Wifi has a new generation, and shops tempt you with both Wifi 6 and Wifi 7. What do those numbers mean, do they really bring faster internet and when is it worth buying a new router? Let us explain without the marketing.

How wifi is labeled

Wifi standards got simple numbers instead of the old technical names: Wifi 4, 5, 6, 6E and 7 (formerly 802.11n, ac, ax and be). A higher number means a newer and more capable generation.

Wifi 5 versus 6 versus 7

  • Wifi 5 is still common today and sufficient for most households.
  • Wifi 6 brings higher speed, but above all handles many devices at once better, lower latency and more frugal operation.
  • Wifi 6E adds a completely new 6 GHz band, which is so far uncongested, so there is more room and quiet there.
  • Wifi 7 goes further still: it is the fastest and can use several bands at once (multi-link), increasing stability.

What they really bring

The important thing is not to expect only faster downloads. The biggest benefit of the new standards is in households with many devices, that is where you have computers, phones, TVs, cameras and a smart home at once. That is when stability and lower latency show, not just higher speed.

Watch out: both must support it

This is a common mistake. To get Wifi 6 or 7, it must be supported by both the router and the device itself (phone, laptop). If the router has Wifi 7 but the phone only Wifi 5, they connect only at the level of the older one. So a new router will not speed up old devices.

When an upgrade is worth it

  • You have many devices or are starting a smart home.
  • You moved to fast internet (1 Gbit and more).
  • You are building or furnishing a new house.

If what you have is enough and you have few devices, an upgrade is not necessary.

More important than the standard

A truth manufacturers do not like to mention: the fastest router will not help if it is badly placed. Coverage is decided by placement and the number of access points, as we write in the article how to place wifi correctly. For larger spaces a mesh system helps.

Considering a new router or dealing with weak coverage? Get in touch, we will advise whether an upgrade is worth it and design tailored coverage.