Methods and apparatuses for data aided channel quality estimation using both pilot and data information are disclosed herein. In one exemplary aspect, a method for estimating channel quality in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises estimating a pilot noise variance based on a pilot signal received from a base station on a downlink and estimating a data noise variance based on a data signal received from the base station on the downlink. The method also comprises combining the pilot noise variance and the data noise variance to obtain a combined noise variance, and estimating the channel quality based on the combined noise variance.