The latest generation of Wi-Fi® technology is here: Wi-Fi 7. It delivers faster speeds and increased bandwidth, so your devices perform at their best. But what is Wi-Fi 7, exactly?
Wi-Fi 7 leads to a better-connected experience for multi-device families, smart homes, applications that require high-bandwidth, and more. While Wi-Fi 6 met the demands of its time, Wi-Fi 7 introduces forward-looking capabilities designed for high-bandwidth applications and smart devices.
- Wi-Fi 7 is designed to be faster and offer greater bandwidth than Wi-Fi 6 and earlier Wi-Fi standards.
- Wi-Fi 7 allows more devices to connect to a single Wi-Fi network.
- Popular uses for Wi-Fi, such as gaming, streaming, and multi-device homes, place higher demands on Wi-Fi for sufficient speed, low latency (the time it takes for data to travel across a network from one point to another), and bandwidth (the amount of data a network can carry in a specific time).
- Though not compatible with every device, the future of Wi-Fi 7 makes it the standard Wi-Fi connectivity method for new devices.
Wi-Fi 7 enables you to connect more devices in your home while still having strong, reliable connectivity for a more consistent, high-quality experience. Previous generations of Wi-Fi leveled up the game for Wi-Fi connectivity. However, based on speed alone, Wi-Fi 7 blows them away.
How Wi-Fi 7 compares to previous generations
Wi-Fi remains the primary method for connecting devices to the internet. What immediately comes to mind are mobile devices, laptops, and gaming consoles. But now that the Internet of Things (IoT) has made it possible to connect almost anything to the internet, Wi-Fi connectivity now includes smart homes – devices that can be wirelessly connected and controlled. It includes lighting, security, HVAC, appliances, and a host of other devices.
Wi-Fi 7 puts the capabilities to power this growth of connected devices in your home in your hand. While Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E offer speeds of up to 9.6 Gbps (which is three times faster than Wi-Fi 5), Wi-Fi 7 supports transfer rates faster than previous generations of Wi-Fi.
In real-world terms, it means that Wi-Fi 6 can usually support high-speed connections in homes that stream, game, and browse. However, it can’t always handle traffic efficiently. But with Wi-Fi 7, multiple people can seamlessly connect multiple devices alongside a slew of smart home features, security systems, and gaming consoles with low latency for each one.
When comparing Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 7, the latter is almost 5 times faster. Wi-Fi 7 is on the fast track to becoming the modern standard. It also supports all three bands of Wi-Fi 6E (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz), enabling you to connect more devices without experiencing network delays due to congestion or bandwidth limitations.
Curious about the exact specs of Wi-Fi 7 and what makes it the new standard? Let’s check out some specifics.
Features of Wi-Fi 7
First, some basics. There are several Wi-Fi 7 features that make it stand out from earlier generations. Ultimately, these features are designed to increase speed and bandwidth and add security to your network.
Let’s get technical for a minute. Wi-Fi uses bands to transmit traffic from your devices to the router. The bands are measured in gigahertz (GHz) – 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz for Wi-Fi 6, then Wi-Fi 6E added a 6 GHz band. Wi-Fi 7 uses 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, but like Wi-Fi 6E, it can also use the 6 GHz band.
These wireless frequencies measure speed and coverage (range). Generally, lower GHz bands offer more coverage, but the trade-off is a slower speed. Higher GHz bands offer faster speeds but less coverage but there’s a solution for that, which we’ll discuss later.
Within each band are sub-bands called channels, which are specific frequencies that transmit data. The frequencies are assigned by traffic type. For example, Bluetooth® requires a different frequency than wireless earbuds.
Wi-Fi channels are like the lanes on a highway, directing traffic between your device to your Wi-Fi router. Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E are in the middle lane. Wi-Fi 7, however, is the express, high-occupancy-vehicle lane.
More channels mean less congestion for your data, and ultimately better performance with less interference.
