Wi-Fi what…? The distinction between Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and seven

Whereas Wi-Fi networking has simplified a bit prior to now decade, I can not blame anybody that is confused, particularly in the event that they’re new to desktop and laptop PCs. There are a number of main Wi-Fi requirements current on routers, all of which have various efficiency tiers inside them. On prime of that, it’s good to resolve whether or not a mesh router or a standalone unit works finest for you.

Let’s begin with the fundamentals, although. There are three main Wi-Fi requirements in use in the present day: Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7. You will nonetheless discover Wi-Fi 5 routers on the market — beforehand labeled 802.11ac — however you must actively keep away from them because you may cripple the efficiency of the newest tech devices.

What’s Wi-Fi 6?

The brand new baseline for Wi-Fi

Going into 2025, that is the most typical Wi-Fi customary you will see. Most up-to-date client gadgets help it, and your web service supplier (ISP) doubtless features a appropriate router with its service. Wi-Fi 6 is reasonable sufficient that even price range routers use it.

Wi-Fi 6 operates over the two.4GHz and/or 5GHz frequency bands, relying in your community configuration and what a connecting system helps. Many sensible house equipment solely help 2.4GHz, for instance, since that requires much less energy and features at additional distances. Routers generally supply separate 2.4 and 5GHz community IDs (often known as SSIDs), but it surely’s now more and more frequent for them to make use of a single ID, forwarding gadgets to the suitable band as essential.

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How briskly is Wi-Fi 6?

LG

The utmost potential bandwidth over a Wi-Fi 6 community is 9.6Gbps. That features all wi-fi channels and assumes good situations. Naturally, indicators are by no means good in apply, and that bandwidth is usually shared by dozens of gadgets, from smart bulbs to your 4K TV. Actual-world obtain speeds are unlikely to prime 800Mbps, and uploads could also be far slower.

You will in all probability be restricted by your ISP greater than your router. For those who’re not paying for gigabit web, it should be not possible to attain 1Gbps anyway, excluding purely native connections.

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What’s Wi-Fi 6E?

Possibly the candy spot for price-to-performance

Eero / Pocket-lint

Wi-Fi 6E is a current evolution of Wi-Fi 6, and in most conditions, it isn’t basically sooner. A 6E community nonetheless maxes out at 9.6Gbps, and gadgets sometimes join over the identical 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.

What’s new is the addition of a 6GHz band. That is doubtlessly sooner than 5GHz for particular person connections, with the catch (past compatibility) being a fair shorter vary. 6GHz indicators will not at all times attain throughout your private home, not to mention outside — you would not wish to strive 6GHz for fence cameras or a sensible lawnmower.

The best profit could also be releasing up the two.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Certainly, some mesh routers use 6GHz for a devoted backhaul between nodes, leaving the remainder of a community’s bandwidth untouched. That may be essential in houses with heavy web use — if one particular person is streaming 4K motion pictures in the lounge whereas one other is downloading a sport on Steam, and everybody relies on voice-controlled sensible lighting, you do not wish to create congestion shuttling information from one facet of the home to the opposite.

Wi-Fi 6E routers can generally be costly, notably in mesh type. However costs are coming down, and 6E help is showing on increasingly more telephones, computer systems, and tablets. It is in all probability one of the best ways to go in case you legitimately want efficiency however haven’t got a ton of disposable revenue.

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What’s Wi-Fi 7?

The very best of the perfect

Like 6E, Wi-Fi 7 is a tri-band know-how with 2.4, 5, and 6GHz choices. Its theoretical prime velocity, nevertheless, is 46Gbps, which is nearly tough to understand from a house consumer’s perspective. That is sufficient to comfortably stream dozens of 8K motion pictures.

Wi-Fi 7 helps wider 320Hz channels, providing twice the channel bandwidth of Wi-Fi 6 or 6E. Even with out that, one other function Wi-Fi 7 gives is Multi-Hyperlink Operation (MLO). This permits a tool to function throughout a number of bands concurrently, which is a large deal for functions like video, gaming, and file transfers. PC gaming manufacturers are embracing Wi-Fi 7 with open arms.

There are two massive drawbacks to Wi-Fi 7: worth and compatibility. When you might be able to discover respectable routers below $200, the perfect ones are over $300, and whole-home mesh packages can generally method or prime $1,000. There is not even a lot profit, but — whereas flagship merchandise just like the iPhone 16 Pro help Wi-Fi 7, odds are that lots of the gadgets in your house are restricted to Wi-Fi 6 or 6E. Even Apple’s $3,500 Imaginative and prescient Professional headset is restricted to Wi-Fi 6.

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Which sort of Wi-Fi router must you select?

Take into consideration the longer term, however guard your pockets

Eero

You’ll be able to really feel comfy sticking with Wi-Fi 6 in case your price range is restricted. That is quick sufficient for many functions, and a Wi-Fi 6 router will not grow to be out of date anytime quickly. Your own home will in all probability hold operating high-quality 5 years from now.

It is extra intense duties that demand one thing like Wi-Fi 6E. I purchased a 6E mesh system a number of years in the past as a result of I am a tech journalist with a spouse, little one, and dozens of Wi-Fi-enabled gadgets. It is ok that I hardly ever have points, and I am anticipating to carry out a number of extra years earlier than I improve.

It might be value investing in Wi-Fi 7 for the sake of future proofing, however provided that you’ve got received an ample amount of money. Only a few client merchandise help Wi-Fi 7 for the time being, and in case you wait a number of years, the price of appropriate routers is certain to plummet. It is a good luxurious — however most individuals might put the financial savings to raised use.