Why your internet might not keep up with this year's tech gifts
By Stacie Shannon, VP of Direct Sales
It's Christmas morning, and everyone tears into their presents to find exactly what they wanted (a Meta Quest 3, an Xbox® Series X, maybe a shiny new 8K TV). Your living room turns into a sea of crumpling wrapping paper, discarded packaging, and jumbled cords as everybody tries out their new toys.
But soon, the Christmas magic turns into a connectivity nightmare. The VR headset keeps stuttering. Xbox games won't download. The movie buffers every few minutes.
What went wrong? Your internet couldn't keep up.
Before you wrap up any bandwidth-hungry tech this holiday season, there's one thing most people forget to check: whether their home internet can actually handle the device, and the family’s bandwidth needs. That 150 Mbps connection that's been working fine might suddenly feel painfully slow when everyone's trying to use their new devices all at once.
How much speed does VR need?
Virtual reality technology has come a long way, and VR headsets are one of the hottest gifts for kids and adults this holiday season. But VR is also one of the most bandwidth-intensive consumer technologies you can bring into your home.
Most VR headsets need a minimum of 25-50 Mbps for basic functionality. That'll get you through simple experiences and lighter games. But if you want smooth, high-quality VR (especially for multiplayer gaming, streaming, or more demanding applications) you're looking at 100+ Mbps dedicated to that one device alone.
The Meta Quest 3, for example, needs about 200 Mbps for optimal wireless PC VR streaming. The PlayStation® VR2 takes a stable, fast connection for downloading games and updates (some VR titles clock in at 100+ GB). Even standalone headsets that don't technically need internet for gameplay still demand solid bandwidth for downloads, updates, and many of the experiences that make VR worthwhile.
The real problem: bandwidth isn't just for one device
Here's where things get tricky, and it's the part that catches most households off guard. Let's say you have a 300 Mbps internet plan. On paper, that sounds like plenty for a VR headset that needs 100 Mbps. But your internet bandwidth isn't sitting around waiting for one device to use it. It's constantly being divided among everything that’s connected to your network.
Say one kid is streaming on their new Xbox (4K streaming uses about 25 Mbps). Dad's settled in to watch a Christmas movie in 8K on the new TV (eating up 50+ Mbps). Mom's setting up the new smart home hub and connecting devices (another 5-10 Mbps for cloud syncing and updates). Then another kid fires up their new VR headset to jump into an immersive game.
Suddenly, your 300 Mbps is split four ways, and that's before we even count the smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart speakers, appliances, and endless other devices that are constantly pulling bandwidth in the background.
So, your VR headset might only be getting 50-75 Mbps of actual throughput, well below what it needs for a smooth experience. Cue the lag, the stuttering, the “why isn't this working?” disappointment.
Other bandwidth-hungry gifts to watch out for
VR might be the most demanding, but it's not the only tech gift that'll put your internet to the test this season:
Gaming consoles: The PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and even the Nintendo® Switch 2 need solid speeds for downloading massive game files (often 50-150 GB), playing online, and streaming gameplay. Online gaming alone needs 3-25 Mbps depending on the title, but factor in downloads, and you're looking at much higher demands.
4K and 8K TVs: Streaming in 4K takes about 25 Mbps per stream. For 8K content, you need around 50+ Mbps. If multiple people are streaming on different TVs, that adds up fast.
Smart home devices: That new smart doorbell, security camera system, or voice assistant hub might seem minor, but smart home ecosystems (especially security cameras with cloud storage) can use 2-5 Mbps per device continuously.
High-end tablets and laptops: These devices might not seem bandwidth-heavy, but when you're downloading large apps, streaming video, or running cloud-based software, they pull their fair share.
How to make sure your internet can handle the holidays (and beyond)
The good news is you don't have to return the gifts or deal with tears and frustration this holiday season. You just need internet that can keep up with your household's demands.
Gig-speed fiber internet (1,000+ Mbps) gives you the headroom to run multiple high-demand devices simultaneously, without anyone fighting over bandwidth. At Kinetic, our gig fiber plans are built to handle real-life households where streaming, gaming, working, and browsing all happen simultaneously. So every device gets consistent performance, even when everyone's online at once.
Not sure how much bandwidth you need? Just connect with one of our knowledgeable local representatives. They’ll do a personalized assessment of your current solution, actual needs, and available options, so you get the right plan for your home.
Still, even the best internet plan can’t give you performance beyond what your router can support. Older routers create bottlenecks that slow everything down, especially when you’re juggling multiple devices. Kinetic offers eero Pro 7 routers with the very latest Wi-Fi 7 technology, which means faster speeds, better range, and smarter distribution of bandwidth across all your devices.
But speed is only part of the equation. Dead zones, weak signals, and spotty coverage can tank your experience even if you have plenty of bandwidth. That's why our Kinetic Promise™1 is simple: we won't leave until your internet works everywhere you need it to. We'll make sure your Wi-Fi reaches every corner and connects to every device, and we're here for ongoing support if anything changes.
And since nobody likes tacked-on fees or price hikes that show up months after you sign up (especially after the spendy holidays), Kinetic offers transparent pricing with no surprise fees, so you know exactly what you're getting. Better tech, better prices, better experiences. That's what Internet better™ means.
Don't let bandwidth be the grinch that stole Christmas
The holidays are supposed to be about excitement and joy, not tech frustration and buffering screens. Before you wrap up that VR headset, gaming console, or 8K TV, take a few minutes to make sure your internet can handle the extra load.
Check your current speeds, think about how many devices will be competing for bandwidth, and consider whether it's time to upgrade to internet service that’s built to support modern tech. The best gift you can give this season might just be internet that works – really works – for everyone under your roof.
Ready to make sure your internet can handle the holidays? Explore Kinetic's fiber plans or connect with a local representative and get the connection your home needs.
1 Kinetic Promise relies on reasonable effort to confirm Wi‑Fi works in living spaces where customer grants technician access. Wi‑Fi coverage & performance vary by layout, building materials, interference, & device capability. Not a guarantee of uniform coverage, speed, or error‑free service. Add. equipment or wiring may be required & incur charges; certain areas/devices (e.g., detached structures or outdoor spaces) may be excluded. Customer may cancel any time.