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Everyone wants faster Wi-Fi. Faster gaming, quicker downloads, rapid uploads, better quality video streams… the list of reasons why everyone wants speedy Wi-Fi is almost endless.
But figuring out how to get faster Wi-Fi isn’t always easy, especially when there are numerous Wi-Fi versions, including Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, and Wi-Fi 6E.
Wi-Fi 5 vs. Wi-Fi 6 vs. Wi-Fi 6E
Wi-Fi isn’t set in stone. If it were, we’d all still be chugging along using the original Wi-Fi standards, Wi-Fi 1 and Wi-Fi 2 (or 802.11a and 802.11b, to give them their IEEE Standard name), with maximum data rates of a whopping 54Mbps and 11Mbps respectively. Wi-Fi’s capabilities have massively expanded since its 1999 launch, but the premise remains the same: broadcast the internet wirelessly to devices.
Now,Wi-Fi 7 is the latest Wi-Fi version, officially launched at CES 2024. However, most folks are still using either Wi-Fi (launched in 2014), Wi-Fi 6 (2019), or Wi-Fi 6E (2021). This begs the question: should you use Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, or Wi-Fi 6E, and what’s the difference?
IEEE Standard
Wi-Fi Alliance Name
Year Released
Maximum Data Rate
2.4GHz & 5GHz
802.11ax-2021
2.4GHz, 5GHz, & 6GHz
So, on that, Wi-Fi 6E is the best Wi-Fi option for most folks when it comes to choosing between Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, and Wi-Fi 6E. It supports three Wi-Fi broadcast bands, has the same data transmission speeds as Wi-Fi 6, and should ease congestion on your network.
Check Your Broadband/Fibre Speed
However, it isn’t as simple as just buying a Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E router and enjoying faster speeds. The other major contributing factor to your Wi-Fi speed is your incoming internet connection. Even if your router supports blazing-fast multiple gigabit connections, if the incoming internet from your provider doesn’t do the same, you’ll never experience those speeds.
For example, some folks are lucky enough to enjoy multi-gigabit fiber connections, where a Wi-Fi 6 or 6E router is absolutely required, as Wi-Fi 5 would limit Wi-Fi speeds to other devices. Whereas the results from my internet speed test below show that my internet connection is far from blazing fast and certainly doesn’t require an upgrade any time soon.
How to Check What Wi-Fi Standard You’re Using
Upgrading your Wi-Fi is a no-brainer, especially if you have a fast incoming connection and are still using Wi-Fi 5. But how do you check what Wi-Fi standard you’re using in the first place?
The fastest way to check is to complete an internet search for “[router name] wifi standard” or “[router name] wifi type.” Similar searches will reveal the Wi-Fi standards your router can use.
Don’t forget that upgrading your Wi-Fi has other benefits, too. Specifically, modern Wi-Fi versions are more secure than their older counterparts, so upgrading should also make your network more secure.
