4K Needs the 5 GHz Channel
WiFi travels on frequencies called radio bands, but old school routers typically only offer one band for data to travel on. Nowadays, dual-band routers pack—you guessed it—two bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies), while tri-band routers add a third band to the mix (another 5 GHz frequency).
On the 2.4 GHz frequency band, every device in the area competes for bandwidth—nearby routers, Bluetooth gadgets, kitchen appliances, and even baby monitors. It's a data traffic jam. Now imagine adding new, totally open roads for data to travel down. 5 GHz frequencies offer much faster data transmission than their 2.4 GHz counterparts—each 5 GHz frequency features twenty-three non-overlapping channels, compared to just three non-overlapping 2.4 GHz channels. They also support more modern tech, such as fast-transmitting data standards (like Next-Gen AC, a.k.a. MU-MIMO) and the signal-boosting technique known as beamforming. As you can guess, this all makes for dramatically faster real-world performance.
Moderate WiFi users will find that dual-band routers offer smooth sailing, even for 4K streaming. But if you've got multiple roomies or a big family—especially teens who live on their smartphones—tri-band devices help ensure that no one's WiFi experience suffers when others connect to the network.
