5G has been promised as the future of mobile gaming — ultra-low latency, faster speeds, no more rubber-banding in Genshin Impact or lag spikes in Mobile Legends ranked matches. But in 2026, with 5G coverage now reasonably widespread in Malaysia's major cities, we wanted to answer the real question: does 5G actually make gaming better?
We tested gaming latency across the major Malaysian carriers: CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, and Yes 5G. Here's what we found.
What Ping Actually Is (And Why It Matters)
Ping (latency) measures how long it takes for data to travel from your device to a game server and back. It's measured in milliseconds (ms).
- Under 20ms — Excellent. You won't notice any lag.
- 20–50ms — Good. Perfectly playable for all games including competitive.
- 50–80ms — Acceptable. Occasional micro-delays in fast-paced games.
- 80–150ms — Noticeable lag. Real disadvantage in competitive play.
- 150ms+ — Unplayable for competitive games.
For context, most Malaysian 4G LTE connections average 30–60ms to Singapore game servers. The question is whether 5G meaningfully beats that.
Test Setup
We tested in the following locations:
- Kuala Lumpur city centre (KLCC area)
- Petaling Jaya (SS2 and Subang Jaya)
- Penang (Georgetown)
- Johor Bahru (City Square area)
Games tested:
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MY server)
- PUBG Mobile (Southeast Asia server, SG)
- Genshin Impact (SE Asia server)
- Valorant via PC hotspot (Singapore server)
Results by Carrier
CelcomDigi 5G — Best Coverage in MY
CelcomDigi has the widest 5G coverage in Malaysia as of 2026, particularly along the Klang Valley corridor and Penang.
Avg ping (5G): 22–35ms to SG servers
Avg ping (4G LTE): 38–55ms to same servers
Coverage: Excellent in KLCC, PJ, Penang; patchy in JB
Speed (5G): 200–600 Mbps download average
Verdict: CelcomDigi delivers consistent 5G gaming benefits in urban areas. The latency improvement over 4G is real — roughly 15–20ms better in best conditions. Mobile Legends ranked matches felt noticeably more responsive.
Maxis 5G — Best Latency in Dense Urban Areas
Maxis focuses 5G on dense urban coverage rather than breadth, and it shows in their numbers.
Avg ping (5G): 18–28ms to SG servers in KLCC
Avg ping (4G LTE): 35–50ms
Coverage: Excellent in KL central; limited in suburbs and other cities
Speed (5G): 300–800 Mbps peak
Verdict: In KLCC and Bukit Bintang, Maxis 5G delivered the lowest latency of any carrier we tested. PUBG Mobile on Maxis 5G in KL felt impressively clean. But step 5km outside the centre and you're back on 4G most of the time.
U Mobile 5G — Best Value 5G Plan
U Mobile has been aggressive on pricing for their 5G plans, making them attractive for budget-conscious gamers.
Avg ping (5G): 25–40ms to SG servers
Avg ping (4G LTE): 40–60ms
Coverage: Decent in KL and Selangor; limited in East Malaysia
Speed (5G): 150–400 Mbps
Verdict: U Mobile 5G delivers real latency improvements, though not quite to Maxis's peak performance. Their RM78/month unlimited 5G plan with gaming priority is genuinely good value. A good choice for gamers on a budget who live in coverage areas.
Yes 5G — Fixed Wireless Focus
Yes 5G is primarily a fixed wireless access (FWA) provider, but they do offer mobile 5G.
Avg ping (5G): 28–45ms to SG servers
Coverage: More limited as mobile carrier, strongest as home broadband
Speed: Competitive for FWA but less consistent on mobile
Verdict: Yes 5G works well as a home gaming internet option (replacing fibre in areas where fibre is unavailable), but as a mobile gaming connection it's not the first choice.
The Big Question: Is 5G Better Than Fibre Broadband for Gaming?
No. For home gaming, a wired fibre connection (Unifi, TIME, or Maxis Home Fibre) will almost always beat 5G. Here's why:
- Fibre latency to SG servers from MY: typically 5–20ms
- 5G latency: typically 18–40ms
- Fibre is also more stable — no signal fluctuation, no tower congestion
Where 5G wins: gaming on the go. If you're gaming on mobile in a cafe, on public transport, or anywhere without Wi-Fi, 5G is a massive upgrade over 4G LTE. It's also a good backup if your home fibre is down.
5G vs 4G: The Real-World Gaming Impact
For Mobile Legends and PUBG Mobile — yes, 5G makes a noticeable difference. The 15–20ms improvement translates to visibly cleaner hit registration and more consistent gameplay.
For Genshin Impact and similar — less noticeable. Genshin is more forgiving with latency, and 4G LTE is sufficient.
For PC gaming via hotspot (Valorant, CS2) — 5G is usable but competitive play is still better on fibre. 5G via hotspot can deliver 25–40ms, which is playable but not ideal for ranked.
Carrier Recommendations for Malaysian Gamers
| Scenario | Recommended Carrier | |---|---| | KL/PJ gaming on mobile | Maxis or CelcomDigi | | Budget mobile gaming | U Mobile 5G | | Gaming in Penang | CelcomDigi | | JB and Johor | CelcomDigi (widest coverage there) | | Home gaming backup | Yes 5G or U Mobile FWA |
Final Verdict
5G does reduce ping compared to 4G LTE in Malaysia — typically by 15–25ms in good coverage areas. That's meaningful for mobile gaming and makes 5G a genuinely better option for serious mobile gamers.
But 5G hasn't replaced fibre for home gaming, and coverage gaps mean you can't always rely on 5G connectivity. For now, think of 5G as a significant upgrade to mobile gaming, not a replacement for your home internet.
The carriers are getting better every year. By 2027, 5G coverage in Malaysia should be broad enough to make this a much simpler recommendation.