6GHz (6E) Wi-Fi: What It Is & How It Works GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Internet, Networking, & Security > Home Networking

6GHz (6E) Wi-Fi: What It Is & How It Works

Wi-Fi 6E offers less wireless clutter and greater speeds

By Tim Fisher Tim Fisher Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability Emporia State University Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 2, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Home Networking Wi-Fi & Wireless The Wireless Connection Routers & Firewalls Network Hubs ISP Broadband Ethernet Installing & Upgrading For years, Wi-Fi devices have transmitted data on either the 2.5GHz or 5GHz frequency band. With the introduction of the 802.11ax standard (also called Wi-Fi 6), devices can now use a third band: 6GHz. Similar to how 5GHz and 2.5GHz devices conform to a particular 802.11 wireless standard and use a specific name (e.g., Wi-Fi 5 operates on the 5GHz band), 6GHz devices have their own name, called Wi-Fi 6E, to differentiate them from other devices. Wi-Fi 6E-capable routers and phones became commercially available in January 2021, but the rollout will be gradual. The hardware update also comes at a hefty cost. For example, Netgear's Nighthawk RAXE500 was released with a $599.99 price tag. The first Wi-Fi 6E smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, starts at $499.

6GHz Wi-Fi vs 5GHz & 2 5GHz

Put simply, higher frequencies are available as you move up the radio spectrum (the larger the GHz number). This translates to more bandwidth, which means faster speeds. Here are the frequency ranges we're dealing with when we compare 6GHz with 5GHz and 2.5GHz: 6GHz: 1,200MHz frequency range5GHz: 500MHz frequency range2.5GHz: 70MHz frequency range Since 6GHz has a higher frequency range than 5GHz and 2.5GHz, there's more bandwidth available. However, as frequency increases, signal range decreases. A great analogy is a garden hose. If you've ever used your finger to control how the water was coming out, you know it can spray much further as you shrink the space available for the water to come out. Think of these frequency ranges as how much of the water flow remains open as you run your finger over it. 6GHz is the biggest of the three. Assuming you don't block the hose opening at all, this is how you get the most water out of it at any given time. The flow/bandwidth is at its max but it doesn't go very far.5GHz has a smaller opening. Your finger is only partially covering the hose, so the water squirts a little further but there's less available throughout all points of the stream (less bandwidth).2.5GHz has the smallest range of the three, so while the water will shoot out of the hose the furthest due to your finger covering nearly the whole opening, much less water is available over the total spray area (i.e., bandwidth capacity is at its lowest). Why Wireless Speeds Always Change Another thing that impacts connection reliability and speed is interference. With more wireless “space” to transmit through, there’s bound to be fewer nearby devices that are using up the same frequency band, so your devices can use Wi-Fi with less "competition" than you'd get when connected on lower bands. Latency is improved in Wi-Fi 6E as well. In fact, it's cut in half when compared to Wi-Fi 5. This is extremely important for applications that rely on real time data, from video conferencing to gameplay. This is all to say that when you move from 2.5/5GHz up to 6GHz, your phone, tablet, laptop, etc., can transmit data faster and hold their connections better.

How to Get 6GHz Wi-Fi

To get the benefits of Wi-Fi 6E, you need a router that supports 6GHz and a device that does the same. While there are Wi-Fi 6 devices available as of this writing, Wi-Fi 6E devices aren't expected to come out until late 2020, and widespread adoption probably won't take happen until 2021 when the Wi-Fi Alliance begins their Wi-Fi 6E certification program. You’ll know if a device is 6GHz-compatible if it has a “Wi-Fi 6E” label. If you do get a Wi-Fi 6E phone or laptop, but don't yet have a router that supports the new standard, you'll still be able to use it just fine, but you won't have access to all those 6GHz benefits. The 9 Best Wireless Routers of 2022 Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire TCL Teases Multiple New 5G Routers for Faster Speeds and Better Security Expert Tested: The 9 Best Wi-Fi 6 Routers in 2022 What Is Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)? The 9 Best 802.11ac Wi-Fi Wireless Routers of 2022 How to Fix Wi-Fi Authentication Problems on Android How to Fix Wi-Fi Connection Drops How to Fix It When Your PS4 Wi-Fi Is Slow Expert Tested: The 9 Best Wi-Fi Range Extenders in 2022 Asus AX6000 RT-AX88U Router Review: A Smart Wi-Fi 6 Router With Great Features Orbi Whole Home Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System Review: Fast Internet Throughout Your House The Ultimate Router Buying Guide The 9 Best Routers for Under $50 of 2022 5G vs 5 GHz Wi-Fi The 7 Best USB Wi-Fi Adapters of 2022 The 9 Best Wireless Routers of 2022 The 9 Best Long-Range Routers of 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies