If you're in the market for a new router or any other device that uses Wi-Fi, you should first understand the new Wi-Fi 6E standard and what it means for the future of wireless networks at home and in offices around the US.
The Wi-Fi Alliance, a group of Wi-Fi platform vendors that work with the FCC and electronics manufacturers to set standards for Wi-Fi technology, announced the Wi-Fi 6E designation in 2020 for any IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) products that support 6GHz wireless spectrum. Essentially, this means Wi-Fi 6E enables faster speeds and lower latencies than Wi-Fi 6 and earlier iterations.
Wi-Fi 6 vs. Wi-Fi 6E: What's the Difference?
When the IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) standard was first announced, it was limited by law to a wireless spectrum that only covered the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Now, in a 2.4GHz band, you really have only three non-overlapping channels—and that bandwidth is shared by you, your family members, and your neighbors.
(Credit: Wi-Fi Alliance)If you've ever had problems staying connected to a Zoom call or had the latest episode of The Mandalorian pause for buffering, spectrum congestion was probably the cause. If too many devices compete for bandwidth on the same wireless channel, then some of those signals will be dropped.
This isn't just a matter of how many family members are connected to your home's Wi-Fi network. Any other Wi-Fi network in range (such as the one beaming from your neighbor's wireless router) is competing for bandwidth on the same limited number of channels.
(Credit: Wi-Fi Alliance)So in April 2020, the Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to open up the 6GHz band for unlicensed use. With that policy change, significantly more airwaves are open that routers can use to broadcast Wi-Fi signals—and that’s a big deal.
The opening of the 6GHz band is the biggest spectrum addition to Wi-Fi since 1989. The jump from 5GHz to 6GHz might not sound like much, but it essentially quadruples the amount of airwaves (14 additional 80MHz channels, and seven additional 160MHz channels) available for routers and smart devices. That means less signal interference.
(Credit: Wi-Fi Alliance)Bottom line: Early-adopter devices using Wi-Fi 6 (such as the first batch of Wi-Fi 6 routers) are limited to the 2.4GHz and 5GHz spectrum, while Wi-Fi 6E-compliant devices will have access to all those juicy 6GHz airwaves.
What Are the Benefits of Wi-Fi 6E?
The simplest reason that you'll want Wi-Fi 6E? The 6GHz band allows for internet speeds of greater than 1Gbps. Not only that, but the increased spectrum means lower latency (less than one millisecond) for online games, video calls, or virtual computing sessions in which you need instantaneous response to keyboard commands, voices, or mouse clicks. (See more about how we test wireless routers.)
Even with faster connectivity, you'll probably only notice the advantages of Wi-Fi 6E when it comes to home network capacity—which is to say, in the form of less spectrum congestion. Whole-home gigabit coverage and multi-gigabit Wi-Fi capacity means normal homeowners can finally have the kind of next-generation computing experiences we've only seen at venues like vendor demos or at trade shows. Imagine virtual reality gaming anywhere in your house, or participating in augmented reality business presentations, all without any bandwidth drop due to other family members streaming Netflix or neighbors watching YouTube.
Wi-Fi 6E: What's the Catch?
There is usually a hidden "gotcha" with any new technology that sounds too good to be true. If Wi-Fi 6E has an Achilles' heel, it's that the 6GHz wireless spectrum uses shorter wavelengths. Short wavelengths are great for fast data transfers, but they have a harder time traveling long distances, and they suffer greater interference from physical obstructions like dense walls or floors in a building.
Compounding the range problem is that Wi-Fi 6E is tangled in regulatory approvals that further hamper its performance. The 6GHz spectrum in the US still has some existing licensed users authorized to broadcast at full power, including fixed satellite services (FSS) and wireless mobile carriers. In order to limit interference, the FCC has imposed power rules for Wi-Fi devices operating on the 6GHz band. In a nutshell, this means that 6GHz routers and access points designed for indoor use are considered low-power devices and can’t operate at power levels equivalent to what's allowed while operating on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
(Credit: Wi-Fi Alliance)As a result, 6GHz signal range is severely limited, even indoors. In testing, we haven't seen any Wi-Fi 6E router or mesh system that can spread a signal on 6GHz as far as it can on 5GHz or 2.4GHz. This means that if you buy a Wi-Fi 6E device right now, expect to be able to reliably connect on the 6GHz band only when you're in the same room as the router.
There is good news, however; the FCC is working to finalize the Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) system, which will allow Wi-Fi devices operating in the 6GHz band to operate at increased power levels (otherwise known as standard or full power), enabling increased range and better overall performance. Once the new AFC standard is fully approved, vendors can push a firmware update to existing Wi-Fi 6E routers to allow them to operate at higher power levels.
How to Get Wi-Fi 6E
Now that you know Wi-Fi 6E is a must-have technology for the future, let's talk about how you can get your hands on it now. Countries like the US, Brazil, and Korea have already opened up the 6GHz band, but many other countries have been slow to open their wireless spectrum for commercial use. As a result, most of the Wi-Fi 6E devices you'll see today are marketed for US customers.
Wi-Fi 6E devices are backward-compatible with Wi-Fi 6 and earlier Wi-Fi standards, but to use the new 6GHz channels, you'll need a Wi-Fi 6E router and a Wi-Fi 6E client device (meaning computers, phones, smart home devices, and other gadgets that support Wi-Fi 6E). That means even if you have a relatively new Wi-Fi 6 router, you'll still need to upgrade to a Wi-Fi 6E model.
(Credit: Netgear)Below are some routers that make a good foundation for a home Wi-Fi 6E network. But you won't be able to use their cutting-edge speeds without connected devices that also support Wi-Fi 6E. We tested many of these routers using a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Any phone using the latest versions of Qualcomm's FastConnect chipset will be able to use the 6GHz band as well. Several laptops also now support Wi-Fi 6E, mostly those equipped with the Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210 (Gig+) chipset.
The Best Wi-Fi 6E Routers We've Tested...
TP-Link Archer AXE75 Review
4.0 ExcellentEero Pro 6E Review
4.0 ExcellentNetgear Nighthawk Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Router (RAXE500) Review
4.0 ExcellentAsus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 Review
4.0 Excellent See all (4 items)Should You Upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E?
The easy answer to this question right now is yes, but only if you're in the market for a new standalone router. Wi-Fi 6E routers no longer carry a high early-adopter cost, and prices continue to come down considerably, which means you should be able to find an excellent option for less than $200. Plus, more and more Wi-Fi 6E-compatible devices you can connect to your router are hitting the market.
However, near term, Wi-Fi 6E won't help you all that much if you venture into the next room, let alone go outside, due to its current range limitations. So if you're looking to expand your work-from-home capabilities to your backyard, you'll likely be better served by a mesh Wi-Fi system, if you don't already have one, than by shifting to a Wi-Fi 6E router. A good mesh system will steer each connected client to the appropriate band based on factors like distance and signal interference, which duplicates some of the benefits of the 6GHz band.
That said, if you're in the market for a new router, you want something future-proof, and you don't mind paying a premium, then by all means, consider a Wi-Fi 6E model.
