What is Wi-Fi 7 and do you need it?

Ken Colburn
| Exclusively for The Republic

Question: What is Wi-Fi 7 and do I need it?

Answer: Wi-Fi technology has evolved over the years, with most users unaware of the significant differences. Wi-Fi 6 began rolling out in 2019 and has been steadily adopted by device manufacturers as new products are released, and the same will happen with Wi-Fi 7.

It will be supported by the next generation of smartphones from Apple, Google and Samsung, and in the coming months also by new laptops, tablets and other smartphones.

What exactly is Wi-Fi 7?

Wi-Fi 7 builds on the foundation of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, which you’re probably using now. It’s designed to provide faster speeds, lower latency, and better performance when it comes to supporting multiple devices. While Wi-Fi 6 introduced features like OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) to manage heavy traffic from multiple devices, Wi-Fi 7 takes it to the next level.

Wi-Fi 7 Key Improvements:

Much faster speeds: Theoretical maximum speeds can reach up to 46Gbps, far exceeding what Wi-Fi 6 and even most wired connections offer. This is due to the wider channel bandwidth (320MHz compared to Wi-Fi 6’s 160MHz), which is like doubling the number of lanes on a highway.
Multi-point operation (MLO): It can connect to multiple frequency bands simultaneously (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz), which increases reliability and reduces latency. This can be especially helpful for mobile devices, as new physical obstacles affect the connection as you move around a large home or warehouse.
Lower latency:The technology will be particularly attractive for real-time applications such as gaming, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and 4K/8K video streaming.
Improved congestion management: is designed to support even more connected devices with less interference and congestion.

These improvements make Wi-Fi 7 ideal for users with high performance requirements—such as gamers, professionals using bandwidth-intensive applications, or households with dozens of smart devices.

Do you need Wi-Fi 7?

Now, the big question: Do you really need to upgrade to Wi-Fi 7? The answer depends largely on how you use the internet and what kind of performance you expect from your wireless network.

If you use the internet mostly for basic tasks—like browsing the web, checking email, or streaming HD video—Wi-Fi 6 or even Wi-Fi 5 will still meet your needs. Most home networks aren’t limited by Wi-Fi speed as much as they are by the speed of your internet connection.

For example, if your internet connection is slower than 200 Mbps, upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 won’t provide any noticeable improvement unless you also increase the speeds reaching your home or business.

On the other hand, if you’re into online gaming, videoconferencing, or work in a field that requires high-performance connectivity — like graphic design, video editing, or cloud computing — Wi-Fi 7 may be worth the investment. Its lower latency and faster speeds will make a tangible difference, especially when every millisecond counts.

Future-proofing

If you’re planning on upgrading your networking gear anytime soon, it’s worth considering investing in a Wi-Fi 7-capable router now. More devices will start to support the new standard, and if you have or plan to install a large number of smart home devices, Wi-Fi 7’s ability to handle dozens of connected gadgets at once will be a real advantage.

Ken Colburn is the founder and CEO of Data Doctors Computer Services, datadoctors.com. Ask any technical question at facebook.com/DataDoctors or on Twitter @TheDataDoc.