Should You Wait for Wi-Fi 7 Before Upgrading Your Router? (2023)

Each and every WIRED reader is acquainted with that frequent concern: Hold out for new engineering, or obtain now? No matter how good a gadget is, there will nearly surely be a thing improved arriving soon. Suppliers operate out the kinks and costs fall. Figuring out which new technologies are worthy of the early adopter tax, and which to move on until eventually they boost, is a real problem. 

Even buying for one thing as utilitarian as a Wi-Fi router is a minefield. Wi-Fi 6 is an effortless minimum amount advice for most folks ideal now. But perhaps you are eyeing the increased pace and overall performance of the freshly opened 6-GHz band. You may well be taking into consideration a Wi-Fi 6E process, but with Wi-Fi 7 on the horizon, need to you wait around?

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The Issues With Wi-Fi 6E

If you will need a greater understanding of the variances, we have guides on Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7 that dig into the specifics. But for our purposes here, we are searching at the opening up of the 6-GHz band. Until Wi-Fi 6E came alongside, we relied upon the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands for all our Wi-Fi wants. Wi-Fi 6E opened up the 6-GHz spectrum for the 1st time, but there are limitations in location that restrict its functionality. 

We spoke to Kevin Robinson, CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance, to come across out additional. When the FCC gave authorization to use the unlicensed 6-GHz band for Wi-Fi, it experienced concerns about opportunity interference for recent license holders. Utilities and unexpected emergency expert services count on microwave one-way links and other wi-fi connections on the 6-GHz band for points like ability grid operations. It is also utilised for satellite website link communications, wireless backhaul for carriers, and by some broadcasters. To mitigate all those concerns, the FCC specified that Wi-Fi 6E units would be restricted to low-electrical power indoor procedure. (Notice that these principles change from region to country, relying on the overall body in cost.) 

By restricting electric power for Wi-Fi 6E techniques, the short range of the 6-GHz band is ensured, primarily proscribing it to indoor use. The signal is blocked by walls, so there is incredibly minimal danger of any interference for incumbents. The trouble is that this power restriction correctly curtails the 6-GHz band.

We have analyzed quite a few Wi-Fi 6E routers and mesh methods, and though they permit for some impressively quick and steady connections, the array of the 6-GHz band is quite minimal. Assume lightning-quickly connections in the very same home as the router, but go subsequent doorway or upstairs and they fall off sharply or hand you above to the 5-GHz band. 

Obtaining the Most from Wi-Fi 6E

Despite the restrictions, Wi-Fi 6E does present benefits in excess of Wi-Fi 6, but only in specified situations. Most people really don’t have numerous gadgets that can hook up on the 6-GHz band. The latest list involves modern Samsung Galaxy S phones and Google Pixels, but not Apple’s iPhones, although Apple has additional 6E assistance to the most latest MacBook Pros and iPad Pros. There’s also no 6E aid in the most recent consoles, and it’s nevertheless scarce in laptops and computers outdoors the newest top rated-of-the-line types. 

If you go for a one Wi-Fi 6E router, bear in mind that you can only choose advantage of the 6-GHz band when your related units help 6-GHz and are in just variety. For case in point, you have the router in your house workplace and a smartphone and notebook that assist Wi-Fi 6E. The risk with a tri-band router is that you seldom have anything connected to the 6-GHz band. For most men and women, a tri-band program with 1 2.4-GHz and two 5-GHz bands will function just as perfectly, and almost certainly better, than a method with a 2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz band.