You spent $300 on a shiny new Wi-Fi 7 router promising speeds up to 6 Gbps. You set it up, connected your devices, and... nothing feels different. Netflix still buffers occasionally. Video calls still freeze. Your speed test shows the same numbers as before.
Before you return that router, understand this: you're not being scammed. Wi-Fi 7 is genuinely better technology, but several factors prevent you from experiencing its benefits in typical home use.
Your ISP Is the Real Bottleneck
This is the big one. Wi-Fi 7 routers advertise multi-gigabit speeds, but most people have internet plans between 100-500 Mbps. Your router can handle 6 Gbps internally, but your internet connection is like a narrow pipe feeding into a massive reservoir.
When you browse the web, stream video, or download files, you're limited by your ISP's speed, not your router. If you have 300 Mbps internet, upgrading from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 7 won't make websites load faster or Netflix stream in higher quality. You're already getting the full speed your internet connection can provide.
When Router Speed Actually Matters
Your router's speed matters for local network transfers: copying files between computers, streaming from a local media server, or backing up to network-attached storage (NAS). If you regularly transfer large files between devices on your home network, Wi-Fi 7's increased bandwidth helps significantly.
For everyone else focused on internet activities, your ISP speed is the limiting factor.
Device Compatibility: The Hidden Problem
Wi-Fi 7's biggest advantage is access to the 6 GHz band, offering cleaner airwaves with less interference. But here's the catch: only devices with Wi-Fi 7 support can use the 6 GHz band.
Check your devices. That 2022 laptop? Probably Wi-Fi 6, not 6E. Your iPhone 14? Wi-Fi 6. Most smart TVs, tablets, and IoT devices? Wi-Fi 5 or 6 at best. The iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23+ support Wi-Fi 7, along with recent flagship laptops, but adoption is still limited.
If most of your devices don't support Wi-Fi 7, they're connecting via the 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz bands—the same bands your old router used. You're not experiencing any benefit from the 6 GHz band.
Range: 6 GHz's Achilles Heel
Higher frequencies trade range for speed. The 6 GHz band has significantly shorter range than 5 GHz, which already has shorter range than 2.4 GHz. In real-world terms:
- 2.4 GHz: Penetrates walls well, reaches 150+ feet outdoors, 50-75 feet indoors through obstacles
- 5 GHz: Moderate penetration, 75-100 feet outdoors, 30-50 feet indoors through obstacles
- 6 GHz: Poor penetration, 50-75 feet outdoors, 20-40 feet indoors through obstacles
If your device is more than one room away from the router, it probably can't maintain a stable 6 GHz connection. It falls back to 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz, negating Wi-Fi 7's advantages.
Walls, floors, and obstacles dramatically reduce 6 GHz range. What works perfectly in the same room becomes unreliable through two walls. This is physics, not a router defect.
Network Congestion: Where Wi-Fi 7 Shines
Wi-Fi 7's real benefit isn't raw speed—it's reduced congestion. If you live in an apartment building with dozens of Wi-Fi networks visible, the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands are crowded. All those networks compete for the same channels, causing interference and slowdowns.
The 6 GHz band is currently empty. No legacy devices use it, and few people have Wi-Fi 7 routers yet. This means cleaner connections with less interference when you do have compatible devices nearby.
In suburban or rural areas with few nearby networks, this advantage is minimal. You already have clean channels on 5 GHz.
Latency Improvements: The Subtle Benefit
Wi-Fi 6 and 6E include features like OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) and Target Wake Time that reduce latency and improve efficiency, especially with many connected devices.
These improvements are subtle but real. Video calls feel more responsive. Online gaming has slightly lower ping. Smart home devices respond faster. You won't notice dramatic differences, but the experience is smoother.
The key word is "subtle." Don't expect night-and-day differences in perceived performance for typical internet use.
What Actually Makes Wi-Fi Feel Faster
1. Faster Internet Plan
If you're on a 100 Mbps plan and upgrade to 500 Mbps or gigabit, you'll notice immediate improvements in download speeds, streaming quality, and simultaneous device usage. This has infinitely more impact than a router upgrade.
2. Better Router Placement
Place your router centrally, elevated, away from obstacles. A $100 router in a good location outperforms a $400 router hidden in a closet.
3. Mesh System for Large Homes
If you have a large home or multiple floors, a mesh system with multiple access points provides consistent coverage. Dead zones and weak signals cause more frustration than slightly slower maximum speeds.
4. Ethernet for Stationary Devices
Desktop computers, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and NAS devices benefit enormously from wired connections. Ethernet is faster, more reliable, and lower latency than any wireless technology.
Wi-Fi 7 is excellent technology that will become more valuable as device adoption increases. Today, for most users, it's a solution looking for problems that don't exist yet in typical homes.
Should You Buy Wi-Fi 7?
Buy Wi-Fi 7 if you:
- Live in a dense urban environment with heavy Wi-Fi congestion
- Have multiple Wi-Fi 7 compatible devices already
- Regularly transfer large files between devices on your local network
- Want to future-proof as more devices gain 6E support
- Need a router upgrade anyway and prices are competitive
Stick with Wi-Fi 6 if you:
- Have internet speeds under 500 Mbps
- Live in a suburban or rural area
- Primarily use Wi-Fi for internet access, not local transfers
- Don't have Wi-Fi 7 compatible devices
- Want better value—Wi-Fi 6 routers are significantly cheaper
The Bottom Line
Wi-Fi 7 isn't a scam, but it's overhyped for typical home use in 2024. The technology is sound, but most households can't utilize its advantages yet. Your internet speed, device compatibility, and network layout matter far more than the Wi-Fi standard.
If your current Wi-Fi 5 or 6 router works well, there's no compelling reason to upgrade to 6E right now. Focus on optimizing your existing setup, upgrading your internet plan if needed, and waiting until device adoption makes 6E's benefits accessible.