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If you’re in the market for a new router, or just any new smart device, you’ve probably seen some buzzwords thrown around about the types of Wi-Fi the device supports. Some will say Wi-Fi 6, while others will promise faster speeds with Wi-Fi 6e. Wi-Fi 6 is currently the most popular standard, but Wi-Fi 6e is also gaining some ground. The differences between these two standards are:
What is Wi-Fi6?
To properly understand the difference between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6e, you first need to understand what Wi-Fi 6 is. Basically, this is one of the new standards released by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Released in 2019, it brought an incredible increase in the internet speeds you can expect from your online devices.
It first appeared on routers as 802.11ax and debuted as High Efficiency Wi-Fi (HEW). HEW allows more wireless data to pass through the air and is a significant improvement over the older 802.11ac standard (Wi-Fi 5). Thanks to dual-band support on 2GHz and 5Ghz networks, you have more bandwidth access and increased speeds that make streaming 4K video even easier than the old standard. We have also increased the maximum effective range of Wi-Fi routers.
What is Wi-Fi 6e?
So how is Wi-Fi 6e different from Wi-Fi 6? Well, the biggest difference is that Wi-Fi 6e allows the use of 6Ghz network bands. This means that Wi-Fi 6e is very useful in places where there may be a lot of other Wi-Fi network traffic, such as apartment buildings or cities. However, the increased speed and reliability of 6GHz networks is not without its challenges.
Unlike 2Ghz and 5Ghz networks, which offer extended range, the 6Ghz band has a much more limited range. Sure, it might not be that crowded, but typically this band allows the network to only cover connections in the same or neighboring rooms. This means you should use a mesh network or similar network option to improve and get the most out of your range.
Which is better?
It’s been a few years since Wi-Fi 6e was released and we’ve seen a lot of adoption in popular smartphones like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy devices, and Google Pixel devices. Wi-Fi 6e is a very good option for people who live in crowded areas or have mesh networks that can use Wi-Fi 6e signals.
Yes, Wi-Fi 6e devices may offer faster overall bandwidth, but you won’t be able to achieve those faster speeds without a network designed for them. Additionally, Wi-Fi 6 is fast enough for most homes these days, especially since the average broadband speed for U.S. homes is still less than 100Mbps. So for homes with internet speeds slower than 1 gigabit, a Wi-Fi 6 device is sufficient.
You may also want to consider expenses. There are some affordable Wi-Fi 6e mesh networking options, like the eero Pro 6e, but those systems still cost over $500, and others can cost up to $1,200 or more. The speed difference is not that big and considering that the use of the 6Ghz band by Wi-Fi-6e enabled devices is not always reliable due to the short range, Wi-Fi that supports Wi-Fi usually You can use a router. -Fi 6 is also at the top.
However, if you live in a crowded city or already have access to gigabit internet, it may be worth purchasing a more expensive Wi-Fi 6e device for a little more speed and bandwidth. . However, it’s important to remember that not all devices support Wi-Fi 6e yet. And with Wi-Fi 7 set to debut later this year, there could be even more leaps ahead.
