With its extremely fast data rates and steady low latency, Wi-Fi 7, technically termed 802.11be, is all set to revolutionize wireless experiences.
Tech enthusiasts are already lining up to get routers, access points, repeaters, and processors that support WiFi 7. If you think your current Wi-Fi is strong, Wi-Fi 7 will outperform Wi-Fi 6 and 6E nearly four times and Wi-Fi 5 five times!
Let’s find out when Wi-Fi 7 will be released so you can experience the latest technology.
Wi-Fi 7 Release Date and Devices List: 2024
The Wi-Fi Alliance announced on January 8, 2024, that it has launched a Wi-Fi 7 device certification program. Although the technical specifications are nearly complete, formal approval is not expected until the end of 2024. Even before finalization, the market for Wi-Fi 7 devices is anticipated to reach $24.2 billion USD by 2030.
What is Wi-Fi 7?
Wi-Fi 7 is the seventh generation, providing faster speed and better performance and soon becoming the new norm across Internet-wide device connections.
Few routers, phones, and laptops already support Wi-Fi 7 and only need hardware updates to enjoy full speed after it is finalized by the first quarter of 2024. Let’s check the devices that support Wi-Fi 7 below:
- Xiaomi 13 Pro
- Oppo Find X6 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Lenovo Legion Slim 7 Laptop
- Samsung’s 2023 Flagship Phones
- Intel BE200 Card Laptops
- TP-Link Deco BE85 Mesh Router
- TP-Link Archer BE800- BE19000 Tri-Band Router
- TP-Link Archer TBE400U USB Wi-Fi 7 adapter
- RS700S – Nighthawk Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Router
- ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro Router
- Asus RT-BE96U Router
- MSI RadiX BE22000 Turbo
- Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro
The first Wi-Fi 7-certified devices are manufactured by Qualcomm, Intel, CommScope RUCKUS Networks, MaxLinear, Broadcom, and MediaTek. These companies form the certification testbed and will likely have Wi-Fi 7 after its release.
Wi-Fi 6E Release Date and List of Compatible Devices
Wi-Fi 6E is an extension of Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax). It was approved on September 1, 2020, and the IEEE Standards Board formally released the standard on February 1, 2021. Since then, it has been available for purchase. Most devices support Wi-Fi 6E, including the following:
- iMac (24-inch, 2023)
- MacBook Pro (14-inch, Nov 2023)
- MacBook Pro (16-inch, Nov 2023)
- MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2023) or MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023)
- Mac Mini (2023)
- Mac Studio (2023)
- Mac Pro (2023)
- iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro
- Asus ROG Phone 5s
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
- Asus ZenFone 8
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4
- Acer Predator Helios 300 (PH315-55)
- Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (PT516-52s)
- Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9 inch (6th generation)
- Asus RT-AX89X Router
- Netgear Nighthawk AX1800 Router
- TP-Link Archer AX73 Router
- Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S
- Samsung QN900B SmartTV
- LG OLED C2 SmartTV
Which countries provide Wi-Fi 7?
Here is the revised text:”Several countries that have adopted Wi-Fi 7 include Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, European Union, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, UAE, and the United States, among others.”
Who is responsible for developing Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and 7?
The Wi-Fi Alliance, a non-profit organization that holds the Wi-Fi trademark has developed Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and 7.
Is There Wi-Fi 8?
No, currently, the latest generation of Wi-Fi is the Wi-Fi 7.
WI-FI 7 SPEC AND PERFORMANCE
The Wi-Fi Alliance has released details about the specifications and performance of Wi-Fi 7. One significant change is the introduction of 320MHz channels, which are double the size of the previous 160MHz channels. These larger channels result in incredibly fast speeds, but they can only be used in countries that allow access to the 6GHz band. This includes the US, UK, Australia, Japan, and Mexico. You can find a full list of countries here.
MLO, or Multi-Link Operation, allows devices on a network to transmit and receive data across multiple bands – mainly 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz – simultaneously. This results in more reliable service, lower latency, and higher throughput. It’s especially important for VR headsets, as receiving a stream on a 6GHz band while transmitting tracking information on a 5GHz band would optimize performance.
One potential advantage of VR is deterministic latency, which allows devices to anticipate connection interruptions and could lead to improved tracking. Additionally, there’s 4K QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), which transmits 20% more data than the current 1024 QAM standard.
FAQs:
When will Wi-Fi 7 be officially released?
Wi-Fi 7 is expected to be formally approved by the end of 2024, with devices already available for certification.
Which countries currently support Wi-Fi 7?
Several countries, including the US, UK, Japan, and Australia, support Wi-Fi 7 due to regulations allowing access to the 6GHz band.
What are the key features of Wi-Fi 7?
Wi-Fi 7 introduces 320MHz channels, MLO (Multi-Link Operation), and 4K QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) for faster speeds, lower latency, and higher throughput.
Who is responsible for developing Wi-Fi 7?
The Wi-Fi Alliance, a non-profit organization, developed Wi-Fi 7 and previous generations, such as Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E.
Are there any devices currently supporting Wi-Fi 7?
Several devices, such as smartphones, laptops, routers, and adapters, already support Wi-Fi 7 and are awaiting formal certification.
Conclusion:
Wi-Fi 7, with its promise of significantly faster speeds, lower latency, and improved performance, is set to revolutionize wireless connectivity. Devices are already available on the market, and more are expected to come. This represents a significant leap forward in wireless technology, paving the way for enhanced experiences across various applications and industries.
