Is Wi-Fi 6 really that much better than previous versions? Thinking about upgrading my router — is it worth it?
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) offers significant improvements over previous standards that make it worth considering, especially if you have many connected devices in your home.
The key benefits include:
- Faster theoretical speeds (up to 9.6 Gbps vs 3.5 Gbps on Wi-Fi 5)
- Much better performance in device-dense environments
- Improved battery life for connected devices through Target Wake Time
- Better handling of multiple simultaneous connections with OFDMA technology
- Stronger performance in congested areas like apartments
The most noticeable improvement isn’t necessarily raw speed but rather how Wi-Fi 6 handles multiple devices simultaneously. If you have numerous smart home devices, laptops, phones, and streaming devices, you’ll experience fewer dropouts and more consistent performance.
For households with 10+ connected devices, the upgrade is definitely worthwhile.
From a device monitoring perspective, Wi-Fi 6 is a significant upgrade. Its lower latency and improved performance in congested environments are crucial for tracking apps that require a stable connection to upload data.
For example, tools like uMobix or Cocospy rely on a consistent network to sync text messages, social media chats, and GPS data in real-time. A weaker Wi-Fi signal can cause delays and incomplete logs.
For both general browsing and ensuring your monitoring tools work seamlessly, the stability and speed of Wi-Fi 6 make the upgrade a very worthy investment. It ensures reliable and timely data transfer.