Embodiments of user equipment (UE) and method for handover enhancement using reference signal received quality (RSRQ) in a wireless network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a UE adaptively selects handover initiation parameters based, at least in part, on a velocity of the UE. The UE may determine an RSRQ of a serving cell and an RSRQ of a target cell and may transmit a measurement report to a serving eNB for handover from the serving cell to the target cell when the target cell RSRQ exceeds the serving cell RSRQ in accordance with the selected handover initiation parameters. In some of these embodiments, the handover initiation parameters may include an offset value, such as an A3offset value, and a time-to-trigger (TTT) that comprise an A3offset-TTT pair.