## The Simple Version
- 5 GHz: Faster, but shorter range and worse wall penetration.
- 2.4 GHz: Slower, but travels further and works better through obstacles.
## What I Connect to Each Band
Always on 5 GHz:
- Gaming consoles (PS5, Xbox Series X)
- Streaming sticks (Roku, Fire TV)
- Laptops (if within 30 feet of the router)
Always on 2.4 GHz:
- Smart plugs, light bulbs, thermostats
- Security cameras (they don't need speed, just reliability)
- Older phones and tablets
## The Tennessee Apartment Problem
In dense apartment buildings, 2.4 GHz becomes unusable because every unit's router is competing on the same 3 non-overlapping channels (1, 6, 11). If your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi is crawling, this is why. Use 5 GHz exclusively in apartments.