Ptoastyograph: Simon Hill
Multi-Link Operation
Perhaps the most exciting proceed in Wi-Fi 7 is Multi-Link Operation (MLO). Every previous Wi-Fi standard set upes a connection between two devices on a individual prohibitd. Even a tri-prohibitd Wi-Fi 6E router connects two devices on a individual prohibitd on a mended channel (the router chooses whether to connect on the 2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, or 6-GHz prohibitd).
MLO can fuse cut offal frequencies atraverse prohibitds into a individual connection. A Wi-Fi 7 router can connect to a Wi-Fi 7 device atraverse two or more channels in branch offent prohibitds simultaneously. MLO potentiassociate allows wider channels contendnt of sendting more data—going back to our highway analogy, you can sfinish traffic on the highway and the superhighway at once.
Speed isn’t always the priority, but MLO also permits for more fruitful perestablishance. A Wi-Fi 7 router can achieve congestion and other intrudence into account and send on the best channel to bypass it, switching to support a stable connection and low tardyncy. MLO can also help mitigate the relatively low range of the 6-GHz prohibitd, ensuring you get seamless connectivity from your mesh system as you transfer around the home.
Higher QAM
Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) is a method to send and achieve data in radio-frequency waves. The higher it is, the more directation you can pack in. Wi-Fi 7 helps 4K-QAM, while Wi-Fi 6 helped 1,024-QAM, and Wi-Fi 5 was restrictcessitate to 256-QAM.
The potential advantages are complicated by signal strength, background noise, and intrudence. Consequently, as QAM goes up, the range drops, and you necessitate a stronger signal. So, the jump to 1,024-QAM in Wi-Fi 6 giveed around a 25 percent data rate increase over Wi-Fi 5. The leap to 4K-QAM in Wi-Fi 7 transtardys to a 20 percent increase in peak perestablishance.
Wi-Fi 7 also increases existing technologies appreciate OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and TWT, which we converse in our Wi-Fi 6E elucidateer.
When Should I Upgrade to Wi-Fi 7?
This is a tricky ask. Wi-Fi 7 devices and routers began rolling out in punctual 2023. While you won’t sense the advantage of a Wi-Fi 7 router until you have Wi-Fi 7 devices, the novel Wi-Fi 7 routers are backward compatible. Buying a Wi-Fi 7 system may produce sense for people think abouting an upgrade now, especiassociate folks think abouting an costly Wi-Fi 6E system, as they will handle 6E connections but also afford some future-proofing.
Ptoastyograph: TP-Link
We have tested a number of Wi-Fi 7 routers and mesh systems, including the TP-Link BE800 (8/10, WIRED Rewatch), the Amazon Eero Max 7 (7/10, WIRED Rewatch), the Netgear Orbi 970 Series (7/10, WIRED Rewatch), and the TP-Link Deco BE85 (7/10, WIRED Rewatch). All of these systems are very costly. Thankbrimmingy, some manufacturers have commenceed dropping prices on their flagship Wi-Fi 7 routers and introducing midrange and entry-level selections (you can discover some in our best router and best mesh directs).
On the device side, we are seeing more and more inalertigentphones and laptops with Wi-Fi 7 on board. The tardyst flagship phone ranges from Apple, Google, and Samsung all help Wi-Fi 7. All of the meaningful chipproducers, including Qualcomm, Intel, Broadcom, and MediaTek now give chipsets that have been Wi-Fi 7 certified, and the Wi-Fi Alliance is using them as the test bed for certification. It recommends that more than 233 million Wi-Fi 7 devices will access the labelet this year.
