Dual-Band vs. Tri-Band Routers: What's the Difference?

Dual-band routers broadcast on two bands, 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Tri-band routers typically add a second 5GHz band, but newer Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 tri-band models instead include a 6GHz band, making the configuration 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz. Engadget explains that the extra band in a tri-band router provides more bandwidth, but it is not automatically worth the upgrade for everyone.

The three bands each have different strengths. The 2.4GHz band reaches farthest and passes through walls well, but it is slower and more likely to suffer interference from Bluetooth devices, microwaves and neighboring routers. The 5GHz band is faster and less crowded, though its range is shorter. The 6GHz band is the fastest and least congested, but it has the shortest range and limited device support.

Engadget also notes that a faster band does not guarantee faster internet speeds. The router distributes the ISP connection across devices, while the internet plan determines the maximum speed.

For most homes, a dual-band router remains sufficient, Engadget says. A house with many smart bulbs but only one online gamer is not necessarily network-busy; a household with five or more people frequently streaming in 4K, gaming and joining video calls is. Even then, a strong dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router paired with a sufficiently fast plan may handle the load if devices are spread across both bands.

Tri-band routers become particularly valuable in mesh networks, according to Engadget. The third band can be dedicated to backhaul—the traffic between mesh nodes that passes data from the internet—while the remaining bands stay free for other devices. In a dual-band mesh setup, backhaul traffic shares the same band as phones, laptops and other devices, which can cause congestion.