What is Wi-Fi 6?

Wi-Fi 6 (also known as 802.11ax) was officially announced in mid-2019, and represents the latest generation of IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN Standards. It is backward compatible with previous network standards, including the currently ubiquitous 802.11n/ac. "802.11ax" is the official name bestowed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), whereas "Wi-Fi 6" is the marketing term coined by Wi-Fi Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Wi-Fi technology and commercial Wi-Fi product certification.

In what sense is Wi-Fi 6 more advanced than Wi-Fi 5?

1. Wi-Fi 6 is faster by leaps and bounds.

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), used in previous Wi-Fi generations, limits the signal transmission efficiency as it requires the connected devices to take turns in communicating with the router.

That's precisely why you may encounter a slow Internet connection even when you see the full Wi-Fi bars on your phone – it's still waiting in line to receive its Wi-Fi signal!

By comparison, the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard applies Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), which allows the multiple connected devices to simultaneously receive and send back signal to the router.

Or for a more intuitive analogy… think of older Wi-Fi protocols as a two-lane road where devices have to queue in the only lane traveling in each direction, and thus congested traffic is inevitable. Wi-Fi 6, by contrast, is a multi-lane highway where all devices are free to move full speed ahead. As a result, Wi-Fi 6 is almost three times faster than Wi-Fi 5!

2. Wi-Fi 6 is a lot more secure.

Wi-Fi 6-supporting devices must adopt the new-gen WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) encryption and security protocol, in order to obtain the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ designation from Wi-Fi Alliance. WPA3 is highly secure, making it harder for hackers to breach your Wi-Fi network, with robust protections against brute-force attacks.

3. Wi-Fi 6 is more energy-efficient.

Target Wake Time (TWT) is a new feature in Wi-Fi 6 that enables a router to "wake up" only upon receiving data transmission commands, ensuring that the router remains in power-saving standby mode when it is idle. Tests have confirmed that this solution reduces energy consumption by about 30% within the same duration of time.

To sum up, one generation makes all of the difference in the world. Wi-Fi 6 is a marked improvement over Wi-Fi 5, in every respect.

Given the rapid evolution of smartphone technology, you may have grown accustomed to getting a new and better phone every year or two. But has it occurred to you that your home router could be upgraded as well? Please be honest with me… how old is your current router, and how many phones/watches/tablets have you cycled through during all of those years?

Wireless network technology has developed at a breakneck pace as well, and Wi-Fi 6 will soon become the norm. Some of the latest and most impressive phone models, such as the HONOR 30 Pro+, HUAWEI P40 series and Apple iPhone 11 series, already incorporate support for Wi-Fi 6. Or in other words, get with the program! With the release of the HONOR Router 3, which costs about as much as an old Wi-Fi 5 router, you're running out of excuses for not upgrading your home Wi-Fi into a Wi-Fi 6 network!

[From Section: Geek Lab]

More geek lab articles recommendation:

[Geek Lab]What's the fuss about the "recessed camera" on HONOR MagicBook Series?

[Geek Lab] Why is your laptop overheating? Find the money-saving tips here!

[Geek Lab] Why do I still hear noise when wearing noise-canceling headphones?

[Geek Lab] Why can't TWS earbuds come with longer battery life?

[Geek Lab] NFC Vol. 1: What is NFC? Where can I find it on HONOR 9A?

[Geek Lab] NFC Vol. 2: Why don't most budget phones support NFC?