Wi-Fi 6E vs. Wi-Fi 7: Understanding the latest wifi standards for faster, smarter connectivity

As internet speeds and connected devices multiply, choosing the right wifi standard can mean the difference between smooth, uninterrupted performance and constant buffering. Whether you’re streaming 8K video, gaming, or powering dozens of smart devices, understanding the differences between Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 will help you make the best choice for your home or business. 

Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 are the latest standards in this evolution, each featuring robust capabilities for wireless communication.

If you’re considering a new wifi router for your home or business, understanding these two standards is vital to picking a solution that suits your unique needs. Pay attention to their features like frequency, range, coverage, capacity, and compatibility.

Below, we explore Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 to help you understand these latest wifi standards to build a faster network in your home or office.

What is Wi-Fi 6E?

Wi-Fi 6E is an extension of the Wi-Fi 6 standard (802.11ax) that allows devices to operate in the 6 GHz radio-frequency band. This is because Wi-Fi 6 only offered two bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and they were notorious for spectrum congestion, which impacted calls and streaming.

The answer? Wi-Fi 6E. The extension was introduced to address the growing demand for more reliable and faster internet connections in use cases like high-definition video and X Reality (XR). However, you’ll need a new network router and a Wi-Fi 6E compatible device to explore the new airwaves. Adoption is already broad for Wi-Fi 6E: IDC estimated roughly 473 million Wi-Fi 6E devices shipped in 2023 (phones, laptops, and APs), and Apple’s iPhone 15 lineup brought 6E to all major mobile and laptop platforms, accelerating ecosystem support.  

Key features and benefits of Wi-Fi 6E

Here’s what makes Wi-Fi 6E a compelling solution for your internet needs:

• 6 GHz band – Unlike its predecessors, Wi-Fi 6E uses the 6 GHz spectrum, which provides more bandwidth and less interference compared to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

• Reduced network congestion – The additional channels in the 6 GHz band significantly reduce signal interference, especially in densely populated areas.

• Faster speeds and lower latency – Wi-Fi 6E supports high-speed data transfer and better performance for gaming, streaming, and video conferencing. 

• Improved device density handling – With advanced features like Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Wi-Fi 6E allows multiple devices to communicate simultaneously without network performance degradation.

What is Wi-Fi 7?

Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) is the seventh generation of wireless communication, designed to offer enhanced network speed, capacity, and efficiency. It boasts cutting-edge technologies like 320 Mhz channels, 4K-QAM, and preamble puncturing to address the demands of high-definition streaming, gaming, and emerging IoT applications.

Key features and benefits of Wi-Fi 7

• Extremely high speeds – With maximum theoretical speeds reaching up to 46 Gbps, Wi-Fi 7 is a significant upgrade over its predecessors and doubles the top speed in 6 GHz compared to Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 6.

• Multi-Link Operation (MLO) – This feature enables devices to use multiple frequency bands simultaneously, improving network efficiency, speed, and reliability.

• 320 Mhz channels – Wi-Fi 7 introduces wider 320 Mhz channels, doubling the capacity of Wi-Fi 6E’s 160 Mhz channels to ensure faster speeds by increasing data transmission.

• 4096-QAM (4K-QAM) – With this technology, each Wi-Fi 7 signal carries 12 bits of data, which is 20% more than Wi-Fi 6’s 10 bits. This boosts wireless network speeds and performance for your devices

• Improved latency and efficiency – Thanks to technologies like Multi-RU (Resource Unit) and deterministic latency, Wi-Fi 7 provides a more consistent user experience with reduced interference.

Wi-Fi 7 is also designed for immersive experiences like augmented, extended, and virtual reality. It’s a huge leap in wireless connections, with advanced features that support large-scale IoT operations, complex home internet setups, and everyday business operations like video conferences.

Key differences between Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7

While Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 share some similarities, such as the use of the 6 GHz band, Wi-Fi 7’s advancements make it a game-changer for users with high-performance needs. Here are the key differences between Wi-Fi 6E vs 7.

1. Speed and data transfer rates

Wi-Fi 7’s maximum speed reaches up to 46Gbps,  nearly four times faster than Wi-Fi 6E’s 9.6Gbps. This dramatic boost makes it ideal for bandwidth-intensive tasks like 8K video streaming and augmented reality. It also allows you to download large files faster and maintain consistent speeds even when multiple devices are connected at once.

A new feature in wifi standards, Wi-Fi 7’s MLO allows devices to simultaneously communicate over multiple bands, ensuring faster and smoother data transfer. Its signals also carry 20% more data than Wi-Fi 6E’s to ensure ample performance and speeds.

2. Frequency bands

Both Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 operate on the 2.5, 5, and 6 GHz spectrums, offering more channels and less interference for improved reliability.

However, Wi-Fi 7’s support for all three frequency bands, in addition to channel widths up to 320 Mhz, significantly boosts performance. Also, Wi-Fi 6E operates on a single band at a time, but Wi-Fi 7 can connect to multiple bands simultaneously, enhancing speed and reliability.

3. Device compatibility

To utilize Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 6E’s 6 GHz band, devices must support this feature, requiring users to upgrade their hardware. Still, devices can connect via the 2.5 and 5 GHz bands, but won’t reap the benefits of 6 GHz.

Wi-Fi 7 introduces new technologies like MLO, necessitating new devices that are specifically built to leverage these features fully. It supports backward compatibility, meaning older devices can connect to it in 2.4 and 5 GHz bands without having to replace your smart devices.

4. Availability and future adoption

Wi-Fi 6 routers and devices have been readily available since 2021, making Wi-Fi 6 a practical choice for immediate adoption. For instance, the Wi-Fi Alliance expected more than 330 million Wi-Fi 6E devices to be available in the market by 2021.

The Alliance released Wi-Fi 7 in 2024. While the wifi technology already exists, Wi-Fi 7 devices are gradually entering the market, with widespread adoption expected over the next few years as the wifi technology matures.

Which Wi-Fi standard is right for you?

Choosing between Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 depends on your specific requirements, budget, and timeline for adoption.

When to choose Wi-Fi 7

If you want to invest in cutting-edge technology that will remain relevant for years, Wi-Fi 7 is the better option. Beyond features like MLO and 4K-QAM, the standout upgrade for homes is support for 320 MHz channels in the 6 GHz band, enabling multi-gigabit peak speeds and latency on compatible devices—ideal for fiber or multi-gig plans, 4K/8K streaming, gaming, and VR. 

Wi-Fi 7 is ideal for environments that have lots of devices or need fast response times such as busy offices in multifloor buildings. Gamers, VR enthusiasts, and those requiring ultralow latency will also benefit significantly from Wi-Fi 7’s capabilities.

Explore Wi-Fi 7 vs. Wi-Fi 6E systems with eero

As wifi technology continues to evolve, making the right choice for your home or business network is crucial. You want the ideal performance for work, gaming, or IoT setups, and there’s a right solution for you. 

eero offers a range of advanced mesh wifi solutions designed to meet the demands of modern connectivity for your home or business. Whether you want Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, eero’s solutions ensure seamless, reliable, and future-ready connectivity. Our eero Pro 6E makes a great pick if you want a Wi-Fi 6E system, or opt for eero Max 7, eero Pro 7, or eero 7 for a Wi-Fi 7 solution for your network setup.

Sources:

Statista. Internet usage worldwide – Statistics & Facts.

Wi-Fi Alliance. Wi-Fi 6E: The details you need to know

Wi-Fi Alliance. Wi-Fi Alliance® introduces Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7™

Wi-Fi Alliance. Wi-Fi 6 shipments to surpass 5.2 billion by 2025