Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7: should you change your router?

By The SpeedFibre team, updated . 3 min read.

Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7: should you change your router?
In short Wi-Fi 6 mainly brings efficiency when many devices are connected; it is the recommended minimum with fibre of 200 Mbps or more. Wi-Fi 7 goes further (speed, latency, 6 GHz band) but only with compatible devices. A new router does not make an old phone faster.
Contents
  1. The generations at a glance
  2. What Wi-Fi 6 changes
  3. What Wi-Fi 7 adds
  4. The golden rule: the weakest link
  5. Should you upgrade?

Wi-Fi standards keep coming, and recent provider routers now advertise Wi-Fi 6 or even Wi-Fi 7. What do you actually gain?

The generations at a glance

NameStandardBandsMain contribution
Wi-Fi 4802.11n2.4 and 5 GHzFirst "fast" Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 5802.11ac5 GHzSpeeds of several hundred Mbps
Wi-Fi 6802.11ax2.4 and 5 GHzEfficiency with many devices
Wi-Fi 6E802.11ax+ 6 GHzNew, uncrowded band
Wi-Fi 7802.11be2.4, 5 and 6 GHzWider channels, simultaneous multi-band links, lower latency

What Wi-Fi 6 changes

Wi-Fi 6 is not just about speed: it shares airtime better between devices (OFDMA) and reduces phone power consumption. In a home with a dozen connected devices the gain is very noticeable: fewer slowdowns when everyone is online in the evening.

What Wi-Fi 7 adds

  • Channels up to 320 MHz on 6 GHz, for very high speeds at short range.
  • MLO (Multi-Link Operation): a device can use several bands at once, improving stability and latency.
  • More efficient modulation.

These gains need a Wi-Fi 7 router and device. With a Wi-Fi 5 phone, a Wi-Fi 7 router behaves like a good Wi-Fi 5 router.

Real speed is limited by the weakest element: the plan, the router, the distance and the device. Check your phone or computer's Wi-Fi standard in its specifications before investing.

Measure your connection now. Start the test

Should you upgrade?

  • Wi-Fi 4 router with fibre of 100 Mbps or more: yes, move to Wi-Fi 6.
  • Wi-Fi 5 router, 200 Mbps plan, many devices: Wi-Fi 6 brings real comfort.
  • 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps plan and recent devices: Wi-Fi 6E or 7 lets you use more of it without a cable.
  • Large home: coverage matters more than the standard; a Wi-Fi 6 Mesh beats a single Wi-Fi 7 router. See extender, Mesh or powerline.

To measure the gain, test in the same spot before and after the change, and compare with a cable test, see fibre slow on Wi-Fi.

#WiFi#WiFiDiagnosis#Ping

Sources and further reading

Frequently asked questions

Is my phone Wi-Fi 6 compatible?

Most mid-range and high-end phones released since 2020 are. Check the specifications: 802.11ax means Wi-Fi 6 and 802.11be means Wi-Fi 7.

Does Wi-Fi 7 improve range?

Not fundamentally. Walls are still walls; the 6 GHz band even reaches less far.

Do I need a special cable with a Wi-Fi 7 router?

To connect the router to the modem at multi-gigabit speeds, a Cat 6 cable is recommended.

The SpeedFibre team Guides written and reviewed by a telecom engineer specialised in fibre optics (FTTH), with more than 8 years of hands-on network maintenance and measurement. Editorial policy.

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