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Wi-Fi 5 vs Wi-Fi 6

October 15, 2021

Wi-Fi 5 vs Wi-Fi 6: Which is Better for Your Device?

Wi-Fi has become an essential part of our lives. We use it to connect to the internet, stream videos, play games, and do many other online activities. But with the release of Wi-Fi 6, many are wondering if it's worth upgrading from Wi-Fi 5. In this post, we'll compare Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 and figure out which one is better for your device.

What is Wi-Fi 5?

Wi-Fi 5, aka 802.11ac, is the fifth generation of Wi-Fi technology, which was released in 2014. It operates on the 5GHz frequency and provides theoretical speeds of up to 3.5Gbps, although real-world speeds are much lower depending on various factors such as distance, interference, and network traffic.

What is Wi-Fi 6?

Wi-Fi 6, aka 802.11ax, is the sixth generation of Wi-Fi technology, which was released in 2019. It operates on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies and provides theoretical speeds of up to 9.6Gbps. Wi-Fi 6 also comes with several features such as MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output), OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access), and 1024-QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), which improve network efficiency and reduce latency.

Wi-Fi 5 vs Wi-Fi 6: What's the Difference?

The main differences between Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 are speed, coverage, and capacity. Wi-Fi 6 offers faster speeds, wider coverage, and higher capacity than Wi-Fi 5. But how much faster, wider, and higher?

Speed

As we mentioned earlier, Wi-Fi 5 provides theoretical speeds of up to 3.5Gbps, while Wi-Fi 6 provides theoretical speeds of up to 9.6Gbps. However, these are just numbers, and real-world speeds depend on various factors. According to a study conducted by Techspot, Wi-Fi 6 offers up to 35% faster download speeds than Wi-Fi 5 in an ideal scenario, but the difference may not be noticeable in a real-world scenario.

Coverage

Wi-Fi 6 uses a technology called BSS Coloring (Basic Service Set) that reduces interference between access points and improves coverage. With Wi-Fi 6, you can expect better coverage and range than Wi-Fi 5, especially in crowded areas.

Capacity

Wi-Fi 6 allows more devices to connect to a network simultaneously without affecting the speed or stability of the network. This is thanks to the MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology, which divide the available bandwidth into smaller sub-channels and enable multiple users to communicate with the access point simultaneously. This means that Wi-Fi 6 is better suited for homes or offices with multiple devices and users than Wi-Fi 5.

Is it Worth Upgrading to Wi-Fi 6?

It depends. If you're happy with the speed and coverage of your current Wi-Fi network, then you may not need to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6. However, if you have a lot of devices that connect to your network or experience slow speeds and poor coverage in certain areas, then upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 may be worth it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Wi-Fi 6 is faster, provides better coverage, and can handle more devices than Wi-Fi 5. However, the difference in speed may not be noticeable in a real-world scenario, and upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 may not be necessary for everyone. Consider your needs and weigh the benefits before making a decision.

References

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