Everything You Need to Know About WiFi 6

When WiFi was first released in 1999, the designations were more complex — the first being “802.11b.” Today, each successive update in technology is referred to as a numbered generation, with WiFi 1 in 1999 and our current standard, WiFi 6, released in 2019.

We’ll explain what that means, what each new generation offers, and when to expect WiFi 7.

What is WiFi 6?

WiFi 6, also known as 802.11ax, is the latest wireless communication protocol that uses new technology to give you a stronger, faster, more reliable Internet connection.

Among those new technologies is Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), which provides increased capacity, lower latency, and better overall efficiency.

If you’re using a modern WiFi router at home, you may already be running WiFi 6 on your smartphones, laptops, and other connected devices.

In its most basic form, WiFi 6 will do what WiFi has always done: connect you to the Internet. But with the improved technology, that connection is now faster, more secure, and can support more devices.

WiFi 6 vs. WiFi 6E

WiFi 6 arrived alongside another, slightly improved version of the technology known as WiFi 6E. This improved version may not be available for every device, but it broadly increases the bandwidth available to users.

Previous versions of WiFi were limited by either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequency bands, but WiFi 6E is able to use the 6GHz bands for the first time, meaning 1,200 MHz of bandwidth, allowing devices to deliver high amounts of data over short distances. The service provides all the advantages of WiFi 6, with additional capabilities for high data-volume devices.

Not every device that supports WiFi 6 will support WiFi 6E, so be sure to check your hardware's compatibility before upgrading.

WiFi 5 vs. WiFi 6 vs. WiFi 6E vs. WiFi 7: How They Compare

Each generation of WiFi builds onto the last one, but the differences aren't always obvious from the names alone. Here's how they stack up across the specs that matter most:

A few things worth noting:

• WiFi 5 still works well for households with fewer connected devices and basic Internet needs. If you're not experiencing slowdowns, there's no urgent reason to upgrade.
• WiFi 6 is the current sweet spot for most homes. It handles multiple simultaneous users better than WiFi 5 and is supported by nearly all devices made since 2019.
• WiFi 6E's 6 GHz frequency band delivers blazing speeds over short distances, but walls and floors significantly reduce its range. It's best for devices in the same room as your router.
• WiFi 7 is the newest standard, designed for the most demanding use cases: 8K streaming, low-latency gaming, and homes with dozens of simultaneous high-bandwidth devices. Most people won't need it yet, but it's worth considering if you're buying a new router.

WiFi Terms Explained

A lot of WiFi marketing uses technical terms without explaining them. Here's what actually matters:

• Bandwidth: The maximum capacity of your network connection, measured in Mbps or Gbps. More bandwidth means more data can move at once, which matters when multiple devices are active.
• Latency: The time it takes for a signal to travel from your device to a server and back, measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower latency means faster response times. Latency matters more than raw speed for gaming and video calls.
• OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access): A technology introduced with WiFi 6 that allows a router to serve multiple devices in a single transmission, rather than communicating with each device one at a time. Think of it as adding lanes to a highway instead of making each car go faster.
• MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multiple Input, Multiple Output): Allows a router to communicate with several devices simultaneously rather than one at a time. WiFi 5 supports 4 simultaneous streams; WiFi 6 supports up to 8.
• Dual-band: A router that broadcasts on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. The 2.4 GHz band covers a wider range; the 5 GHz band offers faster speeds at shorter distances. Most modern routers are dual-band.
• Tri-band: A router with three bands: one 2.4 GHz and two 5 GHz (or, with WiFi 6E, one of each plus a 6 GHz band). Tri-band routers reduce congestion in larger households by spreading devices across more channels.
• Mesh WiFi network: A system of multiple router nodes placed throughout a home that work together as a single network. Instead of a central router with a limited range, each node extends coverage to eliminate dead spots. Mesh systems are especially useful in larger homes or homes with thick walls.

Benefits of WiFi 6: How is it Different?

The differences between WiFi 6 and its previous generations may not be immediately apparent to the average user. How and why is the new service different from WiFi 4 and 5, and what advantages does it provide?

Faster Speeds

You may be curious to know: how fast is WiFi 6? The short answer is 9.6 Gbps, up from 3.5 Gbps on WiFi 5.

This high speed, however, is only part of the answer to the question. The real advantages of the next generation may be found in applying that speed to multiple devices at once, allowing for faster simultaneous usage than previously possible with WiFi 5 and its predecessors.

Network Connectivity

As described above, the most advantageous part of WiFi 6 is not the speed boost it provides to individual devices, but rather the larger improvement it brings to an entire network of devices.

According to a 2022 Deloitte survey, the average U.S. household has 22 connected devices — that’s far more than when WiFi 5 was released in 2014. However, despite all that growth, network speeds have not always kept up. Using many devices simultaneously with an older router may strain network speeds and lead to slower Internet access overall.

WiFi 6 introduced the ability for routers to communicate with and send data to more devices at one time. With WiFi 6, more devices will be easily accommodated, matching our growing technological habits.

Higher Security Standards

WiFi 6 also improves security standards as well as increasing speed for devices and networks. These security improvements are made possible by WPA3, the newest generation of WiFi Protected Access, a common security protocol for WiFi networks, which requires passwords for encryption.

The previous standard for WiFi Protected Access was WPA2, but a new generation has been developed alongside WiFi 6. WPA3 will make passwords even more secure than ever via a system known as the Dragonfly Key Exchange, or as the Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE). SAE implements stronger passwords and develops a sophisticated new method of establishing a connection with the WiFi network.

These security improvements are available with every WiFi 6-supported device and make it harder for hackers and other cybersecurity threats to access your data.

Increased Battery Life

Another of the significant benefits offered by WiFi 6 is the addition of a new system known as Target Wake Time, or TWT, which actually increases battery life on some devices.

