Wireless Networking Standards: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) vs Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Wi-Fi technology has transformed the way of internet communication and it’s been evolving over the years. All major updates are based on the IEEE 802.11 standards and the Wi-Fi 6 is the new sensation in the market. However, the previous generation i.e. Wifi 5 has not moved out from the market and is still in use and performing well. In this article, we will see what are the major differences between Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax).
What is Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)?
Wi-Fi 5, also known as 802.11ac is the 5th generation of IEEE 802.11 standards. Wi-Fi 5 provides faster data transfer compared to it’s previous generation 802.11n. It mainly operates on a 5GHz band and has support for older Wi-Fi standards.
What is Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)?
Wi-Fi 6 or 802.11ax is the next generation of Wi-Fi 5 with several improvements. It operates on 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands and provides better speed and connectivity than previous generations. Wi-Fi 6 also supports advance technologies like OFDMA and TWT with support for MU-MIMO.
- MU-MIMO: MU-MIMO stands for Muti-User, Multiple Input, Multiple Output. This technology allows Wi-Fi routers to communicate with multiple devices at the same time and not compromise in terms of efficiency and latency.
- OFDMA: OFDMA stands for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access. This enables more efficient data transmission by dividing the wireless channels into multiple smaller sub-channels which allows multiple devices to transmit data simultaneously.
Differences Between Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6
|
Aspect |
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
Wi-Fi (802.ax) |
|---|---|---|
|
Wi-Fi standards |
Based on IEEE 802.11, named as 802.11ac |
Based on IEEE 802.11, named as 802.11ax |
|
Frequency Bands |
Supports 5GHz and 2.4 GHz bands |
Supports 5GHz, 2.4GHz and 6GHz band |
|
Power efficiency |
Better power efficiency than previous generations. |
Better efficiency than Wi-Fi 5 with support for Target Wake Time |
|
Network Security |
Supports WPA2 and WPA3 protocol |
Supports enhanced WPA3 standards |
|
Multi-user Support |
Supports MU-MIMO for multi-user connectivity |
Supports MU-MIMO and OFDMA for better connectivity |
|
Compatibility |
Compatible with older internet technologies like 802.11a |
Supports old standards but both router and device need to be Wi-Fi 6 compatible for a better experience. |
Conclusion
Wi-Fi 6 is a new technology compared to Wi-Fi 5 and has significant advancements in wireless connectivity, networking experience, and reduced latency. This makes Wi-Fi 6 to be better compatible with modern internet devices. However, Wi-Fi 5 will remain in the picture for quite some time.
Wireless Networking Standards: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) vs Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) – FAQs
How to upgrade WIFI 5 to WIFI 6 ?
This is not a software update rather a hardware update so you need to replace your internet router with a new Wi-Fi 6 enable router.
Do I need device with Wi-Fi 6 support for Wi-Fi 6 routers ?
It is recommended to use Wi-Fi 6 enabled devices to get the most out of it, however Wi-Fi 6 routers are backward compatible and supports devices with previous versions.
What security standards are used in Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 ?
WPA2 security standard is used Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 uses a stronger encryption which is WPA3
Is Wi-Fi 6 is good for home usage ?
If you have plenty of internet devices in your home that you will be able to see the difference using Wi-Fi 6. For few devices there is no need for upgradation.
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