The WiFi standard 802.11ax – short: WiFi 6 – brings improvements in speed, efficiency, and security. Especially in areas with high network congestion, the new generation WiFi ax promises faster WiFi for a larger number of simultaneously connected devices. The theoretically possible maximum speed increases to 9.6 Gbit/s – with decreasing latency.
The leap from WiFi 5 (802.11ac) to WiFi 6 (802.11ax) increases browsing speed. While the old ac standard quickly reaches its limits when interacting with many clients, WiFi 6 proves to be significantly more multitasking-friendly and efficient. Additionally, the new standard is more secure and energy-efficient.
PCs and laptops require high peak speeds for downloads; smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs need stable connections for streaming. Additionally, household appliances are now also transmitting smaller data packets intermittently. WiFi channels are a scarce resource today – and need to be used efficiently. Current WiFi technology delivers these varying sizes of data packets one by one.
Not so with WiFi 6: The current WiFi ax standard is entirely dedicated to efficiency – and thanks to OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access), it bundles as many packets per delivery as possible. The result: The video conference doesn't lag due to simultaneous downloads. And the WhatsApp message goes out immediately even during the evening Netflix stream.
WiFi 6 utilizes frequency bands in the 2.4 and 5 gigahertz range, an improved Multi-User-MIMO and a higher modulation density per data packet (QAM-1024). The 5 GHz band now operates with a channel width of 160 megahertz.
In plain terms, this means: Your WiFi is more flexible, faster, and facilitates the simultaneous use of data-hungry applications – such as high-quality video conferences.
WiFi 6 enables smarter management of data streams and reduces the power consumption of connected devices through TWT (Target Wake Time), allowing them to enter standby mode when not communicating with the WiFi.
Your smartphone battery no longer needs to be charged as frequently. And IoT devices in your home, which often do not require a permanent WiFi connection, operate much more efficiently this way.
In congested WiFi environments – such as multi-family houses – routers and Access Points can interfere significantly with each other. Overlapping signals slow down data transmission and disrupt the WiFi.
WiFi 6 utilizes BSS Coloring to avoid conflicts with neighboring networks. This significantly reduces delays and connection drops.
For encrypting the wireless connection, WiFi 6 relies on the security protocol WPA3.
The encryption standard makes targeted attacks on weak passwords nearly impossible and protects your network devices from harmful external influences.
Meanwhile, there are numerous devices that support WiFi 6, including Apple smartphones starting from the iPhone 11 and Samsung phones from the Galaxy S10. Brands like Huawei, OnePlus, Motorola, and others have also already implemented the WiFi 6 standard.
The PlayStation 5 is the first home console to offer WiFi 6. Intel has been using the standard since the 9th generation of desktop processors. Numerous well-known laptop manufacturers like Asus, Dell, and HP now provide WiFi 6 support. Many laptops and PCs can also be easily upgraded to the WiFi AX standard if needed.
Are you still using many devices that operate on WiFi 4 or WiFi 5? No problem, as WiFi 6 offers broad backward compatibility. You can already upgrade your WiFi and easily continue using your smartphones, consoles, and IoT devices.
While you may not enjoy the speed advantage of WiFi 6 in data transmission, older devices can still benefit from new features like TWT (Target Wake Time) and WPA3. This makes WiFi 6 more efficient, energy-saving, and secure for your home network today.
