Wi-Fi 7 is the next generation of wireless connections. It's here and offers incredibly fast connections in personal, office and business environments. Not only that, but it also brings with it several new features that should appeal to those looking to upgrade their connection.
The technology behind Wi-Fi 7 really looks next-generation and there are plenty of reasons to take the leap. However, there are also disadvantages to consider, mainly in relation to the price of admission; You'll have to pay for the next-generation connection and also pay for one of the best Wi-Fi routers that can handle it.
The Wi-Fi Alliance has talked at length about the benefits of Wi-Fi 7, but below is a summary of what you can expect if you take the leap.
Wi-Fi 7: let's get to the point
- What is it? Wi-Fi 7 is a wireless technology that continues to use the 6 GHz spectrum to further increase Internet speeds.
- When does it come out? It is currently available in the US, UK, Australia, Japan and Mexico. However, it still needs regulatory approval in many other countries.
- How much will it cost? The cost will depend on the router you buy. The cheapest options are likely to be those offered by your ISP, but you may have to spend upwards of $1,000/£1,000 (approximately AU$1,500) for the best Wi-Fi 7 mesh routers.
Wi-Fi 7 release date
Wi-Fi 7 officially launched on January 8, 2024, when the Wi-Fi Alliance launched its Wi-Fi Certified 7 program, although it will still be years before a significant number of people adapt to it. According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, 233 million devices are expected to enter the market in 2024, increasing to 2.1 billion devices in 2028.
The Alliance also states that smartphones, PCs, tablets and access points (APs) are expected to be the first to adopt Wi-Fi 7, while customer premises equipment (CPE) and virtual and augmented reality equipment (AR/VR) will follow. .
Wi-Fi 7 routers and prices
The first wave of Wi-Fi 7 routers vary greatly in price, depending on the manufacturer and model.
Some relatively affordable routers, like the TP-Link Archer BE800, cost as little as $300, while others can cost up to $1,000 or more. There are also rented routers that Internet providers often provide you; However, these may result in additional monthly costs to your Internet bill.
In between you'll find products like the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S, which costs $699 / £799 / AU$1,499; You can learn more about this in our Netgear Nighthawk RS700S review. Spoiler: we love it. There's also the Amazon eero Max 7 router, which will set you back $599/£599 (not currently available in Australia).
Meanwhile, Acer revealed its two Predator Connect gaming routers at CES 2024. The Predator Connect T7 supports tri-band Wi-Fi 7, providing broader home coverage.
Wi-Fi 7 specifications and performance
The Wi-Fi Alliance detailed the specifications and performance of Wi-Fi 7. The first is the introduction of 320 MHz channels, which double the size of the 160 MHz channels. However, although its greater bandwidth gives as Resulting in incredibly fast speeds, they can only be used in countries that allow access to the 6GHz band. So far these include the US, UK, Australia, Japan and Mexico, although a full list is available here.
There is also MLO or multi-link operation. This allows devices on a network to transmit and receive data on multiple bands (mainly 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) at the same time. This results in more reliable service, higher latency and high performance. This is especially important for virtual reality headsets, as receiving a stream on a 6 GHz band while transmitting tracking information on a 5 GHz band would allow for optimal performance.
Another potential benefit of VR is deterministic latency, which allows devices to know when to expect connection interruptions and what could improve tracking. There's also 4K QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation), which sends 20% more data than the current 1024 QAM standard.
Finally, Wi-Fi 7 is compatible with other types of Wi-Fi, so older laptops will be able to connect to the new standard. However, keep in mind that they may not be able to access the faster speeds that Wi-Fi 7 offers, so be sure to check your devices' Wi-Fi capabilities before investing in a new router.