New channels for faster speeds: 320 MHz channels and 4K-QAM
Channels are measured by their bandwidth in megahertz (MHz), with higher numbers indicating a wider channels that can accommodate more traffic. Wi-Fi 7 introduces a 320 MHz channel. It’s significantly wider than the 20 MHz and 40 MHz channels common in the 2.4 GHz band of Wi-Fi 6, and 160 MHz channels available in the 5 GHz band. This wider capacity enables you to stream 4K movies on multiple devices in your home while others play online games on Wi-Fi 7, all without buffering.
Wider channels, however, can mean the possibility for more congestion. Wi-Fi 7 addresses this by having more channels that don’t overlap. This opens the way for better speed and lower latency for a smoother overall internet experience.
Here’s a Wi-Fi 7 mouthful: 4096-Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (4K-QAM). Simply put, 4K-QAM makes it possible to send more data through digital modulation, making it faster and more reliable. It delivers data 20% more efficiently than Wi-Fi 6’s 1024-QAM.1 If you require Wi-Fi that delivers a more seamless, reliable, and faster data transfer experience, you’ll find this through 4K-QAM in Wi-Fi 7.
Improved performance: Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and deterministic latency
In the past, devices could only connect to one channel (or frequency). Wi-Fi 7, however, allows a single device to simultaneously connect to multiple channels across different frequencies. Each device has better signal reliability and reduced lag.
Wi-Fi 7 allows for deterministic latency—the ability to measure exactly how long it takes to send and receive a signal between devices. It measures this delay and minimizes it for a smoother overall experience.
More bandwidth and less interference: Multi-Resource Units (MRU) support and puncturing
Resource Units (RU) are small groupings of different radio frequencies that help direct traffic efficiently. They support signal transmission to your different devices. Previously, only one RU would support everything connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Now, there’s Multi-RU puncturing. It allows users to connect to multiple RU channels for less interference and quicker connections for everyone using the network.
While these acronyms and technical terms can feel intimidating, the simple breakdown is these features provide tangible benefits toward increasing the speed of your network, lowering your latency, and increasing your bandwidth to lead to a smoother, faster Wi-Fi connection. If comparing Wi-Fi 6 vs. Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 7 provides a faster, more reliable connection for more devices.
Key benefits of Wi-Fi 7
So how do these new and improved features benefit your Wi-Fi network? Basically, they elevate your experience as an internet user.
Key Wi-Fi 7 benefits include:
Faster speeds and lower latency
Wi-Fi 7 can deliver a theoretical max speed of 46 Gbps. This speed is based on ideal, lab-controlled conditions. What you’ll receive in the real world will not achieve this at this time; however, Wi-Fi 7 is still fast enough for multiple users to simultaneously game online and stream high-definition videos and movies. You can also update or download large files, like games and videos.
Since Wi-Fi 7 significantly lowers latency, it reduces lag during gaming, buffering during streaming, and overall improves data transmission for Wi-Fi-connected devices.
Enhanced gaming and streaming performance
In lab-controlled conditions, Wi-Fi 7 can achieve sub-2 millisecond (ms) latency times—a nearly instantaneous data transmission time. Although real-world latency isn’t this low, it’s lower than the latency of older generations of Wi-Fi. This matters in gaming because the lower your overall latency, the more seamless your online experience.
There are a few common thresholds to measure an acceptable level of latency in gaming:
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- Above 150 milliseconds (ms): It’s highly likely you’ll notice some visual lag during online play.
- Between 30 ms and 150 ms: Often sufficient for smooth performance but can occasionally cause delays.
- Below 30 ms: Recommended for serious gamers and streamers who play online and broadcast their games at the same time.
Gaming, streaming, and the quality of your Wi-Fi experience are certainly priorities but so is protecting your data. Each device connected to a network can be an entry point for data security threats. Wi-Fi 7 adds more protections for your data.
Enhanced privacy and security
Wi-Fi 7 uses Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3)—a security protocol that was established in 2020. It enhances network security with a variety of safety features, including:
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- Better password protection. Offline password guesses, or those not within the physical space of the Wi-Fi network, are limited to one chance per device. If hackers want to try again, they must be physically present in the same area as the signal.
- Information sent over WPA3-protected networks is scrambled (encrypted), sent to its destination, and then decoded.
