You know that moment when you tap something on your phone and nothing happens for a second...or two...or five? That delay isn’t your imagination. It’s latency—and if you rely on your phone for everything from managing projects to sending voice memos, latency can cost you more than a few seconds. It can cost you flow and efficiency.
At RedPocket Mobile, we believe your phone should work as fast as you do. So let’s break down what latency is, why it happens, and how to keep it from slowing you down.
In simple terms, latency is the time it takes for data to travel from your phone to the network and back. Think of it like sending a ping to a satellite and waiting for the reply. The longer it takes, the more noticeable the delay.
Measured in milliseconds (ms)
Lower = better
Affects anything that utilizes data, like video calls, online gaming, and even loading websites
Even if your signal bars look full, high latency can make things feel sluggish.
Video Calls: That awkward delay when you and your client both start talking at the same time? That’s latency.
Gaming: One-second lag in a game = game over.
Voice Assistants: Ever ask a question and wait...and wait...and wait for Siri to respond?
Tapping an App: Pressing something and nothing happens right away? Yep, latency.
A few common culprits:
Congested Networks – Too many users at once can slow things down
Long Distances – The farther your data has to travel, the longer it takes
Older Tech – Devices or SIM cards that aren’t 5G-compatible can bottleneck speed
Weak Signal – Fewer bars = higher latency
Different networks perform better in different areas. RedPocket is one of the only carriers that lets you choose from any major 5G network—so you can find the one with the lowest latency where you live or work.
Working remotely? Traveling often? Need your hotspot to actually keep up on Zoom? The ability to swap networks is a serious productivity tool.
Use a 5G-compatible phone – Modern phones = better response times
Stay updated – Old software can slow down data communication
Switch to a less congested network – (We can help with that)
Restart your phone – Sometimes the simple fixes really work
Latency might sound like an overly technical term, but if your phone feels sluggish, you’re already feeling it. With RedPocket, you’re not stuck with one network—you can pick the one that works best for your real, on-the-go life.
Don’t let lag slow you down. Explore RedPocket Mobile plans and stay connected at the speed of now.