The Real Reason Your Smart Devices Keep Lagging

If you’ve ever found yourself yelling at your smart TV, asking your Alexa to repeat herself three times, or waiting too long for your security camera to load — you’re not alone. Smart home technology is designed to make life more convenient, but when your devices lag, it’s anything but.

Many people assume the issue is a poor internet plan, but that’s not always the case. Even with seemingly good speeds, your network might be struggling behind the scenes. It’s worth asking: is 200 mbps fast, or is there more to smooth smart device performance than speed alone?

The answer? It’s a bit more complicated than you might think.

It’s Not Just About Speed — It’s About Load

Your internet plan might boast 200 Mbps download speeds, which should be more than enough for streaming, browsing, and running smart gadgets. But if you’ve got a home full of connected devices, those speeds are shared — and things can slow down fast.

Think of it like a busy café with one barista. It doesn’t matter how fast they are if too many orders come in at once. Similarly, your modem and router can get overwhelmed by the sheer number of devices requesting data.

Smart lights, doorbells, security cameras, TVs, vacuums, and more — each one may only need a trickle of data, but together, they add up.

Your Router Could Be the Weak Link

Even with a fast connection coming into your home, an outdated or poorly placed router can cause delays across your entire network.

Common router-related issues include:

• Old tech: Older routers may not support the speeds or bandwidth required for modern devices. 
• Placement: Routers placed in cupboards, behind TVs, or near metal surfaces can suffer signal loss. 
• Single-band limitations: If you’re still using a single-band router, devices may clash while fighting for bandwidth. 

A dual-band (or tri-band) router with strong Wi-Fi coverage is essential, especially if you’ve got smart devices scattered throughout a large home.

Your Devices Could Be Fighting Each Other

Smart devices don’t always play nice. In fact, they can interfere with each other depending on how they’re connected and the frequency they’re using (2.4GHz vs. 5GHz).

For example:

• Devices on the 2.4GHz band can travel further but get crowded easily. 
• Devices on 5GHz have less congestion but shorter range. 

If everything’s connected to one band — or if devices are too close to each other — signal clashes can occur, causing that annoying lag or dropped commands.

To fix this, consider separating your devices by frequency, or using a mesh network to spread out the demand.

Background Activity Adds Up

Smart devices often run updates, collect data, or upload footage without you realising. This constant background activity can chew through bandwidth — especially when multiple devices do it at the same time.

You might notice:

• Cameras lagging when uploading clips to the cloud 
• Smart speakers delaying responses 
• Doorbell footage taking ages to load 

Some fixes to try:

• Set smart devices to update during off-peak times (like overnight) 
• Reduce motion detection sensitivity on cameras 
• Disable unnecessary features that constantly use the internet 

Too Many Apps = Too Many Problems

Many smart devices rely on third-party apps to run — and these apps can cause additional lag if they’re outdated, buggy, or trying to sync data in the background.

If you notice issues with specific devices:

• Check for app updates 
• Reinstall or clear the app cache 
• Connect the device to your router again from scratch (this resets many minor issues) 

Is It Time to Upgrade Your Setup?

If your smart home is growing faster than your network can keep up with, it might be time to make a few key upgrades.

Here’s what to prioritise:

• A modern router with support for multiple devices and Wi-Fi 6 
• Mesh Wi-Fi systems for homes with dead zones or long distances between devices 
• Separate guest networks for smart devices — so your main network isn’t overloaded 

And if your current internet speed doesn’t support your household’s needs anymore, consider upgrading your plan to ensure smooth performance across all your devices.

The Smart Way Forward

Smart homes are only as smart as the networks that power them. Lagging devices aren’t just annoying — they’re a sign that something in your setup isn’t quite right.

The good news? Most fixes are easier than you’d think, and often don’t require major spending — just better organisation, a few updates, or moving a router out of a cupboard.

With a little troubleshooting, you’ll have your smart home running like clockwork — no yelling at Alexa required.