Note: This feature was first published on 26 January 2023 and is now updated for relevancy.
Finally, here comes Wi-Fi 7
The first Wi-Fi 7 routers were unveiled at CES 2023, giving us a glimpse into the future of networking. After nearly two years, the Wi-Fi 7 standard has finally been ratified, and you can now find plentiful of these networking options in retail.
In this guide, we'll tell you how Wi-Fi 7 improves on Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, how much faster it is, and what you need to be able to maximise it and enjoy its full capabilities.
What is Wi-Fi 7?
A graph showing the evolution of Wi-Fi. (Image source: Qualcomm)
Known technically as IEEE 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7 is the latest networking standard and it promises major improvements over both Wi-Fi 6 and even the newer Wi-Fi 6E. As is the case with all new networking standards, Wi-Fi 7 purports to reduce latency while increasing capacity, speed, and improving stability. On the subject of speed, the thereotical maximum speed of Wi-Fi 7 is a whopping 46Gbps. So how does it do it?
How does Wi-Fi 7 deliver better performance?
Wi-Fi 7 has 4096-QAM which means denser signals that carry more data. (Image source: TP-Link)
Wi-Fi 7 delivers better performance in three main ways. So let’s touch on each of them briefly now.
Multi-Link Operation
Let’s cut to the chase, the most significant advancement in Wi-Fi 7 is a trick called Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which lets Wi-Fi 7-compatible routers and client devices communicate using more than one band. Previous Wi-Fi standards only allowed connections over a single band. This means a Wi-Fi 7 router can transmit data to a Wi-Fi 7 client using a combination of its 5GHz band and/or 6GHz band. You can see how much faster this enables Wi-Fi 7 to be.
Wider Channels
Each frequency band is comprised of many channels, and the wider the channel, the more data it can carry. And in Wi-Fi 7, the commonly used 5GHz band is no longer limited to just channels with widths of 20MHz. These channels can combine to form wider 40MHz or 80MHz channels. Wi-Fi 7 also supports the 6GHz band, and channels in this band can combine to be as wide as 320MHz.
Higher QAM
Briefly put, Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) is a method to transmit and receive data in radio waves. The higher and denser it is, the more data it can carry. Wi-Fi 7 will use a new 4096-QAM technique, which is four times that of Wi-Fi 6’s 1024-QAM.
However, as the QAM number goes up, the range drops. This means the real-world performance gains are often less. According to early tests, the jump to 4096-QAM will translate to roughly a 20% increase in peak performance.
So how fast is Wi-Fi 7?
Wi-Fi 7 will let routers and compatible client devices communicate over more than one frequency band. (Image source: TP-Link)
The theoretical maximum speed of Wi-Fi 7 assuming the use of a 320MHz wide channel, 4096-QAM, and MLO is a staggering 46Gbps. That’s slightly under than five times the theoretical maximum bandwidth of Wi-Fi 6. And to further put that number in perspective, it’s greater than the maximum bandwidth of Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps). In other words, Wi-Fi 7 has the potential to be very fast.
In the real world, however, expect speeds to be lower. To start, few client devices (this refers to phones, laptops, and other nodes that work with the networking standard) will likely be able to send and receive so many streams of data at once. It would consume too much energy and cause them to run too hot. Also, interference, like other wireless devices, and structural elements, such as doors and walls, will likely impede performance. Even so, expect Wi-Fi 7 routers and client devices to deliver considerably better performance than Wi-Fi 6 and even Wi-Fi 6E routers.
What do you need to take advantage of Wi-Fi 7?
Qualcomm has a whole suite of Wi-Fi 7 solutions in the works. (Image source: Qualcomm)
Obviously, you’ll need a Wi-Fi 7 router, but you also need Wi-Fi 7 devices. There are already plenty of devices that support Wi-Fi 7 - the newest Galaxy phones, the iPhone 16 series, and a whole host of new laptops all do. Slowly but surely, Wi-Fi 7 is becoming the de facto wireless standard, so if you are buying a new device, make sure to check its specification sheet to ensure it supports Wi-Fi 7 -- especially if you're buying top-tier models.
Will Wi-Fi 7 be backwards compatible?
Yes, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E devices will all be able to work with Wi-Fi 7 routers.
What should I consider when looking for a new Wi-Fi 7 router?
To help cut through the many mesh and router options in the market, here's a handy guide to help you size up the right router for your needs.
What are some of the best Wi-Fi 7 routers to buy now?
Looking for some no-nonsense options to jump-start your Wi-Fi 7 journey? Here are two high-end options you can't go wrong with - one for gaming enthusiasts and another suitable for the typical home to cover blind spots and still have more throughput than previous-gen options.
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98
If money is no object, then the obvious choice is possibly the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98. This is a quad-band router that broadcasts two 5GHz networks along with one 2.4GHz band and a high-speed 6GHz band. The 6GHz band delivers speeds of up to 11,525Mbps with the right device, and the router's total data transfer rate is a whopping 25,000Mbps. Furthermore, it has a fantastic selection of ports. A single 10Gbps WAN port ensures it'll maximise your 10Gbps broadband plan, while two 10Gbps LAN ports mean the fastest possible speeds for connected devices like your PC or gaming console. The only problem is that S$1,099, it's easily one of the priciest routers in the market now.
You can find the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 on Lazada and Shopee.
Linksys Velop 7 Pro
The Linksys Velop 7 Pro. Photo: Linksys
If you need greater coverage, then you'll need a mesh networking system, and one that you should consider is the Linksys Velop 7 Pro. This is a tri-band system that broadcasts one 2.4GHz band, one 5GHz band, and one 6GHz band. The maximum data transfer rate of the 5GHz band is 4,320Mbps, while the 6GHz band is capable of delivering speeds of up to 5,760Mbps. The total data transfer rate is 11,000Mbps. It also has a 2.5Gbps WAN port, so you can take full advantage of 2.5Gbps broadband plans. Four Ethernet LAN ports ensure flexibility and the option to connect to devices like gaming consoles and TV set-top boxes.
A two-pack Velop 7 Pro system is going for S$889, and you can find it on Lazada and Shopee.
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