What is WiFi 6?

WiFi 6 is the marketing name for the 802.11ax WiFi standard. It was finalised by the Wi-Fi Alliance in 2019 and is now the standard WiFi version in new routers and devices. WiFi 6 operates on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.

WiFi 6E extends WiFi 6 to the 6GHz band, adding additional spectrum and reducing interference. WiFi 7 (802.11be) is emerging but not yet mainstream in UK consumer hardware.

What WiFi 6 improves over WiFi 5

• Speed: Maximum theoretical throughput increases from 3.5 Gbps (WiFi 5) to 9.6 Gbps (WiFi 6). Real-world speeds are lower but meaningfully better in good conditions.
• Capacity: WiFi 6 uses OFDMA (borrowed from mobile networks) to serve multiple devices simultaneously more efficiently. In congested environments – busy offices, flats with many networks nearby – WiFi 6 maintains performance better than WiFi 5.
• Latency: Target Wake Time (TWT) reduces when devices need to communicate, lowering effective latency for latency-sensitive applications.
• Battery life: TWT also allows devices to sleep for longer between transmissions, improving battery life on connected devices.

Do you need WiFi 6?

If your home has one or two users and a cable or VDSL broadband connection, WiFi 5 is adequate. You will not notice a practical speed difference because your broadband speed is typically the bottleneck, not your WiFi.

WiFi 6 is worth having if you have a fast (300 Mbps+) broadband connection, many devices connected simultaneously, or you work from home and need reliable performance on video calls.

WiFi 6 dongles

WiFi 6 USB adapters are now widely available. They require a WiFi 6 router to achieve WiFi 6 speeds – a WiFi 6 dongle on a WiFi 5 router operates at WiFi 5 speeds. Conversely, a WiFi 5 dongle on a WiFi 6 router is limited to WiFi 5 speeds. Upgrade both ends to see the full benefit.

For desktop PCs and older laptops, a WiFi 6 USB dongle is a cost-effective upgrade that future-proofs your wireless connectivity. See our WiFi dongle guide for buying recommendations.