Question: What is Wi-Fi 7 and do I need it?
Answer: Wi-Fi technology has been evolving over the years with most users not realizing the big difference. Wi-Fi 6 began to appear in 2019 and was systematically adopted by device manufacturers as new products were released and will be followed by Wi-Fi 7.
The next generation of smartphones from Apple, Google and Samsung will be supported as well as new laptops, tablets and other smartphones in the coming months.
What exactly is Wi-Fi 7?
Wi-Fi 7 builds on the foundations of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, which are what you’re most likely using today. It is designed to provide high speed, low latency, and better efficiency when it comes to managing multiple devices. While Wi-Fi 6 introduced features such as OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) to handle heavy traffic from multiple devices, Wi-Fi 7 takes it to the next level.
Wi-Fi 7 key improvements:
- Very fast speedThe maximum speed of the view can reach up to 46 Gbps, far beyond what Wi-Fi 6 or even most cable connections can provide. This is due to the wider bandwidth of the channel (320 MHz compared to Wi-Fi 6’s 160 MHz) which is equivalent to doubling the number of lanes on the highway.
- Multi-link operations (MLO): It can connect to multiple frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) simultaneously, improving reliability and reducing latency. This can be especially helpful for mobile devices as new physical restrictions affect connectivity when moving around a large home or warehouse.
- Low Latency: It will especially appeal to real-time applications such as games, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and 4K/8K video.
- Improved congestion management: it is designed to control even more connected devices, with less interference and congestion.
These improvements make Wi-Fi 7 ideal for users with high performance needs—think gamers, professionals who use high-bandwidth applications, or families with dozens of smart devices.
Do you need Wi-Fi 7?
Now, here’s the big question: Do you really need to upgrade to Wi-Fi 7? The answer depends largely on how you use the Internet and what kind of performance you expect from your wireless network.
If you’re someone who primarily uses the Internet for basic tasks—like browsing the web, checking email, or streaming HD videos—Wi-Fi 6 or even Wi-Fi 5 will still meet your needs. Most home networks are not as dependent on Wi-Fi speed as their Internet connection speed.
For example, if your Internet connection is less than 200 Mbps, upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 won’t give you a noticeable improvement unless you also upgrade the speed of your home or business.
On the other hand, if you engage in online gaming, video conferencing, or work in a field that requires high-performance connectivity—such as graphic design, video editing, or cloud-based computing—Wi-Fi 7 may be worth the investment. . Its low latency and fast speed will make a significant difference, especially if every millisecond counts.
Future proof
If you’re planning to upgrade your network equipment soon, it makes sense to consider investing in a Wi-Fi 7-enabled router now. More devices will begin to support the new standard, and if you have or plan to install a large number of devices at home, the ability of Wi-Fi 7 to handle dozens of devices at the same time will be a real advantage. ah.
Ken Colburn is the founder and CEO of Data Doctors Computer Services, datadoctors.com. Ask any technology question at facebook.com/DataDoctors or on Twitter @TheDataDoc.
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