Comparing Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 6
Before choosing a new wireless device, it’s important to know the key differences between Wi-Fi 6E and the previous generation of wireless technology, Wi-Fi 6. The most impactful difference is that Wi-Fi 6E devices use a dedicated 6E spectrum with up to seven additional 160 MHz channels while Wi-Fi 6 devices share the same congested spectrum—and only two 160 MHz channels—with other legacy Wi-Fi 4, 5, and 6 devices. This gives Wi-Fi 6E devices the advantage and ability to experience gigabit speeds more easily. Wi-Fi 6 devices will not be able to take advantage of the benefits of the 6 GHz spectrum used by Wi-Fi 6E.
Additionally, Wi-Fi 6E devices, like a Wi-Fi 6E notebook, are backward compatible with legacy wireless technologies like Wi-Fi 6 and Wireless-AC and will be able to connect to legacy Wi-Fi 4, 5, and 6 networks in legacy 2.4/5 GHz bands when needed.
Speed
With additional dedicated high-speed channels and no legacy Wi-Fi interference, Intel® Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) enables speeds up to 6x faster than Intel® Wi-Fi 5 on managed networks1 and nearly 3x faster than Wi-Fi 5 for home and consumer use.2
Latency
Low latency is key to seamless experiences in real-time applications like videoconferencing and gaming. With Intel® Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) products using the unshared 6E spectrum, latency is up to 75 percent lower than with Wi-Fi 5,3 for the convenience of wireless internet without the excessive lag.
Interference
Wi-Fi 6E devices use a new, exclusive spectrum that is much larger and has many more channels than the spectrum used by other generations of Wi-Fi devices. This results in greater reliability and efficiency, as this spectrum can only be used by Wi-Fi 6E devices and is not impacted by legacy device traffic.
Intel® Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) for Home
Upgrading to an Intel® Wi-Fi 6E device will give home users access to nearly 3x greater wireless connection speeds than Wi-Fi 5,2 all without interference from other household devices.
With an Intel® Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) notebook and a Wi-Fi 6E router, you can easily upgrade your home network to VIP-level status and stream 4K video smoothly, quickly share large files, and collaborate seamlessly for amazing work-from-home and remote learning experiences.
Intel® Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) for Business
Say goodbye to the speed and capacity limitations of legacy Wi-Fi. With Wi-Fi 6E‒enabled devices, businesses can make cloud and collaboration applications more responsive while giving teams speeds up to 6x faster than Wi-Fi 5 for file sharing, backups, and updates.1
Using Intel® Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) devices with an upgraded 6 GHz Wi-Fi 6E network, you can relieve network congestion and solve office Wi-Fi challenges. Exclusive 6 GHz channels enable ultralow latency and improved performance in even the most-crowded environments.
Gaming Made Greater with Intel® Killer™ Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) Products
Play to win with Wi-Fi 6E advancements that keep lag and interference low while giving you the speed you need to stay competitive.
With new Wi-Fi 6E products from Intel and Killer Networking, get the convenience of wireless connectivity combined with customizable performance enhancements for the ultimate competitive edge.
Take Gaming Further with Intel® Killer™ Technology
Intel® Killer™ products combine Intel’s best wireless chipsets with powerful networking technology to deliver incredible gaming experiences. Built specifically for gamers, Intel Killer technology offers unparalleled speed, intelligence, and performance for those who take gaming seriously.
Find Intel® Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) Products
Get specifications and features for the latest Intel® Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) products, or compare products to meet your wireless connectivity needs.
Product and Performance Information
Based on IEEE 802.11ax specification legacy 5 GHz vs. new 6 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum. With more large channels in 6 GHz, technology advantages of Wi-Fi 6E networks enable higher maximum theoretical PC client speeds vs. 5 GHz Wi-Fi 5.
Based on IEEE 802.11ax specification. 160 MHz channels and Wi-Fi 6/6E technology advantages enable significantly higher maximum theoretical PC client speeds vs. standard Wi-Fi 5 products.
Based on IEEE 802.11ax specification Intel Engineering simulation. 160 MHz channels and Wi-Fi 6/6E technology advantages related to network managed traffic enable lower latencies, more efficient operation, and higher reliability vs. random contention-based traffic of standard Wi-Fi 5 networks.