WiFi 6 is the next generation of Wi-Fi and brings tech changes designed to improve the way people connect to the internet. While some of the changes are likely to be less obvious to end users, collectively all of the changes will have a profound impact on the computing industry. Here, we will explain what WiFi 6 is and how it is different from the previous version, WiFi 5.
WiFi 6 was officially introduced in October 2018 and it is now starting to show up in more devices. The next generation Wi-Fi not only brings its own personal changes, but also brings changes to the naming scheme adopted by the Wi-Fi Alliance. When the WiFi Alliance introduced WiFi 6 it also announced the 802.11ac and 802.11n standards that would be commonly referred to as WiFi 5 and WiFi 4, respectively. The name-changes were brought in to make it easier for consumers to identify the level of Wi-Fi support provided by new and existing products. For reference, WiFi 6 is built on the 802.11ax technology.
Since the introduction of WiFi 5 in 2014, the number of devices that connect to the internet in the average home has risen dramatically. WiFi 6 has been designed with that use case in mind and to ensure all devices connecting to the same network can each get the higher data rates they need. This equally applies to networks outside the home where a substantial number of users might all be trying to connect to the same network at the same time. With WiFi 6, public places like stadiums and airports will be better able to handle the demand placed on them.
WiFi 6 vs WiFi 5
WiFi 6 comes with a number of improvements over WiFi 5 such as higher data rates. In comparison to WiFi 5’s maximum data rate of 3.5 GBps, WiFi 6 maxes out at 9.6 Gbps. It is not just faster either with the increased capacity resulting in an ability to deliver more data at the same time. This is as important as the speed with video streaming, gaming and virtual reality all expected to demand greater amounts of immediate data.
Besides higher data rates and increased capacity, WiFi 6 also boasts better 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz spectrum support, as well as an increase in multi-user, multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO) from 4 x 4 to 8 x 8. Essentially, WiFi 6 means new wireless routers will be able to handle more antennas than before while also being able to connect to even more devices at the same time. The even bigger picture is WiFi 6’s improvements scale with the size of the network. In this sense, it is similar to the advances and improvements 5G is set to bring.
Now that WiFi 6 has launched, consumers can expect to see more products hitting store shelves advertised as “Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6.” This branding guarantees consumers that a product is equipped with the latest generational Wi-Fi support and features. However, and again similar to 5G, a WiFi 6-ready connection requires both sides to be WiFi 6-certified. That is, a WiFi 6 router is only useful if the laptop, smartphone or other product connecting to the network is also WiFi 6-ready. Although, with each Wi-Fi generation taking roughly five years to launch, there’s no need to rush out and upgrade all of your tech today.
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