It was just some quick years in the past once we advised you a few then-upcoming wi-fi expertise known as Wi-Fi 6. At the time, what was as soon as often known as 802.11ax was henceforth given a way more consumer-friendly title, and former convoluted Wi-Fi requirements acquired related names: 802.11ac turned Wi-Fi 5, 802.11n turned Wi-Fi 4, and so forth.
And now we have now a good newer title, Wi-Fi 6E. In quick, it’s an up to date model of Wi-Fi 6 that features entry to the brand new 6GHz frequency band. But whereas it doesn’t introduce new options over Wi-Fi 6, this new frequency band may very well be a giant deal and can make a serious impression on the way forward for wi-fi networking. Wi-Fi 6E is beginning to present up in Apple merchandise already; it’s not in any iPhone but, however you’ll discover it within the newest iPad Pros, Mac mini, and 14-inch and 16-inch MacGuide Pro. We’ll seemingly discover it in additional Apple merchandise launched all through 2023, together with the iPhone 15.
What’s up with that E?
It’s exhausting to imagine, however the Wi-Fi commonplace has been utilizing the identical chunks of the two.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands for over 20 years! Wi-Fi 6 is simply the most recent try to make use of extra superior processing to wring extra bandwidth out of it and make it extra dependable.
In April 2020, the FCC took the long-awaited step of providing up 1,200MHz of latest unlicensed spectrum within the 6GHz vary, extra spectrum for Wi-Fi than we’ve ever gotten directly. Wi-Fi 6E is just the primary Wi-Fi commonplace to help these new radio frequencies. It didn’t get a brand new title as a result of it’s not really a brand new expertise—the encoding requirements and block measurement and security measures and all the opposite stuff are precisely the identical as Wi-Fi 6.
That’s why it’s not known as Wi-Fi 7 (in any other case often known as 802.11be) which continues to be a number of years out. Since it’s nonetheless Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E continues to be categorized as 802.11ax, however they caught an “E” on there so folks know which merchandise are ready to make use of the brand new 6GHz spectrum.
More spectrum means extra bandwidth
Allow us to get technical for a second: The 1200MHz of latest spectrum within the 6GHz vary is split up into fourteen 80MHz channels and 7 160MHz channels (they overlap). Wi-Fi 6E routers can use these new channels along with the two.4GHz and 5GHz channels already out there to them, which implies they’ll transfer much more information directly.
How a lot bandwidth? Well, that can rely upon the router and the machine and what options they help, however we’re speaking about multi-gigabit speeds on the excessive finish. Wi-Fi 6E units up Wi-Fi to help future web connections with speeds which might be at the moment approach quicker than the web coming into nearly any residence at present.
Technically, the highest theoretical restrict of Wi-Fi 6E is identical as you’d get on the 5GHz band of Wi-Fi 6 (9.6Gbps), however you’re more likely to in the future really take a look at these limits with the large spacious 6GHz spectrum.
Wi-Fi 6E additionally makes use of extra antennas. With Wi-Fi 6 on the iPhone 13, Apple makes use of 2×2 MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output), which is a two-antenna configuration with two receiver antennas. Wi-Fi 6E may double that functionality to 4X4, which might enhance the bandwidth and obtain pace. Many of Apple’s first Wi-Fi 6E merchandise have 2×2 MIMO configurations.
Less interference means higher reliability
The different massive promoting level of Wi-Fi 6E is that there’s nothing else in that frequency vary contending with it. While Wi-Fi 6’s 2.5GHz and 5GHz spectrums must battle with a ton of outdated Wi-Fi networks, microwave ovens, you title it, Wi-Fi 6E enjoys a bunch of massive, extensive, principally empty channels. There are different applied sciences broadcasting within the 6GHz frequency vary, however with so many massive channels to work with, automated frequency management ought to be capable to simply maintain it.
Higher frequencies are likely to imply decrease latency, too, so your Wi-Fi may get nearer to the responsiveness of a wired community. There’s a draw back, in fact: increased frequencies additionally don’t journey as far or via partitions as simply, so Wi-Fi 6E doesn’t essentially supply any enhancements to vary over common Wi-Fi 6.
Should you purchase a Wi-Fi 6E router?
To get the complete benefits of Wi-Fi 6E, you’ll want a Wi-Fi 6E router, which is offered from firms corresponding to Google, Linksys, and Netgear. Of course, they’re very new and pretty costly, and so they’re solely going to assist if the gadgets you connect with them additionally help Wi-Fi 6E. The iPhone 15 will seemingly be on that record, however if you happen to want a brand new iPhone earlier than then, it’s not value ready, particularly because you’ll want an entire new residence Internet setup to benefit from the quicker speeds.
However, if you happen to’re available in the market for a brand new router, we suggest wanting on the choices for Wi-Fi 6E. Wi-Fi 6 is nice and broadly supported throughout all of Apple’s merchandise, however Wi-Fi 6E is even higher, and the very last thing you need when investing in a brand new Wi-Fi system is purchaser’s regret.
Source: www.macworld.com
