For a few years, Wi-Fi 6 was touted as the solution for wireless networks that were overcrowded with smartphones, computers and countless smart home devices, all demanding their share of bandwidth. In 2020, we finally saw a huge influx of Wi-Fi 6 devices, just in time for the arrival of a new protocol, Wi-Fi 6E, which companies like Netgear are already adopting as a major improvement for congested wireless networks.
Wi-Fi 6 (also known as 802.11ax Wi-Fi for those who refuse to abandon the old naming scheme) has improved the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz dual band technology of Wi-Fi 820.11n by increasing the width bandwidth on each channel to accommodate more devices simultaneously with less interference that increased wireless transfer speeds. Wi-Fi 6 was a big improvement for wireless networking technology, but at the same time, it was also a kind of band-aid for older technologies that were quickly becoming overwhelmed by the number of wireless devices that we use regularly, and your demand for more and more bandwidth.
If 2.4 GHz were the paved suburban road that led to your home, while 5 GHz was the main dual-lane road that takes you downtown, Wi-Fi 6E will feature a new 6 GHz band that is equivalent to a huge multi-lane highway allowing many devices to operate at full speed at the same time. The maximum speeds that it will theoretically allow will be on the same level as the 5 GHz band offers, but the real benefit of the 6 GHz band is that it will offer 59 non-overlapping channels (compared to 25 non-overlapping channels in the 5 GHz band, and only three channels in the 2.4 GHz band), which will dramatically reduce interference which is a major contributor to reduced bandwidth speeds in a congested network.
The 6 GHz band spans 1,200 MHz, giving Wi-Fi 6E compatible devices access to multiple 160 MHz high-bandwidth channels at the same time, which will be highly appreciated by anyone who joins 8K TV. But most importantly, although older Wi-Fi protocols were backward compatible, no legacy device will be able to use the new 6 GHz band, only the new devices that support it. Using the highway analogy again, your devices won’t get stuck behind a decades-old device that can’t reach the speed limit.
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It seemed like it took a few years from the moment Wi-Fi 6 has become a buzzword in the industry at a time when consumers could really get their hands on Wi-Fi 6-compatible hardware, but Wi-Fi 6E looks like it will launch much faster. One of the first Wi-Fi 6E wireless routers will be the new Nighthawk RAXE500 from Netgear, which will arrive later this year. Powered by a 1.8 GHz quad-core processor, the router will be able to provide multiple gigabit-speed wireless connections to devices using the 6E 160 MHz Wi-Fi channels, in addition to fast wired connections with five gigabit LAN ports additional (including a 2.5G Multi-Gig Port) and a pair of USB 3.0 ports
As with any new technology, there are some good reasons not to rush out and buy a Wi-Fi 6E router yet. The first reason is the price. The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 will sell for $ 600 at launch, which can also earn you a well-equipped Wi-Fi 6 mesh network system with at least three nodes scattered throughout your home. The second reason is that there are few devices that can actually connect to a Wi-Fi 6E network. It was only in the last few months that companies like Intel, Broadcom and Samsung launched (or submitted for FCC approval) devices that can take advantage of Wi-Fi 6E speeds. Your new iPhone 12 Pro? No. All the gadgets you found under the tree for Christmas? Excuse. It will be a long time before consumers can really reap the benefits of Wi-Fi 6E. So for now, your best plan is to hang on as long as possible until 6E routers, like the new Nighthawk, start to drop in price.