What is Wi-Fi 7?

The next generation of Wi-Fi is here – Wi-Fi 7 promises higher speeds, more capacity, and lower latency than Wi-Fi 6 and 6E. It seems like yesterday when the sixth generation of Wi-Fi was all the rage, and now the seventh generation is ready to take over.

Are you looking to upgrade your Wi-Fi network for improved wireless connectivity? Wi-Fi 7 might just be what you need. However, you cannot spontaneously embrace any up-to-the-minute technology, so let’s discover what Wi-Fi 7 is all about.

What can Wi-Fi 7 offer that previous generations didn’t? Is the investment worth your while? The answers to these questions and more lie ahead.

Understanding Wi-Fi 7

So, what is Wi-Fi 7 exactly? As the name suggests, it’s the seventh generation in Wi-Fi technology, and the successor to Wi-Fi 6/6E. The wireless networking standard for Wi-Fi 7 is IEEE 802.11be, which is referred to as Extremely High Throughput (EHT).

“High throughput” is a measure of network performance that describes the ability to execute tasks quickly. Therefore, one can assume that Wi-Fi 7 can make your wireless networks more efficient and precise than ever.

Compared to the last Wi-Fi generation, Wi-Fi 7 offers:

Wi-Fi 7 vs. Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E

How does a Wi-Fi 7 router compare to a Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E router? For starters, Wi-Fi 7 utilizes the same frequency bands as its predecessors, i.e., 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands. Therefore, Wi-Fi 7 routers are essentially tri-band routers; the difference lies in how these routers utilize these Wi-Fi bands.

Here’s what distinguishes Wi-Fi 7 routers from Wi-Fi 6/6E routers:

Double the Width in Bandwidth

Each frequency band of the router is divided into multiple Wi-Fi channels. The 2.4 GHz band has 14 channels, which are 20 MHz each. The 5 GHz band offers more than 20 MHz channels, which can be combined to form broader channels up to 80 MHz wide.

In Wi-Fi 6/6E routers, the 6 GHz band can have up to 60 channels, and an individual channel can be as much as 160 MHz wide. Wi-Fi 7 routers amplify the potential of the 6 GHz band by extending the maximum width of an individual band to up to 320 MHz (twice what can be achieved with Wi-Fi 6/6E routers).

The 320 MHz Wi-Fi channel can support a greater number of data transmission requests simultaneously at faster rates. You can comprehend the difference by picturing the 160 MHz channel as a two-lane highway, and the 320 MHz channel as a four-lane highway; the latter can handle more traffic efficiently.

Multi-Channel Connection

Wi-Fi 7 routers come with a brand-new feature called Multi-Link Operation (MLO). Older routers, including Wi-Fi 6 and 6E routers, were designed to connect a device to a single Wi-Fi band; you could either manually select the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz band, or let the router choose for you.

With the MLO feature, you can connect a device to multiple bands at a time, which eliminates network congestion and enables faster data transmission. Wondering how this works? It’s like distributing traffic on multiple highways instead of depending on a single one.

More QAM, RUs, and MU-MIMO

Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) is a technique for sending and receiving data through radio-frequency waves – it’s used to increase data transfer rates in Wi-Fi networks. Wi-Fi 6/6E features 1024-QAM, whereas Wi-Fi 7 gives you 4096-QAM (also known as 4 K-QAM).

Higher QAM allows more bits of data per hertz. When you upgrade from Wi-Fi 6/6E to Wi-Fi 7, you experience up to 20% higher data transmission rates, as each hertz packs 12 bits instead of 10 bits. This enables seamless streaming and online gaming in high resolution (4K/8K).

Multi-RU, Preamble Puncturing, and Advanced MU-MIMO

Wi-Fi 7 is more resource-efficient than the previous generation of Wi-Fi as it allows more resource units (RU) of bandwidth to be allocated per user. Aside from that, the Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) technology in Wi-Fi 7 routers doubles the number of data streams and overall capacity.

Before Wi-Fi 7, congested Wi-Fi channels would render the rest of the frequency band unusable. Data would pass through primary channels, while the others became unavailable. Preamble Puncturing is a new feature that can split/puncture a Wi-Fi channel, making the previously unusable part functional. This is equivalent to opening up extra lanes on the highway to remove bottlenecks.

Wi-Fi 7 vs. Wi-Fi 6/6E: Key Takeaways

Should I Upgrade to Wi-Fi 7?

Wi-Fi 7 can deliver greater bandwidth, higher speeds, and ultra-low latency; hence, it seems like a practical solution for people who want to improve the performance of their wireless network. However, the feasibility of this cutting-edge Wi-Fi technology for an individual or household is subjective.

When you feel like it’s time to upgrade your connection, you’ve got to consider various aspects. Wi-Fi 7 routers are relatively expensive, so you shouldn’t purchase one unless it complements your internet usage and requirements.

Upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 is recommended if:

1. You’re Subscribed to a Multi-Gig Speed Internet Plan

Wi-Fi 7 routers are designed to support speeds up to 46 Gbps, which is a lot. Someone using an internet connection that delivers basic speeds (let's say below 300 Mbps) would not benefit from the technology. Alternatively, consider upgrading your internet plan or connection type for improved speeds and latency.

2. You Need a New Router

Why not get the latest thing and implement a futuristic approach when spending money is inevitable? Let’s say you’re still stuck with a Wi-Fi 5 router and it needs to be replaced as soon as possible. You could go for Wi-Fi 6/6E, but a Wi-Fi 7 router would be more adaptive towards growing network demands in the next five years or so.

3. You’re Surrounded by Power Users and Smart Devices

Wi-Fi 7 is best suited for data-intensive environments. Techies, entrepreneurs, online streamers, and professional gamers are examples of power users who engage in high-bandwidth activities. Additionally, if you’re part of a big household or organization that relies on a ton of smart tech gadgets, you’ll need a powerful network to keep them all connected and running smoothly.

4. You Own Wi-Fi 7 Compatible Devices

No point in upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 if you lack devices that support the technology and utilize its full potential. Even though Wi-Fi 7 routers are backward compatible, old or outdated devices connected to the network won’t gain anything, i.e., they will perform as per usual.

Examples of Wi-Fi 7 compatible devices are:

• iPhone 16 series
• Latest and high-end Android smartphones like Samsung S24+ and Google Pixel 9 series
• Lenovo: ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition
• DELL Alienware m18 R2 Gaming Laptop
• Sony PS5 Pro