The Tradeoff: Speed vs Distance
Wireless networks are bound by the laws of physics: the higher the frequency, the more data it can carry (faster speed), but the worse it is at penetrating physical objects like walls.
2.4 GHz: The Old Reliable (Max real speed: ~100-150 Mbps)
Pros: Passes easily through walls, floors, and solid objects. Longest range.
Cons: Extremely slow. Highly congested — shares frequency with microwaves, Bluetooth, neighbor's WiFi, and baby monitors.
What belongs here: Smart home devices (bulbs, vacuums, thermostats), older printers, devices located outside the house (Ring cameras), and anything where the 5GHz signal drops entirely.
5 GHz: The Workhorse (Max real speed: ~800-1200 Mbps)
Pros: Vastly faster than 2.4GHz. Less interference from non-WiFi devices.
Cons: Shorter range. Struggles to pass through more than two walls or heavy tiled floors.
What belongs here: Laptops, modern cell phones, smart TVs, Apple TVs/Rokus. Basically, any device you use to actively browse or stream video that isn't directly next to the router.
6 GHz (WiFi 6E & WiFi 7): The Autobahn (Max real speed: 1.5 Gbps - 4 Gbps+)
Pros: Massive channel width (160MHz or 320MHz). Virtually zero interference because legacy devices can't even see this frequency. Lowest latency.
Cons: Very poor range. A single thick wall can halve the speed.
What belongs here: Your main work PC, VR headsets (Meta Quest 3), next-gen gaming consoles (PS5 Pro/PC), and flagship phones when in the same room as the router.
The "Smart Connect" Trap
Modern routers come with "Smart Connect" enabled, which broadcasts one network name and decides which band your device gets. Turn this off. Routers are notoriously bad at this and frequently push 5GHz-capable TVs onto the crowded 2.4GHz band just because the signal is slightly stronger, resulting in 4K buffering. Take manual control by splitting your bands.