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If youโre new to the world of WiFi in your home, or just want to know how the latest generation of WiFi routers compares, hereโs a quick brief that will help you make an informed decision.
We are going to discuss and compare WiFi 6 and WiFi 5 in terms of functionality, connectivity, and stability and give you all the reasons to upgrade to WiFi 6.
Table of Contents
Streams and Internet speed
In the world of WiFi, 2.4GHz and 5GHz are the two most common frequencies used for long-range and high speeds respectively.
They are both made of component streams and this is where our WiFi data travels. Now, WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 have the highest number of these streams which allows gigabit WiFi speeds.
The difference that exists between these two options is the number of streams. WiFi 6 has an increased number of streams to 12 across the 2.4 GHz and 5GHz Bands. WiFi 5 on the other hand has 8 streams across these two bands.
Given that WiFi 6 has more streams, it has increased internet connection speed meaning that the devices involved have more paths to communicate with. Devices that are WiFi 6 enabled enjoy 40% more internet speeds compared to WiFi 5 Enabled devices.
What is WiFi 5?
WiFi 5 also known as IEEE 802 is the 5th generation of wireless technology. The technology uses the 5th generation IEEE 802.11 set of standards to provide internet throughput through the LAN.
This WiFi generation was released in 2014. It was an upgrade from the previous WiFi 4 Generation. Regardless, this upgrade has its pros and cons;
WiFi 5 pros
- It uses a 5GHz frequency to transmit data. This band is less congested.
Better performance compared to previous generations - It has increased channels with MU-MiMO technology-The technology allowing more significant data to be transferred.
- The signal Modulation is more advanced and efficient.
WiFi 5 Cons
- It uses 5GHz frequency which covers a shorter range.
- Compatibility with the latest devices is an issue.
What is WiFi 6?
WiFi 6 or the official computer network working with the 802.11ax standard is also known as High-frequency WiFi because it uses both 5GHz and 2.4GHz.
This generation of WiFi was released in 2019. This WiFi generation has some great improvements to the previous WiFi 5 Generation. It is designed to work in dense environments such as corporate offices, big buildings, and malls. However, it also has some pros and cons.
Pros
- It uses Target Wake Time (TWT) which saves battery life.
- It offers faster speeds.
- The safety protocols are more advanced making it safer.
- It has all the compatibility with new and old devices.
- It can support more devices.
Cons
- High cost of installation.
- It has a relatively short range of connectivity.
Key Differences
Each WiFi generation comes with some key differences in terms of modification, design, specifications and usability. This is why it is important to pinpoint some important differences between these wifi generations to upgrade as needed.
WiFi standard
Each of the WiFi generations has specific Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering standards. WiFi 5 has the designated WiFi standard IEEE 802.11aac while WiFi 6 standard is 802.11ax. You should not confuse these two standards.
Battery Life and Power Consumption
Electronic device users usually worry about power consumption and the battery life of these devices. Even if you have enough stable power supply, you will clap for WiFi 6 routers and devices for better power-saving modifications. WiFi 6 comes with the Target Wake Time (TWT) which saves more energy.
Network Security Protocols
In a world where hackers and online criminals are advancing their skills and tools daily, network security is an important parameter to consider.
WiFi 5 comes with WPA and WPA 2 security protocols for secure internet connections. The newer WiFi generation has stepped up the game and used WPA, WPA2, and WPA3 network security protocols together.
Data Transfer speeds
Speed of data transfer is another important consideration in the world of internet access. WiFi 5 has a maximum of 6.9Gbps. WiFi 6 on the other hand is a better option because it uses 1024 QAM modulation that boosts a maximum of 9.6Gbps. This means that WiFi 6 has faster connections.
Frequency Bands
The other clear difference between WiFi 5 and 6 is the 2.4GHZ and 5Ghz frequency bands. WiFi 5 use 5GHz for less interference and stable internet connections. But the 5GHz has a shorter range. On the other hand, WiFi 6 uses two bands, 2.4GHz and 5GHz for both speed and improved range.
FAQs
Should I upgrade to WiFi 6?
Are you still using years old router which compromises the range, battery life, security, and fast performance? If yes, then you can get all these benefits by upgrading to WiFi 6. The new routers supporting WiFi 6 have all the improved technologies to boost overall internet performance in terms of speed, security, and range.
Is WiFi 6 secure?
WiFi 6 offers many features such as Beamforming. This means that it transmits the WiFi signals directly to clients in a very fast way. It also comes with robust password protection and a 256-bit encryption algorithm for better security.
Is WiFi 6 Backward Compatible?
One of the many things that people are worried about before they upgrade is whether WiFi 6 is backward compatible. All the devices that were compatible with WiFi 5 are still compatible with WiFi 6 so thereโs nothing to worry about.
Conclusion
With all the benefits explained above, you want to upgrade to WiFi 6. If this is true, and you are panicking about the number of devices that you need to upgrade, relax, you donโt have to replace all the devices in the network.
This is mainly because WiFi 6 devices support WiFi 5 very well. The process of upgrading is also very easy because you just have to purchase a WiFi 6-enabled WiFi.
