What Changed—Wi-Fi 6E to Wi-Fi 7
Use this topic for a quick view of how common features changed between Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7.
Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 both take advantage of the 6 GHz band. However, Wi-Fi 7 is based on the IEEE 802.11be standard while Wi-Fi 6E is based on IEEE 802.11ax. Backward compatibility enables devices from previous generations to connect to a Wi-Fi 7-enabled SSID. The following table shows a quick comparison between Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7.
| Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Corresponding IEEE standard | 802.11ax | 802.11be |
| Use of 6 GHz band | Yes | Yes |
| Key features |
Up to 1200 MHz additional unlicensed spectrum* Up to seven 160 MHz channels Dependent on local regulations Up to 1024 QAM data rates WPA3 is required for 6 GHz and optional for 2.4 and 5 GHz |
All the features of Wi-Fi 6E plus: Maximum 320 MHz channels MLO for aggregating channels Spectrum puncturing to minimize channel interference WPA3 is required for all bands. |
| What you should know |
Full or partial usage of the 6 GHz band varies by country. Standard Power and an automated frequency system are required for outdoor use. |
Full or partial usage of the 6 GHz band varies by country Standard Power and an automated frequency system are required for outdoor use. Use of 4096 QAM data rates requires a high signal-to-noise (SNR) and requires that the device be placed within several feet of an AP. In most cases, AP coverage models do not allow for enough available channels to support 320 MHz today so smaller channels are in use instead. |
* The amount of additional spectrum available in 6 GHz depends on the wireless regulatory domain. In the United States, the full 1200 MHz of additional spectrum is available. In Europe and other regulatory domains, there is less additional spectrum available in 6 GHz.