Key Takeaways

  • Speed: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is about 40% faster than Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).
  • Congestion: It handles many devices (phones, IoT, laptops) much better at the same time.
  • OFDMA: A technology that splits channels to send data to multiple devices at once.
  • Battery: "Target Wake Time" helps devices save energy.

Wi-Fi 5 was built for a world where you had one laptop and one phone. Wi-Fi 6 is built for the modern smart home with 50 connected devices fighting for bandwidth.

The Secret Sauce: OFDMA

Imagine a delivery truck (Wi-Fi Packet).
In Wi-Fi 5, the truck could only carry one package to one house at a time, even if the truck was mostly empty.
In Wi-Fi 6, the truck can carry packages for 5 different houses in the same trip.

This is called Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), and it drastically reduces lag when multiple people are streaming or gaming.

Do I need a new router?

Yes. To get Wi-Fi 6 speeds, you need a Wi-Fi 6 router and a Wi-Fi 6 device (like an iPhone 11 or newer, or a modern laptop). If you connect an old laptop to a Wi-Fi 6 router, it will still work, but at older speeds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Wi-Fi 6E?
Wi-Fi 6E is Wi-Fi 6 extended into the 6 GHz band. It's like adding a brand new super-highway that only new cars can drive on, completely free of traffic from older devices.
Is it better for gaming?
Yes. The improved efficiency reduces latency (ping) spikes, which is critical for online gaming, even if your maximum download speed doesn't change much.

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