User profile for user: cara333
cara333 Author
User level: Level 1
13 points

Apple devices slow with TP-Link 4G router

I cannot get my ipad imac or iphone to work well with to-link router for mobile SIM card.


tp-link 4g MR600 ac12000 router with sim card from smarty.


I have an iPhone SE 18.6.2

imac m1. 10.13.6

ipad ipadpro 16.7.12


All will connect but not at same time internet is slow streaming is very poor picture quality very bad. My talk talk internet is broken and not working for 6 weeks trying for temporary internet with 4g router. I have tried to set up the tp link tether app on all devices and set the smarty info but I am wondering if there is something in Apple settings I need to change. My router is new and should be very good. It’s 4g+ ac1200 dualband gigabit router lte cat 6 300mbps.

I have not tried plugging in any device directly as it’s an Ethernet cable and wrong size I have to buy an adaptor.


The tether app says it’s working well but it is not all internet v slow iPlayer very bad picture and glitches.


Are there any specific things I should be doing in my Apple settings to improve performance. Thank you



iPad Pro, iPadOS 16

Posted on Jan 11, 2026 2:21 AM

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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
158,190 points

Posted on Jan 11, 2026 5:16 PM

From what you’ve described, the most likely reason for the poor performance is the limitation of 4G mobile data itself rather than a fault with your Apple devices. Even though your TP-Link router is rated for high speeds, real-world 4G performance depends heavily on signal strength, network congestion, and how many devices are sharing the connection at the same time. When several Apple devices stream at once, especially video, it can quickly overwhelm the available bandwidth and cause buffering, low picture quality, and drop-outs.


There are a few settings and checks that may help improve things.

  • First, try placing the router near a window or higher up in the room to get the best possible mobile signal.
  • If the router allows it, force it to use the 4G/4G+ band rather than auto-selecting.
  • On your Apple devices, make sure “Low Data Mode” is turned off for the Wi-Fi network, and temporarily disable iCloud syncing or large app updates while streaming.
  • If possible, testing one device at a time will help confirm whether the issue is bandwidth sharing rather than a configuration problem.


As a next step, I strongly recommend testing at least one device with a direct Ethernet connection once you have the correct adapter. This will rule out Wi-Fi interference as a factor. If performance is still slow when wired, that confirms the mobile connection itself is the bottleneck. In that case, you may want to check with Smarty about coverage quality in your area or consider an external 4G antenna for the router, which can make a big difference to stability and speed.

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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
158,190 points

Jan 11, 2026 5:16 PM in response to cara333

From what you’ve described, the most likely reason for the poor performance is the limitation of 4G mobile data itself rather than a fault with your Apple devices. Even though your TP-Link router is rated for high speeds, real-world 4G performance depends heavily on signal strength, network congestion, and how many devices are sharing the connection at the same time. When several Apple devices stream at once, especially video, it can quickly overwhelm the available bandwidth and cause buffering, low picture quality, and drop-outs.


There are a few settings and checks that may help improve things.

  • First, try placing the router near a window or higher up in the room to get the best possible mobile signal.
  • If the router allows it, force it to use the 4G/4G+ band rather than auto-selecting.
  • On your Apple devices, make sure “Low Data Mode” is turned off for the Wi-Fi network, and temporarily disable iCloud syncing or large app updates while streaming.
  • If possible, testing one device at a time will help confirm whether the issue is bandwidth sharing rather than a configuration problem.


As a next step, I strongly recommend testing at least one device with a direct Ethernet connection once you have the correct adapter. This will rule out Wi-Fi interference as a factor. If performance is still slow when wired, that confirms the mobile connection itself is the bottleneck. In that case, you may want to check with Smarty about coverage quality in your area or consider an external 4G antenna for the router, which can make a big difference to stability and speed.

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Apple devices slow with TP-Link 4G router

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