Proxima Studio/Shutterstock

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

4K streaming has a reputation as one of the most demanding processes you can dedicate your Wi-Fi router to handling. But how much bandwidth do you actually need when ISPs offer gigabit packages that pass 1,000 Mbps and modern routers like the TP-Link Tri-Band BE15000 boast speeds of 15,000 Mbps or even higher? For a household of just one person watching a 4K movie, who will also have a phone and a few smart devices connected to the Wi-Fi at the same time, 50 Mbps download speed is about all you need.

That accounts for both the stream itself, which never requires more than 25 Mbps, and for the overhead of a smartphone and a few other wireless devices like smart plugs and laptops constantly communicating over the internet. Competing devices peeling away bandwidth is how you get stuttering and stream interruptions.…