Please note this post is about the “5GHz” radio frequency and not the same as the latest telecom advancements known as “5G” or “5th generation“

Transmission Speed

2.4G and 5G refer to two different radio wave “bands” that Wi-Fi can use for its signal. The biggest difference between the two is speed. Under ideal conditions, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi will support up to 450 Mbps or 600 Mbps, depending on the model of router. The latest 5 GHz Wi-Fi will support up to 1300 Mbps in optimal conditions. Of course, the speed is all determined by many factors such as type of router and cabling you are using as well as the implemented standard that you are using on your end device such as 802.11g or 11n.

2.4 GHz

The 2.4 GHz band is a crowded place because it’s used by more than just Wi-Fi. Old cordless phones, garage door openers, baby monitors, walkie-talkies and other devices all use the 2.4 GHz band. The longer waves used by the 2.4 GHz band are better suited to longer ranges and transmission through walls and solid objects. So it’s arguably better if you need better range on your devices or you have a lot of walls or other objects in the areas where you need coverage. However, because so many devices use the 2.4 GHz band, the resulting congestion can cause dropped connections and slower-than-expected speeds.

5 GHz

The 5 GHz band overall sees much less use so in turn it is much less congested. You will likely get a more stable connection due to less traffic in this radio spectrum. You’ll also benefit from higher speeds as higher data transmissions are supported..On the other hand, the shorter waves used by the 5 GHz band makes it less able to penetrate walls and solid objects. It also has a shorter transmission range which is one of the reasons the spectrum sees less traffic. The downside is some manufactures have been slow at implementing 5G standards into their new hardware. Also, lower end home routers are not implementing or have it turned off by default out of the box.