WiFi 5 vs WiFi 6 Router: What’s The Difference?

wifi 5 vs wifi 6 router
wifi 5 vs wifi 6 router

Most people feel like having an internet service nowadays is necessary. This is because of all the features they are provided with. Though, keep in mind that there are some things that you have to look out for when getting a connection. The first one is choosing a good ISP service with amazing packages. These will determine the speed of your internet as well as its bandwidth.

Once you are done with this, you can then start to install the router and modem in your house. The router is mostly installed to allow wireless connections on your network. Though, before you purchase any routers, you should keep in mind that there are some variations in these devices.

The two most used routers technologies are Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6. Many users are confused about which one to select which is why we will be using this article to help you out.

WiFi 5 vs WiFi 6 Router

Wi-Fi 5

Wi-Fi technology has been improved since it came out. While previously using these wireless networks would always provide you with a slower speed and small range. The same cannot be said about the newer devices.

These wireless routers have been improved so much that Wi-Fi 5 almost feels like using ethernet cables for your network. That is if your signal strength is strong and does not get interrupted. Getting to why these Wi-Fi standards have been named like this.

You should note that Wi-Fi 5 is called 802.11ac. This is the current generation of routers that most people have in their homes. Wi-Fi 6 is 802.11ax which is the new technology. This generation of routers is the one that you can purchase from stores all around you.

Considering this, it is most likely that most people will switch to these devices in the future. Additionally, keep in mind that all of these technologies are backward compatible.

This means that you will easily be able to connect your older devices to your wireless network. This should be done without going through any supportability issues. Another thing that you should keep in mind is that Wi-Fi 5 caps out at around a maximum speed of 50 Mbps.

This should be more than enough for most people. However, if you are thinking about getting a connection above this speed then Wi-Fi 5 will not be able to utilize the full speed of your network. Though, there are also some models of these devices that can go up to 1300 Mbps.

Wi-Fi 6

As mentioned above Wi-Fi 6 is the new technology that routers will now come with. Considering it is a direct upgrade to Wi-Fi 5, many users might think about upgrading their devices. Though, there are some things that you should know before deciding this.

Wi-Fi 6 does not only increase your speed but provides you with additional features as well. These are all done through the new technology used in these devices. When talking about the maximum speed you can utilize on these devices. Then the simple answer is up to 9.6 Mbps.

You might think this is a lot but most ISPs don’t even provide users with these speeds at the time. Even if yours does have the option to upgrade your connection to 9.6 Mbps or above. Then you should note that these speeds are usually required in large businesses and not at your home.

Even if you stream in 4K then the connection speed will still be overkill for you. On the other hand, offices that provide all of their users with internet might think about upgrading to these routers. This is because all the devices in their network can start to slow down the speed of your internet if it is too low.

Additionally, Wi-Fi 6 is designed to work better in networks instead of a single person using it. The technology ensures that even when you connect multiple devices to it, your internet will still work at top speeds. Considering all this, choosing between the two options should be easy for you.

If you are someone who wants to use Wi-Fi services at your home then choosing Wi-Fi 5 is a better option. It is also quite cheap when compared to the latter. However, if you are someone who wants to use the service at their workspace then Wi-Fi 6 will be the better option.

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