• kirklennon
    link
    fedilink
    4211 months ago

    The very simple version is that the newer versions support faster speeds.

    • @mustardman@discuss.tchncs.de
      link
      fedilink
      English
      311 months ago

      I would add the potential for better range as well from a variety of improvements.

      Newer WiFi standards can take advantage of multiple frequencies in a single link, which allows for fallback on the slower, but longer range, 2.4GHz networks. Beamforming has been available since at least WiFi 5 (802.11ac) and helps connection quality as well. The new 6GHz spectrum is uncongested and gives better performance in areas with high saturation of 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, such as apartments and highrises.

      • @CluelessLemmyng@lemmy.sdf.org
        cake
        link
        fedilink
        English
        211 months ago

        Range is definitely not better with 6. 6 has larger bandwidths, and is less congested right now because of all the IoT devices using 2.4 and 5 Ghz bands. This will change eventually. 2.4 still has the best range.

        • @mustardman@discuss.tchncs.de
          link
          fedilink
          English
          311 months ago

          WiFi 7 (802.11be) has Multi-Link Operation (MLO) where it uses both 6 GHz, 5 GHz, and 2.4 GHz frequencies simultaneously to always maximize bandwidth at a given range.

          • no banana
            link
            fedilink
            English
            111 months ago

            Oh, that’s when I’ll change my ac router then. That seems nice.