Wi-Fi Standards (802.11) Explained
Every Wi-Fi network runs one of the IEEE 802.11 standards. The Wi-Fi Alliance simplified the naming around 2018 — now we have Wi-Fi 4, 5, 6, and 7. Older devices still use the letter codes (n, ac, ax). Knowing what each one offers helps you pick gear and understand why your Wi-Fi is fast or slow.
The lineup
| Standard | Marketing name | Year | Frequency | Max speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 802.11b | Wi-Fi 1 | 1999 | 2.4 GHz | 11 Mbps |
| 802.11a | Wi-Fi 2 | 1999 | 5 GHz | 54 Mbps |
| 802.11g | Wi-Fi 3 | 2003 | 2.4 GHz | 54 Mbps |
| 802.11n | Wi-Fi 4 | 2009 | 2.4 / 5 GHz | 600 Mbps |
| 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 5 | 2014 | 5 GHz | 6.9 Gbps |
| 802.11ax | Wi-Fi 6 / 6E | 2019/2020 | 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz | 9.6 Gbps |
| 802.11be | Wi-Fi 7 | 2024 | 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz | 46 Gbps |
The big jumps
Wi-Fi 4 (n) — first big leap
Introduced MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) — using multiple antennas to send/receive multiple data streams in parallel. Also added the 5 GHz band. Old Wi-Fi 4 hardware still in service everywhere.
Wi-Fi 5 (ac) — gigabit Wi-Fi
5 GHz only, wider channels (up to 160 MHz), better MIMO, beamforming. The first Wi-Fi most people actually got gigabit speeds from. Still common in 2024+ devices.
Wi-Fi 6 (ax) — many-device efficiency
OFDMA (orthogonal frequency-division multiple access) — lets one transmission carry data for multiple devices simultaneously. Massive improvement in dense environments (offices, apartments, stadiums). Also added back 2.4 GHz support, target wake time (battery savings).
Wi-Fi 6E — adding 6 GHz
Same Wi-Fi 6 protocol, but with 1200 MHz of brand-new 6 GHz spectrum. Less crowded, lots of room for wide channels. Requires hardware that supports 6 GHz on both ends.
Wi-Fi 7 (be) — Multi-Link Operation
A device can use 2.4, 5, AND 6 GHz simultaneously. Up to 320 MHz channels. 4096-QAM modulation. In dense areas and short range, real-world speeds approach wired ethernet.
The frequency bands
2.4 GHz
- Pros: longer range, better through walls
- Cons: only 3 non-overlapping channels (1, 6, 11), crowded with microwaves, baby monitors, Bluetooth
- When to use: IoT devices, range over speed, smart home stuff
5 GHz
- Pros: many non-overlapping channels (~24), much faster, less interference
- Cons: shorter range, more attenuation through walls
- When to use: default for laptops, phones, anything where speed matters
6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E and 7)
- Pros: brand-new spectrum, 7x more channels than 5 GHz, no legacy device congestion
- Cons: shortest range, requires newest hardware
- When to use: high-bandwidth devices in line-of-sight to AP
Why your Wi-Fi is slow even on Wi-Fi 6
- Interference — neighbors’ Wi-Fi on overlapping channels
- Distance — modulation drops as signal weakens
- Wall attenuation — drywall is ~3 dB loss, brick or metal much more
- Connected to 2.4 GHz when 5 GHz was available
- Old client devices — your phone might only support Wi-Fi 5
- AP overloaded — too many devices, single radio
How to check what you have
# Linux
iw dev wlan0 link
iwconfig
# macOS
system_profiler SPAirPortDataType
# Windows
netsh wlan show interfaces
# Both ends matter — your router AND your device need to support a standard for it to be used.What to learn next
Wi-Fi security — WPA2 vs WPA3, why WEP is dead. Up next.