@Carl 

Thanks. I'll see if streaming 4K HDR content on my TV forces it to move to the 5ghz band as you mentioned. If so, then I'm ok with how the function works but it would be dissapointing if it continued to stay on the 2.4ghz band since I get about 4x the speed/throughput on the 5ghz band so that means less buffering, etc.

Regarding Alexa yes I saw that but the AX50 isn't on the list of devices that support Alexa so it doesn't seem relevant at this time. Not that it's an important feature but I guess you're saying Alexa will be enabled by a future firmware update?

@Carl 

Thanks, yes it seems Alexa is enabled thanks for confirming that.

I ended up turning smart connect off and manually connecting each device to a specific band. I was using AirPlay from my Mac to my TV and the Mac was on 5ghz and TV on 2.4ghz and video wasn't very smooth. I was hoping Smart Connect would then force the TV to the 5ghz band but it didn't. Manually changed to the 5ghz band after that. 

@Carl 

Thanks, I keptSmart Connect on to see how it would do and it still consistently prefers to move devices to 2.4ghz (on which I get 4x slower speeds than on the 5ghz network) even though both bands show full bars and connection (which makes sense given they are in the same room or only in the adjacent room at worst). Looks like a similar thread here: https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/176486

I think the algorithms need to be updated to bias 5ghz a lot more than it is currently doing given there is such a speed inprovement in doing so. Would recommend you bring that up the chain as an enhancement. 

@Carl 

Thanks and for the record I do think it generally works quite well. Yesterday my Smart TV was on 2.4ghz and I streamed a bunch of content in 4K HDR and today I noticed it had moved it back to the 5ghz channel. My wifes work laptop is still on 2.4ghz when it should choose 5ghz but all the other devices that are capable of 5ghz are now on the 5ghz network. So it is doing the right thing most of the time. In my case since the apartment is a small (big for NYC!) 1-bedroom with strong coverage on the 5ghz band corner to corner there is just no need to be on the 2.4ghz band on a 5ghz capable device. Maybe the algorithm should be updated so that it is capable of moving more frequently than just once every 24 hours, especially if it is checking the connection every 2 mins.

Either way, appreciate the responses and you taking it up the chain to improve the performance further.

@Carl Hi Carl,

I'm facing the same issue with an AX 6000.

It keeps all my wifi 6 devices on 2.4 ghz even when in the same room as the router. 24 hours went buy and nothing has changed.

What the point of having wifi 6 and an expensive router if it will keep you on the slow band? I have gigabit internet and only get around 80 mbps because smart connect keeps me on the slow crowded band.

When is TP-Link issuing an update on this matter?