If you have set up smart plugs, cameras, or other small gadgets at home, you may have noticed that many of them only connect to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, not 5 GHz. But 5 GHz is newer and faster, so why would companies stick with the older option?
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The cost of using 2.4 GHz parts
The main reason is price. Chips that run on 2.4 GHz have been around for more than 20 years, so they are cheap and easy to use. A company making low-cost smart bulbs or plugs may save money by using these parts instead of adding support for 5 GHz, which usually needs extra hardware.
Signal range and passing through walls
Another reason is coverage. 2.4 GHz signals can travel farther and may pass through walls better than 5 GHz signals. So if you put a smart sensor in the garage or a corner of your house, it will probably stay connected on 2.4 GHz but may drop out on 5 GHz.
This is useful for small devices that only need a stable connection, not high speed.
Speed is not important for simple gadgets
5 GHz Wi-Fi can move data much faster, but many smart devices only send tiny bits of information like on or off signals, or a small status update. They do not need video streaming speeds, so 2.4 GHz is usually enough.
Power and hardware space
Adding 5 GHz support can also mean more antennas and bigger radio parts inside the device. That takes more space and may use more power.
For small IoT (Internet of Things) devices like plugs, bulbs, or sensors that run all the time, makers usually want to keep the design simple and the energy use low.
What about new Wi-Fi standards
Things may change slowly. Newer Wi-Fi standards like Wi-Fi 7 can let devices use multiple bands at the same time, so in the future we may see more gadgets that do not care if your router is on 2.4 or 5 GHz.
There is also Wi-Fi HaLow, a version made for IoT that works on even lower frequencies for very long range. But these are still not common in most homes today.
If you buy smart devices, do not be surprised if they only ask for 2.4 GHz. It is cheaper for the makers and more reliable for long range use. If your router is set to only use 5 GHz, you may need to turn on the 2.4 GHz band as well so those devices can connect.