The technology eases communications between devices and routers, allowing devices to know when to “sleep” or “wake” according to whether or not they need to search for a wireless network. This may increase battery life for some devices, especially those not in constant use, such as smart home devices, which are only used a few times per day, as opposed to laptops or phones, which require continuous connectivity.

WiFi 6 For Gaming And Streaming

If you game online, stream 4K content, or do both at the same time as others in your household, WiFi 6 makes a noticeable difference.

Here's why:

• Lower latency. WiFi 6 reduces the time it takes for data to travel between your device and the network. For gaming, this means fewer moments where your actions lag behind what's happening on screen. WiFi 5 averages around 10ms of latency; WiFi 6 can get that down to under 4ms under ideal conditions.
• Less congestion on crowded networks. OFDMA allows your router to serve multiple devices in a single transmission rather than taking turns. During peak hours in a busy household, WiFi 6 maintains more consistent speeds for everyone.
• Better buffering performance for streaming. 4K HDR content from services like Netflix or Disney+ requires sustained speeds of 25 Mbps or more. WiFi 6 handles this more reliably when other devices are also active on the network.
• MU-MIMO improvements. WiFi 6 doubles the number of simultaneous device streams MU-MIMO can handle, from 4 (WiFi 5) to 8. For a home where multiple people are gaming or streaming at once, this matters.

Do You Need a New Router for WiFi 6?

Yes, you need a WiFi 6-compatible router to use WiFi 6. Your current router determines what WiFi generation your home runs on, regardless of what your devices support.

What to check before buying:

• Look up your current router model. Most routers display the model number on the bottom label. A quick search will tell you which WiFi generation it supports.
• Check your Internet plan. If your plan tops out at 100 Mbps, you may not see a dramatic real-world difference with a WiFi 6 router unless your household runs many devices simultaneously.
• Consider your device lineup. If most of your devices are older than 2019, they likely support WiFi 5 at most. A new router won't unlock WiFi 6 on those devices, though it will still improve network management.

Router upgrade cost is the main barrier. A solid WiFi 6 router typically runs between $100 and $300. If your current setup works reliably, upgrading is optional rather than urgent.

Will WiFi 6 Work With Older Devices?

Yes. WiFi 6 is backward compatible, meaning a WiFi 6 router will work with devices that only support WiFi 5, WiFi 4, or earlier standards.

What backward compatibility means in practice:

• Older devices will connect to your WiFi 6 router but will operate at the speed their own hardware supports, not at WiFi 6 speeds.
• Newer devices on the same network will still benefit from WiFi 6's improved network efficiency, even when sharing bandwidth with older devices.
• You don't need to replace every device at once. As you upgrade individual devices over time, each new addition will automatically use WiFi 6.

The one exception is WiFi 6E. Devices that only support WiFi 6 or earlier cannot access the 6 GHz band. To use WiFi 6E's full capabilities, both your router and your device need to support it.

Should You Upgrade? A WiFi 6 Checklist

Not everyone needs to upgrade right now. Run through these questions to figure out where you stand:

Upgrade to WiFi 6 if:

• Your current router is more than 4–5 years old
• Your household has 10 or more connected devices (phones, laptops, smart TVs, smart home devices, tablets)
• You regularly experience slow speeds during peak hours when multiple people are online
• You work from home and rely on video calls daily
• You game online or stream 4K content regularly
• You've recently upgraded your Internet plan to 500 Mbps or higher

You can probably wait if:

• Your current setup is running reliably with no slowdowns
• Your household has fewer than 5 devices
• Most of your devices are older and don't support WiFi 6 anyway
• You're on a slower Internet plan (under 200 Mbps) and have a few simultaneous users

Consider switching providers instead if:

• Your connection speed is consistently slower than what your plan promises
• Outages and reliability issues are frequent
• Your plan no longer matches your household's usage

FAQs

You may be left with further questions about the new technology. How does it affect you specifically? Do you need it for your home? Here are some FAQs about the latest generation of WiFi.

What are Some Pros and Cons of WiFi 6?

When compared to its predecessor, WiFi 5, this current generation offers the following benefits and potential disadvantages:

Pros:

• Faster speeds
• Higher network connectivity
• Higher security standards

Cons:

• If you have older devices or an older router, they may not support WiFi 6. That means you would have to purchase new devices and/or a new router in order to get the most out of your Internet connection.

Which Devices Support WiFi 6?

The most important piece of technology required to make the full switch to WiFi 6 is a compatible router. Since WiFi 6 has been available since 2019, most, if not all, manufacturers already offer devices with WiFi 6 capabilities.

WiFi 6 is backwards compatible with WiFi 5, but in order to access its full benefits, you will likely need a WiFi 6-compatible device. Most modern devices already support it, but if you are using an older generation of smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device, you may need to upgrade to access those benefits.

Do I Need WiFi 6?

WiFi 6 is a significant step forward for wireless technology when compared to previous generations. You may already be running WiFi 6 in your home. But if not, upgrading will give your household multi-user access to top speeds. The more WiFi-enabled devices your household uses, the more this technology will help you.

Will There Be WiFi 7?

Yes. WiFi 7 (802.11be) launched in 2024, with routers from major manufacturers like ASUS, TP-Link, and Netgear already on the market. It delivers theoretical speeds up to 46 Gbps, significantly lower latency than WiFi 6, and stronger performance in environments with heavy network traffic.

Device support is still growing, so most households will find that WiFi 6 still meets their needs today. That said, if you're in the market for a new router, you may want to consider WiFi 7 to future-proof your home.

Find the Best Internet Providers in Your Area

Wondering how to find the best WiFi providers? Don’t worry, SmartMove is here to get you connected. We can pair you up with the right Internet provider based on your address.