Broadband Internet Speed |
| Standard Definition (SD) | 3mbps |
| High Definition (HD) | 5mbps |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | 25mbps |
According to Netflix, the minimum internet speed needed to run their service is 1.5mbps. As you can see with the above chart, you will only be able to optimally stream in High Definition (HD) which is considered to be at least 720p.
If you try to stream in 4K (Ultra HD) you may run into multiple issues like your stream buffering during viewing or substantially long load times if you plan on fast forwarding or rewinding.
Is 10 Mbps Fast Enough to Work From Home?
With the current ongoing issues as well as trends in today’s society, working from home is becoming a more and more common practice among households. Having a fast and reliable internet is key to being successful in the workplace even if you are doing it from the comfort of your own living room.
This leaves the question if 10 mbps is a good enough internet speed for performing all your tasks at home. I would have to say that this heavily depends on what you will be using your internet for. If you will be using it for download and uploading very large files, then this can be a hinderance, but small files under 100mb shouldn’t pose much of an issue.
One of the most important applications when working from home is the ability to have flawless video and audio playback. This is usually in the form of a Zoom call or meeting. 10 mbps is fast enough to run Zoom. Let’s take a further look at some of the requirements needed.
Zoom
One of the main concerns when working from home is having enough internet to properly run voice and video chat. One of the most commonly used applications to do this on is Zoom.
According to Zoom, in order to successfully do 1 on 1 video and group calling in 1080p, your internet needs to have at least 3.8mbps down and at least 3mbps up. Many 10 mbps internet packages come with a minimum of 3 upload which means you will be cutting it close, but you will meet the requirements nonetheless.
Is 10 Mbps Internet Fast Enough for Gaming?
Can you game efficiently with 10 mbps? Yes, you definitely can. Most modern games today with high-def graphics recommend a download speed of at least 3 mbps. Download speed is not the only requirement, as your upload speed also plays a big role in your latency.
Having an upload speed of at least 1 – 2 mbps is recommended for smooth gameplay.
If Wifi is your primary connection point, then we recommend using a high speed gaming router to help keep your as low as possible. Click here to check out the wide selection of Netgear Wifi Gaming Routers on Amazon.
Is 10 Mbps Fast Enough for a Family?
10 mbps internet can definitely be enough for a family, but is also highly debatable. If the entire household decides to stream on 4 platforms at the same time, this may cause issues. If the internet usage is light to moderate as in website surfing and gaming, then 10mbps should be able to suffice.
If there are more than 4 devices connecting to the internet package, we recommend that you try bumping up the speed to at least 25 mbps as this would give a better overall experience. You will be able to have multiple tv streams as well as other members in the household gaming without issues.
Final Thoughts
An internet speed of 10 mbps is fast enough for moderate internet browsing, gaming, and some high definition streaming.
Anything more than that, or if you have a lot of users in your household, then we recommend going with a higher speed of at least 25 mbps.
The main downside of having 10 mbps internet is that it does not meet the minimum internet speed required to stream 4K. If streaming 4K is a requirement in your book, this internet package should be avoided.