EMZETT.Wi-Fi standards: Wi-Fi 4 to Wi-Fi 7
In short: Behind the Wi-Fi numbers are IEEE 802.11 standards. Newer versions are faster and cope better with many devices, but actual speed depends a lot on distance, walls and interference.
The generations
| Name | Standard | Year (approx.) | Band | Peak rate (theoretical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 4 | 802.11n | 2009 | 2.4 and 5 GHz | 600 Mbit/s |
| Wi-Fi 5 | 802.11ac | 2013 | 5 GHz | 3.5 Gbit/s |
| Wi-Fi 6 / 6E | 802.11ax | 2019/2021 | 2.4, 5 (and 6) GHz | 9.6 Gbit/s |
| Wi-Fi 7 | 802.11be | 2024 | 2.4, 5, 6 GHz | 46 Gbit/s |
Devices never reach the peak rates: they apply to the best scenario with many antennas. Realistic is often a third to half of the value, shared among all devices.
The bands
- 2.4 GHz: long range, penetrates walls well, but slow and crowded (microwave, Bluetooth, neighbours).
- 5 GHz: faster, shorter range.
- 6 GHz (from Wi-Fi 6E): lots of room, hardly any old devices, but even shorter range.
What newer standards bring
- OFDMA (Wi-Fi 6): splits a channel into small parts for several devices at once; good with many devices.
- MU-MIMO: serve several devices simultaneously.
- Wider channels (up to 320 MHz in Wi-Fi 7) and multi-link operation: use several bands at once.
- WPA3: better encryption (Connecting to Wi-Fi).
In practice
- Place the router centrally and in the open, not in a cupboard.
- For large homes use several access points by cable (Access Point) instead of repeaters (Wi-Fi repeater), because repeaters halve the rate.
- Devices are only as fast as the weakest link: the phone must support the standard too.
- Connect important devices (TV, PC) by cable.