In this article, we will discuss Wi-Fi 6E, its benefits and drawbacks, and showcase recent Wi-Fi 6E-supported devices, including smartphones and routers.
By the end of 2022, Wi-Fi 6e is expected to become the industry standard for smartphones, laptops, and all other devices with Wi-Fi capabilities.
What is Wi-Fi 6E?
Wi-Fi 6E represents a significant upgrade over Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5, with the capital “E” signifying “extended” (Wi-Fi 6E). While Wi-Fi 6 operates on the 2.4 to 5GHz spectrum, Wi-Fi 6E extends the bandwidth to 6GHz, ranging from 5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz.
Spectrum Differences in Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, and Wi-Fi 6E
Wi-Fi 6 operates on the 5GHz band with a 685MHz spectrum, whereas Wi-Fi 6E utilizes a 1200MHz spectrum. In contrast, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi offers a 72MHz spectrum.
What Does Wi-Fi 6E Mean for Smartphones & Laptops?
Wi-Fi 6E is commonly known as 802.11ax, the 7th generation of Wi-Fi. It can provide smartphones and laptops with speeds of up to 3.6 Gbps. To determine if a smartphone supports Wi-Fi 6E, check the specifications and search for terms like “Wi-Fi 6E,” “AX Wi-Fi,” or “802.11ax Wi-Fi,” as these are the technical names for Wi-Fi 6E.
Upgrading to Wi-Fi 6E Routers
To fully utilize Wi-Fi 6E, it is necessary to upgrade routers from Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6, as well as smartphones, cameras, and other Wi-Fi-enabled smart devices.
Benefits of Wi-Fi 6E
Wi-Fi 6E leverages the new 6GHz frequency, offering access to the 1200GHz spectrum, allowing for more simultaneous device connections. It mitigates interference issues in areas with multiple Wi-Fi signals by operating on multiple frequencies and megahertz.
Wi-Fi 6E provides an additional 7 160-megahertz channels, doubling the bandwidth compared to its predecessor. This enables high-speed simultaneous connectivity for multiple devices, supporting activities such as 8K video streaming without buffering, AR/VR gaming, and quick file downloads.
Wi-Fi 6 routers are 30 percent faster than Wi-Fi 5 and provide a congestion-free network even when many users are connected. They also consume less battery power in smartphones and Wi-Fi devices. Additionally, Wi-Fi 6 introduces new WPA password generation for enhanced Wi-Fi data security.
For online gaming, which requires minimal latency to synchronize the game with all participants, Wi-Fi 6E offers a significant advantage, with only 2-6 milliseconds of latency for connected devices.
Drawbacks of Wi-Fi 6E
One drawback of Wi-Fi 6E is its shorter operating range on the 6GHz frequency compared to 5GHz and 2.4GHz. However, Wi-Fi 6E routers employ intelligent connections between devices to address this limitation. When out of the 6GHz range, it seamlessly transitions to the 5GHz or 2.4GHz frequency to maintain a continuous connection between Wi-Fi routers and devices.
Reasons to Invest in Wi-Fi 6E Routers and Devices
Wi-Fi 6E is the ideal choice when you require greater bandwidth for a large number of connected devices, and it can extend Wi-Fi coverage with Wi-Fi extenders. It is particularly well-suited for crowded environments and provides low-latency internet connections for activities such as 8K video streaming, gaming, and AR/VR experiences.
