But what makes Wi-Fi 6 different from Wi-Fi 5, and is it better?
What Is Wi-Fi 5?
It was also the secondWi-Fiversion after 802.11a to use the5GHz frequency bandfor data transmission.
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What Is Wi-Fi 6?
Related:What Is Wi-Fi 6?
All these upgrades make Wi-Fi 6 a significant step up and capable of delivering better speeds to connected devices.
Related:What Is WPA3, and How Do I Get It On My Wi-Fi Router?
Wi-Fi 5 vs. Wi-Fi 6
As mentioned, Wi-Fi 6 builds upon Wi-Fi 5.
As a result, there are a lot of similarities between both Wi-Fi generations.
Related:8 Tips to Improve Your Wi-Fi Signal
One of the highlights of Wi-Fi 6 is OFDMA technology.
It’s a variant of the OFDM (orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing) technology present in Wi-Fi 5.
In comparison, OFDM can only connect to one machine per channel.
Another Wi-Fi 6 feature that makes a real-world difference is the support for eight spatial streams.
These streams are essentially data lanes, and more data lanes result in faster data speeds.
On the other hand, Wi-Fi 5 topped out at 6.9Gbps.
That said, neither Wi-Fi generation can reach their theoretical maximum data rates in real-world usage.
But you’ll undoubtedly get a considerably faster data rate with Wi-Fi 6 than with Wi-Fi 5.
Related:How Much Internet Speed Do You Really Need?
Additionally, the improved implementation of MU-MIMO in Wi-Fi 6 supports both uplink MU-MIMO and downlink MU-MIMO.
As a result, Wi-Fi 6 can offer enhanced speeds and cater to multiple devices seamlessly.
Wi-Fi 5, on the other hand, only supports downlink MU-MIMO.
Related:Where to Place Your Router for the Best Wi-Fi Speeds
What About Wi-Fi 6E?
Related:How Fast Will Wi-Fi 7 Be?
Should You Upgrade to a Wi-Fi 6 Router?
Whether it’s the right time for you to upgrade, though, depends on your needs.
Related:Can I Connect a Wi-Fi 5 gadget to a Wi-Fi 6 online grid?
Wi-Fi 6 is generally better at handling a large volume of connected devices than Wi-Fi 5.
You’ll also get better speeds, lower latency, and more reliable performance.
Compared to Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6 routers are more efficient at dealing with interference resulting from neighboring routers.
For a good place to start shopping, check out our recommendations for thebest Wi-Fi routersandbest mesh routers.
