Wi‑Fi technology has been a cornerstone of modern connectivity for decades, and the arrival of Wi-Fi 7 marks a major leap forward. Wi‑Fi 7 reimagines what wireless networks can achieve—pushing the boundaries of speed and responsiveness to meet the demands of today’s increasingly connected world.

In this guide, we’ll break down what Wi-Fi 7 is, how it works, its key features, and whether it’s worth investing in.

What is Wi-Fi 7?

Wi‑Fi 7 is the latest Wi‑Fi standard, officially referred to as IEEE 802.11be EHT, which stands for Extremely High Throughput.

Wi-Fi standards are essentially just different generations of Wi-Fi, similar to Windows software versions that gradually improve over time. The first Wi-Fi standard was introduced back in 1997, so it makes sense that it has evolved since then into the impressive Wi-Fi 7 we have today.

How does Wi-Fi 7 work?

Despite the fancy name, Wi-Fi 7 still shares the same core functionality as earlier Wi-Fi standards: a router or access point sends data wirelessly to connected devices via radio frequencies. But whilst it shares the same foundations as previous Wi-Fi versions, Wi-Fi 7 utilises the preexisting functionality to deliver better results, implementing wider channels and improved coordination between bands. These improvements mean that Wi-Fi 7 can transmit more data at once with less interference.

What makes Wi-Fi 7 special?

Lightning-fast speeds

What sets Wi-Fi 7 apart is the drastically faster speeds. Whilst previous Wi-Fi generations have taken a few paces forward from their predecessors, Wi-Fi 7 has supercharged speeds to the next level, overtaking Wi-Fi 6E’s maximum of 9.5 Gbps to 46 Gbps.

Lowered latency

 Latency directly affects real-time activities like video calls and gaming, with higher latency resulting in frequent delays and buffering. Wi-Fi 7 offers drastically lower latency, preventing delays for seamless online connectivity. This equips users with the functionality needed for the latest technological advancements, such as AR, VR, and AI.
 

Increased bandwidth

Wi-Fi 7 supports high-capacity channels of up to 320 MHz wide, doubling the maximum bandwidth of Wi-Fi 6. Channel width determines how much data can flow at a time, so this increase significantly boosts potential throughput, allowing many more routers to operate simultaneously in congested neighbourhoods.

Improved data transmission

QAM, or Quadrature Amplitude Modulation, controls the amount of data converted into each Wi-Fi radio wave signal. Wi-Fi 7 supports 4096-QAM, enabling more data to be transferred per signal and an overall 20% increase in data transmission.

Multi-Link Operation

Wi-Fi 7 introduces Multi-Link Operation (MLO): a new technology not featured in previous Wi-Fi standards. MLO enables compatible devices to simultaneously send and receive data across multiple frequency bands. MLO increases reliability by automatically routing data through the best available link, complementing other Wi-Fi 7 features by providing faster throughput and reduced latency.

Should you invest in Wi‑Fi 7?


It’s clear that Wi-Fi 7 elevates wireless capabilities to the next level. But in some cases, these changes are so drastic that they might not be noticeable in your daily life. If you primarily use Wi-Fi for social media browsing, entertainment streaming, and light remote work, a Wi-Fi 7 upgrade may not be necessary.


But if your household has a smart home network, is home to an avid gamer or streamer, or involves frequent, intensive remote work sessions, then Wi-Fi 7 will likely elevate your daily technology experience to the next level.


Final thoughts

Wi‑Fi 7 represents a major upgrade in wireless networking, focusing on speed, responsiveness and reliability. As compatible routers and devices become more widely available, Wi‑Fi 7 is set to become the new standard for next-generation connectivity, providing an exciting preview of the technological advancements soon to come.