Wi-Fi 6
Upgrade your network.
The next evolution and future of wireless networks, Wi-Fi 6 is your fast, secure, and efficient connection to everything online.
What makes Wi-Fi 6 the connection of the future?
Get more data, faster.
Wi-Fi 6 quickly transmits more data, so you can get all the content you need to work or play from home, easier than ever before.
Take comfort in better security.
Surfing is safer with WPA3, a new security protocol that keeps important things like your passwords and data... yours.
Improve the efficiency of your network.
Whether streaming shows or scrolling feeds, your family and friends can now enjoy a better Wi-Fi connection to more devices, at the same time.
Extend the battery life of your devices.
Wi-Fi 6 features Target Wake Time, which allows the router to schedule check-in times with your devices, so they're not using up battery life constantly searching for signal status.
Shop Wi-Fi 6 networking devices
Shop Wi-Fi 6 compatible products
Make the most of your connected devices with Wi-Fi 6, the latest in Wi-Fi technology.
What is the difference between Wi-Fi 6 and other Wi-Fi versions?
Wi-Fi 6, which you might also see referred to as Wifi ax, is the latest version of Wi-Fi wireless connectivity. The previous generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi is now referred to as Wi-Fi 5. The first Wi-Fi 6 devices began to roll out in 2019.
What are the benefits of Wifi 6?
Wi-Fi 6 was developed to address the challenges that have arisen since 802.11ac devices were first released in 2012. Since that time, 4K streaming has gone mainstream, putting more demand on home Wi-Fi networks. More importantly, the sheer number of devices that connect to Wi-Fi in our homes has exploded.
It’s not just video and music streamers, PCs, smartphones, game consoles and laptops. In many of today’s homes you’ll also find a wide assortment of smart devices including thermostats, door locks, lights, TVs, cameras, and more. Each of those smart devices requires an internet connection. The sheer number of devices trying to connect simultaneously can overwhelm a Wi-Fi router, resulting in dropped connections and poor performance.
Wi-Fi 6 speeds are higher, which is a big win for 4K and 8K video streaming. It also gets new technology like bi-directional MU-MIMO for dedicated streaming to a target device in both directions. Wi-Fi 6 is specifically designed to support smart homes, allowing hundreds of devices to connect to your network without causing congestion. It also helps to preserve battery power for smart sensors that can connect at scheduled times instead of being permanently connected to your network.
How to get Wi-Fi 6, starting with a Wi-Fi 6 router
To get the full benefits of Wi-Fi 6, you need both a Wi-Fi 6 router (or ax router) and a Wi-Fi 6 device. The router alone will have benefits such as higher overall speeds. And as you add compatible devices such as Wi-Fi 6 phones, or a Wi-Fi 6 laptop, the benefits over an older router will become more evident. A Wi-Fi 6 router will still be fully backward-compatible with your older devices, so you don’t need to worry about an upgrade resulting in them being cut off.
For the ultimate in home Wi-Fi solutions, manufacturers are now beginning to offer Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers. These combine the whole-home coverage and seamless wireless connectivity of mesh, with the improved speeds and network management benefits of Wi-Fi 6.
What are Wi-Fi 6 compatible devices?
Wi-Fi 6 compatible devices are those that are certified to meet Wi-Fi 6 standards. They will be clearly marked on the box, and are becoming much more common. For example, on the iPhone 11 Wi-Fi 6 support was included.
If you recently bought a PC or laptop with 802.11ac, there’s good news. You can easily upgrade it to the latest standard with a USB stick Wi-Fi 6 adapter.