Wi-Fi 7 is the next generation of wireless connectivity. It’s already there and provides incredibly fast connectivity in personal, office, and commercial environments. Not only that, but it also comes with some new features that will appeal to those looking to upgrade their connectivity.
The technology behind Wi-Fi 7 feels truly next-gen, and there are plenty of reasons to take the leap. However, there are also drawbacks to consider, mainly regarding admission fees. You’ll also need to pay for next-gen connectivity and buy one of his best Wi-Fi routers that can handle it.
The Wi-Fi Alliance has a lot to say about the benefits of Wi-Fi 7, but here’s what you can expect if you use it.
Wi-Fi 7: Main topic
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what is that? Wi-Fi 7 is a wireless technology that continues to use the 6GHz spectrum to further increase internet speeds.
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When will it come out? Currently available in the US, UK, Australia, Japan, and Mexico. However, regulatory approval is still required in many other countries.
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How much does it cost? Costs vary depending on the router you purchase. The cheapest option may be the one offered by your internet service provider, but if you need to spend more than $1,000 / £1,000 (approximately AU$1,500) to buy the best Wi-Fi 7 mesh router there is.
Wi-Fi 7 release date
Wi-Fi 7 was officially released on January 8, 2024, when the Wi-Fi Alliance released the Wi-Fi Certified 7 program, but it will still take many years for many people to adapt to it. . According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, in 2024 there will be 233 million devices on the market, which is expected to rise to 2.1 billion by 2028.
The alliance also notes that smartphones, PCs, tablets, and access points (APs) are expected to be the first to adopt Wi-Fi 7, followed by customer premise equipment (CPE) and augmented reality (AR/VR) devices. Masu. .
Wi-Fi 7 router and price
Initial Wi-Fi 7 routers vary widely in price depending on manufacturer and model.
Some relatively affordable routers, such as the TP-Link Archer BE800, cost around $300, while others cost more than $1,000. There are also leased routers offered by your internet provider, but they may come with an additional monthly fee on top of your internet bill.
In between are products like the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S, priced at $699 / £799 / AU$1,499. Check out our Netgear Nighthawk RS700S review to learn more. Spoiler: We love it. There’s also the Amazon eero Max 7 router, priced at $599/£599 (not currently available in Australia).
Meanwhile, Acer announced two Predator Connect gaming routers at CES 2024. Predator Connect T7 supports Wi-Fi 7 tri-band, providing wider home coverage.
Wi-Fi 7 specifications and performance
The Wi-Fi Alliance has detailed the specifications and performance of Wi-Fi 7. The first is the introduction of a 320 MHz channel, which is twice the size of his 160 MHz channel. However, while the wide bandwidth means very fast speeds, it can only be used in countries where access to the 6GHz band is allowed. So far, they include the US, UK, Australia, Japan, and Mexico, but the full list is available here.
There is also MLO or multilink operation. This allows devices on the network to send and receive data simultaneously across multiple bands (primarily 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz). This improves service reliability, increases latency, and increases throughput. This is especially important for VR headsets. This is because receiving streams on the 6 GHz band while sending tracking information on the 5 GHz band provides optimal performance.
Another potential benefit of VR is critical latency. This allows the device to know when a connection interruption is expected and improves tracking. It also has 4K QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), which transmits 20% more data than the current 1024 QAM standard.
Finally, Wi-Fi 7 is backwards compatible with other Wi-Fi types, so even older laptops can connect to the new standard. However, you may not be able to access the high speeds that Wi-Fi 7 provides, so be sure to check your device’s Wi-Fi capabilities before investing in a new router.
