WiFi technology is great; it offers a level of convenience that was hard to get in the dial-up days. However, with new tech comes its own problems and challenges. With WiFi, we have bandwidth congestion, signal interference, and whatnot.
However, WiFi technology has evolved a lot. Now we have WiFi 6, 6E, and the latest standard, WiFi 7, has come out, too. But what do these new standards bring to the table? And are those new benefits enough to warrant the cost of new routers that support these standards?
Questions like these will be answered in this article, so keep reading to find the answers.
Understanding the Basics of WiFi 6E and WiFi 7
Since our topic today is WiFi 6E and WiFi 7, we will keep our discussion limited to those two standards. Let’s check out the basic definition of each and see what each has to offer.
Wi-Fi 6E.
This standard was special because it introduced a new frequency band, the 6 GHz band. Before 6E, there were only two bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The new 6 GHz bands offered less congestion and improved speeds compared to traditional 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands because it was not used as much by other devices like Bluetooth and wireless appliances.
As such, it was a significant step forward for devices that needed faster, more stable connections without all the drawbacks of the other bands.
Wi-Fi 7.
WiFi 7 is just an improvement to WiFi 6E. It doesn’t introduce new bands, but it adds even wider channels (up to 320 MHz), 4K QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) for higher data rates, and Multi-Link Operation (MLO). These features theoretically allow devices to use multiple bands simultaneously. This results in much higher potential data throughput and improves the reliability of wireless connections.
Expectation vs. Reality
While WiFi 7 is indeed a new standard, it is important not to set too many expectations for it. After all, it doesn’t add a new band.
According to sources, expectations around Wi-Fi 7 often focus on speed. Its wider channels and 4K QAM modulation theoretically make it capable of reaching speeds up to 46 Gbps.
However, you should keep in mind that real-world conditions rarely hit those peaks. For one, 46Gbps packages are not offered by any commercial ISP. Other factors like network congestion, physical obstacles, and client device support also play a major role in whether WiFi 7 benefits you or not.
Bottom line, most users already on WiFi 6E won’t see dramatic differences today unless they have devices specifically designed for Wi-Fi 7.
So, while routers that support Wi-Fi 7 can future-proof a network, they can force incompatible devices to take advantage of the upgrade. As such, the upgrade may feel minimal in daily use.
Key Differences Between Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7
For users who are hoping to understand the differences between WiFi 6E and 7, we have created a table that lists them. Take a look at it to learn the major differences.
| Feature | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Frequency Bands | 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz | 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz |
| Max Channel Width | 160 MHz | 320 MHz |
| Modulation | 1024-QAM | 4096-QAM (4K-QAM) |
| Added Latency | ~20-30 ms | <10 ms |
| Throughput | Up to 9.6 Gbps | Up to 46 Gbps (theoretical) |
So, what benefit does WiFi 7 offer? Based on these differences, the better modulation and wider channels, WiFi 7 excels at handling multiple devices without congestion and using all available bands for transferring data. In light of that, WiFi 7 is most suitable for offices and home users who do a lot of 4k streaming, downloading, and other heavy data use.
When Should You Upgrade To WiFi 7?
If you’re using Wi-Fi 6 or 6E and your network already feels fast and stable, upgrading right now might not be essential. After all, Wi-Fi 7 routers are still pricey, and widespread device compatibility is limited. So, you will not get any major benefit from the upgrade.
If you are on older routers like WiFi 5 or WiFi 6, then you can consider WiFi 7 over 6E.
WiFi 7 is also a good choice for users planning to expand smart homes, stream in 8K, or run bandwidth-heavy applications. However, even such users will still need to buy WiFi 7-compatible devices to make use of the upgrade.
Before upgrading, consider running a WiFi Speed test on your current setup. It can help you see if your real-world speeds are close to your plan’s maximum. If you’re already getting consistent, strong speeds even under worst-case scenarios, then you have no reason to buy Wi-Fi 7 routers. Just wait until they become more affordable and mainstream.
Conclusion
Like a lot of new tech today, WiFi 7 is overhyped and overrated. For most home users, it offers no tangible, real-world benefits that they can experience.
Wi-Fi 7 is a significant technological leap on paper as it’s faster, smarter, and more efficient. But in practice, Wi-Fi 6E still holds its ground for most users today.
Until WiFi 7 compatibility becomes mainstream, it is just an expensive decoration rather than an upgrade.
