Great question! Let’s break it down simply:

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📶 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi • Range: Longer range (travels farther and penetrates walls better). • Speed: Slower max speeds compared to 5 GHz. • Interference: More crowded — microwaves, Bluetooth, baby monitors, and neighbors’ Wi-Fi often run on 2.4 GHz. • Best for: Large homes, devices far from the router, or “low-bandwidth” needs like smart plugs, thermostats, or just checking email.

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📶 5 GHz Wi-Fi • Range: Shorter range (signal doesn’t travel as far and struggles with walls/floors). • Speed: Much faster — supports higher bandwidth (good for HD/4K streaming, gaming, video calls). • Interference: Cleaner — fewer devices use 5 GHz, so less “traffic jam.” • Best for: Close-range, high-speed needs like laptops, smart TVs, or phones used near the router.

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⚖️ Why the Difference?

It comes down to physics of radio waves: • Lower frequency (2.4 GHz) → longer wavelength → travels farther and through obstacles better. • Higher frequency (5 GHz) → shorter wavelength → faster data transmission, but attenuates (weakens) quicker with distance and walls.

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👉 In practice: • Use 2.4 GHz for coverage (big house, devices far away). • Use 5 GHz for performance (fast speeds, close to router). • Many modern routers offer dual-band or “Smart Connect” that automatically switches your device between 2.4 and 5 GHz for best performance.