Streaming Vs. Downloading: Which Uses More Battery And Data?

Video and sound quality have an impact on battery and data usage.

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Although some people are pushing back, a lot of us are dependent on streaming services for our movies and music. There's an obvious incentive — you get a massive library for a (relatively) cheap monthly fee and the ability to access that media from virtually any device with an internet connection. Conversely, owned downloads and physical media can be pricey and not terribly portable.

Many streaming services do offer a middle ground of sorts, letting you cache songs, videos or podcasts so you can play them with or without an internet connection. But let's say you're most concerned with efficiency and not the soundtrack to a remote camping expedition. Does it still make more sense to download in advance, or should you stream whenever possible?

The quick answer is that downloads (of all stripes) are usually...

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