Information, reviews and buying advice
Understanding real-world versus advertised powerline adapter speeds.
Manufacturers quote theoretical maximum speeds, but real-world performance is usually lower due to the age of your home's wiring, mains fluctuations and interference from other electrical devices. Even so, powerline speeds are typically much faster than Wi-Fi alone, ranging from around 500 Mbps to 2000 Mbps depending on the adapter.
The average broadband speed in the UK is around 63 Mbps, but actual Wi-Fi speeds can range from about 10 Mbps to 50 Mbps depending on the router, distance and interference, so a powerline adapter can offer a noticeably faster connection.
Read our guides on choosing, setting up and getting the best speed from your powerline adapter.