Home What you need to know about WiFi 6

What you need to know about WiFi 6

Wi-Fi 6 isn’t just about faster speeds. It also brings more features, such as saving battery life for the device using Wi-Fi 6. With its new technologies it does the same thing, like connect you to the internet, and speeds up connections in the process.

The Wi-Fi 6 is now available but lots of people still do not know much about it.

Will I get Wi-Fi 6?

Short answer, no. This relies on hardware, so to get it you would have to buy a new device and a new router that’s compatible with it anyway. It’s expected that Wi-Fi 6 will come to new devices by default, and the devices won’t drop many bars while using a busy network.

You don’t necessarily need to get the latest version of Wi-Fi, but it is recommended to switch to it if you have a house filled with smart devices and your router can’t keep up, you may need to switch.
If you were to have a Wi-Fi 5 device and a Wi-Fi 6 router, you may benefit as the router may be able to communicate with more devices than a Wi-Fi 5 router.

Your data is protected better

The newer version of Wi-Fi can even provide better security, as last year Wi-Fi got the biggest security update in a decade, named WPA3, which makes it harder for hackers to crack passwords by identifying certain dictionary attacks (A list of words that it can choose for the password to log in with) and can even make data less useful if hackers do manage to get into the Wi-Fi.

WPA3 is optional for current devices/routers, but for a Wi-Fi 6 device to receive certification from the Wi-FI Alliance, WPA3 is needed, so Wi-Fi 6 devices will have better security protection when released.

How fast will devices be?

A Wi-Fi 6 device connected to a Wi-Fi 6 router is said to be significantly faster than a Wi-Fi 5 device using a Wi-Fi 5 router.

It all depends on the stress being put on the router, if more than one device is connected, the router may be put under an overwhelming amount of stress. If one person is playing a game, another streaming Netflix, another video calling, and more smart devices are connected to the Wi-Fi, the connection may drop, but only by a bit. For daily use though, the devices will get a speed boost.

wi-fi 6

Does Wi-Fi 6 drain my battery?

No, it actually does the opposite, it improves battery life, it allows devices to plan communications with a Wi-Fi 6 router, reducing the time it takes for them to keep their antennas on. The result? Less battery drain and improve battery life in return. This is because of the feature called Target Wake Time, which allows routers to schedule check-in times with devices.

Wi-Fi 6 could get even better

Wi-Fi 6 supported devices have started coming out already, in laptops mainly. The latest version of Wi-Fi will also come out in different phones this year as well, as Qualcomm’s latest processor, the Snapdragon 855, has support for the protocol. Upgraded routers have started coming out, but so far, they are extremely expensive and could make someones credit card hate them.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.