- Session encryption. WPA3 networks are also encrypted per device and login session. In the past, anyone with access to a Wi-Fi network could see all the traffic that traveled through it. Now, only you can see what you do during a given browsing session.
Overall, Wi-Fi 7 significantly improves the overall user experience.
| Feature | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Maximum speed* | 9.6 Gbps | 9.6 Gbps | 46 Gbps |
| Channel width | Up to 160 MHz | Up to 160 MHz | Up to 320 MHz |
| Modulation | 1024-QAM | 1024-QAM | 4096-QAM |
| Latency | Low | Lower | Extremely low due to MLO |
| Multi-link | No | No | Yes |
| Best for | Home networks, Internet of Things (IoT), multi-device families | Smart homes, gaming, high-bandwidth applications | High-end gaming, AR/VR, ultra-connected smart homes |
*Based on ideal, lab-controlled conditions. Speed varies by device.
These benefits make adopting Wi-Fi 7 as the new standard an easy choice. And though not all devices are currently Wi-Fi 7 compatible, today’s devices often come standard with the ability to reap Wi-Fi 7’s benefits.
Extending Wi-Fi 7 coverage with mesh extenders
Increasing Wi-Fi speed often reduces the range, or distance, of which your signal remains strong. The farther you are away from the router, the weaker your signal. You can extend your signal with mesh extenders. When you place these around an area, such as your home, they operate together to improve coverage by creating one, seamless network based on your primary router.
What equipment and devices do you need for Wi-Fi 7?
Wi-Fi 7 devices—routers and mobile devices—are backwards compatible. They can function with older generations of Wi-Fi and capitalize on their capabilities. However, only Wi-Fi 7 devices connected to a Wi-Fi 7 network can experience its benefits. The features available to you are based on the device. In other words, if you have a Wi-Fi 6 device on a Wi-Fi 7 network, you’ll only experience Wi-Fi 6 benefits.
The number of Wi-Fi 7 devices is expanding. Check your devices to know which generation of Wi-Fi they’re compatible with. When new devices are released, you can decide if you’re ready to upgrade to gain the complete benefits and security of Wi-Fi 7.
We offer programs to make that easier. For mobile devices, we offer AT&T Next Up AnytimeSM, which enables you to get the latest smartphone every year with your choice of plan.2 We have you covered for your home Wi-Fi router, too, with AT&T All-Fi and All-Fi Pro.
AT&T All-Fi®, All-Fi Pro, and Wi-Fi 7
Our fiber network delivers ultra-fast speeds to homes in select areas around the country, and now with All-Fi Pro you can enhance your Wi-Fi performance with our premium equipment upgrade program3, starting with Wi-Fi 7. To help that powerful signal reach every corner of your home, All-Fi Pro includes mesh Wi-Fi extenders.4 Each extender can boost Wi-Fi coverage by up to 1,000 square feet to help eliminate dead zones.
Because your security is a top priority, we’re also leveling up your online protection with All-Fi Pro. With ActiveArmor advanced internet security included, you’ll get more privacy and safety features like VPN at Home to mask your IP address from online snoops and third-party trackers,4 ID Monitoring that alerts you if your personal information is leaked5 and more.
Visit att.com to browse our products and find out how All-Fi and All-Fi Pro—with Wi-Fi 7 included—can take your home network to the next generation.
1“How Wi-Fi 7 achieves a faster data rate with 4K QAM,” Asus, December 16, 2023, https://edgeup.asus.com/2023/how-wifi-7-achieves-a-faster-data-rate-with-4k-qam/.
2Req’s purchase of eligible smartphone on AT&T Installment PlanSM with extra $10/mo. Next Up Anytime feature, qualified credit and elig. svc. Upgrade elig. with qualified turn-in. Max 3 upgrades in a 12-month period. Limits & restr’s apply.
3Must maintain All-Fi Pro, in good standing, for min of 12 mos. to be eligible, for equipment upgrade. Limited to one upgrade every 36 mos.
4Req’s AT&T Extended Wi-Fi Coverage Service for up to 5 Extenders at the sole discretion of AT&T.
5ID Monitoring feature must be enabled and may not detect all compromises of your personal data.
