Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) supports a theoretical maximum speed of 1.3 Gbps on the 5 GHz band using a 3x3 MIMO configuration with 80 MHz channels. In real-world usage, typical throughput is significantly lower, usually ranging from 200 to 500 Mbps depending on signal strength and interference.

Strictly speaking, the 802.11ac standard operates only on the 5 GHz band, but virtually all consumer Wi-Fi 5 routers are dual-band and simultaneously broadcast on 2.4 GHz using 802.11n for backward compatibility. So devices that only support 2.4 GHz will still connect, just at 802.11n speeds.

If you have many smart home devices or multiple people streaming simultaneously, Wi-Fi 6 offers significant improvements in network efficiency through OFDMA and BSS coloring. However, if you live alone or have a simple network with a few devices, the upgrade from Wi-Fi 5 is less noticeable for everyday browsing.

Yes, most Wi-Fi 5 dual-band routers broadcast a 2.4 GHz network that works with virtually all smart home devices like Ring doorbells, Philips Hue bridges, and smart plugs. Many budget smart home devices only support 2.4 GHz, so the router's backward compatibility via 802.11n on 2.4 GHz is essential.