WiFi 7
Wi-Fi 7 is the next generation of wireless connectivity that is already here, providing incredibly fast connections in personal, office and commercial environments. Not only that, but there are plenty of new features along with the faster speeds that should appeal to those looking to upgrade their connection.
There are plenty of reasons to take the plunge, especially since the technology behind Wi-Fi 7 is incredible and feels truly next-gen. However, there can also be some disadvantages, including the entrance fee, as you will have to pay for both the connection and one of the best Wi-Fi routers that can handle it.
The Wi-Fi Alliance has talked at length about the benefits of Wi-Fi 7, but below is a summary of what to expect if you take the plunge.
Wi-Fi 7: Get to the point
- What is it? Wi-Fi 7 is a wireless technology that continues to use the 6GHz spectrum to increase internet speeds even further.
- When is it out? It is currently available in the US, UK, Australia, Japan and Mexico. However, in many other countries it still needs approval from regulators.
- What will it cost? Again, the cost depends on the router you buy, and can range from those provided by your ISP to well over $1,000/£1,000 for Wi-Fi 7 Mesh routers.
Wi-Fi 7 release date
Wi-Fi 7 is already available and has been available since January 2024, although it will take years for a significant number of people to adapt to it. According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, 233 million devices are expected to hit the market in 2024, with this number growing to 2.1 billion by 2028.
It also states that smartphones, PCs, tablets and access points (APs) are expected to be the first adopters of Wi-Fi 7, while customer premises equipment (CPE) and augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) equipment will follow suit. will follow. , and continues to gain early market traction.
Wi-Fi 7 routers and prices
The price seems to vary dramatically between Wi-Fi 7 routers depending on the manufacturer and model. There are mainly tri-band and mesh routers available right now, but what is available doesn’t fully reflect the average cost.
Some relatively affordable routers cost as little as $300, while others can cost you as much as $1,000 or more. There are also lease routers that internet providers often give you, but there are additional monthly costs on top of your internet bill.
A few other companies have already launched Wi-Fi 7 routers, including Netgear’s Nighthawk RS700S. At CES 2024, Acer unveiled its two Predator Connect gaming routers. The Predator Connect T7 supports Wi-Fi 7 tri-band, which provides wider home coverage.
Wi-Fi 7 specs and performance
The Wi-Fi Alliance has detailed the specifications and performance of Wi-Fi 7. The first is the introduction of 320MHz channels, which are twice the size of 160MHz channels. And while their greater bandwidth results in incredibly fast speeds, they can only be used in countries that allow access to the 6GHz band. So far that’s the US, UK, Australia, Japan and Mexico, although a full list is available here.
There is also MLO or Multi-Link Operation. This allows devices on a network to simultaneously send and receive data over multiple bands (mainly 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz). It results in more reliable service, higher latency and high throughput. This is especially important for VR headsets, as receiving a stream on a 6GHz band and sending tracking information on a 5GHz band would ensure optimal performance.
It would also feature deterministic latency, letting devices know when to expect connection disruptions. This would also benefit VR headsets as it would warn of upcoming latency issues. There’s also 4K QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), which transmits 20% more data than the current 1024 QAM standard.
Finally, Wi-Fi 7 is backwards compatible with other Wi-Fi types, so older laptops can connect to the new standard even though they may not have access to the faster speeds that Wi-Fi 7 offers. So make sure you check the Wi-Fi capabilities of your devices before investing in a new Wi-Fi 7 router.